Benin City is the centre of Nigeria's rubber industry, and oil production is also a significant industry.[2]. [4], Former West African Development Bank Director Yayi Boni won the March 2006 election for the presidency in a field of 26 candidates. He died after a long reign and was succeeded by Ere, his eldest son. Most of these artifacts can be found today in British museums and other parts of the world. Jamie Stokes. Some residents of Benin could still speak a pidgin Portuguese in the late 19th century. The three main kingdoms (created by the Fon) were that of Allada, founded in the 16th century, it was the most powerful kingdom in … However, in the 15th century the African kingdom of Danhomey rose up. This name would be reinterpreted by the Portuguese as "Benin" in their own language. Secondary schools in Nigeria are, among others, Edo College, Edo Boys High School (Adolo College), Western Boys High School, Oba Ewuare Grammar School, Greater Tomorrow Secondary School, Garrick Memorial Secondary School, Winrose Secondary School, Asoro Grammar School, Eghosa Grammar School, Edokpolor Grammar School, Covenant Christian Academy, Niger College, Presentation National High School, Immaculate Conception College, Idia College, University of Benin Demonstration Secondary School, University Preparatory Secondary School, Auntie Maria School, Benin Technical College, Headquarters of Word of Faith Group of Schools, Lydia Group of Schools, Nosakhare Model Education Centre and Igbinedion Educational Center, Federal Government Girls College, Benin City, Paragon Comprehensive College, and Itohan Girls Grammar School. According to oral tradition, Oranyan came to power because he married a local chief's daughter and formed a kinship connection that led to ruling rights. Benin City is home to some of Nigeria's institutions of higher learning, namely, the University of Benin located at Ugbowo and Ekenwan, the Ambrose Alli University located at Ekpoma, the College of Education Ekiadolor, Igbinedion University, the Benson Idahosa University and Wellspring University. It is so well governed that theft is unknown and the people live in such security that they have no doors to their houses". The engineering feat still marvels in modern times. Benin City was the principal city of the Edo (Bini) kingdom of Benin (flourished 13th–19th century). The Binis are known for bronze sculpture, its casting skills, and their arts and craft. The history of Benin is a succession of several kingdoms, it was the seat of Dahomey, one of the great medieval African kingdoms. The history of Ancient Benin City is tragic, and mind-blowing, and yet – except for in the minds of a handful of its descendants – almost completely forgotten. In 1946, Dahomey became an overseas territory with its own parliament and representation in the French national assembly. By 1975 the Republic of Dahomey changed its name to the People's Republic of Benin.The People's Revolutionary Party of Benin remained in complete power until the beginning of the 1990s. That was why the people of Ile Ife made him the King or Oni of Ife city. Dahomey was a French colony of and a part of French West Africa from 1904 to 1959. The Benin name was picked for its neutrality. 3. In anger over an oracle, Prince Ekaladerhan left the royal court with his warriors. Benin Burns Wildfire, Raging flames, Heated air, Miniature whirlwind of flames, Blazing fingers of fire, Air filled with thin black smoke, Gusts of wind sweeping in every direction, Curling and wreathing it in fantastic shapes, Everything in a blaze. Die Amtssprache war Edo. Kérékou's principal opponent at the presidential poll, and the ultimate victor, was Prime Minister Nicéphore Soglo. The weather is uncomfortably hot and humid year-round, and generally very dull, especially between July and September. Under the French, a port was constructed at Cotonou, and railroads were built. Benin City (deutsch auch Benin-Stadt) ist mit knapp 2,6 Millionen Einwohnern (Stand: 2012) die größte Stadt des Bundesstaates Edo und dessen Hauptstadt, sowie die drittgrößte Stadt Nigerias.. Benin City war das Zentrum des Königreichs Benin und Sitz des Oba.Die Stadt entstand aus einer Fusion von verschiedenen Dörfern. Benin City was burned by the British, who then made the kingdom part of British Nigeria (which became Nigeria after the country gained independence in 1960). He caused his son born to him by Ẹrinmwide to be made King in his place and returned to Yoruba land Ile-Ife. Even in Nigeria today, this history isn’t included in the school curriculum. located in the city centre on King's Square.The museum has a significant number of artifacts related to the Benin Empire such as terracotta, bronze figures and cast iron pieces. Benin’s history is one of great violence and tragedy, but also of perseverance. Before 1975, the Republic of Benin was known as Dahomey, its French colonial name. In addition, the city processes lumber and produces beer, furniture, and soft drinks. 1. Benin City is the capital, and largest city of Edo State in southern Nigeria. This left Kérékou to run against his own Minister of State, Amoussou, in what was termed a "friendly match. Around 1470, Ẹwuare changed the name of the state to Ẹdo. However, by the 15th century, a single ruler, known as the oba, had asserted control. Was he invited? Kérékou, encouraged by France and other democratic powers, convened a national conference that introduced a new democratic constitution and held presidential and legislative elections. Countries of the world and their leaders yearbook 2007, Volume 1. [2] By 1975 the Republic of Dahomey changed its name to the People's Republic of Benin. [3], The original people and founders of the Ẹdo Empire and the Ẹdo people initially were ruled by the Ogiso (Kings of the Sky) dynasty who called their land Igodomigodo. The country was known as Dahomey during the colonial period and in early independence. Das Königreich gehört zu den am umfangreichsten dokumentierten vorkolonialen Reichen Westafrikas und wurde erst am Ende des 19. An oba, or king, and his court have, from around 1300 C.E., governed the kingdom from Benin City, the capital.Within the kingdom, specialized artists belonged to guilds with hereditary membership and worked solely for the oba. Kérékou, encouraged by France and other democratic powers, convened a national conference that introduced a new democratic constitution and held presidential and legislative elections. The most prominent of these artifacts was the famous Queen Idia mask used as a mascot during the Second Festival of Arts Culture (FESTAC '77) held in Nigeria in 1977 now known as "Festac Mask". Benin belonged to the British Empire until 1960. Therefore, Ọranmiyan of Ife, the father of Ẹwẹka I, the Ọba of Benin, was also the father of Ajaka, the first Alaafin of Ọyọ. Kérékou's principal opponent at the presidential poll, and the ultimate victor, was Prime Minister Nicéphore Soglo. Colonial Benin (formerly, République du Dahomey/Republic of Dahomey) Dahomey was a French colony of and a part of French West Africa from 1904 to 1959. [citation needed] The country was afterward known by this name. After that time, the kingdom no longer played a governing role in West Africa. [citation needed], The Portuguese visited Benin City around 1485. Shortly after statehood was established, a foreign official named Oranyan became leader of Benin. The Benin moat is described in the Guinness Book of Records as second in magnitude only to the Great China wall. Some of the vocational schools in Benin City include Micro International Training Center, Computer Technology and Training Center, Okunbor Group of Schools. In either case, during O… He established a hereditary succession to the throne and vastly expanded the territory of the Benin kingdom, which by the mid-16th century extended from the Niger River delta in the east to what is now Lagos in the west. Talon defeated prime minister Lionel Zinsou, the candidate for Boni Yayi's Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE), in the March 2016 presidential election. Benin City has a borderline tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) bordering upon a tropical monsoon climate (Am). Around 1500, the Portuguese explorer Duarte Pacheco Pereira, briefly described the walls during his travels.Another description given around 1600, one hundred years after Pereira's description, is by the Dutch explorer Dierick Ruiters. Today, the region is one of the most politically stable in West Africa and continues to overcome the torrid legacies of its past. It has often been remarked that the Benin Bronzes are some of the best examples of sculptures pro… The "Benin Bronzes", portrait figures, busts and groups created in iron, carved ivory, and especially in brass (conventionally called "bronze"), were taken from the city by the British and are currently displayed in various museums around the world. Benin has no relationship to modern Nigeria’s Benin City or the Benin bronzes. During the trans-Atlantic slave trade, a large number of slaves were shipped to the New World. [8] [9], Parts of this article (those related to Post-colonial Benin) need to be. After some years he called a meeting of the people and renounced his office, remarking that the country was a land of vexation, Ile-Ibinu, and that only a child born, trained and educated in the arts and mysteries of the land could reign over the people. The last of these brought to power Major Mathieu Kérékou as the head of a regime professing strict Marxist-Leninist principles. The people of the city have one of the richest dress cultures on the African continent and are known for their beads, body marks, bangles, anklets, raffia work and the subsistence farming of yam, plantain and cassava. His main rival rejected the results, claiming widespread irregularities. The first exibition is the Oba Akenzua II Gallery, the second exbition is Chief S.O Alonge's works : The Photographer to the Royal Cout of Benin and the 3rd exibition focuses on Unity in diversity One of the interesting aspects for me was learning about the holy aruosa church benin and that is still stands till date. The other opposition parties, the Party for Democratic Renewal (PRD) led by the former Prime Minister Adrien Houngbedji and the Alliance Etoile (AE), joined the government coalition. Brass plaques and sculptures have been created by the Edo (known also as the Bini), the indigenous people of the Benin Empire, as early as the 13th century, prior to their contact with Europeans. The Late Period came to a head during the Benin Punitive Expedition of 1897, during which the British ransacked Benin City, looted thousands of precious objects, and displaced Oba Ovanramwen. If that's not enough, click over to our collection of world maps and flags. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. The obasbrought great prosperity and a highly organised state to Benin. A Portuguese captain described the city in 1691:"Great Benin, where the king resides, is larger than Lisbon; all the streets run straight and as far as the eye can see. [citation needed], The exiled Ekaladerhan, who was not known, gained the title of Oni Ile-fe Izoduwa, which has been corrected in the Yoruba language to Ọọni (Ọghẹnẹ) of Ile-Ifẹ Oduduwa. The kingdom of Benin, home of the Edo-speaking peoples, is located in the tropical rain forest region of what is now Nigeria. During the 13th century, the indigenous Edo people were run by a group of local chieftains. [4], During the 2001 elections, however, alleged irregularities and dubious practices led to a boycott of the run-off poll by the main opposition candidates. The four top-ranking contenders following the first round presidential elections were Mathieu Kérékou (incumbent) 45.4%, Nicephore Soglo (former president) 27.1%, Adrien Houngbédji (National Assembly Speaker) 12.6%, and Bruno Amoussou (Minister of State) 8.6%. In recent years, various appeals have gone to the British government to return such artifacts.