European Arrival in Benin

In the fifteenth century, Portugal sought to expand trade routes to Asia, a promising venture for the European nation’s economy. But in order, “to reach Asia it was necessary to circumnavigate Africa, in the process of which they hoped, among other things, to make contact with Mali and to divert some of the trans-Saharan gold trade from Muslim North Africa to Christian Europe”(1). Attracted to the abundance of West Africa’s gold, Portugal first made successful contact with West Africa in 1471, along what became known as the Gold Coast, modern-day Ghana, and began a trading relationship with this region for their gold. However, “in exchange, the Gold Coast people needed to be supplied with commodities they desired, and this presented Portugal with a problem, as it was not a major manufacturing nation" (1). These West African regions, who were exporting precious and valuable gold, were importing what they needed not from Portugal but from other regions, such as Morocco, and thus, began to wane trade with Portugal. 

Portuguese Fort Along The Gold Coast (1)

This is when Benin’s role of trade with Europe began. Because Benin was known for its cotton, and production and exportation of fine cloths, Portugal seized its opportunity to maintain relationship with Africa as both cloth goods and slaves were in high demand at the beginning of the 1500’s (1). Portugal wanted to control other aspects of the African nation other than just trade, including religion. But while Portugal attempted to convert the Beninese to Christianity, Benin’s power as a kingdom was too great to succumb to these European influences of religion. 

The kings, or obas, from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century maintained excellent governmental organization as the kingdom became more wealthy, proving to be an attractive trade asset, which, in turn positively influenced the trade relationship with Portugal. Initially, while the Portuguese were drawn to Benin’s cotton products, they also profited from Benin’s sculptures made from ivory and wood. During these centuries, “Benin carried on an active trade in ivory, palm oil, and pepper with Portuguese and Dutch traders, for whom it served as a link with the tribes in the interior of Western Africa" (2). With the rise of the Atlantic Slave Trade, other European nations gravitated toward Benin, including France and Britain. 

An Example Of An Ivory Mask (2)

Unfortunately, Benin’s trading success did not last. Due to civil war amongst different dynasties within the kingdom, Benin’s dominance weakened at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Quickly, “the kingdom’s prosperity declined with the suppression of the slave trade," and eventually, in 1897, the British burned Benin City, acquiring the territory within its acquisition of Nigeria as well (2). 

1. Fage, J.D., & McCaskie, T.C. (1998). The Beginnings of European Activity. Encyclopedia 

Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/western-Africa/The-beginnings-of-

European-activity#ref516326.

2. The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica (1998). Benin: Historical Kingdom, West Africa. 

Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Benin-historical-kingdom-

West-Africa.