Wando Achebe

Allowing for free trade... It allowed for the presence of Christian missionaries, and it required the king, the Oba, to consult with British on governance.

So a number of historians have actually suggested that if he did sign this treaty, He probably didn't understand what he was signing.

But despite this treaty, The Oba maintained control over trade. And it's this control that frustrated the heck out of British ambitions.

In comes James Phillips.

He was acting British consul.

He— — Grew up in a family with strong clerical and military background. We know that he was educated at Uppenham School, which was a prestigious independent boarding school. Phillips later attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied law.

A lot of these young European men were going for adventure, making a name for themselves.

And I think that was a propelling force for a lot of these European men in Africa during this time period.

So Phillips requests to meet with the Abba.

The timing of this request clashed with the sacred Igwe festival, during which the Oba was secluded to perform rituals that renewed his spiritual authority. Remember, Oba of Aranwen was semi-divine.

The king said, no, you cannot visit. Why don't you come back in about two moons, two months? Phillips ignored all of the cultural imperatives and he proceeded toward Benin City. January, 1897.

Phillips does not survive. Phillips is killed.

It's this ambush that outrages Britain to no end.

By the time the punitive expedition was launched in 1897, the British public had been primed to see it as a moral crusade.

Portraying Benin as a barbaric society.

So in February 1897, a force of about 1,500 British soldiers were equipped with Maxim machine guns, artillery, and rockets.

And it was with these that they launched their punitive expedition against Benin.

The Benin defenders were regrettably armed with outdated weapons.

And because their weapons were outdated, they were quickly overwhelmed.

They enter Benin City on February the 18th, 1897.

They razed the Abbas palace. They razed secret sites.

They erased much of the kingdom's physical and cultural heritage.

He later surrenders in 1897. And he was exiled to Calabar, where he remained until his death.

Marking the end of Benin Kingdom sovereignty, which is what the British wanted to do from the get-go.

the British encounter an unparalleled number of cultural treasures. So it is estimated that over 4,000 treasures were looted, including brass plaques, ivory carvings, ceremonial regalia, and textiles. These treasures were distributed among British officers.

So today, these treasures are housed in museums worldwide, with the British Museum holding the largest collection of about 700 treasures.

I agree 100% that African Americans, African Caribbean people, Africans have every single right to to this history, to these treasures. It is our heritage. It is that which makes us who we are. And so what I'm saying is I agree 100% with her characterization. It's as much hers as it is mine.

Treasures that were stolen away from Africa should remain in Africa. It is a heritage that should be enjoyed on African soil. And if... the Benin Kingdom, if the Federal Republic of Nigeria decides that it wants to loan Europe, the U.S., wherever, our treasures for a period of time, then we do so.

It was nothing short of a marvel. It was very vibrant and dynamic. It had bustling markets with trade in yams, palm oil, taxiles, iron tools, and more.

The kingdom's military was highly effective, maintaining stability within the region and controlling all of the key waterways as far as Lagos.

Benin City even had street lighting. These large metal lamps filled with palm oil, which illuminated the streets at night, making it one of the first cities in the world with such a feature, and even an underground drainage system.

And I am the Jack and Margaret Sweet Endowed Professor of History at Michigan State University. My main area of concentration is West Africa.

At its height, it was well-organized. It was thriving. It was a highly advanced society.

Which stretched over 10,000 miles, making them the largest earthworks in the pre-mechanized world.

Its interconnected earthworks were not just defensive structures, but also a statement of the kingdom's engineering brilliance and power.

So when European traders and explorers arrived, which is how we know what we know for the most part about Benin, they were astonished by what they saw. For instance, you had a Portuguese captain remarking that Benin city was larger than Lisbon and described its streets as seemingly endless.

And in return, European traders are offering firearms, textiles, and other goods.

During the late 15th and 16th century, the kingdom is actively participating in the slave trade. These are captives from all of its military campaigns. And sometimes it would be captives or these tributary states made offerings to Benin, right? In addition, the kingdom also enslaved individuals who were convicted of crimes.

These renowned artisans would melt these bracelets down to create these intricate bronze and brass sculptures and plaques.

And it's these so-called Benin bronzes that we're talking about today.

The royal palace was adorned with copper engravings and brass plaques that celebrated victories. They recorded Benin's achievements and reflected the kingdom's grandeur. So these engravings and plaques told stories.

The Oba, or king, wasn't just a political leader but held divine status, acting as a spiritual bridge between his people and the gods.

With the introduction of the pneumatic tire by J.B. Dumlap in 1888, rubber became a critical raw material for industries in Europe, especially for bicycles and later automobiles, right? Benin... had vast rubber forest.