ART OF BENIN

The Art of Benin

The Art of Benin

PART 1: Option B

Art of Benin and Cross-Cultural Encounters

Benin is an ancient Edo state located in present-day southern Nigeria. For nearly 3,000 years Edo peoples have inhabited a large area west of the Niger River in what is now the Benin province of southern Nigeria. Originally, single-family settlements dominated the area; however, about the fifth century, village communities formed to provide families with greater defence and allow them more efficient use of natural resources (Barley & Lovelock, 2010). While these communities developed a network of trade routes, successful villages grew into towns. One such town, Benin, evolved into a hereditary monarchy ruled by a king, or oba, and a court of hereditary chiefs, called uzamas. Benin remained a small Edo state until the 15th century, when, sometime after 1480, it was conquered by Ewuare (ca. 1440-1480), a great warrior chief (Roth, 2010). Ewuare rebuilt the destroyed city around a centrally located grand royal palace. In the palace he housed the skilled artisans who created the art for which Benin is known today.

During his reign Ewuare instituted the law of primogeniture, by which the son's reign would follow that of his father. Ewuare also expanded the borders of Benin, creating a sprawling kingdom by conquering neighbouring peoples. There is some debate as to whether Ewuare was still oba when Portuguese merchants arrived late in the 15th century, but, in any case, Benin was powerful enough to maintain peaceful and cooperative trade with the Europeans (Roth, 2010). Benin City was known for its bronze, ivory, and wood artistry. Much of the artwork was stolen during the British invasion and auctioned off by the British to defray military costs. Therefore, fine examples of Benin's art can be found throughout the world. An important collection has been preserved, however, in the museums of Benin City (Gallwey, 1893). Many of the city's artisans still practice the ancient methods, including the lost-wax process, to make their art.

The history of art in southern Nigeria is characterized by three cultural traditions of the lost-wax process of metal casting. The arts of Igbo Ukwu (ninth to 10th centuries), Ife (12th to 15th centuries), and Benin (15th century to 1897) are chiefly productions in bronze, an alloy of copper and tin. Lead added to the alloy distinguishes the Igbo Ukwu artworks from the later metal castings of Ife and Benin artists, who added zinc to the alloy to form brass (Lovelock & Row, 2010). The first art forms devised by these early inhabitants of the Southwest evolved as practical objects used to ensure survival. They were decorated or made beautiful to connote a special function in the lives of those who created them. All were created within an overarching religious belief system. Some were used as intermediary devices to appeal to supernatural deities. The significant art forms developed by these early agrarian peoples include baskets, jewelry, kachina effigy figures, pottery, and rock art. Recognizable symbols are incorporated into these art forms (Gallwey, 1893). Specific dates for many art objects are unknown or approximated. For example, medieval terra-cotta and metal art objects, representing some of the oldest art in Benin, often ...