The culture is eclectic, largely a result of many different ethnic groups in the country, but is. Who is the oba of benin kingdom in nigeria and why is he so important to so many people. The benin royal forces were able prevent them from spreading it into the main benin kingdom. Until the late 19th century, one of the major powers in west africa was the kingdom of benin, in what is now southwest nigeria. In particular, we hope to trace the general sociopolitical trajec tory of benin kingdom from the. The history of benin is a succession of several kingdoms, it was the seat of dahomey, one of the great medieval african kingdoms. Slave trade becomes most prominent aspect of emire jan 1, 1620. An oba, or king, and his court have, from around 0 c. Africa is the birthplace of humankind and knowing its history is essential for understanding the global society thats grown around it.
Benin has, in recent history, undergone simultaneous political and economic transformation. Timetoasts free timeline maker lets you create timelines online. In the late 1800s, the benin empire in africa was a hotbed of artistic skill and the british wanted a piece of it as many pieces as they could steal, in fact. Check out our country profile, full of essential information about benin s geography, history, government, economy, population, culture, religion and languages.
Akinola, 1976, the origin of the eweka dynasty of benin. Jun 01, 2010 the history of the great benin empire as a nation is the record of a state that was established 2300yrs before any contact was made with european inferior nation. Infoplease has everything you need to know about benin. According to our traditional history that evolved out of our ritualistic beliefs, this land of edo is the origin of the word. Its capital was edo, now known as benin city in edo state. The history of the kingdom of benin from african historical sources. The three main kingdoms created by the fon were that of allada, founded in the 16th century, it was the most powerful kingdom in. Remarkable historical figures of ancient benin kingdom. The great benin empire made remarkable achievements in those preeuropean years, in art, science. The kingdom of benin, also known as the benin kingdom, was a precolonial kingdom in what is now southern nigeria. Owing to the welcome given to the first edition in the vernacular of the short history, i have endeavoured in this english version to meet the needs of foreigners who do not understand the benin language, but are anxious to know its history.
Benin arose as a citystate in the late 1100s or 1200s and expanded into a larger kingdom or empire in the mid1400s. Before 1975, the republic of benin was known as dahomey, its french colonial name. Culture of benin history, people, clothing, women, beliefs. Its capital was edo, now known as benin city, edothian. He was a development banker before entering politics and wants to modernise the country. From the capital, benin city, oba ewuare and those who followed him would launch military campaigns to expand the. We would attempt to examine the influences on the language, dressing, food and cultural practices and norm of the yoruba people, in an attempt to reach a befitting conclusion as to the history of the yoruba, we would also include some folk lore and stories, to enable you the readers reach a strong conclusion. The kingdom of benin, also known as the benin kingdom, was a precolonial kingdom in what. Today, the region is one of the most politically stable in west africa and continues to overcome the torrid legacies of its past. The benin bronzes consist of several thousand commemorative plaques and sculptures that were made of brass of. According to legend, the civilization currently known as yoruba started in ancient ileife.
Within the kingdom, specialized artists belonged to guilds with hereditary membership and worked solely for the oba. Trade with portugal assists in adding to benin s wealth and power period. This had been named by europeans after the benin empire in presentday nigeria. The history of nigeria can be traced to prehistoric settlers nigerians living in the area as early as 1100 bc. The benin empire, also known as the benin kingdom, was a precolonial kingdom in what is now southern nigeria. This article aims to shed more light on the origin and history of the yoruba people.
In particular, we hope to trace the general sociopolitical trajec. According to historians, the empire was one of the oldest and most highly developed states in the coastal hinterland of west africa, dating perhaps to the eleventh century ce until it was annexed by the british empire in 1897. A short history of benin 3rd edition by jacob egharevba. The benin kingdom th 19th centuries as a megacommunity. Brief history of yoruba people, culture, religion and. The portuguese established contact with benin in the 15th century, and the kingdom became famous for its bronze works a derivative form of the ife heads and the mightiness of its rulers.
The ancient kingdom of benin which is believed to be 2054yearold is considered one of the richest and most powerful kingdoms in the history of nigeria. The origin of guilds in benin dates back to the earliest rulers of the kingdom who were referred to as ogiso ogie king. While the country has, all in all, made progress in consolidating its political transformation and is. Ancient benin empire was one of the oldest and most highly developed states in the coastal hinterland of west africa. The benin kingdom th 19 th centuries as a megacommunity article pdf available in social evolution and history 142. Benin, one of the principal historic kingdoms of the western african forest region fl. The great benin kingdom has been described as the oldest kingdoms. Until the late 19th century, one of the major powers in west africa was the kingdom of benin in what is now southwest nigeria.
Oct 28, 2015 the history of the great benin empire as a nation is the record of a state that was established 2300yrs before any contact was made with european inferior nation. Space does not permit a more detailed account of either the oyo or the benin empire. In 1440 oba ewuare, their king, turned his citystate into a large, powerful empire that controlled much of what is now nigeria. These are nonedo words of doubtful origin used by europeans as an adjective and for the dominant people of the edo kingdom and their language. The benin empire and slave trade a history lesson in 5 minutes. May 16, 2015 this is one of many videos to come that will provide detailed descriptions of various historical african states and empires that are neglected and ignored in todays society. Benin art history and origin of benin art edoaffairs. It was also the first nigerian territory that rivaled any contemporary european power in terms of governance and function. Mar 18, 2016 benin city, originally known as edo, was once the capital of a precolonial african empire located in what is now southern nigeria.
The benin british wars clash of two empires military might of benin empire west africa. The origins and brief history of the ewe people narrated by dr. The kingdom of benin, home of the edospeaking peoples, is located in the tropical rain forest region of what is now nigeria. The country of benin has no connection to benin city in modern nigeria, nor to the benin bronzes. Benins history is one of great violence and tragedy, but also of perseverance. The benin empire was one of the oldest and most highly developed. Iron technology the use of iron and development of its technology in benin kingdom. The first kingdom of benin is believed to have developed in the 12th or th century. History of benin empire the benin empire was a precolonial empire located in what is now southern nigeria. The benin bronzes is the name given to a group of artifacts produced by the benin empire, which occupied the area which is today nigeria. Pdf ancient african civilizations span the course of several millennia, in time, and a large expanse of lands stretching from the nile valley a c.
The history of the great benin empire as a nation is the record of a state that was established 2300yrs before any contact was made with european inferior nation. It is not to be confused with benin, the postcolonial nation state. Second in status only to the gods, the oba of benin remains a sacred overlord. Most of the people within the benin empire were edo, and they were ruled over by a monarch, who held the title of oba roughly equivalent to king. Benin art is also known as court art because it was discovered at the kings palace and majorly produced for the court of the oba of benin the supreme ruler of benin kingdom. The three main kingdoms created by the fon were that of allada, founded in the 16th century, it was the most powerful kingdom in ajaland before it fell to the armies of dahomey abomey. The benin empire was a precolonial empire located in what is now southern nigeria. Pdf contesting the history of benin kingdom researchgate. Make educational timelines or create a timeline for your company website. The inhabitants of benin spoke a group of closely related languages known as edo. The benin empire 14401897 was an empire begun in 1440 and is home to the yoruba and edo people. The history of ancient benin kingdom and empire in. The force cowrie for an emerging benin fcbe, a coalition of parties, closely linked to president yayi, won a plurality of the seats in the national assembly, providing the president with considerable influence over the legislative agenda.
The empire offers a snapshot of a relatively wellorganized and sophisticated african polity in operation before the major european colonial interlude. Kobla dotse published in 2011 xxxx publications disclaimer the material we present here is provided to you mainly for educational and information purposes only. Yet, while a great deal ofattention has been paid to the art of benin, little has. A unique tribe from the great benin empire called esan. The benin kingdoms oral history, like all histories, highlights selected past.
The largest ethnic group in benin is fondahomey which constitutes 39% of the total population. If thats not enough, click over to our collection of world maps and flags. History the history of the yorubas dates back to an era that existed before the ancient oyo empire of the 17th century. Yet, while a great deal ofattention has been paid to the art of benin. Then it became part of the independent country of nigeria. This is one of many videos to come that will provide detailed descriptions of various historical african states and empires that are neglected and ignored in todays society. Learn about the ancient kingdom of benin, where was it a when did it begin. On 30 november 1975, it was renamed to benin, after the body of water on which the country liesthe bight of benin.
It should not be confused with the modernday country called benin, formerly called dahomey. Space does not permit a more detailed account of either the oyo or the benin empire, nor of the other yoruba states includ. It should not be confused with the modernday republic of benin, formerly the republic of dahomey. In the benin kingdom the obas kings power is less than in centuries past, but the ideas underlying kingship persist, through myth and ritual, as a general cognitive model. It covers an area of 44,310 sqm and is home to about 11 million people.
Precolonial benin kingdom not to be confused with benin, kingdom of benin is an area of nigeria, benin city in that region. Sep 07, 2006 moreover, benin is a relatively safe country with low levels of violence. Aug 18, 2018 benin arose as a citystate in the late 1100s or 1200s and expanded into a larger kingdom or empire in the mid1400s. The statement credited to oba erediauwa omonoba uku akpolokpolo, that the yoruba race originated from benin kingdom, was very rich in details and calls for. Three years after the coup that brought major kerekou to power, the name was changed to the peoples republic of benin, reflecting the marxistleninist ideology of the new government. It was founded by the first oba of benin who was the youngest son of the supreme god. A second benin empire m yth is the fabul ous character of arualan, son. Benin was an important empire in the history of nigeria because it rose to international fame for its artworks benin bronze which were exported to different parts of europe and the rest of the world. Responsibility chief daniel nabuleleorogie oronsaye.
The benin art is our topic for today and our team is sure you will find it interesting according to history, benin art originated from the powerful ancient benin kingdom, located in the southsouth region of nigeria. The benin kingdom th 19 th centuries as a megacommunity. The origin of the benin people seem to have been lost with myths and folktales as many stories have come up over the years as to how the benin people came to be, even to the point that. The great benin empire made remarkable achievements in those preeuropean years, in art, science, administration, technology, political organization, architectures, astronomy, town. The benin empire was one of the oldest precolonial empires with capital benin city. Learn more about the history, geography, and culture of benin in this article. Use and abuse of oral traditions, journal of the historical. Islam was introduced towards the end of the 19th century by nupe warriors who carried out their campaigns in some part of north of edo state when the land was still under the jurisdiction of benin empire monarchial authority. Today, the oba of benin leads religious ceremonies, but he no longer rules his people.
When the supreme god decided to send his children to the world, he gave an option to each of them to choose what to take away. We do know, however, that as an empire it began to be important early in the 17th century, and by 1780 had attained its greatest sizegreater than any other coastal african state, stretching from the niger river to the sea and from dahomey to the benin border in the east law 1977. The southeastern benin empire, ruled by a dynasty that traced its ancestry to ooduan royal house but which was largely populated by the edo and. The study shows that, while the history of military organisation cannot be separated from the general political and social history of a period, the benin military system also had a logic of its own which advanced the aims of the state and of the empire. When european merchant ships began to visit west africa from the 15th century onwards, benin came to control the trade between the inland peoples and the europeans on the coast. The kingdom of benin s capital was edo, now known as benin city in edo state. Numerous ancient african civilizations settled in the region that is today nigeria, such as the kingdom of nri, the benin empire, and the oyo empire. Tourism is just the kind of industry that president yayi boni, who came to office earlier this year, is keen to promote. One of the most mysterious episodes of benin history, namely the establishment of the socalled 1st. Ife, which flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries, emerged as a major power in the forested areas west of the niger and south of edo pendant maskedo pendant mask of the queen. Benin was a french colony from the late 19th century until 1960. There is a great and unique tribe from the benin empire called esan esan.
Gallery activities pdf version download pdf version a glimpse of a thriving ancient civilisation, these resources include information on the bronze plaques and art of benin, gallery activities to engage students and a guide for teachers, featuring primary history schemes of work. Save benin s history is one of great violence and tragedy, but also of perseverance. Benin city, originally known as edo, was once the capital of a precolonial african empire located in what is now southern nigeria. The republic of benin is a small west african country.
Here, youll discover resources on the continents prominent historical figures, complex racial politics, and turbulent military past. A british adventurer called ling roth, was the first to refer to benin as great, a tribute not only to the extend of the benin empire but also to the elaborate, detailed and efficient administrative machinery the people had evolved over a period of more than 1,000 years. It was located in presentday southern nigeria, east of the yoruba land and west of the niger river. Benin held legislative elections on march 31, 2007, for the 83 seats in the national assembly. The kingdom of benin, located in the southern forests of west africa modern nigeria and formed by the edo people, flourished from the th. But what were the beautiful benin bronzes and did the current queen of england really fence stolen goods. The origin of the benin people seem to have been lost with myths and folktales as many stories have come up over the years as to how the benin people came to be, even to the point. The sad history of benin empire, conquered by the british. The benin kingdom was one of the oldest and most highly developed states in the coastal hinterland of west africa, formed around the. The culture is eclectic, largely a result of many different ethnic groups in the countr. The benin people of nigeria hail from the formally called benin empire precolonially located in what is now southern nigeria. The ancient benin empire its cultural heritage duration. Dec 09, 2017 the fall of the benin empire came as a result of the advent of british colonialism and after nigeria gained her independence in 1960, restructuring the country became very important, therefore, edo state was coined out of bendel sate which comprised of a region of the now delta and edo state, benin city however remained the capital and seat of.
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