1. Population and territorial reach: The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, with a population estimated to be around 35 million. The Benin people, on the other hand, have a smaller population, estimated to be around 4 million. As a result, the Yoruba people have a wider territorial reach and may have had more opportunities to influence other cultures.
2. Urbanization and political organization: The Yoruba people have historically been more urbanized than the Benin people, with large urban centers such as Ibadan, Ife, and Oyo. These urban centers were centers of trade, culture, and learning, and may have facilitated the spread of Yoruba influence to other areas. The Yoruba also had a well-developed political system, with centralized kingdoms and a system of government that encouraged trade and cultural exchange.
3. Cultural impact: The Yoruba people have a rich and vibrant culture that has influenced many aspects of Nigerian society, including music, art, literature, and religion. Yoruba religious practices, such as the worship of the orisha, have been adopted by other groups, and Yoruba art and music have had a profound influence on Nigerian and African culture as a whole.
4. Historical events: There have been a number of historical events that may have contributed to the perception of the Yoruba people having more influence than the Benin people. For example, the fall of the Benin Kingdom in 1897, when the British Empire annexed the kingdom, may have led to a decline in Benin influence and a corresponding rise in Yoruba influence.
Overall, while it is difficult to say definitively which group had more influence, the factors mentioned above suggest that the Yoruba people may have had a greater impact on other cultures in Nigeria and West Africa.