Nigeria: Mid West Affairs: Oba of Benin

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0101 ICS 92
Held at	: Institute of Commonwealth Studies   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/resources/library ›
Full title	: Nigeria: Mid West Affairs: Oba of Benin
Date(s)	: 1926-1946
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: 1 file
Name of creator(s)	: Government of Nigeria
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The former Kingdom of Benin is situated in SW Nigeria. Ruled by the Oba and by a sophisticated bureaucracy, the African state flourished (14th-17th centuries). Benin sold slaves as well as ivory, pepper, and cloth to Europeans. After a period of decline, it revived in the 19th century with a trade in palm products. The modern Nigerian city of Benin (1987 est. pop. 183,000) served as the capital and was conquered and burned by the British in 1898. Iron work, carved ivory, and bronze busts made in Benin rank with the finest art of Africa.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Copies of documents from the Nigerian Government, concerning Oba of Benin, 1926-1946, including correspondence with the Governor on the revision of the Benin-Warri boundary, 1926; correspondence and papers on links between Eweka II, Oba of Benin and Fio Agbano II, King of Glidji, Togo, 1934; correspondence on request from the Oba for the use of armed Nigerian police during burial ceremony for his mother, 1935; correspondence and papers on alleged libel of Akenzua II, Oba of Benin by H O Davies in article 'My Impressions on Nigeria' in the Daily Service, 1940; correspondence on award of CMG to Akenzua II, 1946.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Chronological

Conditions governing access:

Open although advance notice should be given. Access to individual items may be restricted under the Data Protection Act or the Freedom of Information Act.

Conditions governing reproduction:

A photocopying service is available, at the discretion of the Library staff. Copies are supplied solely for research or private study. Requests to publish, or to quote from, original material should be submitted to the Information Resources Manager.

Finding aids:

Catalogued to item level (see link to repository catalogue).

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

The source of acquisition by ICS is not known.

Allied Materials

Related material:

ICS hold copies of papers relating to the demand for a separate Mid-West State in Nigeria (ICS 93).

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Rules or conventions:
General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), 2nd Edition, 2000. National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Oct 2001