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.
