Abstract
This paper discusses the political history of Benin before, during, and after colonialism, with an emphasis on the post-colonial era. The paper analyzes the historical and political dynamics in Benin. The paper also looks at the issue of poverty and lack of natural resources.

From the Paper
"Among the many autonomous nation-states in Africa one of the least well-known is Benin, home to slightly over a million people living in a republic that has been independent of colonial influence since Crystal Benin was in the pre-colonial era..."

Tags:Benin, history, government, development

Abstract
In this paper, Blier's analysis of the bronze heads described in this analysis, reveal that the evolution to the heads was stylistic, making Forman's style judgments less valid because of the nature of casting and other techniques involved in creating these objects. Certainly, Foreman would be correct to gauge the difference of heads with longer necks of the latter period-suggesting a change in form, but to generalize about differing periods of history by compartmentalizing "Middle Period" plaques does not display a significant evolution of style or form that Blier defines.

From the Paper
Benin : A Kingdom in Bronze Fiona Tse # 301017853 Arch 302 Nov 12, 2007 Introduction According to oral tradition, the city of Benin is said to be ruled by the Ogiso - Kings of the Sky at about A.D. 900. The tradition remains until the early twelfth century when the Ogiso rule ended and the elders of Benin called on Odudua, the Oni of Ile-Ife - a Yoruba city state - to send

Tags:benin, casts, bronze

Abstract
This paper talks about some of the art produced in Benin and Sierra Leone and why so much of the more ancient art of that region no longer remains. The paper then describes art from Benin that is approximately 500 years old and more recent artwork from Sierra Leone made in the 19th century. The naturalistic heads and bodies of the Ife tribes of Benin and the Nowo masks from Sierra Leone are described, and the materials and techniques used are explained as well. Images of both types of art are included with the paper.

From the Paper
"Art from Benin, located in the rainforests of Nigeria on the coastal plain west of the Niger River, first came to the Western world in 1897, when members of a British expedition took out thousands of objects as war plunder after the English conquest. Through government and private sales, Benin sculptures were soon found on the shelves and displays of museums and personal collections in England, Europe and America (Ben-Amos, 9). The art of Benin is unique in Africa, due to its unusual makeup of cast brass and carved ivory. Much of artwork from this country acts as a heritage to the Royal Kingdom of Benin, one of the greatest times in the continent's history (Ezra, 2)."

Tags:copper, tada, figure, sculpture, pourings, obas, softwood, ceremonial, adulthood

Abstract
Olaudah Equiano's book The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, The African, Written by Himself is an extraordinary book. Published in 1789, it is the autobiographical narrative of a man kidnapped into the hell of slavery from his home village in Benin, Africa. Equiano recalls how he was taken to England, where he was educated and converted to Christianity. Thereafter, he tells of his adventures as a slave in the West Indies.

From the Paper
Comparison of Two Articles on The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, The African, Written by Himself Olaudah Equiano's book The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, The African, Written by Himself is an extraordinary book. Published in 1789, it is the autobiographical narrative of a man kidnapped into the hell of slavery from his home village in Benin, Africa. Equiano recalls how he was taken to England, where he was educated and converted to Christianity. Thereafter, he tells of his adventures as a slave in the West Indies. The majority of the book deals with his life and adventures as a free man, culminating in his life as a free man in England. This

Tags:slavery, narrative, equiano

Abstract
This paper addresses the significance of debt with reference to three African countries namely, Angola, Benin and Liberia. It suggests possible ways in which these countries can solve their debt problems, including restructuring of debts.

Tags:debt, debt crisis, sub saharan africa, default, world bank, debt repayment, economic reform, dictatorships, socialist, civil war

Abstract
Slavery resulted in the deportation of between eight and 10.5 million people over the course of over 200 years. Countries affected included Gambia, Ghana, Senegal, Benin, Mauritania, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Cameroon, as these were the locations of European slave forts operated by the Dutch, British, French, and Portuguese. This paper looks at the cultural effects of this trade on the African countries, some of them which may be considered positive. It covers several issues including the introduction of Christianity to Africa, the economic prosperity of countries from which slaves were taken and the rise in literacy in these countries.

From the Paper
"Areas that were involved in the European slave trade eventually prospered, as they developed commercial ties with the west, while those that profited from the traditional Arab slave trade in Eastern Africa declined alongside the Ottoman Empire. The biggest material difference between areas in which the slavery of Africans by Europeans predominated and other areas is that the former areas were early to adopt Christianity, which continues to divide some countries such as Ivory Coast and Nigeria as these coastal Christians clash with inland Muslims. It could be said that slavery caused Africans to develop a negative opinion of whites, but this would be the case only in that such a negative relationship complemented the latter, more pervasive one: colonialization. Whereas the Arabs, Turks, and Egyptians had practiced slavery in Africa for a much longer period of time, the slavery of Africans by whites was best understood as a precedent for the context in which Europeans would engage in relationships with Africans: as a stronger, alien culture with a history of conquest."

Tags:Suret-Canale, colonization, Africanization, Arabs

Abstract
Santeria originates from West Africa in the region of Benin and what is now Nigeria. This paper explains that the principal god in Santeria is Olorun, also known as Olodumare, who is considered the source of all things. He is the spirit of all spirits and the essence of beingm according to those that practice Santeria. It also explains thatm under Olorun?s guidance, Orishas, or emissariesm govern the forces of nature and different aspects of human life from death to birth to marriage and child-rearing; they are the ones who ensure that Olorun?s bidding is done.

From the Paper
"Santeria is often considered one of the many animistic religions found around the world. Animism itself is the religious belief that spirits inherently have a place in the physical world, and in religions like Santeria, spirit is found in everything from plants to inanimate objects like coffee tables and chairs. The basis of animistic religious are those primal religions that were long in practice before the more structured religions like Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism came into being. They are the religions that are still found in rural and island communities in Asia and the Caribbean and have roots in some areas of the Americas and Africa."

Tags:olorun, orishas, nature, life, spirit

Abstract
Although Haitian culture is a unique mix that blends many other cultures to form its own, many of the roots of this cultural representation can be traced to African culture, especially West African. This paper shows that, because most of the inhabitants of Haiti are of African descent, African culture plays a key role in the culture of the island and manifests itself in many ways in a reflection of present and emerged patterns in Haitian cultural history. In family structures, gender, religion, and other areas of culture, it is clear that African culture has had a great deal of influence over Haitian culture before and since the existence of Haiti as an independent country.

From the Paper
"According to tradition, the spirits of Vodou followed the slaves from Africa to the Caribbean, where Vodou was set up as an inseparable part of Haitian history and culture, and therefore African culture in its
relation to Haitian culture as a continuance and point of influence. Since Vodou was frowned upon by the French during their time ruling the island before the revolution, it had to take on some trappings of Catholicism as a way to disguise the religion. Thus, Vodou continues to have elements that would be familiar to students of Catholicism."

Tags:Benin, Caribbean, Creole