The Benin Empire Collection: Nigerian Sculpture 1440–1897 is one of the foremost art collections at the Broward County (Fla.) Library’s African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale. The library brings together a breathtaking collection of Royal Court Art from the ancient kingdom of Benin, located in Southern Nigeria. The Benin Kingdom, which flourished for 450 years, was founded in the early 14th century by the son of an exiled king from Ife (a nearby area approximately 100 miles southeast). The indigenous inhabitants of the Benin Kingdom, the Binis, created a thriving civilization, with museums, a well-organized military organization, efficient administration, and relative peace, stability, and prosperity throughout the kingdom.

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