Oba of Benin

De **Oba of Benin** be de traditional ruler den de custodian of de culture of de Edo people den all Edoid people. De then Kingdom of Benin (no for be confused plus de modern-day den unrelated Republic of Benin, wich na then be known as Dahomey) continue to be mostly populated by de Edo (dem sanso know am as Benin ethnic group). Dem samtimes dey call de dynasty de "Eweka dynasty", after ein first ruler, Eweka I, wey na e be preceded by de Ogiso monarchy.

Insyd 1897, na a British military force of approximately 1,200 men under de command of Sir Harry Rawson mount de Benin punitive Expedition. Na dem dispatch de force in retaliation to de ambush of a British party, at Ugbine village near Gwato on 4 January 1897 by a group of Benin soldiers wey na dem dey act wiout orders from de Oba; na de ambush lead to de deaths of all buh two of de British party. Na de British force capture de capital of de Kingdom of Benin, wey dem sack den burn de city while forcing de Oba of Benin, Ovonramwen, into a six-month exile. Na de expeditionary force consist of both indigenous soldiers den British officers base insyd colonial-era Nigeria. Na dem sell off chaw artworks (dem collectively know as de Benin Bronzes) dem loot from de city palace to defray de costs of de expedition. Na Ovonramwen die insyd 1914, na dem never restore ein throne to am. Ein son, grandson, den now ein great-grandson preserve dema title den status as traditional rulers insyd modern-day Nigeria.

## List of Obas of de Benin Kingdom

### Pre-Imperial Benin (1180–1440)

* Eweka I (1200–1235)
* Uwakhuahen (1235–1243)
* Ehenmihen (1243–1255)
* Ewedo (1255–1280)
* Oguola (1280–1295)
* Edoni (1295–1299)
* Udagbedo (1299–1334)
* Ohen (1334–1370)
* Egbeka (1370–1400)
* Orobiru (1400–1430)
* Uwaifiokun (1430–1440)

Source:

### Imperial Benin  (1440–1897)

Der be sam uncertainty insyd de dates of de reigns of some of de earlier warrior kings

* Ewuare The Great (1440–1473)
* Ezoti (Reigned for 14 days)
* Olua (1473–1480)
* Ozolua (1483–1504)
* Esigie (1504–1550)
* Orhogbua (1550–1578)
* Ehengbuda (1578–1606)
* Ohuan (1606–1641)
* Ohenzae (1641–1661)
* Akenzae (1661–1669)
* Akengboi ( 1669–1675)
* Ahenkpaye (1675–1684)
* Akengbedo (1684–1689)
* Oroghene (1689–1700)
* Ewuakpe (1700–1712)
* Ozuere (1712–1713)
* Akenzua I (1713–1735)
* Eresoyen (1735–1750)
* Akengbuda (1750–1804)
* Obanosa (1804–1816)
* Ogbebo (1816–1816) (He reign for eight months)
* Osemwende (1816–1848)
* Adolo (1848–1888)
* Ovonramwen N'Ogbaise (1888–1914)

### Post-Imperial Benin

* Eweka II (1914–1933)
* Akenzua II (1933–1978)
* Erediauwa (1979–2016)
* Ewuare II (2016–present)

## References


## External links

*Africa Reparations Movement | Campaign for the return of the Benin Bronzes
*Stories of royalty in brass. Collections Multimedia Public Access System, The British Museum, 2000. Accessed 6 September 2006.
*"The Obas that ruled Benin after the Ogiso dynasty" Archived 2023-12-07 at the Wayback Machine. Edofolks–List of Obas of Benin
*Benin kingdom Obas 1200AD–Date (with photos) {source Edoworld}
*Benin Monarchial system {source Edoworld}
*Benin Traditional Temple and Cultural Center to the world
*Royal Art of Benin: The Perls Collection, an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on several Obas of Benin