Beaded prestige footrest

Description:	The Kingdom of the Yoruba peoples in West Africa was once very vast. The king, or oba, was highly revered and appeared in highly decorative attire during public occasions. He always wore an elaborately beaded crown. At the turn of the century, when Western colonialism peaked and kings began to lose power, a great deal more beaded regalia was made to emphasize the importance of the king. Entire guilds of artists worked on making elaborate accessories solely for the king. Beaded items included footrests, like this one, on which the king would rest his feet while sitting. The faces represent the Yoruba kingdoms first ruler and the founders of the original holy city, Ife. Also, the head is very important among the Yoruba. It is believed to be the central place for ones destiny (ori), spiritual power (ase), character (iwa) and beauty (ewa). Yoruba kings still exist today and continue to be highly respected and revered. Once youve seen a Yoruba king dressed in colorful and beautifully made beadwork from head to toe, you understand why they are so cherished and honored.
Source:	http://www.digitalindy.org/cdm/ref/collection/tcm/id/250
Collection:	The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Rights:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/;
Copyright:	Creative Commons (CC By-SA 3.0);
Geography:	Africa
Subjects:	Yoruba (African people) Yoruba (African people) -- Social life and customs Stools Furniture Beadwork

Further information on this record can be found at its source.