29/04/2024
The GREAT BENIN KINGDOM EMPIRE BEFORE THE BRITISH INCURSION
By Dr. Paul Osa IGBINEWEKA
The Great Benin Kingdom Empire was known to have expanded territories along the coastal region from the Benin City to the River Niger Delta tributaries of West flank of Rivers State to the Western territories up to Eko and Badagry, and by extension to the coastal area of Port Novo in Dahomey.
The empire was known for Arts and Culture. Most likely aspects of the artwork was the use of elephant tusks called ivory tusks. Most hunting for the elephants saw their adventures into the forests of the wild elephants to the Isherin /Oha-eni, area before the Coast of the Lagoons. Though the area were yet inhabitable, but the Benin hunters were having camps all in the coastal forests, until the main camp Eko was founded by Ọba Ọrhọgbua in about 1550, as he returned from Portugal to ascend the throne of his father Oba Ẹsigie (1504-1550)..
The entire coastal territories were known as the Bight of Benin, while the Eastern side towards the Guinea was Bight of Biafra, in-between was the small size Bight of Bonny.
There was no Yoruba empire closer to the coast, and the name Yoruba was unknown. Only Oyo was the popular kingdom territory known in the hinterlands. With the boundary of Benin at Otun in Ekiti, Ekiti Ondo, and other places were part of the the Great Benin Kingdom Empire, until the British incursion and colonization that categorized the Southwest region. Eko has never been under any Yoruba kingdoms. Rather the other territories were ceded to be Yoruba land.
The Land by the sea then were inhabitable, the closest place was the Isherin area where Benin hunters earlier hunted for elephants. The coastal area from the Benin river to the Eko territory were forest margrove swamps. The Benin warriors were the first to establish a Camp (EKO) there before the arrival from Ile Ife hinterland of the Awori people, who were also variant of Benin that were with Oduduwa (Ekaladerhan). They later migrated to the Eko (Benin name for a Camp) territory, and discovered that there were used food wrapped leaves floating around the lagoons and found that there were Benin people already living in the camp (Eko).
As they tried to be rude Aisikpa (Ashipa) as prince of Benin was sent as Eleko (Head) of Eko. Aisikpa (Benin word means never relocate from your abode) was the first Eleko of Eko. Then the Aworis accepted to comply with the royalty which was the "Isakole". The Awori language had rich of Benin/Idu/Edo dialects and Olukumi that they came with from Ile Ife, before other people of Yoruba in larger numbers migrated from the Ijebu and other hinterland places.
Then the ex-slaves and descendants from the Sierra Leone joined the indigenous people of Eko before more Yoruba settled and influenced the language with the general Yoruba that was evolved by the late Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, an ex slave and Missionary who used the general Yoruba to propagate the Christian missionary message.
Beyond Eko, Benin was influential with the Portuguese in their base in the islands of the Sao Tome and Principe. Today, over 34 words of Benin/Idu/Edo dialects still featuring in the language of the Islands. These I have gleaned from historical facts and articles concerning Eko, Benin, Awori and history of Lagos. Some of these historical articles are being thrown away from the archives, and surprisingly I have some of them bought as used books. These historical thoughts are being suppressed deliberately to defame the historical fame of the Great Benin Kingdom Empire.
