THE BINI KINGDOM

bronze work on the Bini culture

        The ancient Bini Kingdom dates back to 900 AD. Historical evidence lends credence to the fact that the Oba of Benin used to send his sons to different parts of the then Bini Kingdom as vassals to establish and consolidate his imperial authority in these areas. This explains the cultural similarities of these people with the coreBini ethnic stock.- EDO STATE GOVERNMENT

Plaque showing the Oba of benin on a horse with his attendants

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This  is  another  notable culture  in  Nigeria. There  are three versions  of the origin  of the Benin  kingdom. The first  version  is  from Edo  mythology.  According  to  this mythology, the Benin  Kingdom  was founded by  the youngest  of the children  of Osanubua  (the  high  god). This  child  came with  his  elder  brothers  who  subsequently founded Ife  and Yoruba Kingdoms. The Second  Version  talks  about  the elders  of Benin  requested King  of Ife  (Oduduwa) to  send his  son  as  the  King  of Benin. Oduduwa  complied by  sending  Oranmiyan. But  Oranmiyan  did  not  stay for  long. He impregnated the daughter  of the  Onogie  of Edo.  This  woman later  delivered a son  who  was installed as  the first  Oba  of Benin.  This  Oba  was  later  called  Eweka. He and  the people of Benin  lived at  Usama. The Third Version  according  to Igharevba (1968), the Bini  migrated from Egypt  and  in  the course of their journey southward, they  settled at Ile-Ife and  finally  moved to  their present  location.   

Oba of Bening flanked by two europeans during the colonial era

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 The leadership  of  the Bini  people was  based on segmentary  system  where authority  is  exercised  right from the family.  There are  three types  of families:    The Nuclear Family   The Joint  Family   The Extended Family   Each  is  headed by  an elder  who  sanctions  each member  of the family.  Similarly,  there are  societal elders constituting  authority  based on  the village system  and there are  representative title holders  who constitute a  councillor  court  for  discharging  laws  and justice  in  the whole  kingdom.

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MARRIAGE IN BINI KINGDOM

bride and groom in bini wedding

bride in a bini wedding

 The traditions connected to getting married are worth a separate mentioning. A good deal of the existing traditions stem from ancient times but are still alive and kicking today. First of all, an Edo wedding begins with preliminary visits to the future in-laws. These visits are necessary to arrange everything in a proper way in advance. To be ready for everything, young people usually get to know all the requirements that should be known before such visits. For instance, there’s no use visiting the bride’s parents for the first time without a gift. It’s quite funny that even still it’s necessary to pay a certain bride’s price during the negotiations between the bride’s family and the groom’s one. Of course, these are formalities because the future spouses already know each other and agree to get married to each other. Still, money is paid even today.

 Another funny ceremony is identifying the bride among other girls and women chosen by older ladies of the bride’s family. The groom is expected to choose the bride over and over again among other females, paying money again, and finally pick her out. Since that time, she’s given to the groom’s family for good. 

DEATH AND FUNERALS IN BINI KINGDOM

5th day of bini funeral rites

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Another ritual that should be mentioned separately is the ritual of funeral over a deceased member of the community. The funeral events take place during seven whole days in case the deceased one was a regular person and fourteen days in case a chief or even a king. Every day separate rites are held. Day one: the body is washed and embalmed Day two: all those present are offered food and other treats. The guests sing burial songs till the morning Day three: a cow or a goat is given as an offering by the eldest surviving child of the deceased to honor the spirit Day four is dedicated to the preparation for the day five Day five: the children of the deceased walk through the town carrying a red box. This procession symbolizes the prosperity of the deceased one’s spirit Day six: a person is dressed to represent the spirit of the deceased one. This person should by no means sleep till the dawn of the next day unless he or she might die soon Day seven: the body of the deceased is taken to the burial ground where the person who represents the deceased one is standing like a statue. Another goat is chosen as a sacrifice These are the amazing and unusual Edo traditions that have survived through many centuries. 

members of the Bini royal court