To the left is Agoli Agbo, last king of Dahomey, who can be marked by the umbrella he is carrying. On his face he wears a sieve to filter the air and give off a catlike appearance. In his left hand is a royal axe, makpo, which balances his shoulders. The makpo, along with his clothing carry the name fa names (or strong names of past kings).
The sieve which appears to make him like a lion is extremely descriptive of the Dahomey belief system. For example, it is believed that kings may turn themselves into animals to flee danger or to observe discretely. Many bocio, sculptures, which are created to protect the king as well as to mark his authority, represent the lion's importance. For example, in honor of King Glele a lifesize anthropomorphic lion figure was created and used in battle in battle to scare the enemy. Bocio are believed to be spiritually charged. It was also used in annual ceremonies.
Yet another example of a bocio is the, Agoje, that depicts a warrior holding a sword.
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