Kingdom of Benin, was an independent country located in West Africa, in the fifteenth century, it was the major power of the West Africa, which is the south west of Nigeria currently. It was first discovered by the Portuguese, when the Portuguese traders built some business relationship with the merchants of Benin, and this was the first cultural encounter between Benin and Europe, but how exactly did this cultural encounter influence on the people of Benin? And How Did it change their countries’ history? How did the Europeans react to the new discovery? Did it affect their culture?
It is well known that Benin was powerful with its natural recourses such as ivory, brass, pepper, leopard skins, people (as Slaves to get transfer and work in Europe) and bronze. The craftsmen used the Ivory brass and bronze to make sculptures and plaques that demonstrate their king the Oba and his chiefs and sometimes the royal family such as the Oba’s mother. But after the discovery …show more content…
Eventually the art of Benin has told the story of the kingdom for the rest of the world. I personally agree with the British museum with the fact that this history should be available for the rest of the cultures, But I also agree with the people who believes that part of this art should be returned to its home town and the sources of it, because it is indeed the treasure and the history of the culture and the kingdom of