|
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 via trade with other African kingdoms, who
traded the art on to Muslim visitors. 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 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.
|
