Dr. Whizy:
Abeg wher d oba dey 4 d pic??

Dr. Whizy:
Abeg wher d oba dey 4 d pic??

jonot: Found this on Wikipedia:

Ovonramwen Nogbaisi came to be the Oba of Benin in 1888.[1]
At the end of the 19th century, the Kingdom of Benin had managed to retain its independence and the Oba exercised a monopoly over trade which the British found irksome. The territory was coveted by an influential group of investors for its rich natural resources such as palm-oil, rubber and ivory.[2] The kingdom was largely independent of British control, and pressure continued from figures such as Vice-Consul James Robert Phillips and Captain Gallwey (the British vice-Consul of Oil Rivers Protectorate) who were pushing for British annexation of the Benin Empire and the removal of the Oba.
A British invasion force headed by Phillips set out to overthrow the Oba in 1896. The force's weapons were hidden in baggage, with troops disguised as bearers. Phillips plan was to gain access to Ovonramwen's palace by announcing that he intended to negotiate. Ovonramwen's messengers issued several warnings not to violate Benin territorial sovereignty, claiming he was unable to see Phillips due to ceremonial duties. Having been warned on several further occasions on the way, Phillips sent his stick to the Oba, a deliberate insult designed to provoke the conflict that would provide an excuse for British annexation.[3] Phillip's expedition was ambushed and all but two were killed. Subsequently a military operation against Benin in 1897 led by Harry Rawson resulted in the burning of Benin City and the deaths of untold numbers of its inhabitants. Although the British had orders to hang the Oba, Ovonramwen escaped, but later surrendered.
Ovonramwen was exiled to Calabar with his two wives, and died there in 1914.

Olu'femi Abbey:


You shared my mind. There are lots of things we can learn from the old Benin Kingdom. The only link ¶'ve heard so far about 'em is that they're descendants from Oduduwa. More please.

Uyi Iredia:

Am I dreaming !

Am I dreaming ! Mudley is back !

Oduntan Gabriel: Are u sure he was arrested in this picture? It looks as if the king was being followed by his guards...... Abi dem no get handcuff dos days ni?

Felixadded: Are you trying to tell us that YORUBAS are EDOS by origin or what?

Decency75: the book written by Ola Rotimi ( The gods are not to blame) explained it all. You people should go and read the book.

Rossikk:

The Binis of course. What a question.

As for the 'star of david', it isn't surprising to see such things, as the Benin kingdom had filial links to the ancient Nile Valley and the Levant like many West and Central African kingdoms.

Decency75: the book written by Ola Rotimi ( The gods are not to blame) explained it all. You people should go and read the book.

Mudley313:

i don't think those are the stars of david. oba oyekan (below) wore quite similar hat; the oba of lagos had diplomatic and trade alliance with the portuguese before the advent of the british and Bini also had diplomatic and consular exchanges with the king of portugal; probably that's where that originated from

bokohalal:
Oba Ovonramwen is not the LAST Oba of Benin Kingdom. There is a reigning Oba

Mudley313: Overami or Ovonramwen was the last Oba or King of the African Kingdom of Benin, also sometimes referred to as the Benin Empire (not be confused with the modern country of Benin) which occupied an area mostly within what is now Nigeria. For many years prior to Ovonramwen coming to the throne British influence in the area had been expanding and strengthening but Benin remained independent but that independence, particularly the trade monopoly the Oba held in the region, aroused the jealousy of elite colonial investors and businessmen. They were determined to bring Benin with its palm-oil, rubber and ivory wealth under British control. Ovonramwen came to the throne in 1888 as the 35th Oba of Benin and in 1892 signed a treaty with the British to abolish the slave trade in the region and making the Kingdom of Benin an autonomous protectorate of Great Britain.

However, powerful forces were arrayed against the king, particularly the Vice-Consul James Robert Phillips and Captain Gallwey of the Oil Rivers Protectorate. Their goal was the full annexation of Benin to the British Empire and the overthrow of the Oba who stood in their way. In 1896 a British column led by Phillips went to meet with Oba Ovonramwen in Benin City but did not get to see the monarch who was occupied with performing important ceremonies at the time. Another expedition was launched despite warnings from the Oba not to come as their visit was timed to coincide with the celebration of the annual Igue Festival; a time of much ceremony when all outsiders were encouraged to stay away. The British were asked to postpone the visit for two months but Phillips refused and sent the king his stick; a traditional sign of insult and a deliberate provocation. As a result, when the party entered Benin territory they were ambushed and massacred with only a few managing to escape.

In February of 1897 the British launched a full-scale attack on Benin City which fell after eight days of fierce fighting. The Kingdom of Benin was totally destroyed, many inhabitants killed, the city looted and many valuable artifacts taken as trophies. The accused mastermind of the ambush and massacre of Captain Phillips and his party, Ologbohere, was put on trial and hanged. Oba Ovonramwen was to be hanged as well but after his surrender was deposed instead and exiled to Calabar with his two wives where he died in January of 1914. The king had actually had nothing to do with the massacre, knowing well enough that such an act would only provoke a war he could not hope to win, which is exactly what happened. The area of Benin was annexed and allowed for further British expansion into the interior of West Africa. However, despite the exile and death of the last reigning Oba of Benin the royal family continued on and still does today in the person of Crown Prince Solomon Akenzua who succeeded as Oba Erediauwa of the Benin people in Nigeria in 1978.

Mad Cow:

Look at his legs and see the shackles

PAGAN 9JA:



THAT HAT IS A POOR COPY OF THE EUROPEAN TRICORN HAT WORN BY THE PORTUGUESE! SAME CASE WITH THE STAR OF DAVID. ALL BORROWED CONEPTS FROM THE EUROPEANS!

PapaBrowne: I have never heard the story of Obaseki's betrayal. But I will like to know more about it. I'll wait for PhysicsQed to come up and enlighten us.

Benin is the most interesting place with regards to history in Nigeria and much of Africa. There are so many intriguing stories about the Benin Kingdom. Much of it can be turned to wonderful stories.

I have a beautiful dream for Benin. Creating a renaissance of the strength of the kingdom and making it a centre for Innovation(Like it once was), Arts and Culture, Education and Research,Design, Entrtepreneurship, Social Developement and a host of other areas where the City posseses comparative advantage!!

I love my roots. It makes me proud!!

jonot: Found this on Wikipedia:

Ovonramwen Nogbaisi came to be the Oba of Benin in 1888.[1]
At the end of the 19th century, the Kingdom of Benin had managed to retain its independence and the Oba exercised a monopoly over trade which the British found irksome. The territory was coveted by an influential group of investors for its rich natural resources such as palm-oil, rubber and ivory.[2] The kingdom was largely independent of British control, and pressure continued from figures such as Vice-Consul James Robert Phillips and Captain Gallwey (the British vice-Consul of Oil Rivers Protectorate) who were pushing for British annexation of the Benin Empire and the removal of the Oba.
A British invasion force headed by Phillips set out to overthrow the Oba in 1896. The force's weapons were hidden in baggage, with troops disguised as bearers. Phillips plan was to gain access to Ovonramwen's palace by announcing that he intended to negotiate. Ovonramwen's messengers issued several warnings not to violate Benin territorial sovereignty, claiming he was unable to see Phillips due to ceremonial duties. Having been warned on several further occasions on the way, Phillips sent his stick to the Oba, a deliberate insult designed to provoke the conflict that would provide an excuse for British annexation.[3] Phillip's expedition was ambushed and all but two were killed. Subsequently a military operation against Benin in 1897 led by Harry Rawson resulted in the burning of Benin City and the deaths of untold numbers of its inhabitants. Although the British had orders to hang the Oba, Ovonramwen escaped, but later surrendered.
Ovonramwen was exiled to Calabar with his two wives, and died there in 1914.

Ile-Ife:


How far na? abeg i fit save am for my blog?

Mad Cow: See as ehn humble..

If to say na today Nigerian Police arrest am, this picture for look something like this;

[img]http://4.bp..com/-1qfBaAEUq4o/UUx4mSJ-AbI/AAAAAAAAPEM/qgJ7evejyPE/s400/nigerian+police+arrest+abuja.jpg[/img]

_{**Oba shouting OGHENE BIKO all the way**}

Mad Cow: See as ehn humble..

If to say na today Nigerian Police arrest am, this picture for look something like this;

[img]http://4.bp..com/-1qfBaAEUq4o/UUx4mSJ-AbI/AAAAAAAAPEM/qgJ7evejyPE/s400/nigerian+police+arrest+abuja.jpg[/img]

_{**Oba shouting OGHENE BIKO all the way**}

iHustle:

Thank you my brother. Like Prof. Achebe said, "you cannot tell me who I am". Yoruba historians have tried to distort Edo history. Thank God for Oba Erediauwa ans his book.

Prince Ekaladerhan became the king of Ife and said to himself "imadoduwa", meaning "I did not miss the path to glory". Oduduwa is the Yoruba corruption of Imadoduwa. the word Oduduwa has no meaning in both Edo and Yoruba languages. The Yoruba story of Oduduwa is more like a fable.

The ancestor of we Edos is Idu. The first king of Benin was Obagodo who was the first of the Ogisos. The lineage continues till this very day.

nellaluv: Pictures they say speak a thousand words. This is a Photo of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ovonramwem, when he was arrested and taken out of his palace! this was later 18th centuries, right?
The story surrounds is that of power and betrayal. There is a great debate going on on how he was betrayed by his own people , the Obasekis. Please if you are of bini origin i urge you to enlighten us pls.