THE CONTINUITY AND CHANGE IN THE GUILD SYSTEM IN BENIN

ABSTRACT

This study so far examines the continuity and changes that emerged in the guild system in Benin from the pre-colonial times till present time, giving a concise history of the people so that those who aren’t knowledgeable about Benin history will have a background information that will enable them have an easy understanding of the Benin guild system. The study first of all examine the various tradition of origin of the Benin people which are the Egyptian tradition of origin, the Ife tradition of origin, the snail shell hypothesis and the tradition of indigenous origin. It explained that in order to understand the history of Benin better, it is analyzed from three angles which are Benin in the Ogiso dynasty which is the period (c.900-c.1170), Benin in the period of the New dynasty of Kings or Obas (c.1200-1897) and Benin under colonial rule and it's impacts on Benin society (after 1897). It explained the different Ogisos who ruled and the different contributions they made explaining how the Ogiso period came to an end with Benin under a period of 116 interregnum and with the monarch restored back by Oba Eweka I of which this ushered in the Oba dynast.