Tag: Benin bronzes
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Edo’s Crown and Its Enduring Influence The Oba of Benin has always been more than a traditional monarch. In modern Edo society, the Oba is a custodian of culture, a mediator of conflicts, and a force for community development. With centuries of royal heritage behind him, Oba Ewuare II has transformed the throne into a…
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The Edo Unity League Worldwide, a prominent socio-cultural body comprising Edo professionals, intellectuals, and artisans, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene in the ongoing dispute surrounding the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project in Benin City, Edo State. The group made the appeal in an open letter titled “MOWAA: Salvaging…
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A Legacy Cast in Bronze Long before colonial explorers arrived in the heart of West Africa, the Benin Kingdom stood as one of the most artistically advanced civilizations in the world. From intricate bronze plaques to life-sized royal busts, Edo artisans mastered techniques that would later astonish European scholars and collectors. Today, centuries after their…
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A rare photograph of the Weybridge home of George W. Neville (1852–1929) offers a haunting glimpse into the private collection of a British official who once worked in Lagos for the Elder Dempster Shipping Company during the height of colonial expansion. Neville’s collection, amassed after the 1897 Benin Expedition, included 128 objects taken from the…
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When it comes to royalty in Africa, one throne stands tall above the rest — the Oba of Benin. Deeply rooted in history, culture, and spirituality, the Oba of Benin is not just a monarch but also a symbol of unity, power, and tradition. Edo people at home and abroad hold the institution in high…