Ewuare was moved to sleep under the sacred uloko tree and is said to have had a dream where the spirits told him to return to the Benin Empire. On his journey back to the city, Ewuare removed an infected thorn from a lion that then gave him a talisman with powerful magic making him powerful and offering protection.
To mark his arrival, Ewuare set a huge part of the city on fire using his Talisman and raided the royal home killing his brother with a poisonous arrow which he took out of his bag. At the death of his younger brother, he claimed the throne and officially became Oba Ewuare I. Oba being carried by warriors in Benin Empire. Oba Ewuare ruled as king for 23 years from He rebuilt the Empire and made it a more protected and beautiful Empire.
He reduced the power of the Uzama people in the Empire which naturally annulled their power of appointing the Oba and made it a succession of the first son. This reduced conflict among the Empire and brought the people closer together.
He also created administrations in the towns and villages to have better control over the structure of society and not make the Oba have the sole power. This did not reduce the power of the Oba but rather made his rule more structured and controlled.
Between and , more Europeans began to trade and explore with the Edo Empire and Benin City in particular. This Street is straight and does not bend at any point.
It is thought to be 4miles long. And the gate where I went in on Horseback, there was a very big wall, very thick and made of earth, with a very deep and broad ditch outside it… and outside this gate there is also a big suburb.
Inside the gate and along the great street I just mentioned, you see many other great streets on either side, and these are also straight and do not bend. Sadly, the grandeur and much of the History Benin City held for the Edo Region was lost when the British invaded, burned and eventually annexed the region in after an expeditionary force was killed, leaving only two survivors.
These claims are heavily criticised as simply fictitious for the claims originate a year after original expeditionary force was in Benin and no other accounts; written or oral make note of human sacrifice.
Today, Benin City remains 40 kilometres north of the Benin River, a fraction of the size it once was, yet still a cultural powerhouse in Nigeria; largely due to the influence of Oba Ewuare, eleventh Oba of Benin and the first Oba of the Benin Empire. The coup left much of Benin City in ruins, but he was able to rebuild the city and turn it into what would later become one of the largest and best-known empires in West Africa.
During Ewuare's reign, Benin's capital city was well organized and catered for a huge population. It is said that he constructed nine gateways to Benin and oversaw the building of many roads.
Oral tradition describes the king as a wise magician, doctor and warrior. The expansion of Benin arts remains one of Oba Ewuare's key legacies. He invited handicraftsmen to the city and encouraged the production of quality pieces of art. In addition, he introduced the creation of bronze heads to honor deceased Benin kings.
They remain highly cherished historical works in museums in Nigeria and around the world. Ewuare's promotion of arts led to the establishment of a successful arts industry notable for the production of ivory, wood and bronze works that exist to date. Oba Ewuare is also noted for promoting Benin cultural activities. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.
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Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives. This sub-Saharan empire had vast reach and power during the centuries of late antiquity. Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. Skip to content. Image Bas-relief of an Oba Once rulers, oba still hold prestigious positions in Benin as government advisors.
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