Only citizens of Benin lived in Edo or Benin City the capital of the Kingdom unless they were slaves owned and working for a citizen. Citizens of Benin could not be sold as slaves. City authorities required visitors to the capital to pay a toll to enter the city. The city was home to wealthy individuals who left the business of providing food and lodging to their wives. The men of Benin practiced polygamy based on one's wealth and ability to provide for additional wives and children. The head wife (first wife) had the responsibility of managing a staff of slaves who performed the domestic labor of the home. The head wife supervised her staff as they purchased food at city markets and cooked and served meals to all of her husband’s wives and their children several times a day.