In the Benin Kingdom, the only royalty depicted as majestically as the Oba is the Iya-Oba who is the King’s mother. One of the stately depictions of the Iya-Oba is the Iya-Oba rooster, a tall standing elaborately designed male fowl. To unravel this ironic depiction of the Queen Mother, it is important to understand her personality and position in the royal court. This rooster is part of traditional artworks featured in Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art’s collection, first seen as far back as the era of Pre-colonial societies in Nigeria.
To discover more about the Iya-Oba Rooster, click on the link below to download the art information sheet.