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The reign of the obas in the Kingdom of Benin, situated in present-day Edo State, Nigeria, began in the 13th century and was renowned for its well-established governance, the arts, tribute from their subjects and extensive networks of trading with the British and the Portuguese. Benin City’s earthwork of ramparts and trenches is considered to be the largest man-made structure in the world.
The ubiquitous, elaborate, red coral bead regalia worn by the monarchy and chiefs of Benin for ceremonial events were introduced in the 15th and 16th centuries. Spanning a period of over 800 years, the obas were particularly revered by their subjects, creating over time a very sophisticated and complex court system.
Similar to many other burgeoning nations of that era, much emphasis was placed on solidifying power through expansions, taxes, tribute and the control of trade routes, often resulting in wars with the neighboring states which resisted the warrior kings.
In the 17th century, the powerful kings survived severe political shifts, internal disputes over royal succession, military structural changes and their hold on the lucrative European trade, leading to a civil war from which they eventually emerged triumphantly with restored royal authority.
However, the ultimate decline of the powerful Benin empire was attributed to a combination of related factors, beginning with the abolition of the slave trade in the 19th century and the calculated, steady encroachment of the 1,200-plus British soldiers into the hinterlands, away from the visible coastal areas.
Concurrently, as part of the territorial land-grab by Europeans, known as the 'Scramble for Africa', in 1897 a large delegation led by James Phillips, Britain’s Acting Consul-General in the region, set off for Benin City despite requests from Oba Ovonramwen, to postpone their next trade visit due to a sacred annual period for the Kingdom.
They ignored warnings not to violate Benin territorial sovereignty and Philips, five other officers and almost 200 African porters were attacked and killed for their arrogance and greed by the Kingdom’s generals. Britain retaliated with swift vengeance, providing an excuse for British annexation.
Queen Iden, Benin Kingdom
30”H x 18”W x 10”D (76.2 x 45.7 x 25.5 cm)
The unprepared warriors, armed with swords and muskets were met with new machine guns and were summarily defeated.
However, the ultimate decline of the powerful Benin empire was attributed to a combination of related factors, beginning with the abolition of the slave trade in the 19th century and the calculated, steady encroachment of the 1,200-plus British soldiers into the hinterlands, away from the visible coastal areas.
Concurrently, as part of the territorial land-grab by Europeans, known as the 'Scramble for Africa', in 1897 a large delegation led by James Phillips, Britain’s Acting Consul-General in the region, set off for Benin City despite requests from Oba Ovonramwen, to postpone their next trade visit due to a sacred annual period for the Kingdom.
They ignored warnings not to violate Benin territorial sovereignty and Philips, five other officers and almost 200 African porters were attacked and killed for their arrogance and greed by the Kingdom’s generals. Britain retaliated with swift vengeance, providing an excuse for British annexation.
Queen Iden, Benin Kingdom
30”H x 18”W x 10”D (76.2 x 45.7 x 25.5 cm)
The unprepared warriors, armed with swords and muskets were met with new machine guns and were summarily defeated.
34”H x 18”W x 10”D (86.3 x 45.7 x 25.5 cm)
It was in 1897 that the royal compound of Oba Ovonramwen was looted by the victorious British soldiers who shipped crate-loads of centuries-old historic treasures, brass and bronze cast relief plaques, carved ivory and other works of art depicting court life and conquests, bronze sculptures, archaeological finds, ornate staffs and jewels to England as ‘the spoils of war’.
Benin City, the homes, burial places, storehouses and shrines of past obas were subsequently razed and destroyed by fire and Oba Ovonramwen and his family were sent into exile. As originally planned and anticipated, Benin Kingdom was colonized by Great Britain and, under British rule, the following 16 years were administered without an oba.
Oba Ovonramwen with his wives, Queen Egbe (left) and Queen Aighobahi (right)
Most of the stolen artifacts such as commemorative brass heads had been commissioned specifically for the ancestral altars of past Obas and Queen Mothers and were created by a specialist guild working for the royal court.
The hundreds of bronze plaques provide an unparalleled visual record of the kingdom’s history, its warriors and court customs. They were later auctioned off in London to museums and socialites, attracting art dealers, artists and aristocrats, many of which are now housed in the British Museum, London’s Museum of Mankind and museums across Germany and Austria, among others.
The hundreds of bronze plaques provide an unparalleled visual record of the kingdom’s history, its warriors and court customs. They were later auctioned off in London to museums and socialites, attracting art dealers, artists and aristocrats, many of which are now housed in the British Museum, London’s Museum of Mankind and museums across Germany and Austria, among others.
LOT 1 - OBA EWUAKPE AND QUEEN IDEN
According to the Europeans, Africans were not supposed to have as much history and Benin City was denigrated as a place of savagery in the English newspapers.
Yet, their true value emerged as more scrupulous European collectors praised the artistic and technical brilliance of the bronze sculptures, especially noting the immense skill required in lost-wax casting, long associated with Renaissance sculpture. They were made through elaborate processes using rich materials, depicting a vibrant cultural life in a refined, naturalistic, aesthetic tradition and, clearly, the Benin bronzes fully met “the European definition of what art is”.
Although the Benin monarchy was re-established in 1914 by the British, this was undoubtedly self-serving: to legitimize their claims of authority, impose heavy taxes and avoid local uprisings.
Moreover, since the stolen relics also represent Benin Kingdom’s archives, a guide to traditional dress and ceremonies and part of a surviving and living culture, there remain gaps in such ceremonies performed today.
In 1960, Benin Kingdom was swept into the murky arena of historical and political change, now identified as a southern region in the newly independent Nigeria. Of note, Benin Kingdom has no historical relation to the modern Republic of Benin.
(Sources include British Museum, Blackpast.org, Artsy.net,
Widewalls, Metropolitan Museum)
Widewalls, Metropolitan Museum)