The Contribution Of Indigenous Technology To Benin Economy

The Contribution Of Indigenous Technology To Benin Economy

ABSTRACT

Citation casting is an aspect of visual trades which has played a significance part in Benin culture. The trade between Benin and European enhanced the product of citation casting in Benin. moment Benin citation casting has attained a high position of cultural significance in Nigeria.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract

Chapter One

Preface

Points And Ideal Of The Study

Compass Of The Study

Significance Of The Study

Methodology And Problems

Literature Review

Notes And References

Chapter Two – Origin Of The Benin People

Literal Background Of The Benin People

Geographical Position

Benin And The Europeans

Chapter Three – Citation Casting

Origin Of Bronze Casting

The Fashion Of Bronze Casting

The Guild System

Chapter Four

The Donation Of Bronze Casting To Benin

Conclusions

Notes And References

Bibliography

Chapter One

Preface

This essay examines the donation of indigenous technology to Benin frugality. Basically, this study will be grounded on the origin of citation casting in Benin and its donation to the frugality. Benin, which was one of the most important Kingdom in West Africa before the coming of the European is blessed with rich artistic and traditional art workshop. It flourished as a megacity state from the 13th century until the British corrective expenditure of 1897 which saw the sacking of Benin art workshop in it’s multitude to Europe and other corridor of the world. Citation casting in Benin staffed to take its full shape in 1280A.D during the reign of Oba Oguola. Benin is said to have deduced it’s trades of citation casting from Ife in the 14th Century. This statement leads us to Igueghae story; as the citation caster who went to learn this art of casting in Ife. still, the lost wax( cire perdue) system of citation casting had been known before in Benin and the workshop from Benin were further stylized than that of Ife.

Citation was formerly a universal value and enjoyed great respectability among all groups, all people, in all societies in Benin area before citation casting actually came one of the professionalized royal crafts in Benin Kingdom. Citation was always a royal garnishment for power, splendour, for decoration and was so valued that indeed the image of the Oba, both once and present could proudly be represented in it. In Benin nation, Citation was generally regarded as precious and because it was precious, it was considered incorruptible. It could neither rust nor spoilage.

In Benin- megacity, the citation sculptors were substantially for the autonomous( the palace). The palace was the Chief patron of the group, reciprocally, the palace paid in kind to the group members that were involved in citation casting and paid also for services including specialized moxie. The tradesmen also entered protection as a monopoly of the craft. The pest represented scenes from the life of the Benin Peasant, soldiers, musicians and also important events that took place in the palace. Inpre-colonial time, was tools, ménage implements were made of brass. Those citation casters just like other council system in Benin had a specific area where they’re settled and they had their own council name in which they’re known. They’re organized on a family base and anon-family member can not be a member of the council. This council quarter of citation casters is still in actuality in Igun Street present day in Benin. It’s appertained to as the “ Home of Citation ”.

Points And Objects Of The Study

This study on “ the donation of Indigenous techno1og to Benin frugality, a case study of Citation Casting will concentrate on the Benin Citation Casting. In other words, this study is an attempt to give a comprehensive understanding of the cultural excellence of the Benin citation casting and its stylistic differences from other craft- tradition of Africa.

The experimenter’s purpose is to show ho much we really know about ancient Benin and thereby take stock of our present knowledge furnishing a firmer base for unborn exploration on citation casting to Nigeria and indeed the world culture development.

Bearing in mind that the art of citation casting was and is still a family affair, it’s of advantage to study the traditional original fashion and find the possible ways of perfecting this craft. It’s through a exploration of this nature that this ideal can be achieved.

This design is also aimed at how the craft of citation casting in the olden- days have been employed on colorful aspect of craft product by the people of Benin and their own unique style and how citation was used to validate events in the preliterate Benin frugality.

Compass Of The Study

The compass of this study will cover the origin of Citation casting in Benin, so also this study will be grounded on the influence of citation casting on the society, the traditional trades and culture, the frugality and its relation with other communities.

This exploration work is divided into four chapters, the introductory part of the essay under which we’ve purpose, compass, and significance of the study, methodology, limitation and literature review. Also, we’ve in chapter two, the geographical and literal background of Benin. The third chapter explains the origin of citation casting in Benin, the council system and basically the fashion of citation casting( how citation is being cast). The fourth analyses the donation of citation casting on the society in the area of social, profitable and political impact, while the last chapter is the conclusion and recommendation of the work.

Significance Of The Study

This exploration work will produce the occasion of understanding the origin of citation casting in Benin, how the citation in Benin is being cast, how the different orders in Benin were organized and basically gives us sapience as to how citation casting has contributed to the frugality of Benin and to the society at large both in thepre-historic times and in our contemporary time.

Methodology And Problems

Different exploration styles will he espoused in collecting the data for the work, but a great deal of this work will calculate on oral information which will be conducted in Igun Street( Benin City).

Written sources were also consulted both the primary and secondary sources used included published books, published papers which are related to this content or discussion.

The library and archival also served as an effective index of other sources and that’s complied with photographic analysis which made the work more applicable.

The process of data collection began Edo State archival, where many affiliated accoutrements on the subject matter was set up. This needed the experimenter to go to other libraries for further accoutrements . As a result of this, the experimenter visited Edo State library for further accoutrements .

Also, Oral Interviews with prominent casters and the people of Edo

State was conducted. They include Mr. Ehimona, elderly speaker and deputy doyen in the department of Fine trades in the University of Benin.Mr. Sunday Ihama a citation caster who had worked for over 10 times as a caster in Igun Street,Mr. Moses lgbmosun was also canvassed . All of these people supplied the experimenter with data and suggestions on the subject matter of this exploration work.

The experimenter inversely explored the Edo State public gallery for some data collection.

Literature Review

numerous exploration workshop were consulted. This included papers, journals and magazines. For utmost among the workshop used for this discussion was Aghama Omoruyi( 1986) “ Benin Series, a new dimension in Benin Studies ” gave a brief history on Benin and their trades. and crafts. He emphasized the significance of Citation casting in Benin, its origin and influences.

Another important textbook is the work of JohnO. Igbinokpogie “ The Benin Kingdom literal and environmental perspectives which he reveals the Benin people and their terrain. Through this work, one is suitable to view the Benin people, their terrain and culture.

In his donation, Philip Aigbana Igbafe “ Benin under Administration ”, he explained vividly the indigenous background of Benin, he also exfoliate light on how the council system is organized and the origin of Citation casting in Benin. According to him, members of council are divided into three age grade for effective administration.

Also,R.E. Bradbury also( 1973) “ Benin Studies ” deals considerably with the Benin Citation casting, the Ikegbo and the Benin Cult of the hand, he wrote that the Benin pestilences and other awards were intended to convey some information about specific events or particular persons. He also stated that awards contain important potentially precious information about Benin Society, culture and history.

According to Jacob Eghareveba( 1968) in his book, “A. short history of Benin ”. He helps to exfoliate light on the foundation of Benin Empire, the reign of colorful lords in Benin. This helped in the literal background of Benin as a reference to this work.

In his work, Prince Eva Basirai Eweka “ The Benin Monarchy, Origin and Development ”, he gave a pictorial account on the Benin People and their culture. This helped to know the part of the Oba in the Benin Political system.

Also Nkata andE.N. Arinze,( 1989) “ The lost treasures of Ancient Benin ”. Also he gave an account on the corrective expenditure f 1897 which saw the sacking of Benin trades in its multitude to Europe and other corridor of the world. This helped in the introductory part of this work.

Aghama Omoruyi “ Benin Anthropology ” also gave a comprehensive analysis more on the literal background of Citation casting. The book helped in understanding the origin of Citation casting in Benin and how the council system was organized.

likewise,A.F.C Ryder( 1969) “ Benin and the Europeans ” stated how the Portuguese traded with the Binis and imported Brass as an object of exchange, according to him, the increase use of Brass may have told the product of Citation casting in Benin at a time when the internal would have come available in volume sufficient to permit trial and nonstop product.