The Benin City National Museum sits on Ring Road in Benin City, the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria. It is a museum devoted to the cultural heritage of the ancient Benin Kingdom, and it makes a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in West African history and art.
What you will see
The collection presents the material culture of the Benin Kingdom across several kinds of object:
- Bronze plaques, among the best-known works associated with the kingdom
- Ivory carvings, showing the skill of the kingdom's craftsmen
- Royal regalia, objects connected with the court and its traditions
The museum also holds artifacts from the Benin Bronzes collection, so visitors can view this celebrated body of work in its home city.
Planning a visit
The museum is in the city centre area of Benin City, so it can be reached as part of a wider day of exploring the city. It is also known as the National Museum Benin City or Benin National Museum, which may help when searching or asking for directions. The museum can be contacted by telephone at +234-52-254738 for current visiting information before you travel.
Give yourself time to take in the displays slowly. Many visitors come for the bronzes and ivories, but the regalia offers a fuller sense of the court life that produced them.