Benin, located in the western African forest region, has a rich history that spans several centuries. From its origins as a collection of independent states in the pre-colonial period to its eventual colonisation by the French, the history of Benin is a story of political, cultural, and economic evolution.
The founding of the kingdom
The Kingdom of Benin emerged in the 13th century. The Edo people, dissatisfied with the rule of the Ogisos, semi-mythical kings, sought a new leader. They invited Prince Oranmiyan of Ife to become their ruler. This marked the beginning of a new era for Benin, with Prince Oranmiyan’s son Eweka becoming the first oba or king. Over the centuries, the kingdom would experience periods of great power and prosperity, followed by internal strife and foreign interference.
The reign of Ewuare the Great
In the late 13th century, the oba Ewedo began to assert royal power, but it was under the reign of Ewuare the Great that Benin reached its pinnacle. Ewuare, a renowned warrior and magician, expanded the kingdom’s territory and rebuilt its capital, Benin City, with impressive walls and moats. He established a hereditary succession to the throne, solidifying the oba as the supreme leader of the Edo people.
The Kingdom of Benin was known for its elaborate court ceremonies, which showcased the power and authority of the oba. The court rituals included music, dance, and performances by masked individuals representing various deities and spirits.
The pre-colonial period: A multitude of independent states
During the pre-colonial period, the territory that would later become Benin comprised many independent states, each with its own distinct language and culture. In the south, the Ewe-speaking peoples occupied the land, tracing their origins to the town of Tado in modern Togo. The most powerful state in this area was the kingdom of Allada in the 16th and 17th centuries. However, in the 18th and 19th centuries, Dahomey emerged as the dominant power in the region. In the north, the Bariba people formed the largest group, with the kingdom of Nikki being the most important state.
The Kingdom of Dahomey: Rise and expansion
Dahomey, also known as Abomey, was the state of the Fon people. It began as a dependency of Allada but gained independence in the 17th century. Under the rule of King Wegbaja, Dahomey became an independent state and went on to conquer Allada and Ouidah, establishing itself as the dominant power in the region. The kingdom reached its peak under the reigns of King Gezo and Glele in the 19th century. Gezo successfully liberated Dahomey from its subjection to the kingdom of Oyo and expanded its territory.
However, Dahomey’s attempts at further expansion were met with resistance from the powerful state of Abeokuta. The kingdom of Dahomey was known for its highly trained standing army, which included a female contingent known as the “Amazons.” The obas of Dahomey, who held supreme authority, were revered through state cults that included human sacrifices.
The slave trade: Impact and depopulation
Benin’s prosperity was closely tied to its vibrant trade networks. The kingdom engaged in active trade with Portuguese and Dutch traders, who were attracted to Benin’s wealth in gold, ivory, and pepper. Benin’s craftsmen and traders played a crucial role in facilitating trade between the Europeans and tribes in the interior of West Africa. Additionally, Benin participated in the transatlantic slave trade, profiting from selling enslaved individuals to European and American buyers.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore the coast of Benin in 1472, but it wasn’t until 1553 that they began trading there. Other European powers, such as the Dutch, English, and French, also became involved in the slave trade along the coast. The primary export from Benin during this period was slaves, with the volume of slave exports increasing rapidly in the second half of the 17th century.
The coastal kingdom of Ouidah became the principal centre for the slave trade, and slaves were drawn from throughout modern-day Benin, including the Bariba people in the north. The transatlantic slave trade had a devastating impact on Benin, leading to depopulation in certain areas and the militarisation of society. The cultural influence of the Ewe-speaking peoples, who were prominently represented among the slaves, can still be seen in the voodoo religion of Haiti.
French conquest and colonial rule
During the 17th and 18th centuries, European nations maintained trading forts in the Dahomey area. The French established a fort in Allada in 1670 and later built a fort in Ouidah. However, these European forts were eventually abandoned. In the mid-19th century, the French reoccupied Ouidah for the palm oil trade and negotiated a commercial treaty with the king of Dahomey. Fears of British colonial expansion led to the extension of formal French rule in the area, with a protectorate established over Porto-Novo in 1863-65 and definitively reestablished in 1882. Cotonou, a key port city, was occupied by the French in 1890.
The French invaded and conquered the kingdom of Dahomey in 1892-94, leading to the exile of King Behanzin. Dahomey formally achieved its independence from France on 1 August 1960, and Hubert Maga was elected as president.
British invasion and incorporation into Nigeria
Benin’s weakened state made it vulnerable to foreign interference, particularly from the British, who sought control over West African trade and territory. In 1897, the British launched a military expedition against Benin, resulting in the burning of Benin City. The British incorporated the depopulated and debilitated kingdom into British Nigeria (which became Nigeria after the country gained independence in 1960). The descendants of Benin’s ruling dynasty still occupy the throne in Benin City, albeit with an advisory role in government.
Internal struggles and decline
Despite its initial success, the Kingdom of Benin faced internal struggles during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Violent succession struggles among members of the royal dynasty led to civil wars that weakened the kingdom’s administration and economy. Weaker obas secluded themselves in their palaces, granting aristocratic titles to nonproductive nobles. The decline of the slave trade further impacted Benin’s prosperity. As the kingdom’s territorial extent shrank, its leaders increasingly relied on supernatural rituals and human sacrifices to protect their state.
Benin’s artistic achievements
One of the enduring legacies of the Kingdom of Benin is its remarkable artistic achievements. The kingdom’s artisans, skilled in working with materials such as brass, wood, and ivory, produced masterful sculptures and carvings. Benin’s brass smiths and bronze casters were particularly renowned for their naturalistic heads, bas-reliefs, and plaques. These works of art depicted historical events and showcased the artistic prowess of the kingdom.
Legacy
The legacy of Benin’s artistic traditions lives on, with the descendants of the ruling dynasty still occupying the throne in Benin City. While the kingdom no longer holds political power in West Africa, its cultural contributions and the significance of its historical narrative endure.
