Gong of the Ogboni Secret Society / African, Nigeria, Ogboni
Viewer
About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 2005/1.242
- Title
- Gong of the Ogboni Secret Society
- Artist
- African, Nigeria, Ogboni
- Artist Nationality
- Nigerian
- Medium and Support
- bronze
- Object Creation Place
- Africa (continent)
- Nigeria (nation)
- Creation Place 1
- Africa (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Nigeria (nation)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
- Dimensions
- 17 cm x 8.2 cm x 8.6 cm (6 11/16 in. x 3 1/4 in. x 3 3/8 in.)
- Primary Object Classification
- Metalwork
- Physical Description
- Brass bell or gong in the form of a human head. A loop on the top would have served as a handhold or place to tie the instrument. The opening of the the instrument is squared and flat in order to rest upright.
- Subject Matter
- Gongs are used in Yoruba communities for communication, music, and religious ceremonies. This gong belonged to an ogboni secret society. The ogboni societies have religious and civic functions. Gongs were used by the ogboni to swear in witnesses in disputes. The gong calls ancestral spirits to hear the testimony and will punish those who give false testimony.
- Primary Keywords
- bell
- ceremonial objects
- court art
- initiations
- musical instruments
- representation
- yoruba
- Secondary Keywords
- visual arts
- african
- african styles by region
- art genres
- artistic concepts
- associated concepts
- ceremonies
- concepts in the arts
- cultural ceremonies
- descriptors
- events
- forms of expression
- object genres
- object genres by function
- objects
- people and culture
- rites of passage
- southern nigerian styles
- styles and periods
- styles and periods by region
- west african styles
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 1560 x 2610
- File Size
- 542 KB
- Record
- 2005/1.242
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2005-sl-1.242/2005_1_242.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:2005-SL-1.242:2005_1_242.JPG
Cite this Item
View the Help Guide for more information.
- Full citation
-
"Gong of the Ogboni Secret Society; African, Nigeria, Ogboni." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2005-sl-1.242/2005_1_242.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 23, 2024.
