AKWA IBOM STATE UNIVERSITY JOUNAL OF ARTS

This paper examines the Odionwere rule and socio-political development in Benin. It brings to the fore the role of the Odionwere and its impact in the socio-political development of Benin prior to and since the later kingship rule up to 1897. The paper notes that before the evolution of kingship, the Odionwere system provided effective political structure which culminated in the the age grades responsible for the administrative and executive functions in villages. Though the study of the Benin has overtime dominated academic research, not much attention have been devoted to its predynasty period by scholars as if Benin existence only begun as a kingdom. This implies that prior to kingship dynasty, there existed the Odionwere system which has been somewhat neglected in academic discourse. It is therefore the attempt of this current study to bring this obscure past into our knowledge. While trying to uncover this seemingly neglected aspect of Benin political history, this paper employed both primary materials; such as colonial intelligence reports on Benin, oral interview; and secondary evidence such as text books and journals for analysis and interpretation. The study discovered that the Odionwere rule was consensual and devoid of any imposition, hence it was never autocratic in nature. It also found that some of the socio-political structures prevalent in Benin kingship had their roots in the Odionwere system. Finally, the study equally found that the Odionwere system was assailed by the British following the imposition of colonial rule while its functions were absorbed by the native authority in Benin.

Open Full Text (PDF)