Benin City - The Background Story
(What You Need To Know!)
"Benin" in Benin City is an anglicized name.
Here's the story behind that name and how Benin City has evolved over the years....
The History of Benin City and The Kingship
The Benin kingdom has existed since around 500 AD (Five Hundred AD). The kingdom existed as villages in a thick rain forest, altogether ruled by an Ogiso.
It was being called Igodomigodo at that time - pronounced as (E-GO-DOW-ME-GO-DOW). The name was in honour of the first Ogiso (King of the Sky) - The title of the office of the king during that era. But why "King of the Sky?" The people of the kingdom were highly superstitious. They believed that there must be a spiritual beings that have control over the affairs of the land. And this Ogiso descend from that being. It defintely goes to show how the people had great respect and reverence for the king at the time and perform almost literal worship of the king.
The name of the first Ogiso was Obagodo. It was from this name the people derived or coined the name of the kingdom as Igodomigodo.
Actually, Odagodo was the eldest son of Oduduwa (of Ife, in Western Nigeria). This highlights, as well, one of the connections between the Binis and the yourubas.
Up to ten (10) Ogisos in ten tenures ruled the Benin Kingdom from 500 AD to 1100 AD (Eleven Hundred AD). Everything went well,
Then Something Happened...
Around 1100 AD the once peaceful kingdom had an unrest that got inflammed by power struggle. This led to the Ogiso losing control of the kingdom.
The kingdom seem spiraling down. To save the situation, the people of the kingdom sought help to Ife. This again emphasizes the strong tie that existed between the Edo people and the yorubas.
In respponse to their cry for help, the king of Ife sent his son Prince Oranminyan as an emissary to the kingdom to help restore peace there.
End of the Ogiso Era and Beginning of the Oba Dynasty
That move marked the end of the Ogiso era and launched the Oba dynasty.
Summarily therefore, there has been two eras in the Benin Kingdom:
- The era of the Ogiso Dynasty &
- The era of the Oba Dynasty
How The name "Benin" Came About!
The name of the kingdom also was changed from Igodomigodo to Ule-Ubinu. The later Edo and Delta were as one people at that time. They were mixed ethnicity. The name Ule-Ubinu suffered mis-pronunciation by locals and gradually evolved from Ule-Ubinu to Ubini - First Evolution.
At this time, of course, the Portuguese have been trade partners with the kingdom. The Portuguese modified the name to Beny.
When the British took over the kingdom after their conquest, they anglicized the name from Beny to Benin.
That became the name of the kingdom ever since colonization of the land by the British till date.
...Back to the History of the Oba
Oranminyan who was drafted to Edo land by his father king of Ife was of Yoruba origin. He definitely cannot be king over the land by the culture of the people.
Meanwhile, Oranminyan upon arrival in the kingdom married an Edo daughter by name Erinwinde. She was a prominent daughter of the land by virtue of the status of her father. Her father was the Ogie of Egor, from the very seat of ancestry.
The union was blessed with a son whom the couple christened Eweka.
The Onboarding of Eweka 1 - The Origin of Oba and First Oba of Benin Kingdom
As Oranminyan wasn't having Edo blood flowing in his vein, coupled with the fact that he wasn't quite familiar with the culture of the people and the kingship demands that the occupant must be an edo blood and vast in the culture, Oranminyan humbly left the throne to make way for his son, Eweka to ascend.
This became Eweka 1 of the Benin Kingdom. He was called Oba Eweka.
"Oba" is a youruba word that means kings.
In the history of Benin this happens to be the first time the king would be addressed as oba. Hence Eweka 1 became the first oba of Benin Kingdom in 1200 AD (Twelve Hundred AD).
The Reign of Eweka 1
Eweka 1 regned for thriy-Five years (35 years) beginning at 1200 AD. He died in 1235 AD.
The culture and tradition of the people gained a boost during his tenure. From the time of Eweka 1 the institution became established that whoever would rule the people as king must be from among the people and must be vast in the culture and tradition of the land.
The Reign of Oba Ewuare...
Oba Ewuare also addressed as Ewuare the Great became king following the demise of Oba Eweka.
During his tenure, the moats were built for protection of the territory.
The moat, it's reported stretches over 6,000Kilometers.
The Edo People
The Edo people, by default, believe in and worship other gods like
The god of the ocean (called Olokun) - which they believe is the bringer of wealth.
The god of Iron (called Ogun)
The god of magic and medicine (called Osun).
The typical edo people believe strongly in tradition.
And so long you're not coming to Benin city to make trouble, the edo people are most peaceful and loving too.
The Invasion of the British
In 1897, the British have become interested in the Benin kingdom and had trades with the people.
That automatically means they visit and leave.
In one of their visits to the land, the Benins were reportedly having a festival and visitors are not welcomed in. The Benins also perceived ulterior motives of the British visit. So, they sent warning to them that they (the British) should stay away. The British would not hearken but forced their way into the land.
The Binis also ambushed the British and killed a number of them. This in history is referred to as the Benin Massacre.
This attack infuriated the British white who thereafter launched a reprisal attack. They sent soldiers numbering over a thousand with the white man weapon - the gun. They invaded the kingdom with anger and unleashed real terror on the land, killing many. They also seized and took away treasures of bronze from the palace of the king. The Oba also at that time was removed and taken away with his wife to Calabar and the kingdom was subdued and brought under British control.