Formerly the principal city of the Edo (Bini) kingdom of Benin, it burned down (and was ransacked for nearly 2,500 of its famous bronzes) in 1897 when the British occupied the city after the Edo had massacred a purportedly unarmed British diplomatic mission. Traces of the old wall and moat remain, but the new city is a close-packed pattern of houses and streets converging on the palace and compound of the oba (Edo: “king”) and the government offices. In the main square is a statue of Emotan, a woman honoured for offering herself as a sacrifice to restore the prestige of her husband, the oba. The present oba retains traditional and advisory roles in government.

Benin City has long been famous for its “bronzes”—actually brass work, some of which is said to date from the 13th century—and for its ivory and wood carvings; its museum (1960) has a notable collection of some of the kingdom's early pieces. The city's present artisans still practice the ancient method of cire perdue (“lost-wax”) casting, and its wood-carvers are organized into a cooperative craft society.

The centre of Nigeria's rubber production, Benin City has several processing plants and a crepe factory; the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (1961) is nearby at Iyanomo. Benin City has been known for sawmilling since the 1930s. Products now include furniture, beer, and soft drinks. The traditional export of palm oil and kernels remains important. The Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (1939) is just outside the city on the old road to Lagos. Benin City is the site of the University of Benin (1970). Pop. (2006 est.) 1,500,000.