MAGNETIC BOARD QUIZ

how much do you know?

Answer the questions, win the quiz... then FIND THE PLAQUE!

Benin bronzes Quiz

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Question 1/10

Which of these museums holds the LARGEST collection of Benin objects in the world?

Benin National Museum

Ethnologisches Museum

British Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

CORRECT!

10%

Holding 944 objects, the British museum has the biggest collection of Benin objects in the world.

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Question 2/10

Which material was used to create most of the Benin Bronzes?

Bronze

Brass

Iron

Wood

RIGHT!

20%

While commonly known as the "Bronzes", the pieces are actually made mostly of brass.

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Question 3/10

They stretched over 16,000 kilometers, but how TALL were the walls around Benin City in the 1800s?

80 ft

100 ft

180 ft

150 ft

WELL DONE!

30%

The walls around Benin City were, on average, 150 ft tall, or around 46 metres!

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Question 4/10

What was the ruler of the Kingdom of Benin called?

Atse

Nana

Oba

Emperor Palpatine

CORRECT!

40%

The Oba was the traditional ruler, and the majority of the population was only able to see him in person ONCE A YEAR!

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Question 5/10

What was the main purpose of the brass plaques for the Edo people in the 1800s?

To remember past rulers

Toys and/or frisbees

Decorating street signs

Fancy bookends

Right!

50%

Decorating the Oba's grand palace, the plaques were designed to remember past rulers, and were often used on their altars.

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Question 6/10

Which of these was shown the MOST on the Benin Bronzes in the British Museum?

Food

Trees

Money

Animals

THAT'S RIGHT!

60%

Important to religion and politics in Benin, power was often shown through animals, like leopards or rams, which would be sacrificed at an Oba's altar.

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Question 7/10

In what year were the Benin Bronzes looted by British soldiers and taken from the Kingdom?

1789

1897

1848

1894

EXACTLY!

70%

After the large-scale military expedition to Benin City in 1897, thousands of objects were taken as 'spoils of war'.

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Question 8/10

What was melted down to make the Benin Bronzes?

(the answer can be found in the BRASSCASTING section of the British Museum... or take a guess!)

European brassware/jewellry

Weapons from the USA

Elephant tusks

Recycled old helmets

RIght!

80%

Portuguese manillas, or arm bracelets, were melted down and used to cast many Benin objects!

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Question 9/10

How many Benin objects did German museums return to Nigeria in 2022?

500

800

1,100

2,000

YES!

90%

That's right! In 2022, 1,100 objects from the Kingdom of Benin were returned to Nigeria by German museums.

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Question 10/10

Roughly what percentage of Benin objects are CURRENTLY held in Nigeria?

28%

34%

44%

82%

RIGHT!

Alongside the 400 objects originally in the national museums, the 1,100 objects returned from Germany mean Nigeria holds 1,500 Benin objects.

Go to the next slide to see the real plaque!

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CONGRATS!

can you find this plaque in the museum?

WELL DONE! You have proved your impressive knowledge about the Benin Bronzes! Play again?

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