Ancient African city rises from ashes of colonialism

Benin City, in southern Nigeria, has risen from a history marked by conquest and loss to become a bustling urban center of more than 2 million residents. Once the heart of the powerful Kingdom of Benin, the city was devastated in 1897 when British colonial forces looted its treasures and burned the royal palace.

Today, satellite images from NASA , reveal forests and farmland giving way to neighborhoods, roads, and industrial zones, documenting a dramatic revival that blends centuries-old cultural heritage with 21st-century urban growth.

Why It Matters

Nigeria, Africa ’s most populous nation with nearly 240 million residents, is undergoing urban growth few countries can match. While megacities like Lagos dominate headlines, secondary cities such as Benin are quietly becoming engines