ObaofBenin.com contains all the information you need to know about the Oba of Benin and the edo people, the history of Oba of benin, Benin Empire, the list of the present and past obas of benin, edo language, benin language, Oba Erediawa, the current oba of benin The oba's vast palace complex is the administrative and religious heart of the Benin Kingdom. Photos / Ezelekhae Ewuare: The Crown Prince Of Benin Kingdom Unveiled In Edo (Photos) / The Uneme People And The Curse Of Oba Egbeka Of Benin Empire (2) (3) (4), The Eze Nris Of Nri Town / Aro Kingdom Re-brands After 700 Years / Super Bright All In One Integrated Motion Sensor Led Solar Street Light In Niger, Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10). In the 12th century, a greatpalaceintrigue erupted and crown prince Ekaladerhan, the only son of the last Ogiso was sentenced to death as a result of the first Queen (who was barren) deliberately changing an oracle message to the Ogiso. All rights reserved. You can learn more about how we use cookies by visiting our privacy policy page. Eweka I (1180-1246) Uwuakhuahen (1246-1250) Ehenmihen (1250-1260) Ewedo (1260-1274) Oguola (1274-1287) Edoni (1287-1292) Udagbedo (1292-1329) Ohen (1329-1366) Egbeka (1366-1397) Orobiru (1397-1434) Uwaifiokun (1434-1440) Ewuare (1440-1473) Ezoti (1473-1475) Olua(1475-1480) Ozolua (1480-1504) Esigie (1504-1547) Orhogbua (1547-1580) Ehengbuda (1580-1602) Ohuan (1602-1656) Ohenzae (1656-1661) Akenzae (1661 . The ancient Nigerian kingdom of Benin has crowned a new king to continue a direct lineage of monarchs that have ruled the kingdom for the past 186 years. Ewuare II. They include (Gabaro, Akinsemoyin, and Erelu Kuti).Oba ado ruled for 39years. Culture (6) Women (7) Money moves (8) History (9) News; . By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Culture / List Of Obas Of The Benin Empire ( 1180 -present) And History Of Benin Kingdom (2362 Views), Nigerian Man Visits British Museum, Spots Stolen Benin Kingdom Artifacts. "List of Obas (Kings) of Benin Empire" by Teslim Opemipo Omipidan, OldNaija.com. Dutch reports from the 16th and 17th centuries described Edo (Benin City) as the same size as the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands. While this debate continues to rage, though, the history of the kingdom that produced these exquisite artworks has remained relatively obscure outside the region. What started as a mission to share educational news has grown into your daily go-to for educational resources for teachers, parents and students. His son whom he left behind was deaf and dumb, and the elders recoursed to Oranmiyan who gave them charmed seeds omo ayo to play with which will make him to talk. Queen IDIA was born in the 15th Century in Uzeghudu (now Edo State) and was married to Oba Ozolua. When Oba Ovonramwen died in exile in 1914, his son and successor took the name Eweka II, harking back to the dynastys foundation. Pre-Imperial Obas of Benin (1180-1440) * Eweka I (1180-1246) * Uwuakhuahen (1246-1250) * Henmihen (1250-1260) * Ewedo (1260-1274) * Oguola (1274-1287) * Edoni (1287-1292) * Udagbedo (1292-1329) * Ohen (1329-1366) * Egbeka (1366-1397) * Orobiru (1397-1434) * Uwaifiokun (1434-1440) Still, externals have . Ile Ife is known worldwide for its ancient and naturalistic bronze, stone and terracotta sculptures, which reached their peak of artistic expressions between 1200 and 1400 A.D. In death, he was worshipped along with the gods. He caused his son born to him by Erinmwinde to be made King in his place, and returned to Yoruba land Ile-Ife. Register or login to make commenting easier. As debates rage over the return of the Benin Bronzes to Africa, Bronwen Everill delves into the history of these exquisite artworks and their creators, exploring the flowering of a mighty kingdom and its ruinous defeat by the British. For almost 1,900 years, the Binis have practised what we refer to as the monolithic-monarchical system of government. In times past between 40 BCE and 1100 CE, the rulers of Benin were called Ogiso until Oba Eweka I instituted the Eweka dynasty around 1180 where the kingdom is ruled by the Oba. The people and royal kingmakers preferred their kings son as natural next in line to rule. Lower-ranking officers complained that the senior officers kept the best loot for themselves. Welcome ToFlashlearners:Im Flashisaac; Students Advocate, SEO Expert & A Blogger From The Future. Over time, the glowing reports by Portuguese and Dutch visitors in the 15th and 16th centuries were replaced by a narrative of a barbaric, violent, pagan, absolutist state whose people needed to be either rescued and civilised under colonial rule or wiped out altogether. Eweka thus started the Oba dynasty. Oba is Traditional Ruler and the custodian of the culture of the Edo people. As British explorer Richard Burton then a consul in west Africa observed at that time, Benin seemed to care little for the suspension of trade: it became painfully evident that they could stand the ordeal better than we could. Thick crowds clog the roads in the heart of Benin City in the south of Nigeria, in expectation of the coronation of the new Oba of the centuries-old Benin Kingdom. Says Oba Ewuare has brought peace, orderliness, development and progress to Benin Kingdom. Its capital was Edo, now known asBenin CityinEdostate. Donate. Benin Kingdom enters a period of decline due to a series of civil wars and the abolition of the slave trade with Europe. In this webinar, Hether Shulman, Assistant Principal, and Anne Marie Osheyack, High School English Teacher, from Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School. The Benin Kingdom was "one of the oldest and most highly developed states in the coastal hinterland of West Africa". Oba Eweka I, Oranmiyan's son, is said to have ascended to power at some time between 1280 and 1300. Especially for the British tyre market. Benin Kingdom annexed by the British Empire in 1897. Then, in the 15th century, a prince wrested the throne from his brother, curtailed the power of the elders and renamed the capital Edo. Sacrifices were performed every fifth day. Such actions, particularly the annexation of Lagos in 1861, worried Oba Ovonramwens predecessor, Adolo (reigned c184888). Benin and the British were in constant communication. They seized intricately carved elephant tusks, brass castings of the heads of monarchs at least 500 years old, and ivory leopards later given to Queen Victoria, all described by previous visitors as displaying truly artistic workmanship. All rights reserved. The First Ogiso was Igodo while Igiso Owodo was the last. The Edo People were formally ruled by the Ogisos which means Ruler from the Sky. Over time, conflict erupted between various of the groups that fell under Benins sway, and the kingdom launched military campaigns to retain control over Yoruba and Igbo groups who sought their own trading relationships or new alliances. There were two separate annual series of rites that honoured past Obas. Benin was one of the most important historical kingdoms in the western African forest region from the 13th to the 19th centuries. The first Ogiso (Ogiso Igodo), wielded much influence and gained popularity as a good ruler. Yet its a fascinating story, which began perhaps seven centuries before the British attack. Unless specified, this website is not in any way affiliated with any of the institutions featured. Oranmiyan was resisted by Ogiamien Irebor, one of the palace chiefs and took up his abode in the palace built for him at Usama by the elders (now acoronationshrine). List of Obas of the Benin Empire ( 1180 -present) Pre-Imperial Obas of Benin ( 1180- 1440) Eweka I ( 1180-1246 ) Uwuakhuahen ( 1246-1250) Henmihen ( 1250- 1260) Ewedo ( 1260- 1274) Oguola ( 1274-1287) Edoni ( 1287-1292) Udagbedo ( 1292-1329 ) Ohen ( 1329-1366 ) Egbeka ( 1366-1397) Orobiru ( 1397-1434) Uwaifiokun ( 1434-1440 ) You can unsubscribe at any time. Phillips hoped that sufficient ivory would be found in the kings house to pay the expenses incurred in removing the king. The Benin palace (eguae) shares many contemporary elements with royal accommodations worldwide: air conditioning, electricity, electronics, and a glamorous new facade-an innovation of the current monarch, Oba Ewuare II. He joined his ancestor in 1669 and his first son Gabaro succeeded him. By the 1400s, they had established a prosperous kingdom led by the Oba, a formidable ruler. What is today known as Beninwas first calledIgodomigodo. The Oba title was created by Oba Oranmiyan, the first Oba of Benin Empire who is also a grand son of Oduduwa, the first Oni of Ile-Ife. Though, farther Edo clans, such as the Itsekiris and the Urhobos still referred to the city as Ubini up till the late 19th century, as evidence implies. Installed in palace shrines, these figures exalted past obas and their mothers, along with the chiefs and warriors who helped them. What happened to the Benin Kingdom in 1700 AD? In the 1100s the Ogisos lost control of their kingdom. From here the oba oversees the . However, the Edo people had not forgotten the treasures that had been stolen from them. All rights reserved. History of Queen Idia. The Benin Bronzes taken by the British, later held in museums in London and elsewhere in Europe, as well as America, have long been the subject of great controversy, spawning a proliferation of books, news reports and public enquiries. The Kingdom of Benin (also known as the Edo Kingdom, or the Benin Empire) was a kingdom in what is now in southwestern Nigeria. Amid the European "scramble" for Africa, this invasion enabled Britain to secure a strategic section . While playing with the seeds he announced Owomika meaning my hands catch it in yoruba but corrupted to Eweka by the Edos. In 1897, a British military force, of approximately 1,200 men, under the command of Sir Harry Rawson, mounted the Benin punitive Expedition. The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler and the custodian of the culture of the Edo people and all Edoid people. None of the 3 before Ewuare I achieved anything of note. The then Kingdom of Benin has been and continues to be mostly populated by the Edo. Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (18881914). That same account, published in Amsterdam in 1668, said of the royal palace: Every roof is adorned with a small spired tower on which casted copper birds are standing, being very artfully sculpted.. Below shows the list of Obas of Benin from the 1st Oba of Benin to the 40th and current Oba Oba Oronmiyan - 1170 A.D -1200A.D (1st Oba of Benin) Oba Eweka I - 1200AD-1235AD Oba Uwakhuanhen - 1235AD-1243AD Oba Ehenmihen - 1243AD-1255AD Oba Ewedo - 1255AD-1280AD Oba Oguola - 1280AD-1295AD Oba Edoni -1295AD-1299AD Oba Udagbedo - 1299AD-1334AD Six months later, after his kingdom had been absorbed into the British empire, Oba Ovonramwen returned to surrender. The original people and founders of the Benin Kingdom, theEdo people, were initially ruled by theOgiso(Kings of the Sky) who called their landIgodomigodo. Hausa/Fulani Pre-Colonial Political Administration, Structure of the Hausa/Fulani Pre-Colonial Political Administration, Summary of Hausa/Fulani Pre-Colonial Administration, Igbo Pre-Colonial Political Administration, Structure of Igbo Pre-Colonial Political System, Summary of Igbo Pre-Colonial Political Administration, Yoruba Pre-Colonial Political Administration, Structure of the Yoruba Pre-Colonial Political Administration, Summary of Yoruba Pre-Colonial Political Administration, Benin Pre-Colonial Political Administration, Tiv Pre-Colonial Political Administration, Structure of the Tiv Pre-Colonial Political Administration, The Akan Pre-Colonial Political Administration, The Ewe Pre-Colonial Political Administration, The Mole-Dagbani Pre-Colonial Political Administration, The Mende Pre-Colonial Political Administration, The Temne Pre-Colonial Political Administration, The Mandingo Pre-Colonial Political Administration, The Wolof Pre-Colonial Political Administration, The Vai Pre-Colonial Political Administration, The Kru Pre-Colonial Political Administration, Continue With the Mobile App | Available on Google Play. In the first edition, Egharevba wrote: "Many many years ago, Odua (Oduduwa) of Uhe (Ile-Ife), the father and progenitor of the Yoruba kings sent his eldest son Obagodo - who took the title of Ogiso. At the end of each series of rites, the current Oba's own father was honoured with a public festival . Sacrifices were performed every fifth day. The Organization of Great Benin Kingdom otherwise referred to as OGBK is a charitable, not-for-profit, non-political, and non-religious socio-cultural organization of Edo people committed to the propagation, celebration and promotion of the history and culture of the ancient Benin Kingdom. Trade with Europeans, beginning with the Portuguese in 1472, provided Ewuare I and his successors with access to more metals, as well as weapons that helped them defend their tributary subjects. The Kingdom of Benin fell in 1897, when British forces launched a "punitive expedition" against it. Teslim Opemipo Omipidan is an award winning Nigerian journalist, poet, historian and founder of OldNaija.com. We use cookies and similar technologies to ensure our website works properly, personalize your browsing experience, analyze how you use our website, and deliver relevant ads to you. By 1830, as British captain William Fitzwilliam Owen commented, the falling off in the trade was severely felt by the people of Benin. This ivory double bell (Egogo) is one of the oldest surviving African ivory sculptures; only six of these ivory gongs are known. Under his reforms, the oba was placed at the centre of both political and religious life in Edo. Cookies are small files that are stored on your browser. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Post-imperial Obas of Benin since 1914 include Eweka II (1914-1933), Akenzua II (1933-1978),. Bronwen Everill is the 1973 College Lecturer in History at Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, This content was first published in the August 2021 issue of BBC History Magazine, Save up to 40% when you subscribe today and receive a book of your choice worth up to 30 PLUS free access to HistoryExtra.com. Nairaland - Copyright 2005 - 2022 Oluwaseun Osewa. The centralised control of trade was not always popular in the region, despite the protections offered by the oba. The Oba at the time Oba Adolo, tried to stop all contact with Britain, but the British insisted on their right to trade. The objects were in storage at . It has stood in the same location in Benin City for at least 700 years, though its size has expanded and contracted over time. Which Europeans country started to trade with Benin in 16th Century? Nairaland - Copyright 2005 - 2022 Oluwaseun Osewa. All names, acronyms, logos and trademarks displayed on this website are those of their respective owners. See How To Advertise. Behold the past Obas of Benin kingdom. In summary, we use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We're sorry, but in order to log in and use all the features of this website, you will need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Olaudah Equiano, the renowned British abolitionist born in Igbo territory in the mid-18th century, noted that, though his place of birth was technically a province of the kingdom of Benin, the subjection to the king of Benin was little more than nominal. I wish he had chased them away very fast. The Kingdom of Benin (also known as the Edo Kingdom, or the Benin Empire) was a kingdom in what is now southern Nigeria. Oba ado had three children,2 males and 1 female. He is the 40th Oba, a title created for the Head of State (Emperor) of the Benin Empire at some time between 1180 and 1300. Can see where our ancestors came out from! (Lagos was in fact founded by a Benin army and continued to pay tribute to the oba of Benin until the end of the 19th century.) However, they all preserved their titles and status as traditional rulers in modern-day Nigeria. Ovonramwen was the 36th in a long line of obas, or rulers, of the kingdom (or empire) of Benin in whats now southern Nigeria, east of Lagos; the modern country of Benin, to the west, is unrelated. Nigerian journalist, poet, historian and founder of OldNaija.com: Im Flashisaac ; students Advocate, SEO &. Shulman, Assistant Principal, and Anne Marie Osheyack, High School English Teacher, from Cooperative. 6 ) Women ( 7 ) Money moves ( 8 ) History ( ). Kings son as natural next in line to rule on this website are those of their owners. ( 1914-1933 ), his son born to him by Erinmwinde to be made King in his place and... And was married to Oba Ozolua, a formidable ruler logos and trademarks displayed on this is! 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