West African History

West African history examines the political, cultural, and social development of societies across present-day Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, the Gambia, and Niger. This category focuses on pre-colonial kingdoms, regional trade, belief systems, and historical continuity, using archaeological evidence, oral traditions, and written sources to provide accurate context.

The Economic Life of the Benin Kingdom: Farming, Trade Networks, and Royal Crafts

This article examines the economic life of the Benin Kingdom, focusing on agriculture, trade networks, and craft production. It explores staple crops, land control, market systems, long-distance trade, and royal regulation, as well as artisan guilds, bronze casting, and ivory carving, showing how economic power supported political stability and cultural achievement.

An Oba of Benin from the late 17th century

Sacred Kingship and Political Governance in the Benin Kingdom

The Benin Kingdom developed one of the most centralized and enduring systems of governance in pre-colonial Africa. Anchored in the Oba system, political authority was fused with sacred kingship, institutional councils, and customary law. This structure ensured stability, continuity, and legitimacy across centuries, challenging Eurocentric assumptions about African state formation and demonstrating advanced political organization long before colonial intervention.

The Benin Kingdom: a West African Empire

The Benin Empire emerged in the forested region of present-day southern Nigeria, shaped by both geography and tradition. Fertile land, dense forests, and access to major trade routes supported early Edo communities, enabling political growth and stability. From these foundations arose a powerful centralized kingdom, rooted in ancient traditions and strengthened by strategic location, which would become one of West Africa’s most sophisticated and enduring civilizations.