The Edo culture is one of the oldest in South/Mid-Western Nigeria. They are the descendants of the creators of the Benin Empire, historically recorded from as early as the 15th Century. Festivities and celebrations are an important part of this culture and generally operate on a yearly cycle. Even today, festivals such as 'Igue' attract visitors from across Nigeria and abroad. Armlets are worn by dignitaries and the elite and can be made from metal, like this one, or ivory. During the illustrious Bead Festival, the king wears an armlet when dancing to avoid entanglement of his many coral beads. These were collected in the 1950s and were acquired by bequest of H.A. Lidderdale in 1992.

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