About the Sacrificial Gourd

About the interview
Object Context

Ekhator-Obogie Godfrey speaks about the sacrificial gourd in this video. He explains that the Benin people use this fruit for sacrificial purposes because it is a symbolic representation of fertility and purity. The gourd is described as one of the items used in different ritual ceremonies, mostly those associated with 'Olokun worship’. He stated that it is also used for propitiation at the Emota Shrine, Kings Square, Benin City. The Benin people use this fruit for ritual because of the following reasons: they believe that natural white chalk that comes with it means purity; it symbolises fertility and productivity giving the richness of abundant seeds, which we can see when we open the gourd. He explains in this video why Benin women use the fruit for sacrifices and fertility rituals.

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Referenced in this interview

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