Introduction to the kingdom of Benin

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How did the kingdom begin?

Cartoon of a ruler of Benin surrounded by guards.
  • The kingdom of Benin began in the 900s.
  • The Edo people settled in the rainforests of West Africa.
  • The kingdom was called Igodomigodo.
  • It was ruled by a series of kings, known as Ogisos, which means ‘rulers of the sky’.
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Who were the Obas?

Cartoon of person in decorated clothes outside a building in Benin.
A bronze statue of Prince Oranmiyan
This brass figure is believed to be Prince Oranmiyan. Edo legend says that no one in Benin had ever seen a horse before Oranmiyan arrived!

  • In the 1100s the Ogisos lost control of their kingdom.

  • The King of Ife sent his son Prince Oranmiyan to bring peace to the Edo kingdom.

  • Oranmiyan chose his son Eweka to be the first Oba of Benin. An Oba was a ruler.

  • By the 1400s Benin was a wealthy kingdom.

  • The Obas lived in beautiful palaces decorated with shining brass.

A bronze statue of Prince Oranmiyan
This brass figure is believed to be Prince Oranmiyan. Edo legend says that no one in Benin had ever seen a horse before Oranmiyan arrived!
A plaque showing an Oba of Benin and attendants
This brass plaque shows the Oba, or King, of Benin and his attendants. Why do you think the Oba is shown to be much bigger than the other people? The plaque is on display at the British Museum.
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Who were the five great warrior kings?

  • Around 1440, Ewuare became the new Oba of Benin.
  • He built up an army.
  • He also rebuilt Benin City and the royal palace.

Find out more about the warrior kings below.

ObaWhat did they do?
Oba EwuareFirst of the great warrior kings
Oba OzoluaBelieved to have won 200 battles.
Oba EsigieCreated an empire and won land from the Kingdom of Ife.
Oba OrhogbuaDuring his reign, the empire reached its largest size.
Oba EhengbudaLast of the Obas
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Listen: What was trade like in Benin?

In the year 1668 a Dutch writer called Olfert Dapper put together some merchants’ descriptions of their travels. Listen to them in this audio clip.

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How did the kingdom end?

Photograph of Oba Akenzua II
Benin belonged to the British Empire until 1960. Then it became part of the independent country of Nigeria. Today, the Oba of Benin leads religious ceremonies, but he no longer rules his people.

  • By the 1800s, Britain wanted to take over Benin's rich natural resources (palm oil and rubber).

  • In 1897, a group of British officials tried to visit Benin. A group of warriors drove them back and several British men were killed.

  • This attack made the British angry. They sent over a thousand soldiers to invade Benin. Benin City was burnt to the ground and the kingdom of Benin became part of the British Empire.

Photograph of Oba Akenzua II
Benin belonged to the British Empire until 1960. Then it became part of the independent country of Nigeria. Today, the Oba of Benin leads religious ceremonies, but he no longer rules his people.
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Activity: Quiz – Kingdom of Benin

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Help this team of adventurers race their way to victory. Explore the globe in this exciting game update to discover new audio voiced by Ade Adepitan and fun animations. Challenge yourself with brand-new achievements and become a high-flyer!

Race Across the Continents game - new update!
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