Wando Achebe

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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