Benin kingdom Science and Technology


ENGINEERING – The most renowned of the achievements of our ancestors and contribution to World civilization are the Iya (Benin) and Iyalla (Esan) which are recognized as the largest earth movements in the world before the invention of machines (See Guinness Book of Records 1980s). But unfortunately for some political reasons and some vested interest (which I will not go into), it could not be listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nigeria. Whereas Sukur stone Palace in Adamawa State (Director-General of Museums and Monuments was from Adamawa) and Osun Osogbo (Director-General of Museums and Monuments then was also from Osun state) got listed.

Another Mind Blowing work of Engineering is the Benin moat which can only be compared to the wall of china. I would expanciate more on the wondrous engineering feats accomplised by the Edos and her people on a seperate thread!



PHARMACUTICAL SCIENCES - Dr. Nowa Omoigui has continuously drawn attention to our achievements in pharmacy and medicine. The Institute is aware and has access to documentation of Edo pharmaceutical and medical knowledge done by an Edo chief between 1930s and 1970s running into over 10,000 pages in manuscript. But the problem
is the documentation is Edo language and since 2001 we have been in
search of funds for translation and publishing this lifelong work of
painstaking research.

BOTANY - A European Forest Botanist who worked in Benin in the 1930s admitted in his studies that the Benin were better botanist than the Europeans in the classification of rain forest trees. He stated that, The more one has to do the correlation of vernacular [Edo] names with their scientific equivalents, the more one come to realize that they are not merely a haphazard jumble. There seems to be a considerable amount of
almost scientific system and a wealth of description in many of the names.
While dealing with the Guarea species-Obobo’s, it is perhaps worth
noting that systematic botanists were a long time making up their minds as
to the correct classification of Guarea Cedrata and for at time it was
transferred to the genus Trichilia. The Bini was never in doubt about the
matter and made it clear that he considered it to be a Guarea
Thus the classification of the Guarea which have for long baffled the
Europeans was rightly resolved using the Benin indigenous
classification. See R. H. Hide “The Bini as a Botanist” Nigerian Field,
Vol. XI, 1943 p.32. Through out the colonial period and beyond, Benin
names are used for the trade name of much African timber

WOOD TECHNOLOGY - They also developed technology for harvesting and preserving
the wood from their forest. Archaeological investigations revealed that
the Benin were able to cut and shape hard wood especially the one known
as Iron wood without the use of saw before the 13th century, a feat
which baffled Europeans. Graham Connah, The Archaeology of Benin:
Excavations and other researches in and around Benin City, P.247


PLANT SCIENCE - The Edo domesticated many species of plants in their
environment for their own use and mankind. There is specie of cotton
domesticated by the Edo people known as lshan cotton and one of the best
for weaving Khaki or jeans. The colonial government went about
encouraging the cultivation of this specie in Nigeria before the cotton
trade in Southern Nigeria collapsed. A colonial official who visited
Esan area in 1902 reported the quality of the cloth made from this
cotton specie to be “of strong durable texture” National Archives,
Ibadan File CSO 1/13 Vol 20, Windham Fosberry Report on visit to Ishan
Country, 1902


TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY – Earlier in the 18th Century French trader Landolphe reported of Benin that “a few houses are to be seen without a cotton spinning machine or a frame for making admirable cotton or straw rugs” Ling H. Roth, Great Benin: Its Custom, Art, and
Horrors, 1968, P 141 while in the 1860s the British Consul Burton
complained that Benin people were not disturbed by English trade embargo
because they are “…independent of Manchester” textile mills. Ibid 142

METAL TECHNOLOGY - Their mastery of the Brass is very well known.
Archaeologist and historians are still baffled and yet to establish the
source of copper which were used for their brass work. The cire perdue
technique of casting is also known to have been indigenously developed.
Similar achievements also exist in Iron technology. Scientific
investigations show that the techniques of iron smelting employed the
same principles with modern or western iron smelting techniques. The Edo
mastery of the iron is best exemplified by the Ineme (a Large group in
Edo areas whose expertise is legendary. For the Benin
call them Uleme ne gbe egue and there is a Benin proverb that describe
the best Iron smelter and smith in Benin would be an apprentice among
the Ineme. Their expertise was sought not only by Benin but also by the
Igala, Igbira and yoruba for production of weapons.
See
Aigbokhaoede. Asimilafele,
Inemhe- Our heritage, 1991

FOOD TECHNOLOGY - They had also developed various food stuffs from their
knowledge of the forest environment and even developed ways of
preserving them with certain areas specializing. There are some snacks
that my grand parents used to feed us in our childhood, but these food
stuffs have all disappeared now from our markets and menu. The
nutritional value and abundance of these food stuffs were such that the
earliest anthropological investigation in Benin in the 1900s stated that
“As a rule malnutrition was rare” among the Benin people. Northcote
Thomas, Anthropological report on the Edo speaking people of Southern
Nigeria, Part I, 1910, P.6

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE - They knew their environment and soil and the best techniques that were suitable for maximum yield. They selected their soil and the best soil was known as
Eken ne Uloka – loose soil that allowed percolation of water and easy
decay of vegetable matter to fertilize the soil. They checked the
topography too and ensured that it did not destroy the environment-
proverbs abound about this e.g. No gua Iya I mien eken no yawo ehe – one
who plants the side of the valley is unable to cover it with soil”
In this way gulley erosion was avoided.

Frederick Lugard, Governor General
of Nigeria 1912-1918 commended the agricultural techniques of Benin
people for helping to preserve the forest .
Frederick Lugard Political
Memoranda: Revision of Instructions to Political Officers on subjects
Political and Administrative, 1913-1918, P.432 The farming technique’s
conservationist value was further commended by the Forest officer P. A.
Allison in his article “Historical inferences to be drawn from the effect of human settlement on the vegetation of Africa” Journal of African history, Vol. III, No 2, 1962, p.243 .


ORTHOPAEDICS - Late Dr Okojie wrote in his Ishan Native Laws and Custom 1960 that the Edo orthopedic medical knowledge was as good if not better than the Western.
The famous Oghede orthopedic hospital in Ugbede is still very well
patronized long after the old man who made it famous died. His sons took
over and establish another hospital in Benin almost along modern lines
behind the Oba’s palace.


WRITING - Did the Benin’s develop some writing or some written symbols? All Olokun and Ogun symbols in the past were propagated in Benin

See Hau, K.,”Evidence of the Use of
pre-Portuguese Written Characters by the Bini?”, Bulletin l'Ifan, 21,
serie B, 1-2.

AreaFada2, opal4real(m), sooperrescue(m), Kundagarten, back2sender, EdegbeLine, rhames, gregyboy(m), valirex, kingreign, expee06(m), playerinc(m), Eseose9(f), ebosie11(f), martha89, Enahi(f), EROMS38(m), martineverest(m), BornStunner1

EdoNation:
AreaFada2, opal4real(m), sooperrescue(m), Kundagarten, back2sender, EdegbeLine, rhames, gregyboy(m), valirex, kingreign, expee06(m), playerinc(m), Eseose9(f), ebosie11(f), martha89, Enahi(f), EROMS38(m), martineverest(m), BornStunner1

EdoNation keep doing your thing. Do not mind that bigoted 0oni guy. I do not take him seriously anymore or give him the attention he so seeks.

Keep posting enlightening material here. There are many sensible, objective and discerning people quietly reading. Their problem is that because Benin is today a " minority" tribe, they find it hard to grasp the illustrious history as documented in national museums in London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam and other places that I like to go and see from time to time.

One SW guy even once said oyinbo historical records and sketches of Benin of visiting oyinbo those centuries ago were made up.
That is the extent of their desperation.

AreaFada2:


EdoNation keep doing your thing. Do not mind that bigoted 0oni guy. I do not take him seriously anymore or give him the attention he so seeks.

Keep posting enlightening material here. There are many sensible, objective and discerning people quietly reading. Their problem is that because Benin is today a " minority" tribe, they find it hard to grasp the illustrious history as documented in national museums in London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam and other places that I like to go and see from time to time.

One SW guy even once said oyinbo historical records and sketches of Benin of visiting oyinbo those centuries ago were made up.
That is the extent of their desperation.

[/b]

Thanks Bro

You are one of a kind, I admire your courage, intellectual vastness. We Binis need more of you. Keep doing what you are doing, we support you.

Well done this is very educative.

Awon omo oduduwa

We are one o

[s]

Kworopshun:
Awon omo oduduwa

We are one o

[/s]

Pls speak for your own Yoruba tribe

EdoNation:
[s][/s]

Pls speak for your own Yoruba tribe

Without Yoruba, edo is nothing. Instead of you to accept our invitation to be part of us, you'd rather be stubborn. That's why we call you ile ibinu- land of anger. Una too dey vex! Always!

When you have dumped your current Yoruba boyfriend, hit me up. Kayode is your guy

[[s]quote author=Kworopshun post=61194092]

Without Yoruba, edo is nothing. Instead of you to accept our invitation to be part of us, you'd rather be stubborn. That's why we call you ile ibinu- land of anger. Una too dey vex! Always!

When you have dumped your current Yoruba boyfriend, hit me up. Kayode is your guy [/quote][/s]


Without Edo who civilised you ppl Yoruba is NOTHING !! and you are talkining nonsence cuz I would never date a Yoruba guy

Kworopshun:


Without Yoruba, edo is nothing. Instead of you to accept our invitation to be part of us, you'd rather be stubborn. That's why we call you ile ibinu- land of anger. Una too dey vex! Always!

When you have dumped your current Yoruba boyfriend, hit me up. Kayode is your guy

Edo people are not Bini and Bini people are not Edo.

When you say Yoruba people please always say it in reference to the state rulers, the Binis. The Edos are commoners.

BabaRamota1980:


Edo people are not Bini and Bini people are not Edo.

When you say Yoruba people please always say it in reference to the state rulers, the Binis. The Edos are commoners.

edo people are the same. the binis, esans afemai etc. there's no difference. just like awori yoruba, illesha, itsekiri etc. all are descendants of oduduwa

oduduwa nation stretches across nigeria and even africa... go to brazil or cuba and see yoruba descendants. they even answer yoruba names. oyotunji village etc.

what does the so called great benin empire have? nothing except agbero, olosho, and witches. inferiority complex dey worry una anyhow.

i dont even care if you people see yourselves as yoruba, you people are still shameful