In the Edo world view, the head is considered to symbolize a man's knowledge, authority, success, and family leadership. The burden of providing for his family and seeing them through times of trouble is often described as being "on his head." Each new king or “Oba” of the Nigerian kingdom of Benin memorialized his father with a portrait cast in brass, made by craftsmen of the brass fraternity. The oba is often called a "Great Head," accentuating the head of the living leader as having the responsibility over the Benin kingdom. This head may have been made for the funeral of the king Ozolua or his son Esigye himself in 1551.The idealized naturalism of this work depicts the king at the prime of his life. The beaded headdress and collar are
