Trip to Nigeria ► Igue Festival and Bronzes of Benin

Trip to Nigeria from 20 to 29 May 2026 / From 3,200€

Trip to Nigeria to experience the Igue Festival and learn about the Bini or Edo culture. Nigeria is a cultural treasure. Benin Kingdom flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries as a trade empire between the Niger River, the Atlantic Ocean and the Muslim North of Nigeria. The Oba (King) of Benin invested resources to develop the arts and architecture of the kingdom’s capital. This allowed the bronze artists to progress and create unique works of art. The British Invasion in the late 19th century destroyed most of the Bini culture, but some elements remained. We will explore the former kingdom and see what is left of its past glory.

During this trip to Nigeria, we will attend to the annual Igue Festival, when the King meets the people and traditional religious ceremonies are performed. We will visit the city and smaller towns and villages in Edo State to experience dances, masquerades, and ancient practices such as body scarification among the Esan tribe.

Download the itinerary for this trip to Nigeria to experience the Igue Festival

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Discover the highlights of this trip to Nigeria to experience the Igue Festival

We will experience the Igue Festival on this trip to Nigeria

The highlight of this trip to Nigeria will be attending the Igue Edohia Festival. This is held in Benin City, the centre of the former kingdom and now the administrative capital of Edo State. On the first day of the festival, all Edo people perform their individual worship in their homesand when the Oba of Benin meets his people. All the aristocracy wears the traditional coral ornaments and magnificent hairdos. We will plunge into Bini culture at its best during all the day. On the second day, it is the turn of Ugie Ewere, the ceremony of bringing ‘Ewere’ blessings to all homes. We will have the opportunity of visiting traditional Edo homes, shrines and palaces. We will be introduced to Edo-Bin architecture and religion. Both Edo men and women may have a shrine or shrines dedicated to Olokun, Ogun or other gods. In addition, families and subdivisions (wards) of towns and villages also have communal shrines for the worship of various local deities. Family shrines are maintained in the house of the eldest son, who inherits all of his father's property.

We will meet the Esan ethnic group

During this trip to Nigeria, we will tour Esan territory, where body scarification is still alive nowadays. Abdominal scarification is called ‘Ude’ among the Esan-speaking people. Unlike facial scarification,which is used as a means of identification, ‘Ude’ is done ‘therapeutically’ as a means of treating various medical conditions by letting out ‘bad blood’ from the body of the individual. Various reasons are often adduced for engaging in this practice despite the availability of modern treatment options. These include easy availability, readily affordable compared to modern treatment, and a strong belief in its efficacy, among others. In the town of Ekpoma and villages Around us, we will meet people with this type of scarification and learn about this practice. Also, we will have the opportunity to witness a traditional Esan masquerade.

We will learn about Edo culture

During this trip to Nigeria, we will explore the Edo territory to learn about the living culture. We will immerse ourselves in the world of Edo masquerades, lesser known than the famous Guild or Egungun masks from the neighboring Yoruba people. Furthermore, we will reach the Kingdom of Otuo and salute His Royal Highness. He will allow us to meet some young men volunteers that will show us some examples of ‘Awe’ masks. These are used during the rites of passage from boy to man. This ceremony is normally held in July, but since we are here for the Igue Festival, we will ask them to show us the masks in a private homestead. The initiation is performed once every three years by members of the Eliminya Society. They wear uncanny, somewhat insect-like masks with pendant tassels always jealously concealed from the uninitiated and from women a kind of tunic of loose cords and crested helmets of palm fiber.