Oral History
This is to tell our story as Benin people, the way we want it to be told. Benin people teach and learn about their history and culture through oral accounts passed down from one generation to another. These accounts have been preserved for centuries.Read more
Transcription: 00:06–00:16 Godfrey asked: What can we say was the impact of the 1897 British punitiv...
As an art instructor, Mr John Osazeme said he has taught in several schools, including the famous Im...
One of the important or significant motifs on Benin objects is cowries. The cowrie is a symbol of we...
A second pattern is also included which is called ...
As he continues to carve, the design on the object becomes very pronounced. At this stage the wood g...
The object takes on the conical shape, which is the shape of Oko. The traditional motifs which are c...
Mr John Osazeme Igbineweka continued carving and the object began to reveal its shape gradually. He ...
The carver introduced himself as Mr John Osazeme Omoregie Igbineweka, a descendant of the Ine n’Igbe...
Lady Jane Ekhator renders this song adorned in the customary beaded headgear, bracelet, beads and ne...
This video includes two songs as well as a prayer for the Benin people and the Ọba, with an admoniti...
‘Iyare ooo, Iyare ogiemwan ooo eee!!!’ This is an expression of good wishes for a safe journey and t...
This song is a prayer of longevity for the Ọba of Benin with supplication to the ancestors (Edion n’...
The Ugho song eulogizes Emotan (fifteenth century) as a prominent woman who helped the Ọba of Benin ...
The song simply says that because the Oregbeni guild does not have the skill of mixing mud for build...
He narrates the story of Ogiso Owodo and what led to the banishment of Ekaladerhan. He stated that t...
He sings a song that narrates how the struggle and rivalry between Aruahan and Osawe (Ọba Ẹsigie) st...
Odoligie gha die aye, Odoligie...
The late Sir Ekhoesuehi speaks here about the migratory origin of the Benin people. He mentions the ...
According to tradition, Ọba Ọzolua waged war against Ogierumwanbo, a warrior at one of the Oka villa...
According to Pa Aikpitanyi, Benin City is the place where the ancestral altars of all the departed a...
According to Pa Aikpitanyi, Okuku is a symbol of beauty and cultural pride for the Benin people. It ...
The leader of the group of elephant hunters was called Ọgbeni, but he lived outside Benin City oppos...
This song reflects on the period of the Ogiso kings and says that this land has been occupied since ...
Chief Utetenegiabi tells of how Emokpolo was arrested and brought to the Ọba of Benin with the inten...
Chief Utetenegiabi narrates the story of Princess Adesuwa, the beautiful daughter of Ezọmọ Ọdia. Ọdi...
Chief Utetenegiabi speaks about the title of the Ezomo of Benin Kingdom as a member of the Ezomo fam...
This is a clay pot for the storage of water. It has various sizes and could be covered with a plate ...
Mrs Esohe and Mrs Felicia both feature in the video. Here they display the different types of clay p...
The materials these women use for pottery are clay soaked in water to soften it, which is then mixed...
Mr Theophilus Umogbai, curator of National Museum Benin City, presents the cylindrical royal stools ...
Mr Igbineweka describes the process of ivory carving in Benin Kingdom. The piece of ivory that is be...
Mr Igbineweka describes the significance of the patterns in Benin carvings. He said that Benin carvi...
In this interview, Mr Igbineweka speaks about the Igbesamwan guild, which is one of the Iwebo Palace...
This is a song of lamentation which calls on an Esan Duke, who is an Obo ewawa_ ...
She speaks about Queen Idia as the wife of Ọba Ọzolua and the mother of Ọba Ẹsigie. She says it was ...
These are some of the very popular songs that praise the personality of Queen Idia. The first one sa...
After properly heating the wrapped mould in the furnace, it is then brought out to be buried in the ...
The molten brass is ready for casting. Ewaen says the brass scrap had to be in the furnace until the...
The shallow pit where the hot core from the furnace will be reburied is being dug....
This is the wrapping of an Odudua mask....
At this stage, the wrapped core is being fired while the brass or bronze is in the furnace with a ma...
This video shows the wrapping process. The object is an Osun figure, which has snake, lizard and oth...
This is the covering stage when the red mould sand is used again to wrap the wax model used to form ...
Here Mr Ewaen Aigbe talks about how the beeswax is used to model the core. He says they used a combi...
This is a praise song in remembrance of Ọba Ovonramwẹn n’Ọgbaisi who was sent into exile by the Brit...
Mr Monday Aigbe and Mr Ewaen Aigbe are both descendants of the Aigbe family of Igun Eronmwon. Mr Ewa...
The first Iyase that reigned before Chief Sam O. U. Igbe from 1914 was Chief Agho Obaseki, who was n...
Iyasẹ Ẹkpẹnẹde was very loyal to Ọba Ehengbuda. He was like a foreman to him, and was always sent on...
This is a song about Iyasẹ Ẹkpẹnẹde, who was a great warrior. He conquered most of the eastern Yorub...
Chief Iyase says that during the reign that became the last Ogiso, a prince who was condemned to be ...
We had thirty-one Ogiso kings who ruled in the early times until 1100 – the first was Ogiso Igodo an...
The Benin people were spread around Ivbioto, Okhoro, Ugbague and Uzebu, and they were all about thir...
Chief Osayomwanobo Osemwengie Ero narrates the origin of Benin Kingdom. He says that the story may s...
The Ọdiọnwere Chief Eguaogie prays for the interviewer, himself and the Ọba of Benin Kingdom. He inf...
Here Phil Omodamwe is seen using bee wax to fix runners after completing the design of the entire pl...
This is a song in praise of the Benin people promising that they will always be remembered. It equat...
The Ọdiọnwere narrates the story of the origin of Umẹlu town. He states that it was established duri...
In this video, Mr Aiko mentions all the palaces that have existed in Benin Kingdom before the presen...
Mr Aiko Obobaifo said that Benin fabric was one of the articles sought by the early Europeans who en...
Transcription: The cockerel, the Benin cockerel? Yes. The cockerel, the Benin cockerel. It comes in ...
Transcription: Introductions Question: Please, sir, what is Osogan in Benin? What material is it mad...
Transcription: 0:08–0:26 The palace of the Ọba of Benin, which is located presently in the heart of ...
Transcription: 0:00–0:14 Ẹbomisi was a very strong magician in Benin Kingdom. He lived during the re...
Transcription: 0:00–0:14 And so money was not one of the novelties that was introduced by contact wi...
Transcription: 0:00–0:37 In Benin Kingdom there are different types of games. Of course, most of the...
In this video, Ekhator describes the circumstances that warranted human execution before 1897. He sp...
A praise song for Ọba Ewuare II. Mrs Roseline Ogbodu sang this song for Ọba Ẹwuare II. It describes ...
Transcription: 0:00–1:08 Many of these objects have been erroneously described or categorised as swo...
Transcription: This is Umwekhen. In Benin Kingdom, it is called Umwekhen. Its English name is ‘pumpk...
This is a very significant ceremony in the determination of the right to succession in Benin kingdom...
As the Ọdiọnwere designate (elect), he came to the elders court on the day of his installation with ...
Peter Murphy, videographer of the interview, was part of a film crew for the history series, Benin: ...
Prof. Osadolor describes how the Benin military originated. He speaks about the organisation of guar...
Prof. Osadolor states that the Odibo were the first of warriors, but they were not warriors in the a...
Mr James Orebor speaks about the origin of Umelu town. He narrates how Ọba Ẹsigie founded Umẹlu town...
The Benin people manufactured and produced their weapons before the arrival of the Europeans. These ...
Prof. Osadolor states that the Anglo-Benin war of 1897 was basically British aggression against the ...
Asked about the cultural significance of the looted Benin Bronzes, Prof. Osadolor said the sculpture...
Ohen Osa Edebiri narrates the encounter between Ọba Esigie and the Portuguese, who introduced Christ...
Ohen Osa Edebiri speaks about how the Holy Aro Osa Cathedral was revived in the twentieth century du...
In this interview, Ohen Osa Edebiri states that objects of purification or sanctification are still ...
The process of bronze casting starts with collecting red mould, which is found by digging a foot bel...
The bronze caster uses beeswax to create different patination on the core, which was made from the r...
In this video, Phil Omadamwen shows how the designs created with the beeswax is covered with another...
At this stage they show us the runner which serves as a channel where the melted wax runs out while ...
In this final stage, the mouthpiece for blowing the Oko and the hole from the bottom are drilled man...