Historical Similarities between Yoruba and Benin, How Ife Beget Benin.


Ife and Benin
Magnificent terracotta objects have been found in Nok, in Nigeria, dating back to a period some time between 500 BC and 500 AD. These are the earliest known sculptures on the continent, next to those of Ancient Egypt.

Against this background of creativity and craftsmanship, the Yoruba kingdoms of Benin and Ife sprang up between the 11th and 12th centuries.
Origins

In Yoruba mythology, Ife was founded by a senior deity Oduduwa, acting on the order of the supreme deity Olorun (also known as Oludmare). Oduduwa became the first ruler, or Ooni, of Ife.

We know little of how these early Ooni exercised power or how their territory was administered, or precisely when the kingship started. We know that the landscape out of which Ife (and Benin) emerged consisted of a mixture of tropical forests and savannah land, affording very fertile soil and a high rainfall.

Food and art
One of the keys to understanding the success and wealth of these kingdoms was the ability to provide a significant food surplus. This released labour, which could then be channelled into creating great works of art centred largely on celebrating kingship.
We can still see today an astounding range of objects made of bronze, brass, copper, wood, ceramic and ivory. The superb level of Ife craftsmanship expressed, using the "lost wax" method, is comparable with the finest examples of metal-work in Europe from Classical and Renaissance times.


Historial view
"The art was largely motivated by the culture, the cultural practices of the people. They had to produce certain objects, which they used for certain ritual purposes." - Dr Ohioma Pogoson, historian and lecturer at University of Ibadan, The African Institute, Nigeria

Historial view
"The art of Ife and Benin is so important because one gives birth to the other. The Ife art was the most ancient in the forest region of Nigeria, simply because the Ife civilisation goes as far back as 300 - 500 BC. Therefore, it had developed a lot of artefacts, which marks the history of Ife.
"Ife later gave birth to Benin - Dr Omotoso Eluyemi, director of National Museums and Monuments


Oyo
Ife was at one time considered the most senior Yuruba state. But by the 17th century it was eclipsed by Oyo. Lying further north, Oyo had the military advantage of a cavalry, and the right agricultural conditions to grow cereal. In the 18th century Oyo reached its peak, largely by profits of the slave trade. With the abolition of slavery its power waned. Today Ife continues to be regarded as the spiritual centre for all Yoruba, and the Ooni of Ife has considerable influence in the country.

Benin
The kingship of Benin is closely related to Ife. The first king, or Oba, of Benin is traditionally supposed to be a descendant of Oduduwa, the founder of Ife. The most distinctive examples of Benin craftsmanship are the bronze plaques, which adorned the palace walls. As in the artwork of Ife, the craftsmen of Benin produced bronze and copper heads celebrating the power of the Oba.

The capital of Benin (not to be confused with the modern state of Benin, formerly Dahomey) was south west of Ife. One of the few early written accounts of this centre of power and trade is given by a Portuguese slave trader Joao Afonso Aveiro, who was astounded by what he described as the 'great city of Benin'. Over a hundred years later, a Dutch visitor compared it favourably with Amsterdam. Most of the art was looted by the British in 1897.


Lost wax method
A precise model of the object to be made is constructed out of wax. A mould - usually made out of clay - is then formed round the wax model. This is left to harden. The whole thing is then heated. The wax melts away, hence the expression "lost wax."
This leaves a hollow space in the shape of the model. Molten metal is then poured into this space, filling it completely. When the metal has cooled down and hardened, the mould is broken, leaving the object in its metal form.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1624_story_of_africa/page86.shtml

My submission is simple
Benin and yorubas are one...case closed.

blood is thicker than water.

Abeg rest. We know Benin Kingdom. What is Ife Kingdom? I’m not even from Edo state. Ife Kingdom ko, Ife Kingdom ni.

Juliusmalema:
My submission is simple

Benin and yorubas are one...case closed.


blood is thicker than water.

We've rejected each other.

We are not one

[s]

Zooposki:
Abeg rest. We know Benin Kingdom. What is Ife Kingdom? I’m not even from Edo state. Ife Kingdom is just Yoruba lies to give themselves a great history. Ife Kingdom ko, Ife Kingdom ni.

[/s]

We have Oyo kingdom, no one mention Ife kingdom.

Oyo kingdom spreads through over 3 countries
Oyo kingdom dialect is the general Yoruba language used in all schools, churches, business and economy
Oyo kingdom spreads through 3 states in South west.



Where is Benin kingdom?
Just in a one kilometer town in one lonely state in south south

Omoluabi1stborn:

We've rejected each other.
We are not one

I am the wrong person to quote with your impersonation and you know that..
Nonsense.

Today Ife continues to be regarded as the spiritual centre for all Yoruba,

Yes correct.
Ife is the Spiritual capital of Yoruba
Oyo is the administrative capital of Yoruba
Ibadan is the military capital of Yoruba.

Juliusmalema:


I am the wrong person to quote with your impersonation and you know that..

Nonsense.

you're not okay.
we dont need Benin and dey don't need us

Juliusmalema:
My submission is simple

Benin and yorubas are one...case closed.


blood is thicker than water.

we are not one with yorubas
you doing a fulani project on us do not make us one.

limeta:




we are not one with yorubas
you doing a fulani project on us do not make us one.

I doubt if you read the piece.

There are truth that can't be subdue. Edo and Yorubas are like two siamese twins.

Omoluabi1stborn:
you're not okay. we dont need Benin and dey don't need us

....

Omoluabi1stborn:


We have Oyo kingdom, no one mention Ife kingdom.

Oyo kingdom spreads through over 3 countries
Oyo kingdom dialect is the general Yoruba language used in all schools, churches, business and economy
Oyo kingdom spreads through 3 states in South west.



Where is Benin kingdom?
Just in a one kilometer town in one lonely state in south south

Oyo was never a kingdom but an Empire

ladiguy:
Oyo was never a kingdom but an Empire

Agreed.

This is time to handle a common problem and not time to talk history that will bring strife.

Omoluabi1stborn:


We have Oyo kingdom, no one mention Ife kingdom.

Oyo kingdom spreads through over 3 countries
Oyo kingdom dialect is the general Yoruba language used in all schools, churches, business and economy
Oyo kingdom spreads through 3 states in South west.

Where is Benin kingdom?
Just in a one kilometer town in one lonely state in south south

There are pictures and detailed history of Benin Kingdom. No pictures or details of of Oyo Kingdom, except by Yoruba people. Guy, rest abeg.

I thought the father of all yorubas called Oduduwa fall down from sky?

Omoluabi1stborn:


We have Oyo kingdom, no one mention Ife kingdom.

Oyo kingdom spreads through over 3 countries
Oyo kingdom dialect is the general Yoruba language used in all schools, churches, business and economy
Oyo kingdom spreads through 3 states in South west.



Where is Benin kingdom?
Just in a one kilometer town in one lonely state in south south

Before Oyo kingdom, Ife was City State

Zooposki:


There are pictures and detailed history of Benin Kingdom. No pictures or details of of Oyo Kingdom, except by Yoruba people. Guy, rest abeg.

You didn't even read elementary history

chiagozien:
I thought the father of all yorubas called Afonja fall down from sky?

Oyo empire has been in existence for hundreds of years before Afonja was born

[s]

Zooposki:


There are pictures and detailed history of Benin Kingdom. No pictures or details of of Oyo Kingdom, except by Yoruba people. Guy, rest abeg.

[/s]

So says a rivers man

You truly belong to rivers - water - creek.
You were not enlighten enough.

Get out from your hut

[s]

chiagozien:
I thought the father of all yorubas called Afonja fall down from sky?

[/s]

You'll continue to thought because that's what you were taught in that hut you called school of yours in whatever state you come from

Omoluabi1stborn:


So says a rivers man

You truly belong to rivers - water - creek.
You were not enlighten enough.

Get out from your hut

Rivers man, ke? I don’t even know how to swim. Lolz

Zooposki:


Rivers man, ke? I can’t even swim. Lolz

You're either from Delta, Bayelsa or Rivers.

So...?

Lifestone:

Oyo empire has been in existence for hundreds of years before Afonja was born

I mean Oduduwa,did he fall from sky?

I thought Oduduwa was a Bini prince?

chiagozien:
I mean Oduduwa,did he fall from sky?

How does oduduwa relates with afonja in the first place.
Why would oduduwa he fall from sky?

Learning other people history won't help you

Why don't you learn yours and be an expert

..

Op, they are coming for your head. How dare you say Benin took their tradition from a Yorubaland

Benin that they believe was independent of any affiliation except for birthing Onitsha.

please all my edo brothers this op is looking for what will give him fame on nairaland

Edo cannot be drawn together with mud, please you guys should do well to avoid them

it has become a norm for them to always add Benin to their problem....

but our stand have made know for generations even by the Oba of Benin himself so those calling us revisionist are wasting their time

the truth remain...

Benin has nothing with Yoruba's. the fact that we trade and make deal together does not make us the same so Benin has and will continue to be an independent country to any tribe

please stop this attach by force syndrome of yours please

PHAYOL81:
Op, they are coming for your head. How dare you say Benin took their tradition from a Yorubaland

Benin that they believe was independent of any affiliation except for birthing Onitsha.

Birth which onitsha?

who dash monkey banana?

bini wey come from oduduwa...

be guided

Etrusen:
please all my edo brothers this op is looking for what will give him fame on nairaland

Edo cannot be drawn together with mud, please you guys should do well to avoid them

it has become a norm for them to always add Benin to their problem....

but our stand have made know for generations even by the Oba of Benin himself so those calling us revisionist are wasting their time

the truth remain...

Benin has nothing with Yoruba's. the fact that we trade and make deal together does not make us the same so Benin has and will continue to be an independent country to any tribe

please stop this attach by force syndrome of yours please

I doubt if you read the post. face the truth and avoid emotions.