The name Olokun is attributed to this head. The digging up of a bronze head in the late 19th century at the Olokun Groove could be recalled. The original Ori Olokun was used in the annual Olokun festival in commemoration of Olokun, the goddess of the sea and patroness of bead-making.
The artwork probably represents an Ooni who must have been the head of all institutions for deity worship in Yoruba land. Prohibited from taking the original head out of the country, Frobenius did take one small piece that was broken off. With his detailed description and a mold made in Nigeria at the time the head was found, this fragment would have provided sufficient information to enable an experienced caster to make a copy.
The head remained in the hand of the family responsible for the Olokun court until the Ooni had it brought to the Ife Palace for safe keeping in 1934. Every year, it was brought to the sacred groove for annual rites. Presumably, as some point, a copy replaced the original.