An English friend of mine told me that an Igboman fron Onitsha in anambra state was a very famous Oba in Benin Kingdom. Pls confirm. I want to know how true that is.

I pity you and that your English friend.

See oyibo

OP ignorant is worst than ebola virus plus HIV and AIDS

morbeta:
An English friend of mine told me that an Igboman fron Onitsha in anambra state was a very famous Oba in Benin Kingdom. Pls confirm. I want to know how true that is.

Wikipedia IA your friend

Unbiased, editable and can be accessed by millions

WHO ARE THE EDO PEOPLE'S?

SOME WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST THEIR REAL ORIGIN.
BUT JUST DO YOUR THOROUGH RESEARCH YOU WILL COME TO KNOW THE TRUTH OF THIS HISTORY YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ.

Who are the Edo people?

EDO, is what you can describe as the "generic name given to a group of people who have a common ancestor and have a common language, with some different variants, depending on the distance between the group and the " tap root, " resident in and around the present day Benin City. In short, the land, the political state, the people, tribe, language and the principal city -Benin City is called EDO. At a point in the history of these people, another name called BENIN came into use. These Edo-speaking people are divided into the following clans today:

a) " BINI " derived from the word Benin for people living in and around Benin City, in Edo State. People living in and around Benin City, are gradually accepting the word BINI, as descriptive of their clan. Otherwise, they prefer to be simply called EDO.

b) ESAN/Ishan-for the immediate neighbor to the north are people living in around Irrua, Orhodua, Uromi, Ubiaja, Ewu, Ewatto, Igueben and the almighty Evbohimwin (Ewohimi))" the city by the big river " or " the city of Ikhimwin trees " etc.

c) The Afemais known as IVBIOSAKON by those living in and around Benin City to the north of Ishan/Esan clan.

d) Akoko-Edos based in Igarra, Ibillo and its environs to the north of Afemais.

e) The Owans-ORAS occupying Eme, Sabogida-Ora, Afuze, etc. Uhobe (SOBE) and Ifon in Ondo State.

f) Ekas-to East of Benin. A sizeable chunk of the Edo speaking people flow across River Niger and ending at ONITSHA.

g) Isoko, Urhobo, Itsekiris and about 70% percent of western Izon (Ijaws) in Ndegeni and its environs

h) A sizeable chunk of the Edos is found in River States and Balyesa States e.g. Ogba land and Diobu, Port Harcourt.

i) A sizeable chunk has been " Yorubanised in Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos and Ogun States. The descendants of Edo soldiers stationed in Akure are referred to today as ADO-AKURE (Edo ne ’kue) There are many Edos in Ekiti land, Idoani, Idanre etc going through life in Nigeria with Yoruba names. Acculturation has taken place. You are either a Yoruba man or you go nowhere.

j) The ILAJE community at OKITIPUPA and its environs.

k) The Edos who conquered and settled far way land like Dahomey, Togo and Ghana.

The Edo language is part of the Kwa-Niger group of languages according to Linguist. These people have lived were they are now for " Thousands of years." The monarchy centered in Benin City is about 6000 years old, including pre-ogiso and Ogiso era of history. All the clans had various functions, which they perform at the palace. For example, the Ishans/Esans were principally the medicine men and warriors of the ancient empire. They were the medical practitioners. The chieftancy groups responsible for the Oba's well being are dominated by Ishan/Esan descendants. The Ivbiosakon (Afemais) were the dental surgeon of the palace. That is the origin of the name IVBIOSAKON. Oba Esigie assigned that function to them in the c1500's.

The Owan/Ora people were the propitiators of the physical earth for the Oba of Benin. It was their responsibility to prevent things like earthquake, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes and anything associated with geological disturbance to occur in Benin. In short, they were the geologists and weathermen of their day, forecasting and preventing physical calamities. Those we call BINIS today, were the traditional bureaucratic administrators and military generals. The Izons (Ijaws) were the " OZIGUE" -SAILORS The Ekas were farmers. They were in charge of the royal farms.

The Ibos across the Niger call the Edos, IDU, the name of the progenitor of Edo race, the Yorubas call us ADO, which is a corruption of the word EDO. However, the Itsekiris, another sub group in the Edo clans call us UBINI. Tradition asserts that it is derived from ILE-IBINU, which is descriptive of the exasperation and frustration encountered in Benin City, by Prince Oranmiyan of ILE-IFE. A further research may prove that, it was the Itsekiris who gave that name, to the people living in and around Benin City. The Itsekiris told the white man of the powerful overlord living in Igodomigodo. It was the Itsekiris who told the Whiteman that the name of the tribe of this powerful king was UBINI- a term which Whiteman corruptly wrote down as Benin. For example, the name of the eldest daughter of Oba Osewende, the mother of the OSULAS and the AIWERIOGHENES is today known as AGHAYUBINI. A closer examination of that name would reveal that the name is an Itsekhiri phrase-" The Ubini Lady or woman " i.e. the woman from Benin. Aghayubini was a very wealthy trader among the Itsekiris, from whence she got the money she used, is getting the throne for her brother, who became Oba ADOLO. An Itsekhiri descriptive phrase has simply over powered her original Edo name, to the extent that nobody knows anything about it now.

The ancient Edo/Benin Empire covered the whole of Bendel, parts of Bayelsa State and I repeat Balyesa State. The second son of the Enogie of Brass, popularly known as IYASE NE OHENMWEN became the Iyase of Benin under Oba Osewende. Iyase Ohenmwen is the ancestor of the OTOKITIS, THE OKEAYA-INNEH AND THE AIWERIOGHENES of Benin today. It also covers the IGBO-speaking areas of Delta State stretching to Onitsha. People hardly know that the actual title of the Obi of Onitsha is AIGBOGHIDI. The historical Chief Agho Obaseki of Oba Ovoranmwen era and later the Iyase of Benin under Oba Eweka II, was a descendant of the second son of Enogie of NSUKWA now in Delta State. It extended to the whole of Ondo State, parts of Ekiti and Ogun State and the whole of Lagos State including BADAGRY. It stretched to southern Dahomey (Republic of Benin) and on to the coast of Togo and Ghana.

THE OWANS /ORAS:

Oba Ozolua is traditionally regarded as the ancestor of the Owans/Ora. He was known as Prince Okpame before he became known as Oba Ozolua. He had sought refuge in Uwokha in Ivbiosakon areas in c1473. From Uwokha, Oba Ozolua founded Ora and other villages. Oba Ozolua was a warlord. He beat the people of Uzea near Uromi to a pulp when there was a revolt. He extended his carnage to Uromi when the Enogie was reported to have been rude to his messengers. He went up through Akoko land, wandering into Nupe lands where he acquired a lot of sophisticated weaponry then. He attacked the Igallas and Igbirras in the present Kogi and Kwarra states. After spending the greater part of his life in ORA, he left behind his son UGUAN and returned to Benin City.

But before he left, he proclaimed everybody free men and free women, entitled to enjoy the privileges of Edo princes and Princesses, for all the services they had rendered in his military campaigns. That is why the Oras call themselves today, the CHILDREN OF OZOLUA. Besides being in charge of propitiating the physical earth, they are responsible for ritually exorcising any harm that might come upon the EDO NATION-the land due to violation of sexual or other taboos. Their GUILD, quartered at EVBORHAN quarter in OGBELAKA in Benin City by Oba Esigie, demands steep fines from the culprits for their services.

A few years ago, the Oba of Benin created an Ogie-Duke-traditional rulership for the Oras because of popular demand.

Ademola Iyi Eweka. Look
The green color is the true map of Edo territories make this campaign know to the unknown
Edo is not a minority in their Land. EDO is an umbrella that cover all.

KINGOSIRO99:
WHO ARE THE EDO PEOPLE'S?

SOME WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST THEIR REAL ORIGIN.
BUT JUST DO YOUR THOROUGH RESEARCH YOU WILL COME TO KNOW THE TRUTH OF THIS HISTORY YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ.

Who are the Edo people?

EDO, is what you can describe as the "generic name given to a group of people who have a common ancestor and have a common language, with some different variants, depending on the distance between the group and the " tap root, " resident in and around the present day Benin City. In short, the land, the political state, the people, tribe, language and the principal city -Benin City is called EDO. At a point in the history of these people, another name called BENIN came into use. These Edo-speaking people are divided into the following clans today:

a) " BINI " derived from the word Benin for people living in and around Benin City, in Edo State. People living in and around Benin City, are gradually accepting the word BINI, as descriptive of their clan. Otherwise, they prefer to be simply called EDO.

b) ESAN/Ishan-for the immediate neighbor to the north are people living in around Irrua, Orhodua, Uromi, Ubiaja, Ewu, Ewatto, Igueben and the almighty Evbohimwin (Ewohimi))" the city by the big river " or " the city of Ikhimwin trees " etc.

c) The Afemais known as IVBIOSAKON by those living in and around Benin City to the north of Ishan/Esan clan.

d) Akoko-Edos based in Igarra, Ibillo and its environs to the north of Afemais.

e) The Owans-ORAS occupying Eme, Sabogida-Ora, Afuze, etc. Uhobe (SOBE) and Ifon in Ondo State.

f) Ekas-to East of Benin. A sizeable chunk of the Edo speaking people flow across River Niger and ending at ONITSHA.

g) Isoko, Urhobo, Itsekiris and about 70% percent of western Izon (Ijaws) in Ndegeni and its environs

h) A sizeable chunk of the Edos is found in River States and Balyesa States e.g. Ogba land and Diobu, Port Harcourt.

i) A sizeable chunk has been " Yorubanised in Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos and Ogun States. The descendants of Edo soldiers stationed in Akure are referred to today as ADO-AKURE (Edo ne ’kue) There are many Edos in Ekiti land, Idoani, Idanre etc going through life in Nigeria with Yoruba names. Acculturation has taken place. You are either a Yoruba man or you go nowhere.

j) The ILAJE community at OKITIPUPA and its environs.

k) The Edos who conquered and settled far way land like Dahomey, Togo and Ghana.

The Edo language is part of the Kwa-Niger group of languages according to Linguist. These people have lived were they are now for " Thousands of years." The monarchy centered in Benin City is about 6000 years old, including pre-ogiso and Ogiso era of history. All the clans had various functions, which they perform at the palace. For example, the Ishans/Esans were principally the medicine men and warriors of the ancient empire. They were the medical practitioners. The chieftancy groups responsible for the Oba's well being are dominated by Ishan/Esan descendants. The Ivbiosakon (Afemais) were the dental surgeon of the palace. That is the origin of the name IVBIOSAKON. Oba Esigie assigned that function to them in the c1500's.

The Owan/Ora people were the propitiators of the physical earth for the Oba of Benin. It was their responsibility to prevent things like earthquake, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes and anything associated with geological disturbance to occur in Benin. In short, they were the geologists and weathermen of their day, forecasting and preventing physical calamities. Those we call BINIS today, were the traditional bureaucratic administrators and military generals. The Izons (Ijaws) were the " OZIGUE" -SAILORS The Ekas were farmers. They were in charge of the royal farms.

The Ibos across the Niger call the Edos, IDU, the name of the progenitor of Edo race, the Yorubas call us ADO, which is a corruption of the word EDO. However, the Itsekiris, another sub group in the Edo clans call us UBINI. Tradition asserts that it is derived from ILE-IBINU, which is descriptive of the exasperation and frustration encountered in Benin City, by Prince Oranmiyan of ILE-IFE. A further research may prove that, it was the Itsekiris who gave that name, to the people living in and around Benin City. The Itsekiris told the white man of the powerful overlord living in Igodomigodo. It was the Itsekiris who told the Whiteman that the name of the tribe of this powerful king was UBINI- a term which Whiteman corruptly wrote down as Benin. For example, the name of the eldest daughter of Oba Osewende, the mother of the OSULAS and the AIWERIOGHENES is today known as AGHAYUBINI. A closer examination of that name would reveal that the name is an Itsekhiri phrase-" The Ubini Lady or woman " i.e. the woman from Benin. Aghayubini was a very wealthy trader among the Itsekiris, from whence she got the money she used, is getting the throne for her brother, who became Oba ADOLO. An Itsekhiri descriptive phrase has simply over powered her original Edo name, to the extent that nobody knows anything about it now.

The ancient Edo/Benin Empire covered the whole of Bendel, parts of Bayelsa State and I repeat Balyesa State. The second son of the Enogie of Brass, popularly known as IYASE NE OHENMWEN became the Iyase of Benin under Oba Osewende. Iyase Ohenmwen is the ancestor of the OTOKITIS, THE OKEAYA-INNEH AND THE AIWERIOGHENES of Benin today. It also covers the IGBO-speaking areas of Delta State stretching to Onitsha. People hardly know that the actual title of the Obi of Onitsha is AIGBOGHIDI. The historical Chief Agho Obaseki of Oba Ovoranmwen era and later the Iyase of Benin under Oba Eweka II, was a descendant of the second son of Enogie of NSUKWA now in Delta State. It extended to the whole of Ondo State, parts of Ekiti and Ogun State and the whole of Lagos State including BADAGRY. It stretched to southern Dahomey (Republic of Benin) and on to the coast of Togo and Ghana.

THE OWANS /ORAS:

Oba Ozolua is traditionally regarded as the ancestor of the Owans/Ora. He was known as Prince Okpame before he became known as Oba Ozolua. He had sought refuge in Uwokha in Ivbiosakon areas in c1473. From Uwokha, Oba Ozolua founded Ora and other villages. Oba Ozolua was a warlord. He beat the people of Uzea near Uromi to a pulp when there was a revolt. He extended his carnage to Uromi when the Enogie was reported to have been rude to his messengers. He went up through Akoko land, wandering into Nupe lands where he acquired a lot of sophisticated weaponry then. He attacked the Igallas and Igbirras in the present Kogi and Kwarra states. After spending the greater part of his life in ORA, he left behind his son UGUAN and returned to Benin City.

But before he left, he proclaimed everybody free men and free women, entitled to enjoy the privileges of Edo princes and Princesses, for all the services they had rendered in his military campaigns. That is why the Oras call themselves today, the CHILDREN OF OZOLUA. Besides being in charge of propitiating the physical earth, they are responsible for ritually exorcising any harm that might come upon the EDO NATION-the land due to violation of sexual or other taboos. Their GUILD, quartered at EVBORHAN quarter in OGBELAKA in Benin City by Oba Esigie, demands steep fines from the culprits for their services.

A few years ago, the Oba of Benin created an Ogie-Duke-traditional rulership for the Oras because of popular demand.

Ademola Iyi Eweka. Look
The green color is the true map of Edo territories make this campaign know to the unknown
Edo is not a minority in their Land. EDO is an umbrella that cover all.

Thank you Sir

morbeta:
An English friend of mine told me that an Igboman fron Onitsha in anambra state was a very famous Oba in Benin Kingdom. Pls confirm. I want to know how true that is.

how did he know?

is he interested in Nigerian history?

btw what's the name of the king?

Onitcha was part of Benin kingdom. They have an ibo Oba...or if you like, Obi.

He is an old man in his 70s an also his family has history with Buckingham Palace.

shobroy10:
OP ignorant is worst than ebola virus plus HIV and AIDS

Pls before you comment on peoples post, it import you go through other reason people's'comment before you jump into topics with your inorganic sore-throat. Checkout informative post below your broke-azz

morbeta:


Pls before you comment on peoples post, it import you go through other reason people's'comment before you jump into topics with your inorganic sore-throat. Checkout informative post below your broke-azz

oh oh 1 - 0

NNAMDI AZIKIWE (ZIK OF AFRICA)
When Zik asked his grandmother why Onitsha people are said to “despise others”, she replied to him that “because we belonged to the Royal House of Benin and that we regarded ourselves as the superior of other tribes because they were not connected with Benin Royalty… it was taboo for us to associate with others.
This cultural separateness is rooted in dimensions of their legendary past. Nnamdi Azikiwe alludes to it in his autobiography, referring to a folk etymology of the term “Onitsha” said to be accepted by the widely-scattered people themselves: onini ncha, “to despise others”.

KINGOSIRO99:
NNAMDI AZIKIWE (ZIK OF AFRICA)
When Zik asked his grandmother why Onitsha people are said to “despise others”, she replied to him that “because we belonged to the Royal House of Benin and that we regarded ourselves as the superior of other tribes because they were not connected with Benin Royalty… it was taboo for us to associate with others.
This cultural separateness is rooted in dimensions of their legendary past. Nnamdi Azikiwe alludes to it in his autobiography, referring to a folk etymology of the term “Onitsha” said to be accepted by the widely-scattered people themselves: onini ncha, “to despise others”.

will you shut up pls, we delta Igbos have warned you benin people to stop bringing your benin crap inorder to falsely rewrite our history and claim Asaba.. Heads will ROLL if you people dare us.

EdCure:
Onitcha was part of Benin kingdom. They have an ibo Oba...or if you like, Obi.

mumuni. obi 've no link with oba.
obi means palace.

some ignoring town Use obi or eze or igwe.

My hometown nnewi. have four villages. each with an obi. with the obi of otolo acting as the igwe of nnewi.

his authority stop at his village though he is the over of nnewi.
just like the system practiced in d Nigerian Senate.

Ugomba:
will you shut up pls, we delta Igbos have warned you benin people to stop bringing your benin crap inorder to falsely rewrite our history and claim Asaba.. Heads will ROLL if you people dare us.

what I don't understand is how the binis claim everyone is
from them. Yoruba is from bini. ikwerre is bini. anioma is
bini.
na waa ooo.
all this tribe from bini.
bini should be the most populous tribe in Nigeria.
but, otu awu na ezi.
everybody migrate from there yet they so tiny....

patmaine:



what I don't understand is how the binis claim everyone is
from them. Yoruba is from bini. ikwerre is bini. anioma is
bini.
na waa ooo.
all this tribe from bini.
bini should be the most populous tribe in Nigeria.
but, otu awu na ezi.
everybody migrate from there yet they so tiny....

don't mind them, go and ask the Igbanke people the discrimination these Edo people are giving to them,
Their plan is to use confusion as a tool to rewrite our history and then they will begin to claim our oil and gas in Asaba.. We are Prepared.

KINGOSIRO99:
NNAMDI AZIKIWE (ZIK OF AFRICA)
When Zik asked his grandmother why Onitsha people are said to “despise others”, she replied to him that “because we belonged to the Royal House of Benin and that we regarded ourselves as the superior of other tribes because they were not connected with Benin Royalty… it was taboo for us to associate with others.
This cultural separateness is rooted in dimensions of their legendary past. Nnamdi Azikiwe alludes to it in his autobiography, referring to a folk etymology of the term “Onitsha” said to be accepted by the widely-scattered people themselves: onini ncha, “to despise others”.

Thunder for your mouth there. You ijiots should stop joining our kinsmen in onitsha with your nonsense tales of liess and madness.

Ugomba:
don't mind them, go and ask the Igbanke people the discrimination these Edo people are giving to them,
Their plan is to use confusion as a tool to rewrite our history and then they will begin to claim our oil and gas in Asaba.. We are Prepared.

you cant change history. majority of today south south and part of south east are benin descendant.

atbu1983:


you cant change history. majority of today south south and part of south east are benin descendant.

LO BA TAN.

People I am a direct descendant of Nri and let me shed a little light on these issues

1. The title OBA was/is an Nri title, already in use within the core Nri towns of Enugwu-ukwu, Enugwu-agidi, Nawfia and Agukwu centuries before the first known oba of Benin I.e OBA IWEKA.
2. BINI was coined from the Igbo sentence ILO OBI INU, which means THE ROAD OF BITTER HEARTS.
3. The first Oba of Benin was an Nri titled man and the alias attached to his Obaship denoted the temperament of the Bini people back then. IWEKA goes hand in hand with ILO OBI INU. It means ANGER IS GREAT, obviously still referring to the BINIS
4. In times past, mainly because of the relationship of the Benin obas and Nri, Nri priests crowned Obas of Benin, probably up until Oba Ewuare from whose reign, the Nris started playing diminishing roles in the Benin Kingdom
5. The four market days used by Binis is a corruption of the market days originated by the Nris
6. Portuguese explorers that visited the palace of the Oba about six hundreds of years ago or so, reported the presence of HIGHLY REVERED MEN FROM THE EAST WHO TAUGHT THE PALACE THE MYSTERIES OF THE HEAVINGLY BODIES AND SEASONS e.t.c. Of course that will explain why Bini people still use the Nri-Igbo four market days.
7. Around the time of the Portuguese visit and for hundreds of years before that, the official language of the Obas palace was Igbo.
8. I hope with the above, people can now see why quite a number of Benin princes that migrated to certain areas bore Igbo names e.g Ezechima, Akalaka e.t.c.

So basically, the first oba of Benin and his descendants have Nri ancestry

Ugomba:
will you shut up pls, we delta Igbos have warned you benin people to stop bringing your benin crap inorder to falsely rewrite our history and claim Asaba.. Heads will ROLL if you people dare us.

. Why are you not telling the truth? below are Anioma monarchs,

Obi of Ubulu Uku (Aniocha)
Obi Of Agbor.
Pere of Isaba

Mere seeing them you would know that they are Beni Princes. They are all wearing the Red and White of Beni, the Beni Beads and carrying or having a symbol of the Benin Staff of Office.

who dash am?

using "we this and we that" 24/7 in your posts doesnt mean you are not an i.diot or a scammer/imposter.

Benin Chiefs
Obi of Igbodo
Obi of Onitcha

Even a blind man can see that all the Obis came from Benin.

The truth is that Anioma.....ikwerre...and other parts of ibo land including inside Anambra ......are Benin.....

Ugomba:
will you shut up pls, we delta Igbos have warned you benin people to stop bringing your benin crap inorder to falsely rewrite our history and claim Asaba.. Heads will ROLL if you people dare us.

hahahaha. See who's talking. Can you withstand the binis when it comes to fighting? Mind you, you're not from from the binis cos you share a boundary with Oriohimwon and it won't be difficult pouncing on your sorry asses. Ordinary igala youths that are giving you problems in anambra you've not been able to handle and you're thinking of engaging the binis. You'll die in great numbers this time. Try yourself. We are watching and waiting for you.

@ KINGOSIRO99.

There's too much salt in your story. The Ilajes know their history, they are not from Benin. Many other groups you mentioned might have been vassals to Benin, it doesn't necessarily mean their people came from Benin. That Rome ruled over England does not necessarily mean the English came from Rome.

I believe Benin influence over the Niger delta has been grossly exaggerated. I find it curious that the Ogisos did not build an empire, yet we are being led to believe that the Benin empire has been ubiquitous for thousands of years! That story just doesn't add up.

Volksfuhrer:
@ KINGOSIRO99.

There's too much salt in your story. The Ilajes know their history, they are not from Benin. Many other groups you mentioned might have been vassals to Benin, it doesn't necessarily mean their people came from Benin. That Rome ruled over England does not necessarily mean the English came from Rome.

I believe Benin influence over the Niger delta has been grossly exaggerated. I find it curious that the Ogisos did not build an empire, yet we are being led to believe that the Benin empire has ubiquitous for thousands of years! That story just doesn't add up.

On the contrary, Benin Influence has been understated, why did you think Benin republic name their country Benin?

coolitempa:
The truth is that Anioma.....ikwerre...and other parts of ibo land including inside Anambra ......are Benin.....

The truth is also that you guys will continue saying all these while the people continue speaking the only language in their culture which is Igbo, customs and tradition which is basically Igbo. Their boundaries contiguous to other native Igbo speakers. Then, why burn this energy?

The pictures of those rulers doesn't prove anything
In fact the attire of Obi of Onitsha has a lot more in common with Eze Nri, of course replacing the sword with Eze Nri's ritual staff.

Secondly they are all addressed as OBIs which is an Igbo word.

Igbos are well known for blending with neighbouring cultures which has been a major reason for their survival, and see nothing wrongnin adopting foreign ways.

Some Igwes even wear English magistrates-like attire. That doesn't make them English.

Some igwes in Igboland with no proven links to Nri also adorn themselves in Eze Nri-like robes but that does not make them Nri princes

phyllosilicate:
On the contrary, Benin Influence has been understated, why did you think Benin republic name their country Benin?

can you please tell me why the people of benin republic change the name of their country from dahomey to benin republic

phyllosilicate:
On the contrary, Benin Influence has been understated, why did you think Benin republic name their country Benin?

Benin Republic used to be known as Dahomey, but they changed their name to Benin because of the Bight of Benin, and not because of the Benin empire.

Dahomey was an ancient kingdom that belonged to the Fon, the majority ethnic group. The ancient Kingdom of Dahomey did not cover the whole of Dahomey as some other ethnic groups in the country felt left out.

That led to the adoption of Benin as the coast of the country was known as the Bight of Benin