Welcome to the CIS FLL Museum QUEEN IDIA PAGE!!
Queen Idia (early 1500s) was a strong queen mother of the Benin Empire. She helped her son, Oba Esigie, become king by supporting him in war and using her knowledge of medicine and spiritual things. Because she was so important, she became the first Iyoba (Queen Mother) and got her own palace. She is also known for her famous ivory mask, which is a symbol of African art. Queen Idia is remembered as a smart and powerful woman who made a big impact on history. The Queen Idia Mask is more than just a piece of art, it is power carved. These masks were made in the Kingdom of Benin and are of Queen Idia, a fierce ruler who made history in Nigeria. The masks’ design is creative. The ordinary material is turned into something memorable and meaningful. The significance of the mask shows the power that Queen Idia had in her time where women weren’t seen as those who could make much difference. Even though Queen Idia has passed away, her legacy lives on. The variety of masks are currently in countries like England, Germany and even the United states. Queen Idia’s original mask is currently located in the British Museum of London for safekeeping. Something that was once significant in just Nigeria managed to go global due to its importance. .