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At first, the city and culture of Benin started off as a kingdom that was based solely on chiefly tribute. [6] Later on, Benin's culture and history were enriched and became more powerful because of the conquests they made through war. [6] For example, a war that was detrimental to Benin was the Idah war (1515–1516). [8]
Pages in category "Culture of Benin" The following 10 pages are in this category, out of 10 total. ... National Library of Benin; P. Public holidays in Benin; Z.
The Kingdom of Benin, [2] also known as Great Benin or Benin Kingdom is a kingdom within what is now considered southern Nigeria. [3] It has no historical relation to the modern republic of Benin, [4] which was known as Dahomey from the 17th century until 1975. The Kingdom of Benin's capital was Edo, now known as Benin City in Edo State, Nigeria.
Benin (/ b ɛ ˈ n iː n / ⓘ ben-EEN, / b ɪ ˈ n iː n / bin-EEN; [9] French: Bénin ⓘ), officially the Republic of Benin (French: République du Bénin), is a country in West Africa. It was formerly known as Dahomey. [10] It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north-west, and Niger to the north-east.
The Kingdom of Benin was a hub of African civilization long before Portuguese traders visited, [15] [16] and bronzes were made in Benin prior to the arrival of the Portuguese. [17] The Benin bronze sculpture tradition is thought to have derived from or been influenced by that of the older nearby Kingdom of Ife in southwest Nigeria. [5] [6] [7]
The names Benin and Bini are Portuguese corruptions, ultimately from the word Ubini, which came into use during the reign of Oba (ruler) Ewuare, c. 1440. Ubini is an Edo word meaning 'livable', used by Pa Idu, the progenitor of the Edo people, to describe the area found as a livable locale during their sojourn from lower Egypt.
Christianity is the largest religion in Benin, with substantial populations of Muslims and adherents of traditional faiths such as Vodún. According to the most recent 2020 estimate, the population of Benin is 52.2% Christian, 24.6% Muslim, 17.9% traditionalist and 5.3% follows other faiths or has no religion.
Benin vessels have a greater significance than their utilitarian function; they refer to the Oba's ancestral authority, to Ewuare, and to the power that stems from the Oba's relationship to Olokun. [2] The leopard is the most common form of zoomorphic aquamanile made in Benin. The leopard, "king of the bush," is one of the principal symbols of ...