Olaudah Equiano, an Igbo man wrote this, about Benin, nearly two and half centuries ago , in his autobiography published in England about the year 1789

Olaudah Equiano, an Igbo man wrote this, about Benin, nearly two and half centuries ago , in his autobiography published in England about the year 1789

“That part of Africa known by the name of Guinea, to which the trade for slaves is carried on, extends along the coast
above 3400 miles, from the Senegal to Angola, and includes a variety of kingdoms. Of these the most considerable is the kingdom of BENIN, both as to extent and wealth, the richness
and cultivation of the soil, the power of its king, and the number and warlike disposition of the inhabitants.”

” It is situated nearly under the line, and extends along the coast about 170 miles, but runs back into the interior part of Africa to a distance hitherto I believe unexplored by any traveller…..
This kingdom is divided into many provinces or districts:
in one of the most remote and fertile of which

Olaudah Equiano emphasized the Kingdom of Benin as the most considerable among the various kingdoms along the Guinea coast due to its notable extent, wealth, fertile land, powerful king, and warlike people, which made it stand out prominently in the region. His description reflects the historical significance and influence of Benin at the time, which likely overshadowed other ethnic nations in his view or sources.

Equiano also mentioned that Benin included many provinces or districts, among which was Eboe (Igbo country), his birthplace, located in a fertile and remote province somewhat nominally subject to the king of Benin. This suggests he saw the Igbo as part of the broader Benin kingdom’s sphere, though somewhat autonomous.

The reason Equiano might have failed to mention other ethnic groups individually or as considerable kingdoms could be due to several factors:

• His personal origin and knowledge were rooted in the Igbo province within Benin’s domain, so his perspective was shaped by that context.
• Benin’s prominence as a centralized and wealthy kingdom made it the natural focus when describing the region’s political and economic landscape.
• Other ethnic nations may have been politically fragmented or less centralized, thus not considered “considerable” kingdoms in the same way by Equiano or European travelers whose accounts he may have drawn upon
• Equiano’s narrative aimed to highlight the grandeur and complexity of African societies to counter European misconceptions, and Benin served as a strong example of African civilization.

In summary, Equiano’s focus on Benin as the dominant kingdom reflects its historical prominence and his own regional perspective, rather than a denial of the existence or significance of other ethnic nations along the Guinea coast.

nebotv #benin #art #Kingdom #igbo #love #lovewhereyoulive #40k