APPELLATIONS FOR THE OBA OF BENIN.
compiled by
Segun Toyin Dawodu,
segun@dawodu.com

Benin history is full of rich traditions and one of such traditions is the habit of addressing the Oba by various appellations instead of his actual names as a sign of deep respect and awe. It is no wonder, therefore, that the Oba of Benin is known by several appellations as listed below:

EDO - ENGLISH
1 Ovbi' Umogun Oza - The Child of the Oba whose mother hailed from Oza

2 Ovbi' Ekpen N' Owa - The son of the home leopard

3 Ovbi' Adimila The son of Adimila - who is next to God

4 Ikeja Orisa - Second in command to the gods

5 Agbaghe, N'Ovbi Olokun - Olokun's son, the cynosure of all mortals

6 Abieyuwa N'Ovbi Odua N'uhe - The son of the wealthy Odua of Uhe. (Uhe is Ile-ife, a town now in Yoruba land, founded by Ekaladerhan, the first child and banished son of Owodo, the last Ogiso of Benin)

7 Ovbi' Ada, Ovbi' Eben - The child of the owner of the Ada = scimitar and Eben = royal sword, Edo symbol of sovereignty.

8 Ovbi'Ekenekene ma deyo - The son of beauty that never fades.

9 Ovbi'Ekuaho N'Olo, Ovbi'Ekuabo N'Olo -
The son of the rocky arm, the brave and powerful

10 Ovbie Ikpinhianbo kpuru no Gb'oduma -
The son of the short fingered man that was still able to kill a lion

11 Nohien utete no gh'ughe s'omwan - The king on a hill, who sees more than everybody

12 Ovbi'Oghonwan nei bun aro - The son of the fearless, who looks without twinkling his eyes

13 Ovbi'ode, ode n'ohan ren mu' ete - The son of the warrior whose enemies got frightened at the announcement of the approach

14 Uku Akpolokpolo - The mighty that rules

15 Ovbi' Adolo no dolo uwa dolo utomwen-
The son of the wise judge and peace maker who combined wisdom and wealth with long life

16 Ovbi' oven owie no gbaisi (erhan gba iri) - The son of the morning sun that covers everywhere

17 Ovbi' okpogunla, ogie no y'igho b'owa -
The child of the womb of Akpogunla - the warrior who fought big wars and built a house of cowries

18 Oba n'osa - A king that is god to his subjects

19 Ovbi' otolo n'olomi; Ologberonmwon nei rie iruen, ebo, ayemwinre eminiminimini -
The son of the water controller, the son of beauty itself, the starter of things and the person whose reign saw people with many tongues

SICKNESS OR INDISPOSITION
When the Oba is indisposed you described this in the following ways

EDO - ENGLISH
1 Ehoho hoho vb'ode ugha - The wind is blowing (in the inner chambers of the palace)

2 Uhun v'ekpen vb'ato - The leopard is sick in the wilderness

3 Oni fi - The weather is cold

4 Amen bi - The rain is threatening

5 Oni gb'edo Edo has cold

6 Owen bi vb'agho - The sun is being covered by cloud

7 Emwin zebagha - A bad thing is happening (when the illness was critical)

8 Ukpo na vi'iloi gbera gh'ugbekun - The year the iloi were removed from the Oba's harem to ugbeku

9 Ukpo na ru'emwin nekhua - The year the big great events were performed

10 Ukpo na y'unu kha vb'ere khare - The year Ewuare's predictions were repeated

11 Eko - z'eken - The stool has touched the ground

12 Orie igie no bunse - He had gone to where everything is surplus

13 Obu' enikao - He has gone to join his ancestors

BURIAL
When the Oba is interned, the following expressions are used
EDO - ENGLISH
1 Oto ri' orhue - The earth has eaten some chalk

2 Adole osorhue yi ne - The chalk has been kept

3 Aye egho y'oto - The ground has been paid some tributes

The period between the passing away and the announcement to the Binis(public) is regarded as the time the Oba is said to be carrying out some harvesting " OBA GHA DUGIE ORHO ". The uwangue acts as a regent until the Edaiken is crowned.