Figurine Of King - Ato Dahomey Ceremony Circa 1930

Figurine of King - Ato Dahomey ceremony - Benin circa 1930 - wear - micro shocks -
bronze - figurine taken from the skits of the Ato ceremonies. It was a highlight of the
annual customs of Dahomey. During this ceremony prisoners were offered as sacrifices to the royal ancestors,
and were to deliver them a message in the afterlife. The prime minister was in charge of the executions. On this occasion, the king distributed wealth to his subjects, animals or slaves. This figurine represents the king. These figurines were made by the Aïsi blacksmiths.
The Quai Branly museum keeps a set of these figurines made to order from
the administrator and ethnologist Bernard Maupoil around 1936. (inv; and 71 1936 31 79 1-2) and ss (see last photo).