Oba of Benin 317815 207184726 2008-04-21T19:25:48Z RussBot 279219 Robot-assisted [[WP:DATE|date formatting]] The '''Oba of Benin''' controlled the [[Benin Empire]], an empire surrounding the [[West Africa]]n city of [[Benin City|Benin]] (now in [[Nigeria]]), from [[1180]] until [[1897]]. In 1897, the [[United Kingdom|British]] '[[Punitive Expedition]]' destroyed the city of Benin and exiled Oba [[Ovonramwen]], taking control of the area in order to establish the [[British colony]] of Nigeria. The expedition was mounted to avenge the killing of an official British delegation in 1896.The expedition consisted of indigenous soldiers and British officers. To cover the cost of the expedition, the Benin royal art was auctioned off by the British. The Oba was captured and eventually allowed to live in exile until his death in 1914. According to oral tradition, the first dynasty of the Kingdom of Benin was Ogi-Suo (Ogiso). The second dynasty was founded by [[Oranyan]], a prince from the city of [[Ife]], [[Nigeria]]. His son [[Eweka I]] became the first Oba. The present Oba, [[Erediauwa I]], is the 39th Oba of the dynasty. During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Oba's power was at its peak and different monarchs of the dynasty controlled an area stretching from the Niger River in the north to the coastal area in the south. During this era, exquisite naturalistic bronze art was created to enhance and embody the power of the Oba. The art often depicted the ancestors in order to establish legitimacy. Only Obas were allowed to own the famous bronze heads of Benin. ==List of Obas of the [[Benin Empire]] (1180-Present)== ===Pre-Imperial Obas of Benin (1180-1440)=== *[[Eweka I]] ([[1180]] - [[1246]]) *[[Uwuakhuahen]] ([[1246]] - [[1250]]) *[[Henmihen]] ([[1250]] - [[1260]]) *[[Ewedo]] ([[1260]] - [[1274]]) *[[Oguola]] ([[1274]] - [[1287]]) *[[Edoni]] ([[1287]] - [[1292]]) *[[Udagbedo]] ([[1292]] - [[1329]]) *[[Ohen]] ([[1329]] - [[1366]]) *[[Egbeka]] ([[1366]] - [[1397]]) *[[Orobiru]] ([[1397]] - [[1434]]) *[[Uwaifiokun]] ([[1434]] - [[1440]]) ===Obas of the [[Benin Empire]] (1440-1897)=== *[[Ewuare]] the Great ([[1440]] - [[1473]]) *[[Ezoti]] ([[1473]] - [[1475]]) *[[Olua]] ([[1475]] - [[1480]]) *[[Ozolua]] ([[1480]] - [[1504]]) *[[Esigie]] ([[1504]] - [[1547]]) *[[Orhogbua]] ([[1547]] - [[1580]]) *[[Ehengbuda]] ([[1580]] - [[1602]]) *[[Ohuan]] ([[1602]] - [[1656]]) *[[Ohenzae]] ([[1656]] - [[1661]]) *[[Akenzae]] ([[1661]] - [[1669]]) *[[Akengboi]] ([[1669]] - [[1675]]) *[[Akenkbaye]] ([[1675]] - [[1684]]) *[[Akengbedo]] ([[1684]] - [[1689]]) *[[Ore-Oghene]] ([[1689]] - [[1701]]) *[[Ewuakpe]] ([[1701]] - [[1712]]) *[[Ozuere]] ([[1712]] - [[1713]]) *[[Akenzua I]] ([[1713]] - [[1740]]) *[[Eresoyen]] ([[1740]] - [[1750]]) *[[Akengbuda]] ([[1750]] - [[1804]]) *[[Obanosa]] ([[1804]] - [[1816]]) *[[Ogbebo]] ([[1816]]) *[[Osemwende]] ([[1816]] - [[1848]]) *[[Adolo]] ([[1848]] - [[1888]]) *[[Ovonramwen|Ovonramwen Nogbaisi]] ([[1888]] - [[1914]]) (exiled to [[Calabar]] by the [[British Empire|British]] in [[1897]]) ===Post-Imperial Obas of Benin (1914-Present)=== *[[Eweka II]] ([[1914]] - [[1933]]) *[[Akenzua II]] ([[1933]] - [[1978]]) *[[Erediauwa I]] ([[1979]] - present) ==External links== *[http://www.arm.arc.co.uk/CRBBhome.html Africa Reparations Movement | Campaign for the return of the Benin Bronzes] *[http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/ixbin/goto?id=OBJ2590 Stories of royalty in brass]. Collections Multimedia Public Access System, The British Museum, 2000. Accessed 6 September 2006. *[http://www.edofolks.com/html/hist1.htm Edofolks - List of Obas of Benin] [[Category:History of Nigeria]] [[Category:History of Benin]] [[Category:Yoruba history]] {{Nigeria-hist-stub}} {{Africa-royal-stub}} [[fr:Oba du Benin]]