Know more about how Benin became more powerful in the 15th Century
Benin, located in West Africa rose to become one of the most powerful kingdoms before and during European contact. Here we take a brief look at how it became so powerful and focus on one of its most powerful leaders Oba Ewuare who ruled over Benin during a period of modernisation, territorial expansion and increase in trade in Africa and beyond. (MAP OF LOCATION)
Power
Benin in the 15th Century had its centre at Edo. Led by an Oba, but with power curtailed by a band of chieftains. In the 15th Century under the leadership of Oba Ewuare Benin expanded. Ewuare took the Benin crown by force in 1440 and expanded the kingdom soon afterwards. He introduced primogeniture, centralised power to himself through the role of Edaiken or Crown Prince.
Davidson in his book, West Africa Before the Colonial Era quotes from Nigerian Chief Jacob Egharrevba about the Oba’s land gains;
He fought against and captured 201 towns and villages in Ekiti, Ikare, Kukuruku, Eka, Igbo country. He took their rulers captive, and he caused the people to pay tribute to him.
As Crowther notes in History Of West Africa Vol One, this brought skilled people to Benin and under the Oba’s rule. A great palace was built in Benin City under Ewuare. The walls of Benin City were strengthened. (THERE MAY BE RIGHTS FREE IMAGES OF THIS WE CAN USE)
Culture
This expansion brought a flourishing of art to Benin, most notably in the creation of the Benin Bronzes. (FOR THE MAIN PAGE WE NEED PICS OF BRONZES. IDEALLY ONE OF THE ONE IN NEWCASTLE, BUT OTHERS SHOWING THEIR SKILL.)
The Bronzes were commissioned first by Ewuare in the fifteenth century and were used to tell Benin’s history, in a comparable way that Griot would relay stories, praise and history.
The Bronzes also tell a contemporary story of Benin, showing its leader, social strata, local animals and later ones show trade with Portuguese traders.
The Bronzes were made by first making a model out of wax, this was then covered with clay to create a mould, which when heated, the wax melted away to be filled with metal. The clay was removed leaving richly detailed artefacts. This technology was unknown to European cultures at this time.
Trade
Benin was a trading nation which eventually brought it to the notice of European countries. Benin was using various forms of currency before European contact such as manilla, cowrie shells, iron and copper. This tells us that trade was a long-distance affair. (I AM USING ‘EUROPEAN CONTACT’ A LOT. THIS NEEDS CONSIDERATION AS I WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON BENIN BEFORE CONTACT.)
Pepper, put on meat to keep it edible, was grown in Benin and was a very sought after substance by the Portuguese. The English first traded with Benin in 1553, trading pepper for metal pots and other goods.
Enslaved people were also traded. Enslaved people were traded in many directions in this area at this time. Different from later enslavement with European involvement, people were enslaved though ‘warfare between West African Kingdoms, banditry, judicial enslavement, for crimes such as adultery or witchcraft, or sale to clear debts.’ Ade and Crowder note some ‘rose to prominence or became heroes and founded lineages of leading officials.’
Notes
One issue with exploring the history of African Kingdoms is the need to introduce historic characters into the lessons rather than just painting a background. Ewuare allows us to show students the agency of this region and its development. It was not simply there waiting for European contact. His story is extraordinary and although we should be wary of European comparisons I see comparisons, between him and William the Conqueror in how he consolidates power, Caesar in how he violently takes power, centralises it, enabling it to be passed from one generation to another. Even how Ewuare sparked a time of expansion and growth of art and culture could be likened to Elizabeth the First’s ‘Golden Age’.
The author is a history teacher. In his Year 7 lesson on Benin, the Bronzes are used to simply raise historical enquiries about the kingdom. Students are allowed to learn about Benin before the increase of European contact and admire the Bronzes for what they are and the people who made them. In Year 8 we return to them to teach about the sacking of Benin and the theft of the Bronzes, which leads to consideration of how current holders, including Newcastle’s Great North Museum should do with them.
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Olaniyan, R. (1985) Nigerian history and culture. Harlow, Essex, England: Longman. P 48
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The African History (2021) Ewuare I the great, king (oba) of Benin Empire c. 1440 - 1473, The African History. Available at: https://theafricanhistory.com/1838 (Accessed: 20 June 2023).
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Davidson, B. (2015) West Africa before the colonial era: A history to 1850. London: Routledge. P 118.
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Ade, A.J.F. and Crowder, M. (1994) History of West Africa. Burnt Mill: Longman. P 312
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Timelines from black history: Leaders, legends, legacies (2021). New York: DK Children Imprint. P 20
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The African History (2021) Ewuare I the great, king (oba) of Benin Empire c. 1440 - 1473, The African History. Available at: https://theafricanhistory.com/1838 (Accessed: 20 June 2023).
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Green, Toby. A Fistfull of Shells (2019) Penguin Random House, first published by Allen Lane. P 155
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Recovering the brilliance of a benin bronze (2022) The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Available at: https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/conservation-and-scientific-research/conservation-stories/2020/benin-horn-player#:~:text=In%20traditional%20lost%20wax%20casting,to%20create%20the%20mother%20mold. (Accessed: 20 June 2023).
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Davidson, B. (2015) West Africa before the colonial era: A history to 1850. London: Routledge. P107
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Davidson, B. (2015) West Africa before the colonial era: A history to 1850. London: Routledge. P120
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Green, Toby. A Fistfull of Shells (2019) Penguin Random House, first published by Allen Lane. P 87
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Ade, A.J.F. and Crowder, M. (1994) History of West Africa. Burnt Mill: Longman. P 318