THE ORIGIN OF BENIN MONARCHY

What came to be known as the Benin kingdom did not being its existence as a kingdom in the sense of it being headed by a king or a traditional ruler, as it is known today. It really began as a conglomeration of villages each of which was headed by the oldest man in the community who is referred to as the Odionwere or village head. As time went on, these village united for the purpose of security against external aggression or for commerce, and the most powerful of the old people was said to have automatically assumed the supreme headship which eventual metamorphosed into what was known as king or Oba in Edo language.

Omo N’ Oba Erediauwa in his lecture on The Evolution of Traditional Rulership in Nigeria.Given under the auspices of the university of Ibadan, Institute of Africa studies on 11th September, 1984 said that in Benin, the first to emerge as such a leader almost immediately assumed the position of a king, for by the wisdom he was described as being from heaven {Oyevbegie No Riso.This is the origin of the title Ogiso which came to be the title of the earliest Benin kings, before the advent of Oromiyan

There were 31 Ogisos. Even though some historians think that the Ogiso era began about the year 900AD yet the age of the Edo people's settlement in the kingdom is over 6000 years. Judging from the long history of the people it is reasonable to suggest that the development of their kingship is much longer than the 900 AD. The much revered position of the Benin Monarchy tends to suggest that the people found themselves inseparable from their monarchy which is regarded as the embodiment of custom and culture. The long existence of their king make it unintelligible as to who came first, the people or the king? Thus it is the belief of the Edo people the God sent them to the world along with their kings. Kings are therefore assumed to be born and not created, "Aise Agbon Rio Oba". Coming back to the Ogisos, We have thirty one of them who have been named as follows:-

1. Igodo (or Obagodo) 12. Iredia 23. Oriagba
2. Ere 13. Etebewe 24. Odoligie
3. Orire 14. Odion 25. Uwa
4. Odia 15. Imarhan 26. Eheneden
5. Ighido 16. Orria 27. Ohuede
6. Evbobo 17. Emore {female} 28. Oduwa
7. Ogbeide 18. Orrorio {female} 29. Obioye
8. Emenhen 19. Irrebo 30. Arigho
9. Akhuankhuan 20. Ogbomo 31. Owodo
10. Ekpigho 21. Agbonzeke
11. Efeseke 22. Ediae

The peculiar features of the early Ogisos are:-

Founding of the kingdom: Igodo or Obagodo established the kingdom in the sense that it was during his period the components of Benin were united and formed into a central Administrative Unit.

Establishment of good government and the guild system: His successor Ere (who incidentally was a grandson brought in good laws and established the guild system for which the Edo people are still known.It is to his credit that the palace system was organized and established from which its present form has evolved.

Primogeniture law: Orire brought about the primogeniture law which lasted more than one century. During ogiso Ighido, this law broke down as a result of palace rivalries. It got into a chaotic situation at a time and this gave rise to the saying that "ogiso will only summon the council meeting whenever there is trouble" (Ogiso mamie Emwen Ei Fiagba". This situation remained for nearly two centuries when Ogiso Oriagba re-established the primogeniture laws. This brought stability once more to state. The guild system was re-established and all the arms of the government were re-kindled.

Establishment of Benin Army: The stable situation of the state brought about the formation of the Benin Army during the reign of Ogiso Odoligie. A class of people known as "Iyokuo"-the warriors-- was established.

Inflation and subsequent currency reforms: During the reign of Ogiso Ohuede, there was serious inflation. There were other pestilences which followed. People counterfeited the coins of the realm by bringing illegal money into the country. What really happened was that people suddenly discovered a large quantity of cowries (which was the then known coin or money in use) and there after flooded the country with it. The attendant result was inflation. When Ogiso Obioye came in as ruler, he harnessed the whole currency by nationalizing cowries wherever they were in private hands or with the state. This money became scarce and its value restored. It is this state of affairs which gave rise to the expression "a valuable article purchased with Obioye's Coin". Ogiso Obioye therefore was the first king who reformed the currency.

The plight of Ekaladerhan
The last Ogiso (Owodo) brought a lot of stresses and hardship on the nation he was incompetent. He more or less fell back to the habit of not summoning the state council meeting unless there was trouble. He was preoccupied wit the primogeniture law especially as he had only one son who he thought might die before him which might leave him without a successor. This obsession drove him to consult the oracle as to how he might have more male children who might succeed him. In the end, the tragic episode of Ekaladerhan's banishment came into our history. However, Ekaladerhan by a change of fortune eventually emerged at Uhe (or Ife) as a king with the appellation Ododuwa derived from the Benin word "Izoduwa or Imadoduwa" which is an exclamatory word "I have not missed the path to prosperity" a reminiscence of his surprise at his emerging as a king in a strange land after having left as a refugee

Get ready as they will soon come here and tell you Oduduwa (Izoduwa) fell from the sky or that he trekked all the way from Saudi to Ife.


No matter how ridiculous that is, they will defend it with ignorance.

Culture is always beautiful to the ears when heard in its historical context; and a delight to the eyes when read.

Our regard for the Edo Monarchy is top notch.... and not one which is shown only when it is convenient.
Oba gha tokpere....The true custodian of our traditions.

Omobude244:
THE ORIGIN OF BENIN MONARCHY

Stressing that Oba Ewuare II’s claims are historically not correct, he added, “I read G.A. Akinola’s ‘The Origin of the Eweka Dynasty of Benin: A Study in the Use and Abuse of Oral Traditions (1976)’. In April 1973, the researcher was in the palace of the Oba of Benin, Akenzua II, on an interview appointment but the Oba changed his mind when he arrived. The Oba refused to speak with the man while he ‘wondered why a Yoruba should be interested in Benin history.’


“The researcher reported that his session with the king ended ‘with the Oba and his courtiers reminiscing about how Eko (that is Lagos) belongs to Benin by right of conquest long ago.’ I see a divergence here between the position of the current Oba of Benin and that of his ancestor, Akenzua II. The ancestor claimed Lagos as a war booty; the incumbent claims Lagos as a creation of his ancestors.”

“So, how could the ancestors of the Oba of Benin have been the ones who brought into existence a settlement that they waged war against in 1603 but which received the Portuguese explorer, Rui de Sequeira, in 1472?” Olagunju wondered.
https://punchng.com/oldest-history-books-say-yoruba-not-benin-founded-lagos/

Smh

Sadly, it's been one lie after another further diminishing the Binis in the eyes of many.

From the bursting of the Bini lie that the Oba of Benin never leaves the palace , internet era came and exposed the blatant lie. But for the expose by the internet, they would still continue with the lie whereas they knew it was a lie.

Next was the lie that their Oba did not originate from Ile Ife and heads of past Oba of Benin were not buried in Ile Ife. The Yoruba elders and forebears were so very clever to preserve the history and location where the heads of past Oba of Benin were buried in Ile-Ife till date. It's called Orun Oba Ado.

The 3rd lie is the attempt to claim a land, small part of Yorubaland on the fringe, that does not belong to them not knowing that the Yoruba documented it well.

So will you packs of lies will continue to crumble.

Pride goeth before a fall.

FreeStuffsNG:

Stressing that Oba Ewuare II’s claims are historically not correct, he added, “I read G.A. Akinola’s ‘The Origin of the Eweka Dynasty of Benin: A Study in the Use and Abuse of Oral Traditions (1976)’. In April 1973, the researcher was in the palace of the Oba of Benin, Akenzua II, on an interview appointment but the Oba changed his mind when he arrived. The Oba refused to speak with the man while he ‘wondered why a Yoruba should be interested in Benin history.’


“The researcher reported that his session with the king ended ‘with the Oba and his courtiers reminiscing about how Eko (that is Lagos) belongs to Benin by right of conquest long ago.’ I see a divergence here between the position of the current Oba of Benin and that of his ancestor, Akenzua II. The ancestor claimed Lagos as a war booty; the incumbent claims Lagos as a creation of his ancestors.”

“So, how could the ancestors of the Oba of Benin have been the ones who brought into existence a settlement that they waged war against in 1603 but which received the Portuguese explorer, Rui de Sequeira, in 1472?” Olagunju wondered.

Smh

Sadly, it's been one lie after another further diminishing the Binis in the eyes of many.

From the bursting of the Bini lie that the Oba of Benin never leaves the palace , internet era came and exposed the blatant lie. But for the expose by the internet, they would still continue with the lie whereas they knew it was a lie.

Next was lie that they did not originate from Ile Ife and heads of past Oba of Benin were not buried in Ile Ife but the Yoruba elders were so clever to preserve the history and location in Ile Ife till date.

The 3rd lie is the attempt to claim a land that does not belong to them not knowing that the Yoruba documented it well.

lolz
this mad dog

u go cancel tire
history never change. it remain the same

Owamberians will soon raise the attack bar for you