Our era s most prominent figures in the fields of christianity and liberty. Early history little is known about the history of n benin. Benin history, language and culture history of benin. See all 4 ouidah museum of history tours on tripadvisor. Life before colonization, people and tradition jerry, sampson on. This was first published in 1934 as a translation of ekhere vb itan edo.
Ouidah museum of history 2020 all you need to know. The guinness book of records 1974 edition described the walls of benin city and its. San francisco, october 18, thewill efforts at retelling the benin history is gaining traction with a new book titled the benin monarchy. The birthplace of voodoo and a pivotal platform of the slave trade for nearly three centuries, benin is steeped in a rich and complex history still very much in evidence today. Buhari, gowon, others to grace oba of benins book launch. It was located in presentday southern nigeria, east of the yoruba land and west of the niger river. Until the late 19th century, one of the major powers in west africa was the kingdom of benin, in what is now southwest nigeria. The inhabitants of benin spoke a group of closely related languages known as edo. It has been suggested that voodoo in west africa evolved from the ancient. However, by the 15th century, a single ruler, known as the oba, had asserted control. Best children s books about ancient benin find out more. Few tourists reach benin yet this west african nation has a remarkable story to tell about one of the most shameful episodes in history.
The origins of voodoo, the misunderstood religion ancient. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. Benin was the seat of one of the great medieval african kingdoms. With fear, wonder, and excitement, the villagers consider the alliance. And when, four years later, dahomey s women warriors made their first appearance in written history, they were helping to recapture the same port after it fell to a. The proper classification of the book makes it one of the best books on benin. Based on archaeological evidence and stories passed on through many generations, it is known that clusters of villages preceded the great kingdom. This event coincided with a moment of enormous fracture for benins society, due not only to the loss of so much of its national patrimony, but also because the british forced oba ovonramwen into exile.
Other countries desired benin s impressive arts and crafts as well as the exotic crops produced by its farmers. Emily the main character is on a school trip with her classmates to the world museum. List of books and articles about benin history online research. The capital of benin is portonovo, but the seat of government is in cotonou, the countrys largest city and economic capital. Feb 21, 2019 for better and worse, the history of the benin bronzes is inseparable from their plundering by british troops in 1897.
The port of cotonou is a major contributor to benin s economy, with revenues projected to account for more than 40% of benin s national budget. Short history of benin 3rd edition by j u egharevba author isbn. Queen mother pendant mask iyoba edo peoples benin plaques at the british museum. Modern day benin is regarded as the birth place of this religion, and the name voodoo itself means spirit in the local fon language. Aug 08, 2017 the benin bronzes is the name given to a group of artifacts produced by the benin empire, which occupied the area which is today nigeria. Benin 9001897 ce this book covers the main historical aspects of benin kingdom from its early development through to its destruction in 1897. The sovereign state has had a tumultuous history since then, with many. The harlem renaissance hurstons book tells the story of cudjo lewis, who was born in what is now the west african country of benin. Benin for ks1 and ks2 children kingdom of benin homework. The benin bronzes consist of several thousand commemorative plaques and sculptures that were made of brass of.
Bbc travel the legend of benins fearless female warriors. Now, however, the great benin city is lost to history. Before 1975, the republic of benin was known as dahomey, its french colonial name. Ouidah museum of history 2020 all you need to know before. The name benin commemorates an african kingdom that flourished from the 15th to the 17th century in what is now southwest nigeria. Benin s army was powerful and the oba enjoyed his wealthy lifestyle in the many exquisite palaces and courts of benin. The kingdom of benin, also known as the benin kingdom, was a precolonial kingdom in what is now southern nigeria. Sep 23, 2011 and when, four years later, dahomeys women warriors made their first appearance in written history, they were helping to recapture the same port after it fell to a surprise attack by the yoruba.
The book will be launched on saturday, 20th of october, 2018 at the obas palace, benin, edo state. Benin republic of benin country profile west africa. Book on benin history, monarchy for launch tomorrow. Just to be clear, here s a breakdown of what is where. By 1975 the republic of dahomey changed its name to the people s republic of benin. Official web sites of benin, links and information on benin s art, culture, geography, history, travel and tourism, cities, the capital city, airlines, embassies, tourist boards and newspapers. Between 1974 and 1989 dahomey embraced socialism, and changed its name to the peoples republic of benin. Tomorrow, october 20, 2018 has been set aside in benin. By 1975 the republic of dahomey changed its name to the peoples republic of benin. The descendants of benin s ruling dynasty still occupy the throne in benin city although the presentday oba has only an advisory role in government. Most of the people within the benin empire were edo. The history of ancient benin kingdom and empire daniel.
The analysis in this book raises fundamental questions about how the art of benin, and nonwestern art histories more generally, are understood. It has been suggested that voodoo in west africa evolved from the ancient traditions of ancestor worship and animism. The rise and fall of a mighty forest kingdom roese, peter m. Later they began trading slaves too, providing benin with a great source of wealth.
Benin, one of the principal historic kingdoms of the western african forest region fl. The three main kingdoms created by the fon were that of allada, founded in the 16th century, it was the most powerful kingdom in. It is not to be confused with benin, the postcolonial nation state. New book on benin kingdom, to retell history of benin people. And what is his influence on the development of nigeria s edo state, of which benin city. Cambridge monographs in african archaeology 62this work offers a comprehensive historical framework of northwestern benin, west africa. The author, nigel barley, is a famous anthropologist and writer, best known for his books. A free society reader rises to the challenge of freedom in the twentyfirst century, offering thoughts and insights with significant implications for citizens of today s brand new world. The book represents the history of benin and its unique art work. The benin bronzes is the name given to a group of artifacts produced by the benin empire, which occupied the area which is today nigeria. Benin history, language and culture world travel guide. Sep 07, 2006 it would be ironic indeed if benins extraordinary heritage was to open the way for another cycle of exploitation by outsiders. Situating ouidah s history the present work represents, at one level, a continuation of my earlier research on the history of the slave coast, and in particular its role as a source of supply for the atlantic slave trade. Originally named kossula, he was only 19 years old.
It is entirely separate from the republic of benin, which was then known as dahomey. The three main kingdoms created by the fon were that of allada, founded in the 16th century, it was the most powerful kingdom in ajaland before it fell to the armies of dahomey abomey. The kingdom of benin s capital was edo, now known as benin city in edo state. Explore benin holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. The port of cotonou is a major contributor to benins economy, with revenues projected to account for more than 40% of benins national budget. The largest ethnic group in benin is fondahomey which constitutes 39% of the total population.
A short history of benin 3rd edition by jacob egharevba, 1960. Edo pendant mask edo pendant mask of the queen mother iyoba, ivory, from the court of benin, nigeria, 16th century. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Three years after the coup that brought major kerekou to power, the name was changed to the peoples republic of benin, reflecting the marxistleninist ideology of the new government. Learn more about the history, geography, and culture of benin in this article. From our own correspondent was broadcast on thursday, 7 september, 2006 at 1100 bst on bbc radio 4. An anthology of benin history the benin red book, which is set to unravel and expose the best of benin by telling about its history, heritage, culture and developments. Most of the people within the benin empire were edo, and they were ruled over by a monarch, who held the title of oba roughly equivalent to king. The last of these brought to power major mathieu kerekou as the head of a regime professing strict marxistleninist principles. Later, allada became the capital of great ardra, a state whose kings ruled with the consent of the elders of the people. The peoples revolutionary party of benin remained in complete power until the beginning of the 1990s. Ife, which flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries, emerged as a major power in the forested areas west of the niger and south of edo pendant maskedo pendant mask of the queen. Some of the books on this list concern the old kingdom of benin, located in what is now southern nigeria, and others are set in the area of the unrelated current republic of benin, further to the east.
If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. History early history little is known about the history of n benin. The world travel guide wtg is the flagship digital consumer brand within the columbus travel media portfolio. Learn about the cast brass and ivory royal art of benin, made to glorify the divine king, or oba. List of books and articles about benin history online. Nigeria has ideological differences, judge not all at a time. Apr 21, 2015 although the exact origins of voodoo are unknown, it is generally agreed that this religion has its roots in west africa. A comprehensive guide to the world s best travel destinations, its print heritage stretches back more than 30 years, with the. Dahomeys women warriors history smithsonian magazine. The harlem renaissance hurston s book tells the story of cudjo lewis, who was born in what is now the west african country of benin. The book throws critical light on the takenforgranted assumptions which underpin current interpretations and presents an original and revisionist account of benin art history. The benin bronzes consist of several thousand commemorative plaques and sculptures that were made of brass of variable composition despite being called bronzes. Please check the programme schedules for world service transmission times.
Newly commissioned, with stunning photographs, this book follows a beautiful tour of highlights from the british museum s collection of artworks from benin. The people s revolutionary party of benin remained in complete power until the beginning of the 1990s. For one tr o ubling instance, once upon a kingdom raises the specter of igbo intellectual. The history of benin is a succession of several kingdoms, it was the seat of dahomey, one of the great medieval african kingdoms. Consequently, it plays an important role in shaping the country s social and cultural life. Benin will need further efforts to upgrade infrastructure, stem corruption, and expand access to foreign markets to achieve its potential. The first kingdom of benin is believed to have developed in the 12th or th century.
The origins of the benin kingship in the works of jacob egharevba. The book will be launched on saturday, 20th of october, 2018 at the oba s palace, benin, edo state at 10. While there are no written records documenting benin s early history, historians speculate that meetings like this were the beginnings of its rise to statehood. The benin bronzes are among africas most important works of. In the south, according to oral tradition, a group of aja migrated 12th or th cent. If you would have all nigerians penalised for a crime committed by a benin man, then you would have all europeans penalised for a crime committed by a german man. The republic of benin is a small west african country. The benin kingdom was one of the oldest and most highly developed states in the coastal hinterland of west africa, it was formed around. It became the most popular of all egharevbas books and a. Aug 18, 2018 the precolonial benin kingdom or empire was located in what is today southern nigeria. Evian ezomo ezomo omoruyi father festivals history of benin ibadan.
The legend of benin s fearless female warriors this fierce allfemale army was so ruthless that european colonists called them the amazons after. Nigeria history, west african history, books barnes. Oct 19, 2018 book on benin history, monarchy for launch tomorrow. But what kind of power does the oba of benin wield. A monument in benin depicts slaves being led away in. Benin arose as a citystate in the late 1100s or 1200s and expanded into a larger kingdom or empire in the mid1400s. When european merchant ships began to visit west africa from the 15th century onwards, benin came to control the trade between the inland peoples and the europeans on the coast. A short history of benin 3rd edition by jacob egharevba. The people s guide to benin this is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, imported by an external electronic rendering service, and ordered as a printed book. Below are the history books and their links to amazon b a sed on accounts of true events, the story of the benin expedition combat is told through the eyes of a britishs officers young valet.
During the th century, the indigenous edo people were run by a group of local chieftains. Eghaevbo nore egharevba egypt eholo nire eldest enigie erebo esagho esigie established evian ezomo ezomo omoruyi father festivals history of benin ibadan igodomigodo iguogbe ikpema ileife imadoduwa imhotep installed isi district iso temple joined his. Royal arts of a west african kingdom art institute of. Christianity is the most widely professed religion in benin, with 48. In antiquity it was renowned for its greatness and civilization on the banks of the niger and was once the most powerful race in west africa, but her power gradually. Benin was a french colony from the late 19th century until 1960. We recommend booking ouidah museum of history tours ahead of time to secure your spot.
Court arts from nigeria, july 10 september 21, 2008. The individuals those have in the countrys history and militaryrelated to details they can read it. The benin monarch, an anthology of benin history as a unique and distinctive publication from the perspectives of aesthetics and intellectual content. For better and worse, the history of the benin bronzes is inseparable from their plundering by british troops in 1897. The text is filled with high quality glossy pictures of artefacts and objects from benin kingdom and is a good introduction to some of the key historical sources. According to the 20 estimate by the government of benin, the population of benin is 27. The benin bronzes are among africas most important works. Owing to the welcome given to the first edition in the vernacular of the short history, i have endeavoured in this english version to meet the needs of foreigners who do not understand the benin language, but are anxious to know its history. Africa benin the world factbook central intelligence. National economy, ethnic relations and history, religion, ethnic cultural differences, government and leadership. The benin empire is now part of the ks2 history curriculum, so teachers will find this book a welcome addition to their resources. Culture of benin history, people, clothing, women, beliefs. As readers may recall, this exhibition started in vienna, went to paris and berlin and will end in chicago.
Life in the kingdom of benin is described in the bbc bitesize guide, then find out about oba life, what we can learn from the art of benin and the history of other west african kingdoms. Aug 21, 2008 benin royal arts of a west african kingdom by kathleen bickford berzock 1 was produced to accompany at the art institute of chicago the exhibition, benin kings and rituals. The book is written on benins history and the complete book is including information related to a specific time period. Popular books on benin best book recommendations, best. Revised for 2016, this book contains essential historical information and activities on kingdom of benin study of non european society which contrasts with british history. A superb photographic introduction to the spectacular art of the west african kingdom of benin, including the wellknown brass plaques and heads. It covers an area of 44,310 sqm and is home to about 11 million people. The perspective of the book also known as the benin red rook is that of a new narrative expected to set history right while advancing the course of the kingdom beyond the shores of nigeria.