I recently watched a traditional Benin movie. During a coronation ceremony of a new king, I saw that all the royal queens and princesses cover their mouths with their hands. They came into the palace doing this and later left.

In another recent Benin movie, involving the royalty, I saw the monarch covering his mouth with a handkie in a public event. I believe the movies depict an important Benin royal tradition.

This kind of custom baffles me and most Edo people I asked couldn’t answer the question.

Why do Benin royals cover their mouths in this way? Is there any reason for this?

What is the origin of this, and its significance?

I’m desperate for a helpful answer please.


Neteller here: www..com.ng

Ok

Very Simple Answer=MouthOdour!

ReorxTohGan:
Very Simple Answer=MouthOdour!

AjalaJ:
I recently watched a traditional Benin movie. During a coronation ceremony of a new king, I saw that all the royal queens and princesses cover their mouths with their hands. They came into the palace doing this and later left.

In another recent Benin movie, involving the royalty, I saw the monarch covering his mouth with a handkie in a public event. I believe the movies depict an important Benin royal tradition.

This kind of custom baffles me and most Edo people I asked couldn’t answer the question.

Why do Benin royals cover their mouths in this way? Is there any reason for this?

What is the origin of this, and its significance?

I’m desperate for a helpful answer please.


Neteller here: www..com.ng

I'm curious to know the answer to this question..
besides i think IYORE is one of the movie you talking about..i noticed it there also.

fabfunmi:

I'm curious to know the answer to this question..
besides i think IYORE is one of the movie you talking about..i noticed it there also.

I have been watching this thread with interest and I’m surprised that no-one has been able to answer this intriguing question since it’s been asked. This forum is big and full of intelligent and knowledgeable people. I’d be glad to know the answer myself, since I don’t know it.

We tend to think African traditions and cultures are sometimes idiotic in the eyes of the whole world because we don’t know the reasons behind them.

Why do Benin royals have to cover their mouths in public or during important occasions? I would be disappointed if this forum can’t provide a correct answer.

This is something I like more than nude pictures and unhelpful topics that fill the Internet today.

Perhaps the mods can push this to the front page for those who’re rich in knowledge to probably see. Can anyone help us with an answer?

With humble regards to you all!

fabfunmi:

I'm curious to know the answer to this question..
besides i think IYORE is one of the movie you talking about..i noticed it there also.

I noticed it in Iyore too nd one other Benin movie too.


Am also curious

[quote author=ituglobal post=48754392]

I have been watching this thread with interest and I’m surprised that no-one has been able to answer this intriguing question since it’s been asked. This forum is big and full of intelligent and knowledgeable people. I’d be glad to know the answer myself, since I don’t know it.

We tend to think African traditions and cultures are sometimes idiotic in the eyes of the whole world because we don’t know the reasons behind them.

Why do Benin royals have to cover their mouths in public or during important occasions? I would be disappointed if this forum can’t provide a correct answer.

This is something I like more than nude pictures and unhelpful topics that fill the Internet today.

Perhaps the mods can push this to the front page for those who’re rich in knowledge to probably see. [b]Can anyone help us with an answer?
[/
With humble regards to you all!


Hopefully lalasticlala wil move this to front page.

lalasticlala you have been mentioned more than once here.. please push to front page.. there might be intelligent people who can contribute to the answer...

apart from a being a gossip blog, which Nairaland has now turned too, let is also be an educating place, let it be a FORUM!!

looking forward to see this on front page and getting an answer to the OP's question.

cheers!

I will like to know the answer

The Oba covers his mouth because the more one speaks, the less mysterious he is to people and the less they hold him in awe. According to tradition, the Oba hardly speaks in public and when he does his words are final.

mouth odour

AjalaJ:
I recently watched a traditional Benin movie. During a coronation ceremony of a new king, I saw that all the royal queens and princesses cover their mouths with their hands. They came into the palace doing this and later left.

In another recent Benin movie, involving the royalty, I saw the monarch covering his mouth with a handkie in a public event. I believe the movies depict an important Benin royal tradition.

This kind of custom baffles me and most Edo people I asked couldn’t answer the question.

Why do Benin royals cover their mouths in this way? Is there any reason for this?

What is the origin of this, and its significance?

I’m desperate for a helpful answer please.


Neteller here: www..com.ng

Wow. Since 2018. Well

(1) The Oba usually covers his mouth because when he talks he is the supreme authority and whatever he says is final. (2) People talk on his behalf most of the time and whatever they proclaim becomes the law with immediate effect. (3) His wives covered their mouths as a sign of submission