SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF ART WORKS IN CONTEMPORARY BENIN

ABSTRACT

The art works of the Benin Kingdom play a significant role in the social and economic development of contemporary Benin. This project has explored due social and economic importance of art works in Benin through oral interviews, journal articles, and textbooks, as well as a review of the guild system of the Benin Kingdom. This work revealed that the Oba, Chiefs and Craftsmen identified with Benin casting, carving and metal works in pre-colonial times were the custodians of tradition and history. They used the art works to record past events and what the environment was like during their era. It is shown that historically, the guild system began in the reign of the Ogiso Kings “Sky Kings”, but it can also be traced to the age of the Odionwere. In the bid for Ogiso Ere to create an economic reform, he embarked on the development of multiple guilds. These guilds in pre-colonial Benin were organized on the basis of what they produced or manufactured, guild system consist of: Owina, the carvers (Igbesamwan); (leather workers (Esonian), the hunters (Ohue), the weavers (Owinanido), the pot makers (emakhe), the iron workers, the bronze casters, ivory workers etc. It was a clear cut precise effort to foster monarchical institution and economic welfare of the people in Benin.