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Uwagbale Edward-Ekpu Profile picture
@uwagbale_
Jul 13, 2021 • 5 tweets • 2 min read • Read on X
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Amazing images from the book on ancient Benin kingdom "Ancient African Town" by Fiona MacDonald

Thanks @invitemecuh for sharing!

1. Benin Moat (Iya) were built of a ditch & dike structure; the ditch was dug to form the moat with the excavated earth used to form the rampart.
2. The Benin courtyard architecture (Ikun): Benin traditional house is based on Ikun architectural design which is a rectangular structure with several Ikuns (courtyards) surrounded by rooms. The Oba palace was recorded to have has 201 Ikuns before 1897. Ogiamien’s palace has 13.
3. Iyoba (Queens Mother): Queen Idia, the 1st Iyoba of Benin kingdom was a General who had her own palace, kept her own court & had her own military regiment (the queen's own) at Uselu town. She was one of the most powerful persons in Benin history.
4. The royal ancestral altar: Royal ancestral altars where built for past Oba & queens of Benin kingdom many of which were looted by the British. British troops reported 18 altars dedicated to previous obas when they took possession of the palace in 1897.
5. Benin cloths: There was a booming textile industry in the ancient Benin. The Portuguese called the Benin cloths, "moupon" & Europeans chroniclers Artus, Dapper, Nyendael, & Barbot all mentioned these clothes were exported.

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More from @uwagbale_

Uwagbale Edward-Ekpu Profile picture
Jun 29, 2023
Rev Dr. Gabriel Ojiemekele Oyakhilome (1910-1997) was the assistant to the 1st General Superintendent (GS) of Assemblies of God Church in Nigeria (1964-1969), the 2nd General Superintendent (1969 - 1982) & the 1st Retred General Superintendent of the church in Nigeria.
G. O. Oyakhilome converted to Christianity btw 1941-43 when he was a civil servant with the Governor’s office in Enugu. He went on to pioneer the church in the Midwest region from his home town, Iduwele Ewu, where he founded the Midwestern Bible Institute now known as...
....the Nigeria Advanced School of Theology (NAST). He became the 1st Supervisor and later the 1st District superintendent of the church in the Midwestern Area. His brother Timothy E. Oyakhilome was part of the group that established the Assemblies of God Church in Benin City...
Read 4 tweets
Uwagbale Edward-Ekpu Profile picture
Nov 19, 2022
Many people don't know this. Oba Eweka II (r:1914 – 1933) of Benin was the 1st to conceptualize the consolidation of what later became the Midwest region of Nigeria in 1963, when in 1926, he requested the British to bring all the Edoid & Anioma areas together in one region.
This was a period when the British demanded that pupils in Benin be taught in Yoruba language instead of their local language & the Benin province was represented in the national legislative council by a Yoruba trader called Mr. I. T. Palmer who was living in Sapele.
During his reign the first pan-Edoid groups called the Institute for Home-Benin improvement & the Urhobo Brotherly Society in Warri emerged in 1932. Unfortunately, Oba Eweka II joined his ancestors on February 8, 1933 and did not live to see his dream come true.
Read 37 tweets
Uwagbale Edward-Ekpu Profile picture
Nov 3, 2022
Islam reached Afemai & Esan North thru Nupe/Hausa/Fulanii traders known as Egbalukpon about 1600s, it spead following Nupe (Azanama) invasion for tributes & slaves beginning 1860. T'was Akhigbe (Momodu) of Agbede who championed its spread beyond as a Jihad thru brutal slave raids
Akhigbe (who changed his name to Momodu) became ruler of Agbede after his father Emoikpere who resisted & fought the invaders before he was defeated. On ascension in 1891 Momodu went to Bida returned with Islamic scholars & Nupe mercenary & launched a brutal Jihad & slave raid.
Akhigbe was more determined to spread Islam than the Nupe. He was ready to use all means at his disposal to win followers for the new religion. He converted friends to whom he gave out his daughters in marriage but first ensured that they became Muslims.
Read 11 tweets
Uwagbale Edward-Ekpu Profile picture
Oct 5, 2022
Esan culture before colonisation:
A man's mistress is called Osho, their child Omosho. If a man has no male child, his daughter, usually the 1st (called his Ehale "Forehead") wouldn't marry but remains at home & have kids with any man of her choice. She becomes known as Arebhoa.
The children from this sexual relationship are deemed to be the legit children of her father. A son can be betroth as a baby to a wife (usually a baby too). before the boy matures, the girl, which matures faster can have sexual affairs & children with other men of her choice.
The children from these affairs are regarded as the children of her betrothed and are known as Abiekhe “born to wait.” An impotent man can give his wife licence to have sexual relationship with any man of their choice except his Egebele (kindren) to have a child for him.
Read 9 tweets
Uwagbale Edward-Ekpu Profile picture
Aug 28, 2022
#Thread :
After the 1884 Berlin Conference in which the European nations divided sovereign African countries and nations among themselves, the kingdom of Benin and neighbouring kingdoms were designated as British territory.

1/
In the same year, the British made rulers in the Oil rivers (Niger delta) agree to a “protection” treaty. Rulers in the area such as Jaja of Opobo (a trading town by the sea) & Nana Olomu of Itsekiri (an inland kingdom in the delta) were persuaded to agree to the treaty.

2/
They (Jaja reluctantly) signed the treaties in 1884, but only after both of them struck out a clause permitting "free trade" in their territories. Free trade meant that everyone must be allowed to harvest & trade local crops to the British without being taxed or regulated,

3/
Read 19 tweets
Uwagbale Edward-Ekpu Profile picture
May 20, 2022
A small Benin bronze vessel with feet (18-19thC) at @rjmkoeln museum. The feet on the vessel suggests a link with Ofoe, the messenger of Ogiuwu (ruler of death) & ohan (aggressive) medicine. Ofe is depicted in Benin objects as a disembodied bead with feet & sometimes with hands. Image
Benin Mask pendants are military insigna worn by military chiefs on the left side of the hips. The Oba wore Mask of Queen Idia, the Iyase, Ezomo & other military chiefs wore a masks with a leopard's face. A Benin bronze mask pendant with leopard head (18thC) at @rjmkoeln museum. Image
The collar loops at the bottom of Benin mask pendants are not there for decoration. They are meant for the attachment of crotal bells which are also part of the Edo traditional battle regalia. A uniquely designed Benin bronze mask pendant & a crotal bell from the @rjmkoeln museum ImageImage
Read 26 tweets

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