Declining Fortunes of Iron Works in Benin City 2000-2022

Student: Favour Odior Isoughie (Project, 2025)
Department of History and International Studies
University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State

Abstract

This study examines the historical evolution, cultural significance, and present decline of ironworking traditions in Benin City, Nigeria. It explores how indigenous blacksmithing once served as a vital component of Benin’s socio-economic and political structure, providing essential tools, weapons, and artistic materials that reinforced the kingdom’s technological prestige. Through a combination of historical sources, ethnographic accounts, and comparative analysis, the research traces the transformation of Benin ironworks from their pre-colonial prominence to their marginalization in the postcolonial era. The study attributes the decline to factors such as colonial disruption, industrialization, loss of apprenticeship systems, and lack of institutional support for local artisans. Despite this deterioration, remnants of skill and cultural value persist among traditional blacksmiths. The work concludes that reviving Benin’s ironworking heritage requires collaborative efforts among cultural institutions, policymakers, and the artisan community to ensure the continuity of this ancient craft as a living aspect of Nigerian cultural identity.

Keywords
Iguns artisans blacksmith ironworks apprenticeship ancient kingdoms
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