This bronze armlet originally belonging to a Yoruba chief from old Oyo (Katunga) who was killed in the wars between the Eyoes-as the Yoruba people from Old Oyo were called-and the Dahomeyans sometime between 1818 and 1825. 
A spoil of war, it was then presented to the victorious King Gezo of Dahomey who was very much taken with its design and gave it to the great-great-grandfather of the Chief of the Brass-casters to have a copy made.
At that time the art of bronze casting was not practised in Dahomey. The brass casting for which the country is now famous, is of a comparatively recent origin.
The armlet is at present time the only bronze casting known from Old Oyo, the ancient capital of the Yoruba country. It is not known exactly if the Alafin had bronze workers employed in his court, or if he had to send his order and commission to the bronze workers at Ife.
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