ORIGINS

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The origins of the kingdom are shrouded in myth and oral tradition, the most popular of which speaks of migration from the east that is common to many West African peoples. 

Jacob Egharevba, the first historian to attempt a recovery and record of the oral history of Benin, wrote that the founders of Benin came all the way from Egypt to find a more secure shelter after a short stay in the Sudan and Ile-Ife around 900 AD. Later researchers however argue about this and believe this to be a tendency which follows from the higly disputed claim that Ile-Ife is the origin of the ruling dynasty. 

Benin mythology also contains claim of many families and settlements that their ancestors and founders were on the spot ab-initio or “from the beginning of time”.   According to one myth as recorded by R.E. Bradbury, the Benin kingdom was founded by the youngest the children of Osanobua (the Edo word for the Almighty God). With his senior brothers, who included the first kings of Ife and other Yoruba kingdoms and the first king of the Europeans, he was sent to live in the world (Agbon). Each was allowed to take something with him. Some chose wealth, material and magical skills or implements but on the instructions of a bird, the youngest chose a snail shell. 

When they arrived in the world, they found it covered with water. The youngest son was told by the bird to upturn the snail shell and when he did so sand fell from and spread out to form the land. So, the first king of Benin became the owner of the land and his senior brothers had to come to him to barter their possessions in return for a place to settle. Hence, though he was the youngest son, he became the wealthiest and most powerful ruler.   

The semi-mythical rulers of this first dynasty are known as Ogiso (Ogie-Edo word for king or ruler; Iso-the Edo word for sky), Ogiso literally translated to mean Kings of the Sky or God-Kings. They feature in many folk tales, talking with personified animals, plants, and material objects and matching their wits against the trickster animal, Egwi, the tortoise. The names of many of them, including some women, are remembered, and recited in traditions, as are some of the titles of chiefs who served in their court. 

The original site of the palace of this era is also pointed out within the walls of the present city featuring in several royal commemorative rites. The kingdom at this time was known as and called Igodomigodo.