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32-598: The Nigerian Observer is a daily newspaper published in Benin City , Edo State , Nigeria. It has been published since 29 May 1968. The publisher, Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, is owned by the Edo State Government. In 1973, a correspondent for The Nigerian Observer wrote an article about an impending teacher's strike in Rivers State , which was published on Governor Alfred Diete-Spiff 's birthday. Taking this as

64-406: A deliberate insult, Diete-Spiff's aide Ralph Iwowari had the reporter's head publicly shaved and had him beaten with 24 lashes of a cane. At that time, The Nigerian Observer was owned by Bendel State , the predecessor of Edo State. The Rivers State newspaper The Tide did not mention the conflict with the teachers. During the administration of President Shehu Shagari (1979–83), the newspaper

96-449: A good ruler. He died after a long reign and was succeeded by Ere , his eldest son. A battle for power soon erupted between the wife of the last Ogiso and prince Ekaladerhan, son of the last Ogiso . Prince Ekaladerhan was framed by his father's wife and sentenced to death. The men sent to kill him, however, released him at Ughoton . The exiled prince made his way to where he changed his name to Izoduwa, meaning "I have found prosperity". It

128-477: A significant number of communities and individuals were left homeless because of city flooding. At the time, residents and the city blamed poor storm drains and a failure to continue flood adaptation programs. The city, on average is .5 degrees Celsius warmer than the surrounding rural areas, and these temperature differences are greater during the working weeks. A 2021 study published in Nature , highlighted that

160-624: Is also the home of one of the oldest ongoing monarchies in the world. Various festivals are held in Benin City yearly to celebrate various historic occasions and seasons. Benin City has a popular festival called the Igue festival . The festival is an annual event held in the city to usher in the new year. The festival is an integral part of the culture of the people in Benin City (formerly referred to as Benin Kingdom or

192-513: Is little doubt that human sacrifices were an integral part of the Benin state religion from very early days," first-hand accounts regarding such acts often varied significantly, with some reporting them and others making no mention of them. The " Benin Bronzes ", portrait figures, busts and groups created in iron , carved ivory , and especially in brass (conventionally called "bronze"), were looted from

224-588: Is the capital and largest city of Edo State, southern Nigeria . It is the fourth-largest city in Nigeria according to the 2006 census, after Lagos , Kano , and Ibadan . It is situated approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of the Benin River and 320 kilometres (200 mi) by road east of Lagos . It shares boundaries with major towns in Southern Nigeria such as Agbor, Oghara and Ekpoma. Benin City

256-552: Is very rich in agriculture and it's the centre of Nigeria's rubber industry, and Palm oil production is also a significant industry. The city was the most important settlement of the Edo Kingdom of Benin , which flourished from the 13th to the 19th century. It held important trade relations with Portugal during its final centuries before being captured, sacked and burnt in 1897 by a British punitive expedition . Many bronze sculptures in Benin City palace , collectively termed

288-606: The Daily Sketch . An analysis of The Nigerian Observer and other Nigerian papers published in 1999 noted that it had a relatively small circulation, with only 15% of column inches taken up by advertisements, compared to 50% in a typical North American paper. Many of the ads were government bulletins; low revenue coupled with shortage of newsprint had the effect of limiting coverage of events, and in particular of limiting investigative reporting. Benin City Benin City

320-757: The Benin Bronzes , were stolen by the British . The British followed up their punitive victory by gradually colonizing the area, eventually incorporating the region into Colonial Nigeria . The indigenous people of Benin City are the Edo people (the Benin People), and they speak the Edo language or Bini Language. The people of the city have one of the richest dress cultures on the African continent and are renowned for their beads (the beads stand for royalty and usually stand out during

352-548: The King of Portugal sent Christian missionaries to Benin. Some residents of Benin could still speak a pidgin Portuguese in the late 19th century. Many Portuguese loan words can still be found today in the languages of the area. A Portuguese captain described the city in 1691:"Great Benin, where the king resides, is larger than Lisbon ; all the streets run straight and as far as the eye can see. The houses are large, especially that of

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384-1635: The University of Benin located at Ugbowo and Ekenwan, Ambrose Alli University located at Ekpoma , College of Education Ekiadolor , Igbinedion University , Benson Idahosa University , Wellspring University , Edo State Polytechnic located in Usen (formerly known as Edo State Institute of Technology and Management Usen), Edo State University, Uzairue. and Auchi Polytechnic located in Auchi, Edo State. Secondary schools in Benin include Edo College , Edo Boys High School (Adolo College), Western Boys High School, Oba Ewuare Grammar School, Greater Tomorrow Secondary School, Imaguero College, Oredo Girls Secondary School, Garrick Memorial Secondary School, Winrose Secondary School, Asoro Grammar School, Eghosa Anglican Grammar School , Edokpolor Grammar School, Covenant Christian Academy, Niger College, Presentation National High School , Gaius Obaseki International High School, Immaculate Conception College (ICC), Uselu Secondary School, Idia College, University of Benin Demonstration Secondary School (UDSS), University Preparatory Secondary School, Auntie Maria School , Benin Technical College , Word of Faith Group of Schools, Lydia Group of Schools, Nosakhare Model Education Centre, Igbinedion Educational Center, Federal Government Girls College, Benin City . Scientists have already demonstrated

416-403: The Benin City palace by the expeditionary force. Some of the bronzes were auctioned off to compensate for the expenses incurred during the capture and occupation of the city. Most of these artifacts can be found today in western museums at locations around the world. In recent years, appeals have gone to various museums and governments to return such artifacts. The most prominent of these artifacts

448-851: The Kingdom of Benin). The festival is believed to renew Oba Ewuare's magical powers and it celebration comes between Christmas and New Year celebrations. The festival includes the Oba's blessing of the land and his people. Aside the cultural festival, the city also plays host to the Benin City Film Festival. The festival creates room for the promotion of works produced by local film community. It also promote content of emerging national and international filmmakers, showcasing their works in an environment where they have access to experienced industry professionals. The "Bini" people have four market days: Ekioba, Ekenaka, Agbado, and Eken. Benin Airport serves

480-410: The Oba dynasty in Benin City. Benin imperialism was started in the last decade of the thirteen century by Oba Ewedo . The Portuguese visited Benin City around 1485. Benin grew rich during the 16th and 17th centuries due to trade within southern Nigeria, as well as through trade with Europeans , mostly in pepper and ivory. In the early 16th century, the Ọba sent an ambassador to Lisbon , and

512-540: The State Capital of Edo State when the state of Bendel was divided into the Delta State and Edo State in 1991. Benin City has a borderline tropical savanna climate ( Köppen Aw ) bordering upon a tropical monsoon climate ( Am ). The weather is hot and humid year-round, and generally very dull, especially between July and September. Benin City is home to some of Nigeria's institutions of higher learning, namely,

544-408: The area of the present-day Federal Republic of Nigeria (and not in the area of the unrelated, current Republic of Benin ). The ogiso era was replaced by the oba era, and the name of the kingdom was changed from Igodomigodo to Edo by Oba Eweka I (meaning: greatly annoyed or out of patience), later changed to Eweka. Replacing the era of the ogiso , the oba dynasty was founded by Eweka I ,

576-452: 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 Benin land. After some years in Ife, he left for Benin, where he also left a son behind upon leaving, and his son Ajaka ultimately became the first Oba of Benin of the present line, while Ọranmiyan himself

608-529: The city after all but two men from a previous British delegation led by Acting Consul General James Robert Phillips were ambushed and killed. Alan Boisragon , one of the survivors of the Benin Massacre, included references of the practice of human sacrifice in the city in a firsthand account written in 1898 (one year after the Punitive Expedition). Historian James D. Graham notes that although "there

640-544: The city has not met the standards for waste management set by the Edo State Waste Management Board . After surveying 2720 inhabitants of the city, the authors found that most people in the city did not understand proper waste management practices. Moreover, the study found that survey participants did not understand how waste management was connected to other issues like greenhouse gas emissions. An additional study found that most residents did not understand

672-481: The city with five commercial airlines flying to it, including Green Africa Airways , United Nigeria Airlines , Aero Contractors , Arik Air , and Air Peace Igodomigodo According to Edo oral history, Igodomigodo was the name given to the kingdom by Igodo, the first ogiso (King), who founded the first dynasty of what would later be known as the Benin Empire (which existed from around 1180 until 1897 in

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704-536: The effects of climate change, with increases in temperature, humidity and precipitation trends between 1981 and 2015. Benin city experiences regular flooding. Studies have consistently highlighted the problem since at least 1993. Experts have recommended a number of ways to improve flood management, including better controls on land use, construction and development, improved Community-based programs designed to improve city adaptation and disaster management, and improvements in individual preparedness. In June 2020,

736-673: The health impacts of bad waste management. Attractions in the city includes the National Museum, the Oba Palace , Igun Street (Famous for bronze casting and other metal works). Other attractions include various festivals and the Benin Moats (measuring about 20 to 40 ft), the King's Square (known as Ring Road) and the city's traditional markets. The Binis are known for bronze sculpture, their casting skills, and their arts and craft. Benin City

768-465: The king, which is richly decorated and has fine columns. The city is wealthy and industrious. It is so well governed that theft is unknown and the people live in such security that they have no doors to their houses". On 17 February 1897, Benin City fell to the British. In the " Punitive Expedition ", a 1,200-strong British force, under the command of Admiral Sir Harry Rawson , captured, sacked, and burnt

800-399: The palace built for him at Uzama by the elders, now a coronation shrine. Soon after he married a beautiful lady, Ẹrinmwide, daughter of Osa-nego, the ninth Enogie of Egor . He and Erinmwide 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 , and that only a child born, trained, and educated in

832-455: The restoration of the Benin monarchy in 1914, but true political power still lay with the colonial administration of Nigeria. Following Nigeria's independence from British rule in 1960, Benin City became the capital of Mid-Western Region when the region was split from Western Region in June 1963. In 1976, when the region was renamed Bendel State , it remained the capital of the region. it became

864-509: The traditional marriage of the Benin people), body marks, bangles, anklets, raffia work. They are also known for subsistence farming of yam , plantain and cassava . According to tradition, the original people and founders of the Ẹdo Empire and the Edo people , were ruled by the kings known as the Ogiso (meaning King of the sky) dynasty who called the land Igodomigodo . Igodo, the first Ogiso , wielded much influence and gained popularity as

896-532: Was about the time the people of Ọkpẹkpẹ migrated from Benin City. Alternatively, the Yoruba nation has a different conception of Oduduwa . According to Yoruba tradition, because of his power and military might, he was able to defeat the enemies invading Benin and that is why the people of Benin made him the King or Ọba of Benin. In any case, it is agreed upon by both the Yoruba and the Edo that Oduduwa sent his son Prince Oranmiyan of Ife to rule Benin City and founded

928-493: Was during this period of confusion in Benin that the elders, led by Chief Oliha, mounted a search for the banished Prince Ekaladerhan – whom the Ife people now called Oduduwa . The exiled Ekaladerhan, now Oduduwa, refused to come to Benin because of how he was treated, having found out that he was not killed. He devised to send one of his sons, Oramiyan. He refused to return from Ile-Ife but sent his son Ọranmiyan to become king in his place. Prince Ọranmiyan took up residence in

960-417: 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, Alaafin of Ọyọ . Ọọni of Ifẹ. 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 as "Benin" in their own language. Around 1470, Ẹwuare changed the name of the state to Ẹdo. This

992-471: Was subject to harassment by the police, with staff being detained and the premises shut, as were other papers belonging to state governments controlled by opposition parties. Early in 1989, worsening economic conditions forced the paper to close for some time. On 22 July 1993, the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida banned The Nigerian Observer , as well as the National Concord , The Punch and

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1024-729: Was the famous Queen Idia mask used as a mascot during the Second Festival of Arts Culture (FESTAC '77) held in Nigeria in 1977 now known as "Festac Mask". The capture of Benin paved the way for British colonization and the merging of later regional British incorporation of African kingdoms into the Niger Coast Protectorate , the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria and finally, into the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria . The British permitted

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