Benin City serves as the capital and largest metropolitan centre of Edo State, situated in southern Nigeria. Notably, it ranks as the fourth-most populous city in Nigeria, according to the 2006 national census, preceded only by Lagos, Kano, and Ibadan.
The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler and the custodian of the culture of the Edo people and all Edoid people. The then Kingdom of Benin has continued to be mostly populated by the Edo.
Ewuare, originally known as Prince Ogun, was the twelfth Oba of the Benin Empire from 1440 until 1473. Ewuare became king in a violent coup against his brother Uwaifiokun which destroyed much of Benin City. After the war, Ewuare rebuilt much of the city of Benin, reformed political structures in the kingdom, greatly expanded the territory of the kingdom, and fostered the arts and festivals. He left a significant legacy in the Kingdom of Benin
Ọ̀rànmíyàn, also known as Ọranyan, was a legendary Yoruba king from the kingdom of Ile-Ife, and the founder of the Benin Kingdom and the Oyo Empire. Although he was the youngest of the descendants of Oduduwa, he became the prime heir of Oduduwa upon his return to claim his grandfather's throne.
The Afemai people, also spelled Afenmai are a group of people living in the northern part of Edo State south geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
The Kingdom of Benin, also known as Great Benin or Benin Kingdom is a kingdom within what is now considered southern Nigeria. It has no historical relation to the modern republic of Benin, which was known as Dahomey from the 17th century until 1975. The Kingdom of Benin's capital was Edo, now known as Benin City in Edo State, Nigeria. The Benin Kingdom was one of the oldest and most developed states in the coastal hinterland of West Africa. It grew out of the previous Edo Kingdom of Igodomigodo around the 11th century AD; it was annexed by the British Empire in 1897.
Ewu is a Nigerian town situated in Esan Central Local Government Area in the Edo State of Nigeria. The city, an Esan tribe, lies on 200 feet in the plateau region of central Edo State, 100 kilometres north of Benin City, the capital of Edo State, Nigeria.
Ọmọ n'Ọba n'Ẹdo Uku Akpọlọkpọlọ, Akenzua II was the thirty-seventh Oba of Benin reigning from 1933 until his death in 1978.
The Kingdom of Ugu is a kingdom that exists in Nigeria, in what is now Edo State. The Edo State is also called Benin, though it is not to be confused with the country. The Kingdom of Ugu originated out of Igodomigodo in Nigeria.
Unuamen also spelt Unuame is an ancient village community by Ovia river in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Unuame is about 15 kilometres (9 mi) from Benin City and 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Benin Airport. Unuame is one of the ancestral homes of Oba Esigie's maternal grandfather and home town to some group of Binis. The people of Unuame have remained loyal to the monarch since the establishment of the ancient Kingdom of Benin. Being a part of the Kingdom of Benin, Unuame is at the heart of the tropical rainforest in the southern part of Nigeria, way to the west of the delta of the Niger River and inland from the coast.
Aiguobasinwin Ovonramwen, Eweka II was the thirty-sixth Oba of Benin, reigning from 1914 to 1933.
Uokha lies on the latitude 7 07’N and longitude 6 04’E in a deciduous derived rainforest zone of Edo State. The climate is sub humid tropical with an average annual rainfall of about 1967mm. Uokha is a town in Owan East, a local government area of Edo state, Nigeria. It is located about 123 km northwest of Benin city the capital city. It has a population of approximately 10,000 inhabitants.
Igun Street, also known as Igun-Eronmwon Quarters, is a street situated in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. This street is renowned for being the residence of the Guild of Benin Bronze and Brass Casters, known as the Igun-Eronmwon. It holds the designation of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Notably, it stands as the second most frequented tourist attraction within Benin City. Tourists, art dealers, and collectors routinely visit Igun Street to observe the comprehensive process involved in crafting these objects.
Delaiso or Laiso is a morning greeting (ukhu) in Edo State, Nigeria, primarily associated with individuals whose family heritage can be traced back to the historic Ogiso Dynasty. The term "Delaiso" is a combination of the Edo words "Dela," meaning "good morning," and "Oiso," signifying "Ogiso," the ancient rulers of the region.
Eweka I was the first Oba of Benin and presided over the kingdom's shift from the Ogiso Dynasty to the establishment of the Obaship. His 35-year reign had a notable impact on the political, cultural, and traditional aspects of the kingdom. Before Eweka I's rule, the Benin Kingdom faced uncertainty due to the banishment of Owodo, the last Ogiso, for misrule. Oduduwa, who was the father of Oromiyan had been exiled to Uhe (Ife), which eventually set the stage for Eweka I's ascension to power. The turning point occurred when Oduduwa sent his son, Oromiyan, to Benin as an emissary. Oromiyan's arrival was met with resistance, leading to his settlement in Usama, on the outskirts of Benin City.
The Igbesanmwan is a hereditary guild of ivory carvers in the Benin Kingdom, a pre-colonial African state located in present-day Edo State, Nigeria. Members of the Igbesanmwan guild hold the responsibility of crafting ivory items, including masks, tusks, staffs, leopards, and various other symbols denoting royal authority and eminence, for the Oba (king) and the royal court. In addition to their ivory craftsmanship, the Igbesanmwan possess proficiency in working with a range of other materials, such as wood, brass, and coral. This guild is recognised as one of the most ancient and esteemed in Benin, with their artistic work being widely appreciated for its aesthetic appeal and technical mastery.
Ewedo, originally known as Prince Efabo, was the fourth Oba of the Kingdom of Benin who reigned from c. 1255 AD – c. 1280 AD. He was the only son and successor of Ehenmihen. He is credited with moving the seat of his government from Usama to the present palace site, introducing various gods and laws, and changing the name of the country from Ile or Ile-Ibinu to Ubini (Benin). He also reformed the political and administrative system of the kingdom, established a palace bureaucracy, and expanded the territory and influence of Benin.
The Battle of Ekiokpagha was a military conflict that took place in 1255 on the Plains of Ogboka, near Benin City. Its designation as a battle is a mere historical formality as there was no fighting, but Ewedo's forces killed Chief Oliha, a senior ally of Ogiamien. The battle was fought between Ewedo, the recently coronated Oba of Benin, and Ogiamien III, the head of a royal family in the Benin Empire who disputed his claim to the throne. Oba Ewedo was victorious and established his palace at the site of the battle. Ewedo recognised Ogiamien III as a chief under his kingship.
A Short History of Benin is a non-fiction book by Jacob Egharevba, first published in 1934 by the Church Mission Society Press in Lagos. The book offers a historical perspective on the Benin Empire, a pre-colonial African state now part of Nigeria. The book is an English version of the author's earlier work in Edo, Ekhere Vb' Itan Edo, which was published in 1933. The book explores the beginnings, culture, and political structure of the Benin Empire, as well as the events leading to its British invasion and Ovonramwen's exile in 1897. It also includes a chronology of the Obas (kings) of Benin from the 13th to the 20th century.
The Dynasty of Igodo, also known as the Ogiso Dynasty, was the earliest known ruling dynasty of the Edo people, founded by Igodo, the first Ogiso of Igodomigodo. The dynasty began around 900 AD and lasted until the early 12th century when it was succeeded by the Oba Dynasty. The Ogiso Dynasty influenced the early sociopolitical structure of the region by introducing centralised governance and laying the foundations for the Benin Empire.
