Nigeria
Yoruba

Copper alloy
Mid 20th century
Height: 11 inches
Idiophone-Struck Directly – Metal Bell

The Ogboni Society is a fraternal institution indigenous to the Oruba language-speaking polities of Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Togo, and among the Edo people. 

This edan ogboni (also called edan osugbo among the Ijebu and Egba of Yorubaland) ritual bell is shown in the form of a male holding a bowl in his hands, on top of an anthropomorphic head bell. It is used by the ogboni cult members as a symbol of membership, but it is also believed to be the god ‘edan’ in the physical as represented in the head bell. The Yoruba Ogboni (meaning ‘cult of old age’) is a society of respected elderly men and women responsible for the maintenance of law and order of their community. It is headed by the ‘Oluwo’ (chief priest).  This male edan bell represents the expectations of secrecy and is given to each new member when they join the cult.  I was only able to get this male edan ogboni bell, but there are also edan staffs/bells made in the form of a female for the women edan ogboni members.