Greetings all lovers of information

Today I decided to write a little about the Benin tradition which is difficult for an ordinary man to understand . Yesterday 20th October, 2016 Oba Ewuare ll N'Ogidigan ascended the revered throne of his ancestors to become the 40th Oba of Benin, succeeding his late father, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolopkolo, Oba Erediauwa and its all over the internet that why is the oba and wives covering their mouth with white cloth? SEE https://www.nairaland.com/3421009/why-oba-benin-covering-mouth


In Benin there is only one supreme deity and that is God Almighty Himself (Ajakaiye Apara). His only representative and second-in-command on Earth in the psyche of the Benin or Edo people is only one person.


It is no one else but the Oba of Benin who is a god in his own right that nobody fools around with. Whatever he says is final. He usually covers his mouth because when he talks he is the supreme authority. People talk on his behalf most of the time and whatever they proclaim "ex cathedra" like the Pope becomes the Law with immediate effect.


The Benin people are something else. They don't joke or play around with their traditional values but more so with their Oba. Even though the first Church in Nigeria was built by the Portuguese in Benin City, most Christian household in Benin still have little shrines in a corner of their home they still believe in. You will never see the Oba of Benin go to any Church to kneel down before any pastor.


A little story I heard about Omoba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo the late Oba Oba Akenzua the father of Erediauwa, the late Oba of Benin. Oba Akenzua had lived till close to 90 years of age. Once upon a time a Benin man who became very rich did something nobody has ever done in Benin. He ventured into one of the private estate or lands of Oba Akenzua in Benin City. Even though there was a sign placed on the property to announce that trespassers must keep off because the huge plot of lands belongs to Oba the Oba of Benin.


The man for reasons best known to him had ignored the warnings to start building some mansions on the land. When the news got to Kabiyesi Otolu Apara in the palace, he asked for the man to be brought to the Palace to answer a few questions and to ask if he ever saw the warnings placed on the property. Of course the man came running to the Palace in a heartbeat. The Palace Chiefs were the people who cross-examined him in the presence of Kabiyesi Ogiso himself who did not utter a word.


The man's explanation would shock you. The man simply admitted he built the houses on the plot of land and that he was fully aware that the land belonged to the Oba of Benin. He then added the coup de grace. He asked the Palace chiefs, "What are you people talking about? Who owns the whole of Edo Kingdom, the land and all the people living in it himself included? He described his own father and mother and he as the property of the Oba talk less of the row of houses he has built on the Land. He told them all the houses belong to the Oba and he delivered all the documents to the houses to Kabiyesi on the spot shouting "Oba gha tokpere" and reeling on the ground.


That was how the man got himself out of trouble. What did Oba Akenzua do next? He gave him back the documents to the house telling him he has dashed him the houses and the land. He then proceeded to make him the custodian to all of the Oba's land in the area from that moment on. That was Oba Akenzua at his best.


Oba Erudiuawa was on record to have kept the former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan waiting in his guest room for hours on one occasion before he would come out to receive the President. When he finally came out, he told the President not what the President wanted to hear, but what he needed to hear loud and clear that the Oba of Benin and the Benin votes are not up for sale.


He actually told the President he was happy with the performance of Governor Oshiomhole and has ordered his people to vote him back to office because the Governor has performed. The way the Oba of Benin still carries himself is totally different from the way his peers elsewhere carry themselves. You don't contest to become the Oba of Benin. You are born into it from the cradle. The "Edaiken", the heir apparent to the Benin throne is almost as powerful as his father even though he too has his limitations just like the Oba of Benin is also constrained by some of the traditional laws of the kingdom.


The "Edaiken" title in Benin history is totally unique. He is usually the first son of a reigning Oba. He usually does not die until has had a chance to succeed his father even if it is for one day. The day he is born he ceases to be his mother's child and he becomes the property of the kingdom. He is taken away from his mother and raised and empowered by the caucus of wizards like they say in Benin and given all the and leverage he would need to fulfill his destiny without let or hindrance.


He is not allowed to see his father face-to-face but is allowed to communicate with his father in some traditional ways. His own mother who used to be killed in times gone by is now specially honored. She lives in the "Iye Oba" Palace specially built for her not too far from where his son the Edaiken's Palace is built in Uselu. The Benin system is a well-structured Dynasty a replica of which you will not find anywhere else in Nigeria.


Benin is a great kingdom in Nigeria. Nobody is going to know the incumbent has passed until the "Edaiken" is enthroned and crowned the king. The Oba of Benin does not die as a rule. He only makes his transition into the realm of spirits. He still hangs around in the Palace and still participates in spiritual matters affecting the kingdom. The Oba of Benin derives his mighty power and authority in his kingdom from that belief and conviction. If you offend the Oba of Benin, or you are fighting the king you are not just fighting one person, you are fighting all of his previous predecessors in the spiritual realm. It is a battle you cannot win as the Esama of Benin Chief Igbenedion would tell you.


If the Oba gets angry with you, you can begin to sing your "Nunc Dimitis" if the Oba goes into the inner chamber of the Palace to put on his special red toga or garment otherwise known as "Ododo" and if he curse you out wearing that garment. There is no way in the world you can ever get rid of that curse. That is why The Yorubas acknowledge him in their cognomen as "Afinju Oba Ado Otolu Apara O ro pupa bi Odide" meaning "the gutsy Benin king that is as powerful as the thunder who wears the red like the magical tail feathers of the parrot"


Stay tuned for a future elaboration on The Power Of OBA of Benin And Why He Covers His Mouth. "Oba gha tokpere" Itse meaning Long lives the king, Amen.


SOURCE : http://techblogtips.com/the-power-of-benin-oba-and-why-he-cover-his-mouth/

LETS APPRECIATE THE BENIN TRADITION

CC seun lalasticala Fulaman198, odumchi, bigfrancis21

Very informative

Is that so? You don't mean it.

RoyalBlak007:
Very informative

thanks

I give it to the Benin people

too powerful a tradition
LONG LIVE THE OBA

OK

Jackeeh:
Is that so? You don't mean it.

If you offend the Oba of Benin, or you are fighting the king you are not just fighting one person, you are fighting all of his previous predecessors in the spiritual realm. It is a battle you cannot win as the Esama of Benin Chief Igbenedion would tell you.

Chai! Thank you so much for creating this thread cause i asked this question yesterday, but got no answer.

ammyluv2002:
Chai! Thank you so much for creating this thread cause i asked this question yesterday, but got no answer.

you are highly welcome

I love Benin culture.

mizzytan:
I love Benin culture.

Not only you

What happens to the "all man are born and created equal" natural philosophy?

In Igboland, the Igwe has no such powers any more. we are republicans in nature.

onyenze123:
What happens to the "all man are born and created equal" natural philosophy?

In Igboland, the Igwe has no such powers any more. we are republicans in nature.

the benin Oba is a god

The "Edaiken" title in Benin history is totally unique. He is usually the first son of a reigning Oba. He usually DOES NOT die until has had a chance to succeed his father even if it is for one day. The day he is born he ceases to be his mother's child and he becomes the property of the kingdom

techblogtips:

the benin Oba is a god

The "Edaiken" title in Benin history is totally unique. He is usually the first son of a reigning Oba. He usually DOES NOT die until has had a chance to succeed his father even if it is for one day. The day he is born he ceases to be his mother's child and he becomes the property of the kingdom

He is not. He is a mortal. A god doesn't die.

onyenze123:


He is not. He is a mortal. A god doesn't die.

it shows you dont know benin tradition

THE OBA OF BENIN DOES NOT DIE

EVEN

The "Edaiken" usually the first son of a reigning Oba DOES NOT die until has had a chance to succeed his father even if it is for one day.

techblogtips:

it shows you dont know benin tradition

THE OBA OF BENIN DOES NOT DIE

EVEN

The "Edaiken" usually the first son of a reigning Oba DOES NOT die until has had a chance to succeed his father even if it is for one day.

lol

but the article said his father DIED