OzikoroRoyal Arsenals: The Role of the Igun Eronmwon Blacksmiths in Arming the Benin Resistance Against the 1897 British Punitive Expedition
The fall of the Benin Kingdom in 1897 followed one of the most organized indigenous military defenses in West Africa. Central to this resistance were the Igun Eronmwon, the royal brass-casting and metalworking guilds of Benin. While the guild is popularly associated with the famous Benin Bronzes, their role extended far beyond artistic production: they…