Esigie
| Esigie | |
|---|---|
| Oba of Benin | |
 An Edo figure from the reign of the oba Esigie (c. 1504 – 1550) Brooklyn Museum | |
| Oba of Benin | |
| Reign | 1504 AD – 1550 AD |
| Predecessor | Ozolua |
| Successor | Orhogbua |
| Died | c. 1550 Benin City |
| Spouse | Elaba |
| Father | Ozolua |
| Mother | Queen Idia |
Esigie (also spelt Oseigie), originally known as Osawe, was the son of Oba Ozolua, who reigned in the late 15th century, and his second wife, Queen Idia. He was the sixteenth Oba who ruled the medieval Benin Kingdom, now Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria from c. 1504 – c. 1550.[1][2] Works of art commissioned by Esigie are held in prominent museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum.
After Ozolua's death, Esigie controlled Benin City, while his brother Arhuaran controlled Udo, a town about 30 kilometres (20 mi) northwest of Benin City, that was nearly its equal in size and influence.[3][4] Following a bitter power struggle with Arhuaran, and with major assistance and support from his mother Idia, Esigie gathered the Benin army at Unuame on the river Osse and from there launched an attack and overthrew Arhuanran.[5] Esigie became Oba of Benin and would later fend off an attack from the Igala people.[6][7][8]
Esigie started a tradition in Benin by abolishment of the killing of the king's mother, giving Idia the title of Iyoba (or Queen Mother), and providing the Eguae-Iyoba (Palace of the Queen Mother) in lower Uselu for her use.[9][10][11] Idia was responsible for many cultural innovations that still hold strong in Benin's cultural history; she notably dressed as a man marched alongside her son and led Benin to victory in the Idah battle of 1515. When Idia died, her protege and Esigie's wife Elaba would go to support the Oba until his death c. 1550.[12]
Impact
Oba Esigie established diplomatic relations with European countries, particularly Portugal, in the early 16th century.[13] He welcomed Portuguese ambassadors and Christian missionaries, fostering a peaceful relationship that benefited both nations. He also engaged in trade with European nations, exchanging goods like ivory, pepper, and slaves for firearms, horses, and other commodities.[14]
Military Campaigns and Conquests
Oba Esigie expanded Benin's territories through successful military campaigns, notably defeating the Igala in the north in 1516 without relying on Portuguese arms.[15] He also conquered the kingdoms of Eko and Ijebu, incorporating them into the Benin Empire.[16][17]
Administration and Reforms
Oba Esigie implemented several administrative reforms, including the creation of a centralized government and a new system of taxation. He also reformed the Benin army, introducing new military tactics and weapons, such as firearms, which were acquired through trade with European nations.[17]
Cultural Achievements
Oba Esigie was a patron of the arts,[18] and his court attracted many artists, musicians, and poets. He encouraged the development of Benin art, architecture, and literature, and his reign is often referred to as the "Golden Age" of Benin culture
Religion and Spirituality
Oba Esigie was a devout follower of the traditional Benin religion, which emphasized the worship of ancestors and the gods of nature. He also tolerated the presence of Christian missionaries in his kingdom, and allowed them to build churches and proselytize.[3]
Legacy
Oba Esigie's legacy is still celebrated in Benin City today. He is remembered as a great military leader, a wise administrator, and a patron of the arts. His reign marked the beginning of Benin's rise as a major power in West Africa, and his cultural achievements continue to inspire artists and scholars around the world.
References
- ^ "Oba esigie".
- ^ Hunter, David J. (2013-08-01). "A Response to Rudolf Klein: A Battle May Have Been Won but Perhaps Not the War". Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law. 38 (4): 871–877. doi:10.1215/03616878-2210512. ISSN 0361-6878. PMID 23645872.
- ^ a b "Oba Esigie". www.edoworld.net. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
- ^ Ojaruega, EE (2015-09-11). The place of Urhobo folklore in Tanure Ojaide's poetry. Tydskrif vir Letterkunde Association. OCLC 923960138.
- ^ "West African Journal of Archaeology". 1976.
- ^ OKAKA, C.E.; AKHIGBE, J.E. (1999-01-01). "Helminth parasites of some tropical freshwater fish from Osse River in Benin, southern Nigeria". Tropical Freshwater Biology. 8 (1). doi:10.4314/tfb.v8i1.20861. ISSN 0795-0101.
- ^ "A Wife of the King", Saint Margaret, Queen of the Scots, Palgrave Macmillan, doi:10.1057/9781137035646_10
- ^ Nevadomsky, Joseph. The costume and weapons of the Benin brass horseman. OCLC 57828940.
- ^ http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/08/sfg/ht08sfg.htm Guinea Coast, 1400–1600 A.D. | Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- ^ "Śāntimāhātmya:kiṁvā sādhu Iyoba hyāceẽ ākhyāna /". Hebrew and Judeo-Arabic Printing in Baghdad Online. doi:10.1163/9789004192621.hpi-411. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
- ^ "The Untold Tale between Oba Esigie and Iyoba Idia of Benin". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2019-06-04. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
- ^ Amoako, Henry Kwadwo (2021-10-22). "The Legend of Iyoba Idia – ( 1484 – 1540) Popularly Know as "Idia ne Iye Esigie" of The Ancient kingdom of Benin". African Research Consult. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
- ^ Olupona, Jacob K. (June 2003). "BOOK REVIEW: Abosede Emanuel.ODUN IFA: IFA FESTIVAL. Lagos: West African Book Publishers Limited, 2000. and Ed. John Pemberton III.INSIGHT AND ARTISTRY IN AFRICAN DIVINATION. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution P, 2000". Research in African Literatures. 34 (2): 225–229. doi:10.2979/ral.2003.34.2.225. ISSN 0034-5210.
- ^ Vansina, Jan (October 1970). "Benin and the Europeans 1485–1897. By Alan F. C. Ryder (Ibadan history series). London: Longmans, 1969. Pp. xi + 357, bibl., ill., maps. 50s". Africa. 40 (4): 384–385. doi:10.2307/1159477. ISSN 0001-9720. JSTOR 1159477.
- ^ Osadolor, Osarhieme Benson; Otoide, Leo Enahoro (January 2008). "The Benin Kingdom in British Imperial Historiography". History in Africa. 35: 401–418. doi:10.1353/hia.0.0014. ISSN 0361-5413.
- ^ Aderinto, Saheed (2017-04-20). "Lagos Elite Women and the Struggle for Legitimacy". University of Illinois Press. 1. doi:10.5406/illinois/9780252038884.003.0008.
- ^ a b Edigin, Collins (2024-04-16). "The Obas of Benin: A Brief History of the Rulers of A West African State for Eight Centuries •". Retrieved 2024-07-19.
- ^ Rush, Dana (2001). "Contemporary Vodun Arts of Ouidah, Benin". African Arts. 34 (4): 32–96. doi:10.2307/3337805. ISSN 0001-9933. JSTOR 3337805.
External links
- 50 Great Africans - Oba Esigie & Oba Ewuare Accessed 10 January 2007
- The correct History of Edo Accessed 10 January 2007