The Ancient Forest Kingdom of Benin

Ancient Benin: The ancient kingdom of Benin began way back in BCE times. They were not conquered until the 1800's in modern times, so they had quite a run. The people in the forest regions of Africa were not affected by the Muslim culture or the religious teachings of Islam. The first Muslim merchants did not push their way south until the 1600's. By then, their culture had developed

Art and Music: If there were such a thing as an artist colony in Africa, that colony would have been Benin. But people did not come from all over the world to live in Benin to learn about art and bronze making. Rather, the people of Benin sent their art out all over the world. Benin produced some of the most wonderful art in Africa. Their sculpture was playful and fun. Their carved wood masks are still world famous.

Their musical instruments included sticks, drums, and thumb pianos. If you have never seen a thumb piano (also called a finger harp), imagine a small wooden box with a hole on top and on both sides. Across the top hole, metal strips are fastened loosely down. To play, press down the tip of a metal strip and slide off gently. You can make an echo sound by covering the holes on either side. You can tap the holes on either side or both sides for additional effects. It's a simple instrument with a beautiful sound. 

See this site to Hear a Thumb Piano, Play a Thumb Piano, and Record Your Music!

Religion: The people of Benin believed in many gods and goddesses, spirits, and magic, and the power of witchdoctors.

Other Specialized Professions: Witchdoctors, Warriors, Magicians, Farmers, Weavers, Builders, and Storytellers

Government: King. Ably assisted by a council composed of invited representatives from noble families, major artist guilds (groups), and professions. It was not a representative government, as people did not vote for someone to represent them. But the council members did represent the various people in the kingdom.

Kinship: Families stuck together and families helped other families. There was a unity in purpose and in culture that kept the kingdom together.

There was a strong army who job was to protect the people. There were laws that everyone followed - no one was above the law. Benin could go to war, and was forced to on occasion, but their warriors were fierce and capable; their leaders were wise; their people worked together as a team; and thus their normal state was a peaceful one.

Trade: Benin traded with other African kingdoms and with the Dutch and Portuguese traders who came by sea. Benin offered woven striped garments that were popular on the Gold Coast, blue fabric, pepper, jasper stones, and leopard skins. In exchange, Benin wanted red and silver fabrics - cotton, red velvet, embroidered silk, coarse flannel - candied oranges and lemons, mirrors, and iron bars. Jewelry was traded on both sides.

Benin traders were very shrew. They had a certain way of trading. If you didn't trade their way, they wouldn't trade. They might negotiate for days, or weeks, or even months before they would trade for goods. It was not easy to trade with Benin, but it was profitable. The artists of Benin were quite talented, and the demand for Benin striped fabrics, bronze statues, and carved masks was high.

The people of Benin did not tolerate mistreatment during trade or at any time, actually. If a foreign trader was rude, or if something was stolen, all trade came to an abrupt halt. The boycott would continue for all traders from all nations until restitution and/or apology was made and accepted.

The City (Benin): The kingdom and the capital city were both called Benin. The city of Benin was laid out in a system of huge straight streets. These streets were very wide, very long, and well maintained although they were not paved. You could travel on foot in a straight line for 15 or 20 minutes and not see the end of the street. Other streets opened from the main streets. They were also wide. Houses were built in rows along all of the streets. On the street front side, houses had covered porches to keep people dry as they sat outside. The Dutch and Portuguese traders who came to Benin by sea were not invited into the nobles' or artists homes, so we do not know how their homes were arranged, or what the back looked like. But we do know about the palace.

The Palace: Dutch and Portuguese traders were invited into the king's palace - and thus we have written records of what the palace looked like. "The king's court is very big, having within it many wide squares with galleries round them where watch is always kept. I went so far within these builds that I passed through four such squared, and wherever I looked I still saw gate after gate which opened into other places." Description of Guinea, complied by Pieter de Marees from the accounts of many travelers. 1602. 

Did kids go to school? They did not go to school in a building. Rather, in the evening, in the olden days of Benin, the village collected together to listen to the storytellers. Mothers and fathers taught kids at home. Those practicing a trade would accept children as students to teach them their trade. Children learned from the elders of the village who used proverbs to teach good behavior. There is a wonderful African proverb that states, "It takes a whole village to raise a child."

Written Language: We don't know much about the early days of Benin, as the people did not have a written language until the Portuguese arrived. They learned Portuguese from the traders - both how to speak it and how to write it.

Social Life: The chief of Benin (the king) wore ceremonial robes to the annual festivals given in honor of various gods and goddesses. He always carried a sword, which was a symbol of his authority. There were many festivals. The people stopped working every month for several days to attend a festival. They believed work had to be balanced with play for a healthy life. They might be in the middle of a most important trade. Still, things came to a halt when it was festival time, no matter how important the trade.

Slavery: The people of Benin did buy and sell slaves from other African kingdoms. In the Kingdom of Benin, slaves were well treated. It did not occur to them that other people might treat slaves differently. In Benin, slaves could work their way out of slavery by paying their master the price of their purpose. They could marry the daughter of the household in which they served, and then would no longer be slaves. Benin did not participate in the slave trade with the Dutch and Portuguese. They might trade an occasional woman, but they never traded men.

What happened to Benin? The British finally conquered Benin in the late 1800's. That was the end of the Kingdom of Benin, but not the end of the people. In time, the people in the region of Benin were able to establish independence, as the modern day country of Nigeria. Nigeria today is famous for its wonderful art and music, and two of its exports are pepper and expertly woven striped cloth.

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