BENIN KINGDOM THE EVERLASTING AFRICAN NATION.

THE Benin Empire as described by Prof. Philip Igbafe in his Benin Under British administration represented "the unwieldy but fluid empire which was made up of a loose conglomeration of various people's covering from most of present-day Delta and Edo States to Lagos and beyond. In fact, on a Dutch map drawn in 1705, titled A New and Exact map of Guinea and reprinted in 1907 in English by Sir Alfred Jones KCMG- the founder of the Bank of British West Africa - the name BENIN is shown to designate what may today be called Nigeria South of the Niger and Benue. Other contemporary states on the said map-which now stands for West Africa - from the farthest West, are Melli, Grain Coast, Ivory Coast, Gold Coast, and Slave Coast, and immediately to the West of the Niger, only Great Benin, as a large territory and Awyi ( Warri) are marked.

It should be expected that for a vast community as that, diverse peoples, today's accounts of its trade dynastic relations, migrations and other bric-a-brac would be different from area to area. However, it remains amazing that certain areas of cultural influence within the old empire remain so strong till today as various ethnic nationalities still talk about them with nostalgic pride: for example, an independent Republic of Dahomey in 1975 decided to change its name to the Republic of Benin; the Itsekiri of Warri , the Igbo of Onitsha and others trace their own highly venerated royal lineages to the Bini link is claimed even as far as the Kalabari Ijaw of Degema in Rivers State.

At the heart of this expansive empire was the old Benin Kingdom. What is remarkable about the Old Benin Kingdom is that it was purely an African state whose growth was not stimulated by either Islam or contact with Europe. Like Oyo, Benin was at its greatest before any contact with Europe was ever m a de. Under Oba Ewuare, the Great, 1440-1473, the Kingdom of Benin through conquests from Idah to the North, Owo and Akure to Igboland, West of the Niger, had become an Empire. The Oba gave Benin a strong central government that weakened political factions and intrigues of the chiefs. His constitutional reforms strengthened the Oba against the Uzama and the Palace chiefs. A great and shrewd magician, regarded as a semi-divine monarch, Oba Ewuare gave Benin City the look and status of an imperial metropolis. It was during the time of Ewuare's reign that the first European, Ruy de Sequeira reportedly visited Benin in 1472, although Michael Crowder argues that it is more likely that the first European, Joao Affonso d' Aviero', came to Benin in 1486.
It can be said here that Benin attained her greatest glory and splendor under Oba Esigie (1504 -1550) when her progress in the fields of culture, politics, arts and crafts was immeasurably outstanding. The Oba, according to some English visitors could field t wenty thousand warriors in one day, and up to 100,000 men if necessary". In 1702, a Dutchman, David Van Nyendal described the richness of the Bini people's diet (beef, mutton or chickens.) And their neat and ornamental mode of dress. Their craftsmen included metal workers, weavers, wood-carvers and brass-smiths. Edo State, the surviving core of the Old Benin Empire, today, arguably though, claims to be the Heart-Beat of modern Nigeria. Outside the Ogiso dynasty, thirty-eight Obas (Kings) have ruled the Kingdom to date.

The legendary fame of the old Benin Empire was widespread and the peoples of Europe heard about, and desired to visit it. Also, it was known before the 15th century that somewhere in the hinterland of the Maghreb, gold was obtained by the Arabs from the Negroes for sale on the European markets.
Thus naturally, Europeans wanted to gain direct access to the source of supply and sideline the Arab middlemen. Also, Portugal and Spain were interested in finding a sea-route to India in o rder to avoid trading for Indian goods through Arab intermediaries. These economic motives, plus a desire to extend geographical knowledge and, then possibly, find a Christian king in tropical Africa as an ally in the struggles against Islam led Prince Henry of Portugal, the navigator, to launch expeditions to sail beyond the West Coast of Africa to discover a new route to India. Aided by the Papal Bulls of the 1450s, which had secured their rights to the African Coasts, the Portuguese had by 1480, completed their exploration of the West Coast and were able to settle down to its fruits "mainly in gold from Mina and peppers from Benin.

As mentioned above, the real motive for the missionary work in tropical Africa was the desire to find a Christian king to become all ally in the struggle against Islam. The crusades (1096 -1453) were undertaken in Europe in order to recapture the Holy Land of Jerusalem from the infield Turks who had occupied it from 7th century. These expedition having failed, most parts of Europe were traumatised, and quite naturally, the Christian nations needed allies outside Europe. Then came the reports about the fame, size and power of the Benin Empire. And if the Portuguese were to make any headway in West Africa, Benin City, the centre of the empire, was to be the take-off point.
Thus Benin became the centre-piece of the missionary strategy of the Portuguese. Unfortunately, their priests rather than settle amongst the Benin people and learn their language and customs were instructed to convert the Oba and make him decree the Catholic Faith as the religion of his realm as Emperor Constantine did in the Fourth Century Roman Empire. But the Oba's position as head of the cultic life of his people, and one they regarded as divine guaranteed the failure of the Portuguese missionary strategy.

However, Oba Esigie in an effort to spread Christianity in his realm sent Ohen -Okun, the Olokun priest at Ughoton, as an ambassador to the king of Portugal to ask him to send priests to Benin to teach him and his people about the Christian Faith. He also allowed churches to be built in the city at Ogbelaka, Idumwerie and Akpakpava. The last-named being the Holy Cross Cathedral" site. The Oba and the King of Portugal exchanged valuable gifts and a Portuguese Ambassador was accredited to Benin. The Aruosa church in Benin City remains a survivor from this era. Michael Crowder in his The Story of Nigeria tells about the Portuguese who in the second half of the fifteenth century built a factory at Ughoton, the port of Benin to handle pepper trade and purchase of slaves. The Oba had a royal monopoly on trade and it was the duty of his high chiefs like Uwangue and the Eribo to transact business on his behalf. Other items trade included Leopard skins, ivory, Benin cloths, wood works, brass works and in exchange for them Portuguese goods like firearms, dresses, glasses, beads and umbrellas were obtained. The introduction of firearms in Benin at this time positively increased its military str ength and played a remarkable role in its imperial expansion in the 16th century.

It is not disputed that most nationalities in both Edo and Delta States (except perhaps the Izon) have direct or indirect links with Benin origin. The Esan are said to have migrated from Benin, some during the Ogisos and others after. Their first enijies were mostly princes from Benin. So, too are the Oras. The Etsako are Benin migrants. The Ika (Agbor people) came from Benin in several waves. Other Western Igbo and Onitsha trace their roots to Benin. The Ihoho (Urhobo) were migrants from Benin and Their language is clearly a dialect of Edo language. The Benin monarchy extended its influence to Eko (Lagos - where it set up its dynasty; the first Eleko of Eko), to Itsekiri land (where prince Ginuwa became the first Olu the Itsekiri ) and to Badagry and beyond.