Benin City

Benin City is a city (2006 est. pop. 1,147,188) and the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria. It is a city approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of the Benin River. It is situated 320 kilometres (200 mi) by road east of Lagos. Benin is the centre of Nigeria's rubber industry, but processing palm nuts for oil is also an important traditional industry.

History

The original people and founders of the Benin Empire, the Edo people, were initially ruled by the Ogiso (Kings of the Sky) dynasty who called their land Igodomigodo. The rulers or kings were commonly known as Ogiso. Igodo, the first Ogiso, wielded much influence and gained popularity as a good ruler. He died after a long reign and was succeeded by Ere, his eldest son. In the 12th century, a great palace intrigue and battle for power erupted between the warrior crown prince Ekaladerhan son of the last Ogiso and his young paternal uncle. In anger over an oracle, Prince Ekaladerhan left the royal court with his warriors. When his old father the Ogiso died, the Ogiso dynasty was ended as the people and royal kingmakers preferred their king's son as natural next in line to rule.

Latest News for: Benin legal

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Nigeria Benin Bronzes: Buhari declaration 'blindsides' museum officials

Yahoo Daily News 10 May 2023
Nigeria's outgoing president has issued a declaration over the Benin Bronzes that could have significant consequences in the campaign for the return of these great cultural treasures, as Barnaby Phillips has been finding out ... Oba Ewuare II is now the legal owner of all the Benin Bronzes, according to the presidential decree....
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Nigeria Benin Bronzes: Buhari declaration ‘blindsides’ museum officials

Joy Online 10 May 2023
Nigeria’s outgoing president has issued a declaration on the Benin Bronzes that could have significant consequences in the campaign for the return of these great cultural treasures, as Barnaby Phillips has been finding out ... Oba Ewuare II is now the legal owner of all the Benin Bronzes, according to the presidential decree....
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What is the Nigerian Government Doing With the Benin Bronzes Returned by Germany?

The Daily Sceptic 07 May 2023
The vision for a modern state museum in Benin City that meets all the requirements as a new home for the 1,130 Benin bronzes that Germany transferred to Nigeria is for now a thing of the past ... German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said at the state ceremony in Abuja last December, as she performed the symbolic handover of the Benin artefacts....

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In this handout photo made available by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, firefighters hose down a Policlinic following a Russian attack in Dnipro, Ukraine, Friday May 26, 2023.
AP / State Emergency Service of Ukraine

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