Did you know know that Eko (now Lagos island) in present day Nigeria was originally established as a military outpost of the Benin Empire? The Benin Empire was one of the most powerful state structures that existed in West Africa, before colonial rule was imposed on most of the region by Europeans. So a polity actually emerged in the forest region of Africa, that expanded via military conquests, to have this political hegemony over large territories. At its height, Benin controlled almost all of what is now mid western Nigeria. It dominated trade along the entire coastline from the Western Niger Delta, through Lagos even up to the very boundaries of present day Ghana. Much of Benin's territorial expansion beyond its original ethnic centre is thanks to these five kings (who ruled successively from 1440 - 1606) known as the Warrior Obas, as they personally led their armies into war: Oba Ewuare the Great who is reputed to have conquered about 201 towns and villages, known for his poli
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