Oba of Benin

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The Oba of Benin, whose person was sacred, controlled the Benin Empire, an empire surrounding the West African city of Benin (now in Nigeria), from 1170 until 1897. In 1897, the British 'Punitive Expedition' destroyed the city of Benin and exiled Oba Ovoranmwen, taking control of the area in order to establish the British colony of Nigeria. The expedition was mounted to revenge the killing of an official British delegation. To cover the cost of the expedition, the Benin royal art was auctioned off by the British.

According to oral tradition, the first dynasty of the Kingdom of Benin was Ogi-Suo (Ogiso). The second dynasty was founded by Oranyan, a prince from the city of Ife, Nigeria. His son Eweka I became the first Oba. The present Oba, Erediauwa I, is the 39th Oba of the dynasty.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Oba's power was at its peak and different monarchs of the dynasty controlled an area stretching from the Niger River in the north to the coastal area in the south. During this era, exquisite naturalistic bronze art was created to enhance and embody the power of the Oba. The art often depicted the ancestors in order to establish legitimacy. Only Obas were allowed to own the famous bronze heads of Benin.