Benin City is the capital and largest city of Edo State, southern Nigeria. It is the fourth-largest city in Nigeria according to the 2006 census, after Lagos, Kano, and Ibadan. It is situated approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of the Benin River and 320 kilometres (200 mi) by road east of Lagos. Benin City is the centre of Nigeria's rubber industry, and Palm oil production is also a significant industry.
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.
Ozolua, originally known as Prince Okpame, was the fifteenth Oba of the Kingdom of Benin who reigned from c. 1483 AD – c. 1504 AD. He greatly expanded the Kingdom through warfare and increased contact with the Portuguese Empire, and was later called Ozolua n'Ibaromi, meaning Ozolua the Conqueror in Edo. He was an important Oba in the history of the Kingdom of Benin and retains importance in the folklore and celebrations of the region.
Chief Jacob Uwadiae Egharevba (1893–1981) was a Bini historian and traditional chief whose writings specialized in the history of Benin Kingdom.
Esigie, originally known as Osawe, was the son of Oba Ozolua, who reigned in the late 15th century, and his second wife, Queen Idia. He was the sixteenth Oba who ruled the medieval Benin Kingdom, now Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria from c. 1504 – c. 1550. Works of art commissioned by Esigie are held in prominent museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum.
Idia was the mother of Esigie, who reigned as Oba (king) of the Edo people from 1504 to 1550. Historians do know that Idia was alive during the Idah war because she played a role that led to a great Benin victory. It has been argued that Idia, therefore, was the true power behind the throne of her son. She played a significant role in the rise and reign of her son, being described as a great warrior who fought relentlessly before and during her son's reign as the Oba (king) of the Edo people. Queen Idia was instrumental in securing the title of Oba for her son Esigie following the death of his father Oba Ozolua. To that end, she raised an army to fight off his brother Arhuaran who was supposed to be the Oba by right and tradition but was subsequently defeated in battle. Esigie’s mother became the 17th Oba of Benin.
Benin art is the art from the Kingdom of Benin or Edo Empire (1440–1897), a pre-colonial African state located in what is now known as the Southern region of Nigeria. Primarily made of cast bronze and carved ivory, Benin art was produced mainly for the court of the Oba of Benin – a divine ruler for whom the craftsmen produced a range of ceremonially significant objects. The full complexity of these works can be appreciated through the awareness and consideration of two complementary cultural perceptions of the art of Benin: the Western appreciation of them primarily as works of art, and their understanding in Benin as historical documents and as mnemonic devices to reconstruct history, or as ritual objects. This original significance is of great importance in Benin.
The Kingdom of Benin, also known as the Edo Kingdom or Benin Kingdom, is a kingdom within what is now 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, and lasted until it was annexed by the British Empire in 1897.
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.
The Benin Moat, also known as the Benin Iya, or Walls of Benin, are a series of massive earthworks encircling Benin City in Nigeria's Edo State. These moats have deep historical roots, with evidence suggesting their existence before the establishment of the Oba monarchy. Construction began around 800 AD and continued until 1460 AD, involving large-scale manual labour and the repurposing of earth from the inner ditch to build the outer berm. Some traditional sources claim that these earthworks spanned approximately 16,000 kilometres (9,900 mi), enclosing about 6,500 square kilometres (2,500 sq mi) of land.
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.
Obanosa, originally known as Prince Osifo, was the thirty-first Oba of the Benin Kingdom, reigning from c. 1804 AD – c. 1816 AD. His reign was marked by a notable conflict known as the Okpughe. Little is known about Obanosa's early life, including specific details about his birth date and place of birth. However, historical records indicate his royal lineage within the Benin Kingdom, and he ascended to the throne following the passing of his predecessor, Oba Akengbuda.
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.
Ogbebo was the thirty-second Oba who ruled the Benin Empire in 1816 AD, albeit for a brief period. His time in power was marked by a contest for control of the Benin throne, leading to a civil conflict.
Osemwende, originally known as Prince Eredia-uwa, was the thirty-third Oba of Benin who reigned from c. 1816 AD – c. 1848 AD. He was the son of Oba Obanosa and the brother of Ogbebo, whom he defeated in a civil war to claim the throne. He restored peace and stability to the kingdom after a turbulent period of succession crisis and expanded and consolidated his empire through military conquests and diplomatic alliances. He also promoted trade and commerce with foreign nations, especially the Portuguese, and fostered art and learning among his people. He was revered as a wise and benevolent ruler who brought good tidings to his kingdom.
The Akure–Benin War in 1818 was a conflict between the Benin Kingdom and the Akure Kingdom in what is now Nigeria. The origins of this conflict can be traced to the complex history of the region, with Akure being a place of ancient settlements, some dating back to the early Ife kingdom. The Akure Kingdom emerged when these communities were consolidated under the rule of Prince Omoremilekun, who descended from Oduduwa, a revered figure in Yoruba history. Historically, the relationship between Benin and Akure had been marked by peace and mutual respect due to shared cultural heritage and ancestry.
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.
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.
Olua was the fourteenth Oba of Benin who reigned from c. 1473 AD – c. 1480 AD. He was the second child of Ewuare. Olua's reign is noted for his actions and the establishment of the Itsekiri kingdom through his son Iginuwa.
Ohen was the eighth Oba (monarch) of the Benin Kingdom, who ruled from c. 1334 AD – c. 1370 AD. He was the son and successor of Oba Oguola, who had conquered the Ekiti and Akure kingdoms and built the first moat around Benin City. He expanded the Benin Empire to the west and east, and increased its control over several tributary states. He also interacted with the Portuguese and the English, and received gifts such as a telescope from them.
