The Queen Idia Mask is a historical African mask from the famed old Benin Empire of Nigeria that has become a symbol for African arts, culture, and history, especially after it was adopted as the symbol of choice for the Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) held in 1977 in Lagos, Nigeria.

The Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture of Nigeria, on Tuesday, June 22, unveiled a gigantic outdoor artistic symbol of the iconic Queen Idia of Benin African mask as a public monument just outside the center’s building located in Broad Street, Marina, Lagos.

The CBAAC is one of the legacies of the hugely successful FESTAC 77 when 59 Black and African countries converged in Lagos to participate in the second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture. After the hugely successful event, the Nigerian government established the CBAAC as the foremost agency charged with the statutory responsibility of promoting and propagating Black and African Cultural Heritage in its entirety, as well as to cater for the numerous historical relics of that historic festival. 

The unveiling also coincides with the anniversary of the establishment of the CBAAC and the 2021 Day of the African Child, to this end, the day was marked with a celebration of the African culture. 

“The Queen Idia mask is a masterpiece, an emblem meant to project the image of the Centre to more public knowledge and we are thankful to God that today, the dream has become a reality,” director-general of the center, Hon. Oluwabunmi Amao (FITP) said at the installation where a glass casing had been erected to protect the Queen Idia Mask as it is displayed to the full glare of the public. 

“From the very moment I came here as the DG, I told myself that this mask must come out.  We needed to showcase it, let the world see this beauty and what it stands for,” she added.

The legend and symbolism of Queen Idia in the history of the Great Benin Empire of 15th century Africa cannot be over-emphasized. She was the wife of Oba Ozolua who reigned around 1481 AD and was instrumental in him becoming a renowned warrior that he was nicknamed “the conqueror”, because, under his reign, the Benin kingdom expanded its frontiers through extensive warfare and campaigns. 

She was also a big influence in her son Oba Esigie, who ruled from 1504 to 1550, succeeding his father. Queen Idia was a fearless warrior who commanded military campaigns and several other expeditions for the Benin Empire during her son’s reign. She was so formidable to the military successes, using her magical powers and knowledge of medicine to help her son overcome his enemies that she became the first official “Iyoba” (Queen Mother of the Benin Kingdom).

Today, the title ‘Iyoba of Benin’ is an important female titleholder in the chieftaincy system of the kingdom, and the Obas now wear the carved ivory pendant masks representing the Iyoba. It is this same mask of Queen Idia that has become a famous symbol of African art, culture, and power.

“I feel great about the symbol. It shows that anywhere you put a woman, she will excel,” Hon. Amao enthused. “Queen Idia excelled, hence she has come to dominate history as a symbol of African cultural identity. It is a great honor for her and for women.”

Unfortunately, the original copies of the Queen Idia masks were among the Benin bronzes and African masks carted away by the British army in the invasion of 1897. They are now held in various museums and private collections in the UK and other parts of the western world. However,  several representations of Queen Idia by different artists in form of masks and sculptures are available in Nigeria and other African countries as a monument to the greatness of this heroine of African excellence and heritage.