Historical sites in Nigeria: Benin city

The people of Benin who are also called Edo or bini are found in Edo state of Nigeria. They speak Edo language among many other languages , they are known for beads, body marks, bangles, ankle as part of their dressing.The culture of Benin people depicts their true cultural activities and traditions, for examples, they give recognition and regard to the institution of Obaship as in the case of Ife and their brass objects.

Artifacts;  Benin culture and tradition have links with the use of brass objects to express their ingenuity in the works of art, for example, brass objects from Benin depicted palace activities ., it also showed  Benin relationship with Europeans particularly revealed how Benin people came in contact with European.

by 1959, one Frank Willet who worked on site in Benin discovered large quantity of POTTERY WORKS.

Also between 1961 and 1964, the activities of Graham Connah led to excavation of various artifacts in form of iron smiting for the production of bracelets, glass beads, smoking pipes, etc

occupational activities;   Benin people are well known in the use of brass metals to produce objects which portray religious activities and obaship institutions as earlier mentioned, apart from their engagement in the works of art, Benin people are also known for the production and sale of both cash and food crops such as rubber, oil palm, yam, cassava.

This signifies that Benin people had contact with the various people of Nigeria.

FEATURES OF BENIN CULTURE IN NIGERIAN HISTORY

[1]Benin people are known for the production and use of brass and bronze metal

[2]Benin figurines usually have protruding eye balls

[3] The head of the figurines are usually biggar than other parts

[4] Benin arts are highly decorative

[5]Most of the arts portray royal figures

SIGNIFICANCE OF BENIN CULTURE TO NIGERIAN HISTORY

[1] Benin culture has revealed that some degree of specialization were achieved in the production of brass metals

[2] The discoveries in Benin also showed that the people had contacts with the Europeans and the introduction of Christianity

[3]Ivory mask of Queen Idia was used as symbol of Festac77

CLASS WORK;

[1] Where is Benin [Edo] on Nigeria map?

[2] who were the EDO people

[3] mention two Benin artifacts.

[4] what were the occupation of Benin people in the pre-colonial era

ASSIGNMENT;

Identify the location of Igbo-ukwu on the map of Nigeria