The Glamorous Arts and Culture

Benin art is the art of the Kingdom of Benin, also known as the Edo Empire (1440–1897), a pre-colonial African state located in what is now known as Nigeria's southern region. Benin art, primarily made of cast bronze and carved ivory, was created primarily for the court of the Oba of Benin, a divine ruler for whom the craftsmen created a variety of ceremonially significant objects. The full complexity of these works can be appreciated by being aware of and considering two complementary cultural perceptions of Benin art: Western appreciation of them primarily as works of art and Benin understanding of them as historical documents, mnemonic devices for reconstructing history, or ritual objects. This historical significance is extremely important in Benin.

The Kingdom of Benin is powerful, but western scholars have not properly recognized Benin culture. The origin story of Benin was not passed down through literature or writings. Indeed, Benin as a culture was based on oral tradition: all of the history and stories we know about Benin today were passed down from person to person, generation to generation. The so-called Benin bronzes (actually made of brass) and other artwork are especially important to historians because they are an important part of Benin's history. Furthermore, the Benin brasses and works of art are some of the only physical representations of the culture that historians have.