Arts of Benin, Nigeria
Bronze Sculpture
The Benin Empire dates back to prehistoric times, the political systems that were monarchial,
were well established before the fourteenth century. The Rulers of Benin and Yoruba had close ties, and by the fifteenth century
Benin became and important power in the region.
With the backing of the monarchy selected
artists of Benin developed a special style of sculpture vastly different from the rest of the region. They produced many fine
bronze and or brass heads, figurines, brass plaques, and large rectangular metal pictures, which were used to decorate the
Oba's palace.
The Benin Empire soon became the largest
of the political systems of the Guinea Coast and toward the middle of the sixteenth century; the Oba ruled an area, which
spread from modern Lagos to the Niger Delta.
Back in the late 19th century when the British forces invaded Benin City,
they were overwhelmed to find artistic sculptures cast in brass/bronze. They could not believe the technological sophistication
and exquisite beauty and quality of these objects. What they saw was a total contradiction to what many westerners believed
or assumed about Africa. The above was too much for the British forces to bear and they swiftly concocted excuses - "The
sculptures must have been made by the Portuguese, the Egyptians, or the lost tribes of Israel"
The so-called "Portuguese, Egyptian or Israeli" sculptures eventually found their
way to Britain and later to other parts of Europe, where it was first classified as Benin bronze sculpture, despite it being largely of brass.
Since then archeological, historical, scientific and anthropological studies clearly
indicates that the people of Benin, was at that time an advance culture. Benin brass/bronze sculptures are now classified
as Early, Middle and Late Century. (The latter implying of lesser quality) Further proof of the complex societies and advanced
African cultures can found by clicking here (Mapungubwe - South Africa)
The bronze head of the Queen mother: The Benin King or Oba - Esigie first introduced the title to honor his mother Idia. Queen mothers had a special link with the cockerel: the heads
functioned as a means of contact with the divine realm. The king (Oba) was associated with the leopard these types of sculptures appeared on altars in the queen mothers palace
at Uselu just outside the Capital of Benin.
Many of these old sculptures, have
become famous throughout the world. One example of these is the symbol used for FESTAC '77, a Benin Bronze
Head a true masterpiece and of the highest quality. It
is a great pity that present
and future generations of Nigeria must
fly to London to see this remarkable symbol
