A Forgotten Giant in Global Urban History LONG before modern urban planning became a discipline, Benin City stood as one of the most sophisticated cities on earth. As early as the 11th century, the capital of the Benin Empire demonstrated an advanced understanding of city design, governance, and infrastructure—at a time when much of medieval […]
Ritual, Authority and the Politics of War IN the pre-colonial Benin Empire, war was not merely a tool of expansion; it was embedded in kingship, ritual authority and imperial governance. Historical accounts, particularly Jacob U. Egharevba’s Short History of Benin (1953), describe a political culture in which most Obas launched military campaigns within three years […]
From Benin to the Delta: Akalaka and the Making of Ikwerre Ancestral Memory Oral Tradition as Historical Authority IN Ikwerre society, oral tradition is not casual storytelling; it is a form of historical authority passed through elders, titled men, and family lineages. One of the most enduring of these traditions presents Akalaka as a migrant […]
Rise of a Political–Spiritual Monarchy CENTURIES before Britain amalgamated Northern and Southern protectorates into what is now called Nigeria, the rainforest region of present-day Edo State was home to a centralised civilisation already exercising imperial influence. Between 900 and 1000 AD, Edo communities transitioned from decentralised gerontocratic leadership to a monarchy system after internal pressures […]
Tracing a Forgotten Stop in the Benin–Ife Migration Story Abstract FOR centuries, Edo oral tradition has preserved the story of Prince Ekaladerhan—banished heir to the last Ogiso of Benin and later known as Oduduwa of Ile-Ife. While the Benin–Ife connection has gained scholarly validation, a crucial gap remains largely unexplored: the communities Ekaladerhan encountered before […]
By IGBINAZAKA OGIESUYI OGIAMIEN PRINCESS Igwiyisi, the trailblazing first daughter of Oba Eweka II, occupies a complicated and often overlooked chapter in Benin’s royal history. Upon the passing of their father in 1933, she challenged the traditional succession order, entering into a fierce dispute with her younger brother, the future Oba Akenzua II. Her demand was […]
FOR more than a century, the Obaseki name has carried a weight in Benin that few other families possess—one built on unusual political privilege, repeated confrontations with the palace, and an unbroken thread of proximity to royal power. In public memory, the name is both respected and feared. A deeper look at the family’s history […]
THE Benin monarchy is one of Africa’s oldest and most enduring institutions—revered, sacrosanct, and traditionally beyond public challenge. To disagree with the Oba is to question not just a king, but a centuries-old spiritual and political order. Yet history records rare, seismic moments when sections of the Benin populace—chiefs, elites, and everyday citizens—collectively pushed back. […]
ACROSS Asaba and its surrounding communities, the olinzele—a cadre of titled dignitaries—formed the backbone of local governance and justice in the early 20th century. Records list prominent figures in Asaba such as the Asabwa, Onirhe, Odafe, Iyase, Isabwa, Osodi, Ozoma, Odogu “Edogun,” Omu, Adaisi, and others. While some titles appeared only in particular towns, many […]
By TOSAN OYAKHILOME-AKAHOMEN SWITZERLAND’S Ambassador to Nigeria, Chad, Niger and ECOWAS, Patrick Egloff, has reaffirmed that all consultations on the restitution of repatriated Benin bronzes will continue to go through the Oba of Benin’s Palace. He made the pledge during a courtesy visit to Oba Ewuare II in Benin City, praising the monarch’s long-standing leadership […]