On 9 February 1897, the ancient Kingdom of Benin, a bastion of sophisticated artistry and political prowess since the 11th century, succumbed to the ruthless advance of the British Expeditionary Force.
Under the guise of retribution for a prior ambush, British forces stormed Benin City, unleashing an orgy of violence, arson, and looting that razed the once-magnificent capital to smouldering ruins.
The Oba of Benin, Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, was deposed and exiled, and the kingdom's fabled bronzes—masterpieces of intricate craftsmanship—were plundered and dispersed across European museums and private collections.
This invasion did not merely signify the fall of a city; it extinguished the sovereignty of an empire, reducing centuries of cultural and historical grandeur to colonial spoils.
