RETHINKING THE GLOBAL PROSPECTS AND FUTURE OF THE HISTORIC BENIN MOATS IN THE WAKE OF URBANIZATION

Résumé

The Benin moats have remained both a historical marvel and a mystery for centuries. They are indisputably among Africa’s most renowned environmental heritages with the potential for global recognition and exploration. This study examines the potential global worth of the Benin moat and the impact of urbanization on the future of this historic environmental heritage. The work aims to uncover the general contemporary awareness about the Benin moats while also highlighting their aesthetic and economic significance. It shows the factors contributing to their decline, highlighting the implications for their global future. The paper uses historical methods to review the literature on Benin moats as both cultural and environmental heritage. It also adopts the survey method to gather empirical data on the decline and loss of moats in some parts of Benin City. The paper is largely descriptive and expository in orientation. The study finds that Edo residents are largely familiar with the moats. It also finds that there are noticeable anthropogenic-induced changes in the Benin moats caused by urbanization and its attendant consumerism. In view of reimagining the global future and potential of the Benin moats, the work argues for restorative and preservative care that could transform the moats into tourist attractions for economic advantage. The paper concludes that unwholesome consumerist tendencies associated with modern urbanization must be conscientiously mitigated for the preservation of the moats for future generations. The study recommends ecological, cultural, and conservative initiatives, as well as sustainable urban planning strategies as key essentials in safeguarding the environmental heritage of the Benin moats in the wake of rapid urbanization.