Visiting the ancient Edo Kingdom? Then staying in one of the hotels in Benin city might be something you want to consider. The ancient city of Benin is the capital city and government seat of Edo state.
The creation of the city could be traced to Oranmiyan, one of the sons of Oduduwa, the Yoruba progenitor. However, there are diverse accounts of how this came to be, based on the party telling the story. The name of the city was initially called "Ile-Ibinu" (a Yoruba term for land of vexation), which was later re-interpreted by the Portuguese to Benin in their own language.
Benin gained prominence in the British imperial government as it exerted tough resistance against the British. The city is the country's centre for rubber and processing palm nut. Benin people are also widely known for their art of brass and ivory. The artefacts are considered so valuable that quite a number of Benin bronzes, portrait figures, busts and groups created in iron, carved ivory and brass were taken by the British and presently displayed in various museums around the world.
However, there are still enough artefacts and places of attraction that a tourist can enjoy. Attractions around the city include the National museum, which has artefacts of brass and other pre-colonial and colonial artefacts; the Oba Palace, a centre of history; Igun street, which is famous for bronze casting and other metal works; Emotan statue; the Benin Moats, one of the largest manmade earthwork in the world, measuring about 20 to 40 feet, Revelation Tourist Palazzo, privately owned museum – established by Music legend, Sir Victor Uwaifo – that has been described as "the heartbeat of culture in Nigeria"; the various festivals like the Igue festival, where the Oba celebrates the history and culture of the land and the various traditional markets.
The city is a must-visit city because of its rich culture and traditions. Luckily, hotels in Benin city accommodations around the city are to par, meeting quality, comfort and affordability.
