Benin City
| Benin City | |
|---|---|
| City | |
| Benin | |
Aerial view of Benin City
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 Benin City
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| Coordinates: 6°20′00″N 5°37′20″E / 6.33333°N 5.62222°ECoordinates: 6°20′00″N 5°37′20″E / 6.33333°N 5.62222°E | |
| Country |
 Nigeria
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| State | Edo |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,204 km2 (465 sq mi) |
| Population (2015) | |
| • Total | 1,495,800 |
| • Rank | 4th |
| • Density | 1,200/km2 (3,200/sq mi) |
| Climate | Aw |
Benin City is a city (2006 est. pop. 1,147,188) and the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria. It is a city approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of the Benin River. It is situated 320 kilometres (200 mi) by road east of Lagos. Benin is the centre of Nigeria's rubber industry, but processing palm nuts for oil is also an important traditional industry.
The original people and founders of the Ẹdo Empire and the Ẹdo people, initially were ruled by the Ogiso (Kings of the Sky) dynasty who called their land Igodomigodo. Igodo, the first Ogiso, wielded much influence and gained popularity as a good ruler. He died after a long reign and was succeeded by Ere, his eldest son. In the 12th century, a great palace intrigue and battle for power erupted between the warrior crown prince Ekaladerhan, son of the last Ogiso and his young paternal uncle. In anger over an oracle, Prince Ekaladerhan left the royal court with his warriors. When his old father the Ogiso died, the Ogiso dynasty was ended as the people and royal kingmakers preferred their king's son as natural next in line to rule.
The exiled Ekaladerhan, who was not known in the Yoruba land, gained the title of Oni Ile-fe Izoduwa, which has been corrupted in the Yoruba language to Ọọni (Ọghẹnẹ) of Ile-Ifẹ Oduduwa. He refused to return to Ẹdo, but sent his son Ọranmiyan to become king in his place. Prince Ọranmiyan took up residence in the palace built for him at Usama by the elders. (It is now a coronation shrine). Soon after he married a beautiful lady, Ẹrinmwide, daughter of Osa-nego, the ninth Duke (Enogie) of Edọ. He and Erinwide had a son. After some years he called a meeting of the people and renounced his office, remarking that the country was a land of vexation, Ile-Ibinu nd that only a child born, trained and educated in the arts and mysteries of the land could reign over the people. . The country was afterward known by this name. He caused his son born to him by Ẹrinmwide to be made King in his place, and returned to Yoruba land Ile-Ife. After some years in Ife, he left for Ọyọ , where he also left a son behind on leaving the place, and his son Ajaka ultimately became the first Alafin of Ọyọ of the present line, while Ọranmiyan (The exiled Prince Ekaladerhan, also known as Izoduwa) himself was reigning as Ọọni of Ifẹ. Therefore, Ọranmiyan of Ife, the father of Ẹwẹka I, the Ọba of Benin, was also the father of Ajaka, the first Alafin of Ọyọ. Ọọni of Ifẹ and Alafe of Ọyọ is a Bini spoken language all the Kings title in Southerner are Ẹdo Language. In Nigeria Ẹdo has the greatest and rich culture and most influence in West Africa and powerful King in Nigeria. Allegedly Ọba Ẹwẹka later changed the name of the city of Ile-Binu, the capital of the Benin kingdom, to "Ubinu." This name would be reinterpreted by the Portuguese language Portuguese as "Benin" in their own language. Around 1470, Ẹwuare changed the name of the state to Ẹdo. This was about the time the people of Ọkpẹkpẹ migrated from Benin City.
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Wikipedia