[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 city is wealthy and industrious. That vote was marred by irregularities, and the electoral commission was forced to repeat that single election. Before 1975, the Republic of Benin was known as Dahomey, its French colonial name. Igodo, the first Ogiso, wielded much influence and gained popularity as a good ruler. Benin’s history is one of great violence and tragedy, but also of perseverance. Others argue that this story is just a cover-up and that Oranyan's rise to power was most likely the result of an invasion. [citation needed] The country was afterward known by this name. Benin City is also the home of one of the oldest sustained monarchies in the world. Benin became independentfrom France on August 1, 1960. The people of Beninare called as Beninese. 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 was the seat of one of the great medieval African kingdoms. It also has ancient art … Benin City, originally known as Edo, was once the capital of a pre-colonial African empire located in what is now southern Nigeria. His main rival rejected the results, claiming widespread irregularities. On December 4, 1958, it became the Republic of Dahomey. Benin is named after the body of water on which it lies – the ‘Bight of Benin’. Although there were some irregularities, these were not significant and did not greatly disrupt the proceedings or the results. 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. 1. Benin belonged to the British Empire until 1960. [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. 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. No one knows for sure. 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. [5], In the second round of National Assembly elections held in March 1995, Zoglo's political vehicle, the Parti de la Renaissance du Benin, was the largest single party but lacked an overall majority. It is the fourth-largest city in Nigeria after Lagos, Kano and Ibadan, with a total population of 1,782,000 as of 2021. The Benin name was picked for its neutrality. 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. The indigenous people of Benin City are the Edo people (The Benin People), and they speak the Edo language and other Edoid languages. After some years in Ife, he left for Ọyọ, where he also left a son behind upon leaving, and his son Ajaka ultimately became the first Alaafin of Ọyọ of the present line, while Ọranmiyan (the exiled Prince Ekaladerhan, also known as Izoduwa) himself was reigning as Ọọni of Ifẹ. French colonisation came in 18… However, even today, the oba still serves in Benin City as a government advisor. The history of Benin is a succession of several kingdoms, it was the seat of Dahomey, one of the great medieval African kingdoms. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. [4] Benin was thus the first African country to effect successfully the transition from dictatorship to a pluralistic political system. Between 1960 and 1972, a succession of military coups brought about many changes of government. Benin City was the principal city of the Edo (Bini) kingdom of Benin (flourished 13th–19th century). [4] Prince Ọranmiyan took up residence in the palace built for him at Uzama by the elders, now a coronation shrine. The capture of Benin paved the way for British military occupation and the merging of later regional British incorporation of African kingdoms into the Niger Coast Protectorate, the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria and finally, into the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. In anger over an oracle, Prince Ekaladerhan left the royal court with his warriors. [8] [9], Parts of this article (those related to Post-colonial Benin) need to be. This name would be reinterpreted by the Portuguese as "Benin" in their own language. The Benin moat is described in the Guinness Book of Records as second in magnitude only to the Great China wall. In 1946, Dahomey became an overseas territory with its own parliament and representation in the French national assembly. Oba Oguola {about 1280-1295}was reported to have dug the first and second moats to fortify the City from invaders; Udo warriors “Iyokuo” under the command of Chief Akpanigiakon a … "[4], In December 2002, Benin held its first municipal elections since before the institution of Marxism-Leninism.