Here, the 16th Century bust (brass and bronze) of an Oba, king, of the Benin Empire. The Edo people of Benin are descendants of an ancient warrior kingdom known as Igodomigodo, which existed as early as 350 B.C. During the Igodomigodo Kingdom era, the Edo were ruled by Ogisos, ‘kings of the sky.’ Following the death of the last Ogiso, the Igodomigodo chiefs experienced political and social instability and requested help from the neighboring Ife Kingdom. According to history, the Ife King sent his son, Prince Oranmiyan Odede, to help stabilize the kingdom. During his stay, he took a woman named Erinmwide as his wife and the two had a son, Eweka I, who became the king of the Edo people and Oba of the newly named Benin Empire. The ancient Empire of Benin had its seat in Benin City of modern day Nigeria where the Eweka dynasty still exists today. Their fashion, language, and art is a testament to their rich culture and ancient traditions.
Photo Credit: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/312290