The Great Benin Kingdom is probably Nigeria’s greatest empire. The Ogiso dynasty lasted for about 854 years plus an interregnum of 285 years between the reign of Ogiso Orire and Ogiso Odia, there was an interregnum of 70 years between Ogiso Owodo and Oba Oranmiyan plus 845 years of Oba ruler-ship till date.
Below are 30 amazing facts
about the Great Benin Kingdom:
1. The First Storey Building in Nigeria was built at Ughoton by the Dutch in
the year 1718, and it was called “The Factory”. The said building was destroyed
by the British during the war against the Benins in 1897. The site of the
building is still intact.
2. The Oldest Church in
West-Africa was established in Great Benin Empire by the Earliest Portuguese
missionaries in the 16th Century which is today known as the Holy Aruosa (Benin
National Church). Pope Pius XII visited Benin and handed the church to the Oba
of Benin, Oba Oreoghene in 1692AD.
3. The first Known Embassy
Established in Nigeria was in Benin during the reign of Oba Esigie in the 16th
century.
4. The Oldest known letter
written in Nigeria was by Duarte Pires instructed by Oba Esigie which was
addressed to King John II, on the 20th October, 1516AD. The second oldest
letter was written by Anthonio Domingo (Great-grand Son of Oba Olua) to the
Pope to seek for missionary assistance in other to spread Christianity in Benin
Empire in 1652AD.
5. Oba Orhogbua founded
Lagos and planted a dukedom, the Obaship of Lagos (Eko).
6. Oldest ever recorded
market in Africa is Ogiso (Agbado) Market dated 60BCE.
7. The first ever recorded
bank (Owigho) in present day West-Africa was built in Benin kingdom by Oba
Eresoyen, construction started in the year 1740AD and was completed in the year
1743AD.
8. Queen Idia (Oba Esigie
mother) is the first Oba’s mother to be alive to see her son becoming an Oba.
That’s because traditionally previous Crown prince mothers were killed before
their Sons ascend the throne.
9. Ga tribe of present day
Ghana migrated from Benin during Oba Udagbedo reign (1299-1334)
10. Oduduwa was the exiled
crowned prince from Benin known as Ekaladerhan, which is being purported as the
progenitor of the Yoruba race.
