#Kingdom of Benin

[lionofchaeronea]

Ivory double bell (egogo) from the Benin kingdom in present-day Edo State, Nigeria, depicting the oba (king) with his arms upheld by two attendants, possibly high priests. The oba wielded the egogo during the Emobo rite that concluded the Igue festival, using its sound to repel troublesome spirits. Artist unknown; early 16th century. Now in the Brooklyn Museum. Photo credit: Brooklyn Museum.

#art #art history #Africa #African #African art #West Africa #West African #West African art #Nigeria #Nigerian art #Kingdom of Benin #Benin art #sculpture #ivory #ivory carving #African religions #16th century art #Brooklyn Museum

[acrosscenturiesandgenerations]

▪︎ Commemorative Head (Uhunmwun Elao) Portraying a King.

Culture: Edo

Place of origin: Kingdom of Benin (ca . 1000–1897)

Date: 17th century

Medium: Copper alloy

#17th century #art #history #decorative arts #history of art #17th century art #ethnic #benin #Kingdom of Benin #edo #african #africa #Uhunm #Uhunmwum Elao #king #commemorative head

[lightdancer1]

Also worth noting is that African societies did and have engaged with their own part of the Trade in a way Europeans haven't.

Too, there is the reality that the African societies that were involved very much do reckon with their own histories, in their own ways. They can no more escape it than European societies do. How they do so, and what it means that they do so, is a part of the reality of history in these societies neatly skipped over in the racist rush to excuse everyone but the Europeans who brought the guns and demanded the slaves for the consequences of what was done.

In many ways the African engagement with this reality is more total and more complete than any European or European-colonial equivalent.

#lightdancer comments on history #black history month #african history #kingdom of benin

[panicinthestudio]

Returning colonial looted art to its countries of origin, July 18, 2023

Colonial looted art is finally being returned to its countries of origin. But new problems lie ahead, as former colonies now fear the return of looted art may take the place of a comprehensive reparation for colonial crimes. The documentary shows how the return of looted art leads to new disputes. One example is Nigeria. In move that would’ve been considered unthinkable just a few years ago, Germany is returning a large part of the disputed Benin bronzes to Nigeria. For years, legal arguments had been made as to why the bronzes were "rightfully" in Germany despite colonial crimes. Now, however, a heightened awareness of post-colonialism moral obligations is increasingly determining action. But descendants of Nigerian slaves have criticized the terms of the return of the Benin bronzes. These cultural goods are being returned to Benin City - a center of the criminal slave trade. So is restitution being made to former perpetrators? Were too few descendants of those affected included in the restitution considerations? To whom exactly should the looted cultural treasures be returned? To nation states whose arbitrary borders are often themselves the result of colonialism? Or to the descendants of traditional cultures of origin within these states, who were once the victims of colonial encroachment? Debates about this have only just begun. What are the arguments in favor of art historian Bénédicte Savoy's "give it all back" demands? And is there merit to the warnings of ethnologist Brigitta Hauser-Schäublin, who says: "You are gambling away world heritage"? The shift in position on looted art also affects Europe. Poland and Germany, for example, are fighting over the precious manuscripts of the "Berlinka" collection in Krakow. The indigenous Samí people in the far north of Scandinavia also have justified claims for restitution - and not just to Berlin. Deutsche Welle

#Deutsche Welle #documentary #art #repatriation #identity #art history #Poland #Germany #Finland #Nigeria #Kingdom of Benin #symbolism #Cameroon #slavery #assimilation #colonialism #indigenous peoples #history #UK #British #war #Youtube

[panafrocore]

The Kingdom of Benin: A Short Historical Overview

Nestled in what we now know as southern Nigeria, this kingdom, also called the Edo Kingdom or Benin Empire, was a powerhouse in West Africa. Picture this: a bustling city named Benin City, fortified by impressive walls and moats, serving as the hub of this remarkable kingdom from the 11th century AD to the late 19th century. So, let’s start at the beginning. The Edo people were initially ruled…

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#African empires #African History #african kingdoms #Benin Empire #Benin Kingdom #Edo Kingdom #Kingdom of Benin #West African #West African history

[ammg-old2]

The University of Cambridge will return more than 100 looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria.

The artefacts, which are mainly made of brass but also include some ivory and wooden objects, were taken by British armed forces during the sacking of Benin City in 1897.

A university spokesperson said: “The Charity Commission has considered and approved the return of 116 historical objects, often referred to as the Benin bronzes, from the University of Cambridge’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology to the National Commission of Museums and Monuments (NCMM) of Nigeria.

“The university is now working with the commission to finalise next steps regarding these Benin bronzes, and we will communicate these in due course.”

She added that some artefacts would remain in Cambridge “on extended loan” to ensure “this west African civilisation continues to be represented in the museum’s displays, and in teaching for school groups”.

She explained: “Those that return physically will be transferred to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, as is required legally by the Republic of Nigeria, and an approach formally supported by the Oba of Benin.”

In the 1897 attack, the British burned the city’s palace and exiled Benin’s Oba, or king.

Thousands of brasses and other works – known collectively as the “Benin bronzes” – were taken and later sold off in London to recoup the cost of the military mission.

The artefacts ended up being scattered around the world in museums in the UK, Europe and the US, with claims for their restitution dating back to the mid-20th century.

The announcement by Cambridge comes as institutions and museums come under mounting pressure to return looted artefacts. In July, Germany handed back two bronzes and put more than 1,000 other items from its museums’ collections into Nigeria’s ownership.

A few months later in October, the culture minister of Nigeria, Lai Mohammed, urged the British Museum to follow the example of the Smithsonian Institution, which returned ownership of 29 Benin bronzes to Nigeria.

It followed a formal request last year by Mohammed’s ministry for the return of Benin artefacts from the British Museum. Referring to their return he said: “It’s not if, it’s when.”

He added: “They will eventually have to return these because the campaign is gaining strength by the day and, when they look at what other museums are doing, they will be compelled to return them.”

Last month, the Horniman Museum, in south London, returned looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria. This followed Jesus College, the University of Cambridge, which returned a bronze to Nigeria in October 2021.

The University of Aberdeen also handed back a bronze, depicting the head of an Oba, at a ceremony held in October last year.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the chair of the British Museum, George Osborne, had held talks with the Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, regarding the possible return of the Parthenon marbles.

However, Downing Street has said there were no plans to change the law that prevents the British Museum from handing the Parthenon marbles back to Greece.

#excellent news!!!! #current events #history #military history #colonialism #museums #benin expedition of 1897 #nigeria #kingdom of benin #britain #england #university of cambridge #university of cambridge museums #british museum #benin bronzes #elgin marbles

[dakka-fex]

I was introduced to this today and it is absolutely the coolest thing - an online archives project pulling together images, metadata, provenance, and other information about the artifacts looted from the Kingdom of Benin as part of the British colonial occupation and subsequently scattered across institutions throughout the world, backed up with oral histories, descriptions, and historical records drawn specifically from Benin-native sources. It's all very well-done and informative, and is a great reminder of the power of digital tools to bring together disparate materials and make them accessible in new and valuable ways.

#Kingdom of Benin #archives #digital archives #you owe it to yourself to just poke around for a few minutes if nothing else #because this is exactly the kind of interoperable #interinstitutional #non-Euro/Amerocentric sort of work that takes advantages of digital archives and database platforms #that all of my archives professors were salivating over back in grad school

[telogreika]

Dahomey Amazons

Context, because I didn’t know about this historical anecdote until I saw this drawing tbh:

The Dahomey amazons were a women only military regiment of the Kingdom of Dahomey (modern day Benin) and the only exclusively female army in modern history. Their formation was the result of the male Dahomey population being decimated during various wars with bordering nations as well as the slave trade, of which they were both a active participant and a victim at the hand of the neighboring Oyo empire (modern day Benin and western Nigeria). They were disbanded in 1894 after the culmination of the Second Franco-Dahomean War when Domeny was annexed and made a French colonial protectorate. They were called ‘Amazons’ by europeans, but in their indigenous Fon language they called themselves ahosi (king's wives) or Mino (our mothers). Also, according to wikipedia they were armed with a number of Winchester repeating rifles sometime in the latter decades of the 19th century. I have no idea to what degree or how they were employed, but, tactically, that’s very forward thinking for the period! (the wiki, I haven’t read beyond that tbh..)

#pzkpfwI #Kingdom of Dahomey #Benin #blades #small arms

[kemetic-dreams]

                  What is the Yoruba kingship system?

The Yoruba kingship system is a traditional form of government that has been practiced by the Yoruba people of Nigeria for centuries. The Yoruba kingship system is based on a hierarchy of rulers who are responsible for the governance and administration of their respective territories.

At the top of the Yoruba kingship system is the Ooni of Ife, who is considered to be the spiritual leader of the Yoruba people and the custodian of their cultural heritage. Below the Ooni are other kings and rulers, including the Alaafin of Oyo, the Oba of Benin, and the Alake of Egbaland, among others.

Each king or ruler is responsible for the governance of their own territory or city-state, and they are expected to maintain law and order, promote economic prosperity, and uphold the traditions and customs of the Yoruba people. The kings are also responsible for settling disputes and conflicts within their territories and maintaining good relations with neighboring kingdoms.

The Yoruba kingship system is steeped in tradition and culture, and the roles and responsibilities of the kings are deeply respected by the Yoruba people. Despite the influence of modernization and the Nigerian government, the Yoruba kingship system remains an important aspect of Yoruba culture and identity.

#alake #egbaland #ooni #oba #benin #kings #kemetic dreams #nigerian #west africa #africans #yoruba #yoruba people #kingdoms #kingdom #alaafin #oyo

[thatsbutterbaby]

Hip Mask / ca. 16th century / Nigerian / Benin Kingdom / Ivory and brass studs, 7 x 1 3/4 x 1 1/2 in. (17.8 x 4.5 x 3.8 cm)

"Quick in catching" is a praise name for the leopard and for the chief who wore this mask.  An alert leopard's gaze seems present in these glinting brass eyes. Just as the leopard can stalk his prey and attack with swift force, so can the King (Oba) wield decisive aggression. Full scale ivory leopards often stood at each side of the Oba when he sat in state. A mask of this type is worn on the hip of a chief, seen in the plaque in the museum's collection.

Seattle Art Museum

#hip mask #oba #nigerian #benin kingdom #quick in catching #leopard

[nickysfacts]

These warrior women were also the main inspiration behind the Wukanda bodyguards!

🇧🇯⚔️

#history #dahomey amazons #african history #benin #military #female warriors #kingdom of dahomey #womens history #black panther #marvel #east central africa #wukanda #girl power #african women #comics #strong women #black history #marvel comics #military history #africa #powerful women #mcu #grl pwr #marvel cenimatic universe #benin history #nickys facts

[ausetkmt]

#Yoruba #Igbo #Nigeria #Nigerian History #Benin #Oduduwa #Yoruba Kingdoms

[lightdancer1]

The Kingdom of Benin, like Dahomey and Ashanti, was one of the first to grapple with Europeans and with the slave trade in modern times:

The Kingdom of Benin, like Dahomey and the Ashanti, is another of the great African coastal states that had a long-term familiarity with Europeans. It was one of the first of the successor states to the Songhai Empire to make the Faustian bargain for firearms, along with Dahomey. In appraising that willingness, it should be kept in mind the sheer impact of the shock from the Battle of Tondibi, that none of the states that began the process understood the future of what the trade was poised to unleash, and that once they'd mounted the hyena they could not readily let go of it lest it turn to devour them.

The racist tendencies to point to the initial willingness of the rulers of Benin, the Ashanti Empire, and Dahomey to make these bargains always omit these factors and that these kingdoms were motivated by domestic concerns that they did not foresee perfectly, because none can fully foresee the future.

#lightdancer comments on history #black history month #african history #kingdom of benin

[fatherlandlondon]

Fatherland London - Enjoy African Experience in London

Fatherland reveals how a group of people is bound geographically, culturally, linguistically, religiously, and economically in the challenging world for Africans and African Descendants. The concept is self-sustainable and self-determination to flourish and become a vibrant, courageous, and proud community for Africans and African Descendants worldwide.

#Africans and African Descendants London #african culture in london #museum of african art london #culture and social identity london #london benin kingdom #african arts and craft london #african ancestry test london #religious pilgrimage tours london #volunteer programs in london

[darrylcalmandstrong09]

New Blog. The Return of the Yoruba Nation

“The Yoruba religion is the science of allowing God to flow through you, so that each breath becomes a prayer, and as God breathes, you breathe.” – John Mason

To find out more about the industrious Yoruba people and Yorubaland before their country became a part of present-day Nigeria, and parts of Benin Republic and Togo Republic in West Africa, click here: https://rb.gy/pqfqcj

#yoruba #oduduwa #nation #god #spirituality #westafrica #nigeria #togo #benin #ife #oyo #kingdom #empire #ancient #medieval #motherland #diaspora #consciousness #education #history #america #slavery #sierraleone #chiefobafemiawolowo

[panafrocore]

Ewedo: The Legacy of the Wise and Effective Oba of Benin

Ewedo, also known as Prince Efabo, left an indelible mark as the fourth Oba of the Kingdom of Benin, reigning from 1255 AD to 1280 AD. His visionary leadership reshaped the kingdom in numerous ways, solidifying his legacy as one of the most wise and effective Obas of Benin. One of his significant achievements was the relocation of the seat of government from Usama to the site of the present…

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#African History #African kings #African prince #Ewedo #Kingdom of Benin #Prince Efabo #West African #West African history