15. The mighty Kingdom of Benin was known for its fabulous art
Until the late nineteenth century, the Kingdom of Benin was one of the great powers on the continent of Africa. Also known as the Edo Empire, this mighty kingdom in what is now Southern Nigeria flourished from 1440, and at its peak dominated trade from Lagos to modern day Ghana. Crucial to this dominance was the kingdom’s good relations with European nations, especially Portugal, and owing to its convenient coastline Benin more or less controlled trade between other African nations and Europe. Fantastically wealthy, the Kingdom of Benin came to be known worldwide for its superlative works of art.
Benin artists worked chiefly in cast bronze and carved ivory. The empire was ruled over by the Oba, a semi-divine figure, and much of the kingdom’s art was made to celebrate him or to adorn his palaces. Secular Benin art (artefacts not depicting the Oba or anything of religious importance) was purchased by the Portuguese and traded in Europe, where it attracted tidy sums of money. Benin was conquered by the British in 1897, who stole the jaw-dropping art adorning the Oba’s palaces. When the plundered art arrived in London, few believed that Africans could have possibly produced it.