To help you in your research of the Benin, here are some more activities.

Lesson 1. Nigeria Facts! Use Google to research for your fact file.

Lesson 2. This is a traditional thumb harp. Can you make one?! What sound does it make?

Send a photo of your thumb harp to your class teacher!

Lesson 3 Can you find all the words in this Benin themed word search?

Lesson 4 The beliefs of the Benin

The Benin people were animists. This meant that they believed that animals and objects had souls and spirits.

At one time, people sacrificed leopards to the gods because they were the symbol of the Oba, so sacrificing them, they believed, would keep the Kingdom safe. Many warriors wore neckalces of leopards’ teeth to keep them protected during battle.

Crocodiles were known as ‘policemen of the waters’ and associated with Olokun, god of the water.

Snakes symbolised the power of Osun, the god of nature.

Eagles and mudfish also featured regularly in artworks.

Lesson 5 Benin Bronzes

The Benin culture made bronze plates that recorded their culture. When Europeans made contact with the Benin civilisation, they did not think that Africans were capable of art or culture. They became confused because the quality and detail was much better than anything found in Europe at the time. Look at the detail of the Benin warrior in the bronze cast below. Then create your own below.

Lesson 6 Trading with EuropeansAfrica was a great trading nation with different regions specialising in different products. The people from the Kingdom of Benin were skilled craftsmen. Beautiful bronze plaques, masks and sculptures were a speciality. In the 14th century, trading relations existed within Africa and extended as far as India, but from around AD 1480, visitors from further afield arrived on African shores.Explorers from Portugal arrived in Benin looking for gold. The Edo people did not have any gold to trade but a mutually agreeable relationship was established between the two peoples.

What do you think that they offered to trade with each other? Write or draw in the boxes, then check your answers below. Did any answers surprise you?

Answers:

Europeans offered: guns, textiles (material to make clothes), metal and tools;

The Edo (Benin Civilisation) offered: pepper, ivory, cowrie shells and slaves taken from lands that the Benin had conquered.

Lesson 7 The End of the Benin civilisation

Eventually, the contact with the Europeans led to the downfall of the Benin Empire. Read the brief explanation of the events leading up to the end of the Benin civilisation.

Now answer these questions: