Benin Bronze Casting Festival

An important ritual event preserving Benin metalwork heritage.
Nso Royal Palace Research

Brief

The annual festival celebrating the ancient bronze casting tradition of Benin artisans.

The Benin Bronze Casting Festival is a celebration dedicated to the ancient art and spiritual tradition of bronze casting among the Edo people of the Benin Kingdom. This festival honors the guild of bronze casters (Igun Eronmwon), whose craft has been central to the kingdom’s royal and cultural heritage for centuries. Rituals are performed to invoke ancestral blessings, seek protection, and ensure the continuity of the craft, which is considered both an artistic and spiritual practice. The festival often coincides with key royal events or community celebrations, reinforcing the sacred connection between craftsmanship and the divine.

Medium

Charcoal

Associated Group

Benin blacksmith guild

Region / Origin

Benin

Ritual Context

The Benin Bronze Casting Festival is a celebration dedicated to the ancient art and spiritual tradition of bronze casting among the Edo people of the Benin Kingdom. This festival honors the guild of bronze casters (Igun Eronmwon), whose craft has been central to the kingdom’s royal and cultural heritage for centuries. Rituals are performed to invoke ancestral blessings, seek protection, and ensure the continuity of the craft, which is considered both an artistic and spiritual practice. The festival often coincides with key royal events or community celebrations, reinforcing the sacred connection between craftsmanship and the divine.

Cultural Significance

Bronze casting in Benin is more than an art form; it is a vital expression of cultural identity, history, and spiritual belief. The festival highlights the guild’s role in preserving historical memory through intricate sculptures that depict royal lineage, mythology, and social values. Celebrating this craft reinforces the status of the Igun Eronmwon as custodians of tradition and connects present generations with their ancestors. The festival also promotes pride in Edo artistry and educates younger members about their heritage and responsibilities.

Practices/Traditions

The festival involves ritual cleansing of the casting workshops and the forging of new bronze pieces. Master casters perform sacred rites invoking the protection of ancestral spirits, using offerings such as palm wine, kola nuts, and symbolic charms. Demonstrations of bronze melting and casting processes are often held, showcasing the traditional lost-wax technique passed down through generations. Participants don traditional attire, and there are accompanying drumming, singing, and dancing to celebrate the guild’s achievements. The event may culminate in a procession of newly cast works to the palace or community shrine, where they are dedicated to the ancestors and the Oba.

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