The Empire Of Benin

Today am going to continue on my history post and today I'll be talking on the Empire of Benin. If you miss previous post and you're a fan of history and myth, click here for mythical history of Yoruba's here for rise and expansion of oyo and here for early story of islam.

Benin had been a city of great importance since at least the beginning of the fifteenth century. It became the centre of great kingdom and later a large empire which stretched from lower Niger in the east, to the frontiers of modern Dahomey in the west, and far inland taking in much of the Yoruba land. The people of the kingdom called Bini, spoke the edo language. Some historians hod the view that Benin owed it's rise to power robots early contact with the Portuguese.
This view is not supported by the record of the portuguese themselves who on their first arrival in Benin spoke on the kingdom high level of civilization. These records clearly show that the European were extremely impressed with the size of the Empire and effective system of government.

legends of Origin
As with other ancient states in West Africa, very little is known for certain about the early history of the editing speaking people who founded the Benin kingdom. But the Bini legends and traditions firmly assert that they were the first people to emerge as an organized People in the southern Nigeria. The legends concerning their origin are clothed in mythical stories. The following are some of these legends.

The Heavenly Prince
One popular legend says the early founder of Benin Was The youngest son of Osanobua, the Supreme god. Descending from heaven and helped by a mystical bird,the heavenly prince was able to dry up the flood which covers the whole country. The land became fertile and the founder and his people were able to engage in crop cultivation and to expand their kingdom. One sees in this legend a similarity of the Yoruba mythical story of Olorun the Supreme god who sent down his son Oduduwa from heaven to found ile-ife. Check my previous post on mythical story of the Yoruba for more clarification.

The legend of Oranmiyan or Oranyan
According to another legend,the founders of Benin emigrated form the East, possibly Egypt. After wandering through Central Africa, they with the Yoruba and kinsmen settled in ile-ife for many years. A section of ile-ife moved southwards towards the coast and halted in Igodomingodo original name for the Edoland. One of the leaders Igodo became the first ruler of the ogiso dynasty. The Edo people developed their country both politically and economically. They also developed advance forms of art and craft.

Little story about the Benin Kingdom, will be back with more history or historical moment of our country Nigeria.