Social Order

　

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We have studied…

Benin Kingdom＊ Position＊ Epoch ＊ Art ＊ Animals ＊ Religion

＊ People

Social Order

Map of Benin

Social order

Oba

Dominated political, religious, and social aspects of life

Had a mysterious aura around him Was accepted through his divine

birth right (being ancestor of the divine Ife king and because of approval by the Uzama)

The First Oba

Prince Oranmiyan of Ife removed the Ogisos from power

His son, Eweka I, became the first Oba

Oba Akenzua

Aesthetic Propaganda

The Oba had sole control over the making of artifacts.

Craftsmen were regarded highly by the Oba.

• They were given wealth and gifts when they depicted him as he wished.

• They lived within the inner wall of the city. The Edo associated brass, which resists

corrosion, with the permanence and continuity of kingship

Oba’ s Commemorative Head

Brass Heads

Altar pieces which supported carved ivory tusks.

Commissioned by new Obas to commemorate the former one.

Altar Tableaus Depicted the Oba and his

attendants

The Palace (as described by Dapper) As big as a city Had wooden pillars covered in cast

copper (engraved pictures of war and battle exploits)

Benin city was a military fortress

Ceremony

The Oba showed himself once a year

300 to 400 noblemen used to be present

Accompanied by musicians, leopards, dwarves and the deaf

Uzama

The UzamaMost ancient and the highest ranking order of Chiefs

Early stages of the Kingdom Shared control with the Oba 13th Century Oba Ewedo made the power move into his hands 15th Century The Oba became singularly in control Oba Ewuare introduced hereditary succession The power of the Uzama was diluted by naming

more categories of chiefs (palace and town chiefs) The seat of power was moved to within the inner

walls.

There were 7 Uzama, each with their own unique role Each position was hereditary All enjoyed a large degree of independence in his

domain

All lived outside the inner wall1. Oliha Senior Uzama, responsible for crowning the king2. Edohen Senior war chief, wealthiest and most

influential3. Ezomo4. Ero Guardian of one of the gates. Had responsibility

for Edaiken and the Queen Mother since they lived in his domain

5. Eholo-nire6. Oloton Keeper of the shrine were sacrifices were made

during special rituals7. Edaiken Oba’s eldest son, heir to the title

Queen Mother

Queen Mother

・ The mother of the king was given the title of Queen Mother

(Iyoba) and was set up in her own palace in the village of Uselu, which is outside the city.

・ The Queen Mother had an unique position in the Benin Kingdom Hierarchy.

・ She functioned as a titled chief, with control over her own

district, Iyekuselu, and the right to

grant titles in her own court.

・ She was the origin of divine and political

power (Oba).

・ She had an uninterrupted contact with Oba, but not directly, through Messengers.

Queen Mother and assistants

・ The Queen mother had the privileges of the town chiefs.

・ Every year was kept a ceremony of a private pure character by Oba in the mother queen name.

・ Her representative symbol was the tall cap

・ After her death, a commemorative altar was

made in her name.

Chiefs

Chiefs

The titled chiefs constituted the political elite of the kingdom.

The highest ranking among the chiefs were the Uzama n'Ihinron, Seven Uzama, who were considered to be the descendants of the very elders of Benin.

Responsibility: Installation of new kings Annual worship of the

departed ones.

The Other Titled Chiefs

The other titled chiefs were divided into 2 kinds…

*Palace Chiefs

*Town Chiefs

Palace Chiefs &

 

*Palace chiefs were the members of well-established urban families Responsibility: The administration of the palace belonged to one of the three important palace

associations.

1.Iwebo: care for the Oba's regalia, supervised his craftsmen and conducted negotiations with European traders visiting Benin.

2.Ibiwe: caring for the Oba's wife and children. 3.Iweguae: Oba's domestic staff of officials, cooks,

servants and pages. 

Town Chiefs

*Town Chiefs

men who rose to their power by their own efforts

Responsibility:

The administration of the various

territories of the kingdom.

・ collection of tribute

・ conscription of soldiers

・ mediation between royal

and village interests.

Court Officials In the same area as the

Town Chiefs lived ・・・ ・ palace officials　 ・ chiefly retainers 　・ members of guilds(40-

50 　 members)

Each guild was located in a special ward and had a specific service to perform for the king.

　　 e.g. Leopard

hunters, Drummers, Astrologers, and Land purifiers

Other people who worked under Oba…

Dwarfs

・ At late 14th-15th century.

・ The first dwarf was 23inches high and weighed 37 KG.

・ They were without hats and simply clothed.

・ The presence of dwarfs at the royal court was confirmed by Dapper.

They were a means of enjoyment to the Oba

Others had a philosophical function (they helped the Oba)

・ Round relatively large head,

short beard, and short curly hair.

・ The upper part of the body is relatively long.

・ A wide , quite plain skirt covers its lower torso.

・ They were made of brass and are one of the high points of Benin art, capturing the essential aspects of body by comportment and spiritual expressions.

Craftsmen ~‘Servants of Oba’~ Craftsmen were the

people who made ・・・ 　 ・ brass　　・ ivory　　・ wood sculpture　　・ cloths 　　・ leather fans 　　　　 for the Oba They were considered… 　 'Servants of Oba'. Wealthy and powerful Obas became the patrons of artists and craftspeople.

2 walls in Benin Kingdom…

Why 2 walls??Oba Ewuare is credited in Benin tradition with having built a monumental system of walls and moats around Benin City.

He divided Benin City into two wards, one for the palace and the other for guilds of artists and craft workers.Under Oba Esigie, the artists ofBenin produced their most famouswork.

Conclusion…

Social Order of Benin

Oba

Palace chiefsTown Chiefs

Court Officials

Uzama

Queen Mother

Craftsmen Dwarfs Brass casters Blacksmiths Woodcarvers Doctors Seers Leatherworkers Deaf people Musicians Public Executors Servants Drummers

Common people

Slaves

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