Topic 1.10 Kinship and political leadership: queen idia amd queen njinga (unfinished)

only ___ of africa was ruled by large scale states

Villages were led by ___ or councils of elders

Property and leadership was passed down generations along matrilineal or patrilineal lines

A) 1/3

B) chiefs

What were the roles of women in kinship societies

• female political leaders were common

• spiritual leaders

• political leaders

• market traders

• educators

• agriculturalists

What are some notes about queen idia of benin

• the kingdom of benin ( present day nigeria) erupted in civil war at the end of the 15th century when the oba (king) ozolua died and left his 2 sons to dispute success

• His son Esigie controlled benin city and his son arhuaran was based in the city of udo about 20 miles away

• esigie defeated his brother and nvader3 who came when the kingdom was weak

• Esigies mom idia edited a lot of credit for his victories as her political counsel, mystic powers, and medicinal knowledge were viewd as critical elements of esigies succsess

• To reward and honor her, esigie created a new position within the court called the Iyobn (queen mother) which gave her huge political power

• She relied on spiritual power and medicinal knowledge to bring victories to benin and led armies into battle

• The queen mother who bores the obas first son had no other children and devoted her life to raising the future ruler of the kingdom

• Queens moms were viewed as instruments to the protection and well being of the oba, by extension, by kingdom

• obas wore carved ivory pendant masks representing the iyoba during ceremonies designed to rid the kingdom of malevolent spiritual forces

what are some notes from the video: the striking story of ivory mask from benin