Benin empire

The Benin Empire or Edo Empire (1440-1897) was a large pre-colonial African state of modern Nigeria. There is still an Obo, or king, although currently his role is mainly symbolic. The first Oba was Eweka I who died in 1246. The Benin Empire was one of the oldest and most highly developed states in the coastal part of West Africa until it was annexed by the British Empire in 1897. The European imperial power of Great Britain ended the Empire as a political polity in the late nineteenth century. The Obo opposed the colonialists and so they burned his capital. However, after the death of the exiled 35th Obo, who had stubbornly resisted them, they allowed the 36th to return to Nigeria. Along with other traditional leaders in the post-colonial nation state of Nigeria, the Obo of Benin is today recognized as a member of the House of Chiefs. He is the leader of the Edo community of some 5,000,000 people.

Contents

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1 Origin
2 Golden Age
3 Government
4 People
5 European contact
6 Decline
7 Legacy
8 List of Obas of the Benin Empire (1180-Present)
8.1 Pre-Imperial Obas of Benin (1180-1440)
8.2 Obas of the Benin Empire (1440-1897)
8.3 Post-Imperial Obas of Benin (1914-Present)
9 Notes
10 References
11 External links
12 Credits

Within his own community, the Obo is symbolic of a long cultural and historical legacy which remains famous for its artifacts of bronze, ivory, and iron. Sadly, when the British set fire to the Empire's capital, Benin City, in 1897, they also burned many valuable works of art. The colonialists were so sure of their moral right to rule others that they often did not notice, or did not hesitate to destroy, evidence that those whom they thought "primitive" had many skills and technologies of their own.

Origin
According to one traditional account, the original people and founders of the Benin Empire, the Bini (or Edo people), were initially ruled by the Ogisos (Kings of the Sky). The city of Ibinu (later called Benin City) was founded in 1180 C.E.

About 36 known Ogiso are accounted for as rulers of the empire. On the death of the last Ogiso, his son and heir apparent Ekaladerhan was banished from Benin as a result of one of the Queens changing the message from the oracle to the Ogiso. Ekaladerhan was a powerful warrior and well loved Prince. On leaving Benin he travelled to the west of the present day Nigeria to the land of the Yorubas. At that time the Yoruba oracle said that their King will come out of the forest and when Ekaladerhan arrived at Ife, he was received as a King.

He changed his name to Imadoduwa meaning "I did not misplace my royalty" and became The Great Oduduwa of The Yoruba Land. On the death of his father, the last Ogiso, a group of Benin Chiefs led by Chief Oliha came to Ife, pleading with him to come back to Benin to ascend the throne. Oduduwa's reply was that a King cannot leave his Kingdom but he had seven sons and would ask one of them to go back to Benin to rule as the next King.

Oranmiyan, the son of Ekaladerhan aka Oduduwa, agreed to go to Benin. He spent some years in Benin and came back to Ife after his wife gave birth to a son named Eweka. Eweka I became the first Oba of Benin. In 1440, Oba Ewuare (Ewuare the Great) came to power and turned the city-state into an empire. Around 1470, he named the new state Edo.