The Kingdom of Benin, located in what is now southern Nigeria, was a highly organised pre-colonial state, centred around Benin City. It developed a centralised monarchy, led by an Oba, supported by a network of hereditary chiefs and guilds responsible for administration, trade, and craftsmanship. These guilds produced sophisticated artworks in bronze, ivory, and wood, including plaques, ceremonial regalia, altar tusks, and sculptures, which were used in palace decoration, religious rituals, and commemoration of the kingdom’s rulers.
From the fifteenth century onwards, the kingdom engaged in external trade, particularly in ivory, palm oil, and pepper, with European traders, including the Portuguese and Dutch. These trade relations, combined with internal commerce and tribute networks, sustained the kingdom’s wealth and the patronage of its art and administrative systems.
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The 1897 British Punitive Expedition
In 1897, a British punitive expedition attacked Benin City, following the ambush of a British delegation en route to the kingdom. The expedition, led by Sir Harry Rawson, captured the city, destroyed much of the royal palace, and seized numerous ceremonial, religious, and historical objects. Contemporary accounts estimate approximately 2,500 artefacts were looted, including bronze plaques, brass sculptures, ivory tusks, and royal regalia.
Oba Ovonramwen, the reigning monarch, was deposed and exiled, signalling the collapse of the kingdom’s sovereignty. Traditional governance structures were dismantled or subordinated under British colonial administration, and the role of the Oba became largely ceremonial.
Restoration Under Eweka II
In 1914, the monarchy was restored when Eweka II, son of Oba Ovonramwen, ascended the throne. During his reign, the royal palace was rebuilt, traditional structures were re-established under colonial supervision, and craft guilds were revived. Eweka II commissioned new artworks, some intended to replace those lost in the 1897 looting, and restored ancestral altars and ceremonial practices.
While the kingdom did not regain sovereignty, these efforts preserved cultural continuity. Guilds such as the Igun bronzeworkers resumed their traditional duties, producing palace art and ceremonial objects under the Oba’s patronage. The restored monarchy maintained ceremonial authority, cultural oversight, and spiritual leadership over the Edo people, even as political control shifted to colonial and later postcolonial Nigerian structures.
Reign of Oba Ewuare II
On 20 October 2016, Eheneden Erediauwa was crowned as Oba Ewuare II, becoming the 40th Oba of Benin. In 2025, he celebrated his ninth coronation anniversary on 19 October, a milestone observed across Edo State and reported by national media.
Under his leadership, the Oba has actively participated in efforts to reclaim and preserve the kingdom’s cultural heritage. In 2025, 119 artefacts looted during the 1897 British expedition were returned from the Netherlands to Nigeria. These artefacts include bronzes, ivory works, and other ceremonial objects that were originally created for the royal palace.
The returned items were formally handed over to Nigerian authorities, with custodianship designated to the Oba under Nigerian federal regulations. The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) has responsibility for conservation and display, ensuring that the objects are preserved appropriately.
Significance and Cultural Impact
The Kingdom of Benin represents one of the most sophisticated pre-colonial states in West Africa. Its social organisation, craftsmanship, and political structures illustrate a high degree of centralisation and cultural development. The 1897 British expedition disrupted these structures, causing both material loss and disruption to governance and ritual practices.
The return of looted artefacts under Oba Ewuare II represents a documented milestone in heritage restitution. These artefacts now reside under proper custodianship, allowing preservation, research, and potential public engagement. The restitution also reinforces the continuity of the Oba’s role as custodian of Benin cultural and spiritual heritage.
The historical record, shows the Kingdom of Benin has maintained its cultural identity despite colonial disruptions. The return of artefacts allows both scholars and the public to access tangible evidence of the kingdom’s historical sophistication and artistic achievements.
The Kingdom of Benin has demonstrated resilience over centuries. Despite the disruption of the 1897 British expedition and the dispersion of thousands of artefacts, the monarchy, under Oba Ewuare II, continues to safeguard the kingdom’s heritage. The 2025 repatriation of 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria is a significant step in the preservation of cultural history, providing documented evidence of the kingdom’s artistry and societal organisation, and ensuring the continuity of Edo heritage for future generations.
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Author’s Note
This article focuses on the Kingdom of Benin’s pre-colonial organisation, the 1897 British punitive expedition, the restoration under Eweka II, and the 2025 restitution of artefacts under Oba Ewuare II.
References
- Oba Ewuare II: A Reign of Restoration, Culture and Calm, The Nigerian Observer, October 2025.
- Netherlands returns Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, Government of the Netherlands, June 2025
