Ikegobo, also known as altars of honor, are erected by individuals in Benin Kingdom to commemorate personal achievements and ancestral reverence. They are often elaborately decorated with ivory carvings and brass sculptures.
Ikegobo (Altars of Honor)
Altars honoring personal achievements and ancestors in Benin.
Nso Royal Palace Research
Brief
Medium
Associated Group
Benin Royalty and Nobility
Region / Origin
Nigeria
Ritual Context
The Ikegobo, meaning “altar of the hand” in the Edo language, is a cylindrical altar traditionally commissioned in the Benin Kingdom to honor individuals for exceptional achievement, skill, or service to the community. Rooted in Benin’s royal and artisan traditions, it is especially associated with the guilds of craftsmen and warriors, whose “hand” (symbolizing industriousness and capability) brings wealth and prestige. The Ikegobo serves as both a religious object and a public statement of honor, linking personal success to divine favor and ancestral blessings.
Cultural Significance
In Edo belief, the hand is considered the source of human achievement, and celebrating it affirms the values of hard work, skill, and contribution to society. The Ikegobo is more than a personal accolade—it reflects the Benin Kingdom’s hierarchical and merit-based system of recognition, reinforcing loyalty to the Oba and inspiring communal pride. Historically, it has also been a record of social history, as each altar carries inscriptions and motifs narrating the accomplishments of its recipient, thus preserving cultural memory.
Practices/Traditions
Ikegobo are typically made from bronze or terracotta by members of the royal guild of brasscasters (Igun Eronmwon). The cylindrical form is decorated with reliefs depicting scenes of work, celebrations, and symbolic animals, often crowned with a representation of the honored individual. The altar is placed in the recipient’s home shrine or in a communal space, where offerings—such as kola nuts, wine, and food—are periodically made to sustain the blessings of the ancestors and deities. In some cases, the Oba himself bestows the Ikegobo in a formal ceremony, solidifying its status as both a personal and royal honor.