oluwaahmed:
But ow can 1 rank d Ooni of ife ova d oba of beni? Is it dt dat oba does not knw his own history? Oduduwa was a son of d oba of beni,he den found his. Way 2 yoruba land & on reachin der he was immediately crowned king, because der was a prophesy dat a king will cme out 4rm a particular locatn thru a bush & thus did oduduwa. His children founded d states of d present yoruba kingdom. So Ooni of ife is a son 2 d oba of beni. Go and read ur history.

You are very wrong or may have been reading a wrong story.
An errant son of Oduduwa left Ile ife and became king of Benin. He grew disillusioned by the attitude of his subjects, abdicated the throne in annoyance/frustration, installed his son as king, and returned to Ile ife.
Getting to Ile ife, he discovered his father had died. But rather than ascend his father's throne, he installed the spiritual aid to his dad and wandered off but not before leaving instructions in Benin and Ice that whenever he died, his body must be buried in his ancestral home of Ile Ife.
Since then, all Benin obas were buried in Ile Ife until recently and no one ascended
the Benin throne without going through some rituals in Ile Ife.

9jacrip:




You dey plan turn Ife to Somali; war torn spot?

I respect his choice but picking a Bini lady really has me disappointed - the stool won't go back to Giesi not to mention Agbedegbe line in possibly 2 centuries so we won't have to bother over a Bini blooded prince ascending our throne.

LOL EFCC chasing an almost 'divine king' around. He should have just gone low profile after ascending the throne; obviously some folks who lost out won't be happy and have probably done their homework this time around considering the first allegation didn't stick.

If he gets convicted and sent to jail, Agbedegbede line may get banned for life like some royal lines.

No be play ooh I wouldn't lie the way he won using PDP and GEJ tactics of plug every hole with enough money didn't go down well with many.

This is a man who had an EFCC case which I have been told by someone who managed land for Ooni Sijuwade and was close to him like a neck muscle is very valid and didn't stick because he has powerful friends and threatened to reveal some nasty secrets on Ooni Sijuwade.

He is young and energetic just like Sijuwade when he ascended the throne but the future is yet to tell what would become of him. He seems enterprising even if that does involve shady dealings and less than ethical indulgence. But this is Nigeria.

As concerned his new wife , his first marriage was dead on arrival from what I heard before he became king and the lady did not even support him becoming king, she didn't think he deserved it apparently. If he so chooses he can Mary from anywhere, thou from what I've read it seems his new bride is Bini but whose family have strong ties in Ife going back.

It almost seems like it is a marriage of convenience, like he was gifted a beautiful young bride for the purpose rather than him finding a loved companion, and the girl married into nobility and gains honour. Win- win his first wife would remain the Olori always thou, he can not divorce her.

He is only the second to ever ascend from Agbedegbede and may be the last , I would assume Lafogido would make moves to dissolve the Geisi family when they gain the throne.

YoruBadGoon:


Lmao.

The missiles won't destroy the land, it'll just annihilate the invaders.

Of all the bevy of women out there, he had to go pick a banger with the highest mileage ever. But can you blame him? A lot of Yoruba women can be a pain in the arse and it's better to wa.nk than be around a lot of them. That said, he needs to make a better choice - that woman doesn't deserve to be the queen of Ife. Anyway, his daughter is segzy as fvck - you need to give me a hook up with that chic as the duke of Ijebuland. I need a next Ife chic in my harem. My ex's pops is from Ife and she's like the most loyal friend I've ever had. That girl is special.

EFCC needs to allow it. The king is meant to be a spiritual being. How're you going to throw a spiritual being in jail? - bwahahahaha. He just needs to keep a low profile cos the same media that built him up would be the ones to destroy him.

How many ruling houses are in ife?

Ooni ain't going to see any jail not in this lifetime anyway.

Concerning this his new wife, you described her as high mileage , how far any info on the chic ?

9jacrip:



Highest mileage *dies* . I hope he didn't do it out of wanting to solidify his peace ambassador status; plus it is better than having him marry someone from the 'You know' group.

Yoruba women can be a pain but they understand his office requires certain things - language and environment makes it easier for them to understand unlike people from . This king needs to understand by middle of this year the whole flair of his ascension will fade out and he'd have to resign himself to the demands of an Ooni - hopefully his Bini trophy won't have a problem with these demanss.

Bruh, I actually have my eyes out for his daughter too LOL. You can divert your interest to the many chicks from Omisore line

Spiritual being behind bars LOL! I hope this doesn't happen.

We have 4 ruling houses. Ideally, it should be one - Lafogido but we have Lafogido standing alone then his offsprings Osinkola and Ogboru. The last one, Giesi was Ogboru's daughter's son (grand child). It is such a mess and even worse about at least 10 'royal' lines per royal house.

You be wicked guy, you want to take Ogunwusi daughter and guy my guy Crisho pikin, see has that far head has spoiled the Omisore name, there are at least 40 Omisore known to my family closely and the family now must number in the 200+ grandkids and all , they are good people really.

sweetgala:


The Oba of Benin is general does not leave his palace, by tradition he has to live and die within the confines if his kingdom. There have been few occasions where the King has left the palace.

It is a serious form of bondage.

On another note I have been trying to find out about what caught my eye when
viewing pictures from the new young king in Delta, I saw behind his throne an insignia which has strong corolations with Yoruba and Bini royal heritage and would usually be used to signify the
source of the authority of a throne, the King had the "Ida" - sword as is often seen with the Ife kingdom, Bini kingdom and Eko kingdom in particular.

Thank you.
But why must a king be barred from free movement If not for extra-corriculum additions to make the throne look different from what it used to be perhaps for mischief-making ?
In a photo of Yoruba kings with his royal majesty's representative in Nigeria in Ile Ife in 1937, the then oba of benin was present. What changed that tradition of freedom of movement into enslavement in his place/kingdom ?

9jacrip:



Highest mileage *dies* . I hope he didn't do it out of wanting to solidify his peace ambassador status; plus it is better than having him marry someone from the 'You know' group.

Yoruba women can be a pain but they understand his office requires certain things - language and environment makes it easier for them to understand unlike people from . This king needs to understand by middle of this year the whole flair of his ascension will fade out and he'd have to resign himself to the demands of an Ooni - hopefully his Bini trophy won't have a problem with these demanss.

Bruh, I actually have my eyes out for his daughter too LOL. You can divert your interest to the many chicks from Omisore line

Spiritual being behind bars LOL! I hope this doesn't happen.

We have 4 ruling houses. Ideally, it should be one - Lafogido but we have Lafogido standing alone then his offsprings Osinkola and Ogboru. The last one, Giesi was Ogboru's daughter's son (grand child). It is such a mess and even worse about at least 10 'royal' lines per royal house.

Penkelemesi indeed, the problem is thus; solving it would require the devolution of the 1980 rotation gazette which was meant to resolve this same issue.

The absence of true divination in selecting the next Ooni has also meant the tussle is greatly influenced by wealth and patronage.

9jacrip:


It is funny how offsprings will decide to branch out as different houses from their father

Yes, Giesi as a name for a house should be scrapped and as you nicely put it, merged with Ogboru his GrandPa - to think it has its roots in a female line makes me feel some type of way about females being banned from applying to fill the throne during vacancy.

Lafogido is the source of the original two, the question is who are those continuing Lafogido line since his offsprings have branched out? Maybe his other children then why didn't they branch out or why can't Oshinkola and Ogboru fall back under Lafogido? This only makes sense to do.

The lines of each ruling houses are not together per ruling house, rather they are scattered. Erecting ruling line structures using names of past Oonis as the source of their lines makes no sense - around Olopo alone, there are about 3 ogboru lines standing far from each other then another Ogboru at ilare. This Ooni's line is at Moore, Giesi is scattered too - makes me think you can just set up shop and claim a past Ooni - the passing of the last Ooni brought about the renovations of many structures with inscriptions of one ruling line of a house to another; I was like wtf?! My Mum & Dad mentioned lists of ruling lines they know extending to as far as Fajuyi road - very far to the palace.

You lot need to merge up abeg.

I know , no wonder the Olojo festival takes a toll on the Ooni given he has to pay a short visit to all royal houses.

I can tell you for a fact this Ooni would not be the one to rectify this multiplication of royal lines, not if he wants to retain his crown.

He first has to deal with Ooni Sijuwade giving every one of the high chiefs/quarter heads the rank of Oba, and the many Oba in the Okos, even my uncle a sooko was made oba of Aiye

okuneddie:





I heard they have big army also but are u comparing them to Ibadan army?

The question should be, did the ibadan army ever defeated d ijebus? We all knew what d ijebus,ijeshas,ekitis n co not too organised army did to Ibadan well organised army during d kiriji war.

PenSniper:




Thank you.
But why must a king be barred from free movement If not for extra-corriculum additions to make the throne look different from what it used to be perhaps for mischief-making ?
In a photo of Yoruba kings with his royal majesty's representative in Nigeria in Ile Ife in 1937, the then oba of benin was present. What changed that tradition of freedom of movement into enslavement in his place/kingdom ?

No idea, but it would seem traditionally the Omo N'oba does not wander from his throne much, I guess the necessities of the time involving colonial powers was why the Akenzua II had to attend meetings and conferences as the representative of his kingdom. As the Yoruba say "a le fa ori leyin olori"

On the note of head shaving it is also very similar in how palace chiefs and palace hands shave half of some of their head.

The argument over who came first or second is very cute and all but when it comes to indisputable historical facts, the undeniable truth is that the Benin Empire was the most dominant kingdom in southern Nigeria, annexing vast areas of both Yoruba and Igbo areas, with its expansion halted solely by colonialism, which was resisted fiercely. When it comes to culture, the Binis were far ahead of other tribes in what we know as Nigeria today, being sophisticated artisans and builders.

So Whether the first oba of Benin was a son of Oduduwa or not, the Benin empire has always been far greater than any Yoruba kingdom in history.

hehehe...... contradicting mythical history!

Even the word arab is coined from yoruba,cos the ancient arabs were jet black of southern egypt known today as sudan,not white or red of today,ishmeal mum hagar was a complete african black woman.

quickly:



Yorubas lived in ancient egypt not the egypt of today full of arabs but anicient egypt full of blacks

U need to do your research ...ppl were walking those days and horse or donkey dey. walk and rest continue. have ppl not walked from lagos to abuja before??

Read precolonial africa

EGYPT /YORUBA
Oni (title of Osiris) Oni (title of the king of Ife)
Wu (rise) Wu (rise)
. Ere (python/ Serpent) Ere (Python / Serpent)
. Horise (a great god) Orisha (a great god)
Sen (group of worshippers) Sin ( to worship)
. Ged (to chant0 Igede (a chant)
. Ta (sell / offer) Ta (sell/offer)
8. Sueg (a fool) Suegbe (a fool)
. On ( living person) One ( living person)
. Kum (a club) Kumo( a club)
. Enru (fear / terrible) Eru (fear / terrible
. Kun / qun (brave man) Ekun (title of a brave man)
14. Odonit (festival) Odun (festival)
15. Ma or mi (to breath) Mi. (to breathe)
17. Adumu (a water god) Adumu (a water god)
18. Khu (to kill) Ku (die)
19. Rekha (knowledge} Larikha (knowledge)
20 Hika (evil) Ika (evil)
21 Mhebi (humble) Mebi, humble to ones family
22 Sata (perfect) Santan (perfect)
23 Unas (lake of fire) Ina (fire)
24 Tan (complete) Tan (complete)
25 Beru (force of emotion) Beru (fear)
26 Em (smell) Emi (smell)
27 Pa (open) Pa (break open)
28 Bi (to become) Bi (to give birth, to become)
29 Hepi (a water god) Ipi (a water god)
30 Sami (water god) Sami (a water god)
31 Osiri (a water god) Oshiri (a water god)
32 Heqet � Re (frog deity) Ekere (the frog)
33 Feh (to go away) Feh (to blow away)
34 Kot (build) Ko (build)
35 Kot (boat) Oko (boat)
36 Omi (water) Omi (water)
37 Ra (time) Ira (time)
39 Budo (dwelling place) Budo (dwelling place)
40 Dudu (black image of Osiris) Dudu (black person)
41 Un (living person) Una (living person)
42 Ra (possess) Ra (possess/buy)
43 Beka (pray/confess) Be or ka (to pray or confess)
44 Po (many) Po (many/cheap)
45 Horuw (head) middle Egyptian Ori (head) (Ijebu)
46 Min (a god) Emin (spirit)
47 Ash (invocation) Ashe (invocation)
48 Aru (mouth) Arun (mouth ) Ilaje
49 Do (river) Odo (river)
50 Do (settlement) Udo (settlement)
51 Shekiri (water god) Shekiri (a water god)
52 Bu (a place) Bu ,a place
53 Khepara (beetle Akpakara (beetle)
54 No (a water god Eno (a water god)
55 Ra -Shu (light after darkness Uran-shu (the light of the moon
56 Run-ka (spirit name) Oruko (name)
57 Deb/dib to pierce Dibi (to pierce)
58 Maat (goddess of justice Mate (goddess of justice)
59 Aru (rise) Ru (rise up)
60 Fa (carry) Fa (pull)
61 Kaf (pluck) Ka (pluck)
62 Bu bi (evil place) Bubi (evil place)
63 In- n (negation In-n (negation)
64 Iset (a water god) Ise (a water god)
65 Shabu (watcher) Ashonbo (watcher)
66 Semati (door keeper) Sema (lock/shut the door)
67 Khenti amenti (big words of Osiris Yenti � yenti (big, very big)
68 Ma (to know) Ma (to know)
69 Bebi, a son of osiris) Ube, a god
70 Tchatcha chief (they examined the death to see if they tricked tsatsa (a game of tricks, gambling )
71 Ren( animal foot) Ren (to walk)
72 Ka (rest) Ka (rest/tired)
73 Mu (water) Mu (drink water)
74 Abi (against) Ubi (against / impediment)
75 Reti (to beseech) Retin (to listen)
76 Hir (praise) Yiri (praise)
77 Ta(spread out) Ta (spread out)
78 Kurud (round) Kurudu (round)
79 Ak � male Ako (male)
80 Se � to create Se (to create)
81 Hoo (rejoice) Yo (rejoice)
82 Kamwr (black) Kuru (extremely black
83 Omitjener (deep water) Omijen (deep water)
84 Nen, the primeval water mother) Nene (mother
85 Ta (land) Ita (land junction)
86 Horiwo (head) Oriwo (head)
87 Ro (talk) Ro (to think)
88 Kurubu (round) Kurubu (deep and round)
89 Penka (divide) Kpen (divide)
90 Ma-su (to mould) Ma or su (to mould)
91 Osa (time) Osa (time)
92 Osa (tide) Osa ( tide)
93 Fare (wrap) Fari (wrap)
94 Kom (complete) Kon (complete)
95 Edjo (cobra) Edjo (cobra)
96 Didi (red fruit) Diden (red)
97 Ba (soul) Oba (king) soul of a people
98 Ke (hill) Oke( hill
99 Anubis (evil deity) Onubi (evil person)
100 Kan (one: Middle Egyptian) Okan one)
101 Nam (water god) Inama (water god)

http://www.ankhonline.com/ankh_num_16/ankh_16_t_obenga_ancient%20egyptian%20and%20modern%20yoruba.pdf

AreaFada2:


Well, any Itsekiri who speaks it fluently should understand a good amount of Yoruba. It is a Yoruboid language.

Itsekiri were mostly Ijebu and some other Yoruba groups who settled there.

The Royal family & some other noble families came from Benin.

As usual, over the years, the nobles/royalty also adopted the Yoruboid ways/language.

The Royal family of Sweden is French, but the Swedes are not French.

Awo was said to have been surprised just how close to Yoruba the Itsekiri culturally were.

Thanks bro, now I get the whole gist we all need to know history of our selves because if you look at it critically there is no cause for any supremacy and us fighting ourselves over nothing

bokohalal:
The Oba of Benin did not attend the ceremony.

Oba of Benin sent representatives to the coronation ceremony

9jacrip:


LOL, stay having our back bro - we're starting to have land issues with non-Ife and we may go to war soon. So y'all need to prepare for our call any moment from now.

There's an Epe in Ondo, any connection with the one in Lagos?

Hopefully, the Ooni won't put us and the throne in bad light soon.

Na w aoo.. na so una lazy ni? Cant you guys raise your own armies ni? This is one of the reasons I will always and forever adore the throne of the Alafin over the Ooni

YourNemesis:


lol, so true.
The real Oyo-Ile is in Kwara state near the Moshi River, Just south of Bariba territory.

Yep, the Oyo that built the empire died a long time ago.

What we have now is a propped up 'town' that should be called its real name 'Ago Oja' not Oyo.

Old Oyo migrants are in Modakeke, Ode Omu, Gbongan - should they also rename themselves to Oyo and have Alaafins? Oyo's case is similar to the Owu - declined but with replica

sweetgala:



About the 80% I don't know brother cause, he only did 21 days in Olofi rather than the 90 days as per usual, I've been told a few things to the effect that he may not be comfortable with taking many sacrifices.

He is not the first Ooni to be a Christian, Adesoji never missed church be it midweek or Sunday, maybe we shld not talk it out in public space it's delicate.

He was supposed to come to my compound and sleep under the same roof as the Orisa, be initiated into stuff - all taking a number of days. He came but somethings happened; like you said we should keep it out of public space.

The Ooni and Yoruba kings generally should forget about Christianity or Jesus once they give themselves up to ascend the throne. Disturbing Jesus or forming after eating different stuff, bowing to different deities, drinking and initiating into stuff already defeats the purpose of Christianity/Islam.

Baba Aderemi, to me, was the last concrete Ooni we have had.

sweetgala:


No be play ooh I wouldn't lie the way he won using PDP and GEJ tactics of plug every hole with enough money didn't go down well with many.

This is a man who had an EFCC case which I have been told by someone who managed land for Ooni Sijuwade and was close to him like a neck muscle is very valid and didn't stick because he has powerful friends and threatened to reveal some nasty secrets on Ooni Sijuwade.

He is young and energetic just like Sijuwade when he ascended the throne but the future is yet to tell what would become of him. He seems enterprising even if that does involve shady dealings and less than ethical indulgence. But this is Nigeria.

As concerned his new wife , his first marriage was dead on arrival from what I heard before he became king and the lady did not even support him becoming king, she didn't think he deserved it apparently. If he so chooses he can Mary from anywhere, thou from what I've read it seems his new bride is Bini but whose family have strong ties in Ife going back.

It almost seems like it is a marriage of convenience, like he was gifted a beautiful young bride for the purpose rather than him finding a loved companion, and the girl married into nobility and gains honour. Win- win his first wife would remain the Olori always thou, he can not divorce her.

He is only the second to ever ascend from Agbedegbede and may be the last , I would assume Lafogido would make moves to dissolve the Geisi family when they gain the throne.

Sijuade started the money trend, besides all aspirants spent money too and in the scheme of things he is that rich compared to others. The rotation decree was his saving grace; else he for go bankrupt.

The efcc case was dropped a while back but has been dug out again. I guess serious homework has been done to nail him this time around. Sijuade is no more to defend himself so no one will take his revelatio serious and if he provides documents, Sijuade can not be prosecued anyway.

Strong tie from way back to Ife; how? I read Oluyare, Oluyare are captured Ugbos amd the compound/family has nothing to do with Bini. I want to know this connection.

I think once Lafogido or Oshinkola takes the throne, they should go to court to get the houses put in order. To me it is very much in disarray and portrays Ife in some type of poor light.

sweetgala:


You be wicked guy, you want to take Ogunwusi daughter and guy my guy Crisho pikin, see has that far head has spoiled the Omisore name, there are at least 40 Omisore known to my family closely and the family now must number in the 200+ grandkids and all , they are good people really.

Ogunwusi pikin set now. If Obatala conquer Oduduwa pikin after Olowu's mother and a number of my folks who married from ruling houses, e nor go bad na.

I like Omisore though, I just wonder why everyone hates him even when majority do not know the story or verified data on whatever he is being accused of.

sweetgala:


Penkelemesi indeed, the problem is thus; solving it would require the devolution of the 1980 rotation gazette which was meant to resolve this same issue.

The absence of true divination in selecting the next Ooni has also meant the tussle is greatly influenced by wealth and patronage.

Devolution and serious merging is what you're need men.

E ti Poju

Divination is present but usually last. For this Ooni, he got saved by the rotation gazette and after buying everyone in the other ruling houses in Giesi out, his only competition, his older brother was prevailed upon to step down for him - leaving him to be the only candidate.

sweetgala:


Penkelemesi indeed, the problem is thus; solving it would require the devolution of the 1980 rotation gazette which was meant to resolve this same issue.

The absence of true divination in selecting the next Ooni has also meant the tussle is greatly influenced by wealth and patronage.

Devolution and serious merging is what y'all need men.

E ti Poju

Divination is present but usually last. For this Ooni, he got saved by the rotation gazette and after buying everyone in the other ruling houses in Giesi out, his only competition, his older brother was prevailed upon to step down for him - leaving him to be the only candidate.

sweetgala:


I know , no wonder the Olojo festival takes a toll on the Ooni given he has to pay a short visit to all royal houses.

I can tell you for a fact this Ooni would not be the one to rectify this multiplication of royal lines, not if he wants to retain his crown.

He first has to deal with Ooni Sijuwade giving every one of the high chiefs/quarter heads the rank of Oba, and the many Oba in the Okos, even my uncle a sooko was made oba of Aiye

Loool e go waka ehn! Considering many ruling houses have been revived, na serious waka for am o.

If he does not do it, hopefully, Lafogido the real source will fix everything when dey ascend the throne. Imagine Ogunwusi or his daughter having a son then he goes to set up Adeyeye ruling house of Agbedegbede, Giesi - this is the reason for the proliferation of ruling houses in Ife. I think Okiti is with Lafogido but it is at Igbodo towards Ita Akogun then Wunmonije that is also with Lafogido is towards Igbo Itapa. Why have to use names to form ruling houses?

You want him to de-crown the same people who made him Ooni? Besides, would he also demote Ogunsuwa back to Baale because I think Sijuade elevated some chiefs to Oba because of Ogunsuwa. Although Sijuade had his excesses; imagine crowing someone as Oba Asa (king of culture) and he goes about with paraphernalia of a true Oba? You can look him up - dude used to come to my compound, I disliked his vibe till he showed his hand by pulling a scam of about 10 Million using Ooni's name, my compound's name and his supposed royalty. He was banned from visiting Ife or parading himself as Oba anything but dude goes around every part of Yoruba land doing his thing . I stumbled on his wife's FB page and she had 'Olori Oba Asa' I was like these people must really take the irrelevant title serious - Obas such as these ones should be publicly dethroned using every arm of the media.

cbrass:


Na w aoo.. na so una lazy ni? Cant you guys raise your own armies ni? This is one of the reasons I will always and forever adore the throne of the Alafin over the Ooni

Lol omo we lazy o!

papparatzzi2013:
Benin people should simply read up on Ugie Erha Oba festival.

The two most important rituals of divine kingship are Ugie Erha
Oba, which honors the king's royal paternal ancestors, and Igue,
which augments the king's own mystical powers. These two rituals,
which were introduced by Oba Ewuare in the fifteenth century, are
equally concerned with the concept of divine kingship, although in
Ugie Erha Oba the king is the officiant of the rite and in Igue he is the
object (Ben-Amos 1980:82). Ugie Erha Oba is preceded by a ritual in
which all the families of Benin commemorate their own paternal
ancestors. This is followed by Ugie Igun, in which rites honoring each
former king are performed individually. The rites honoring the father
of the present Oba, Ugie Erha Oba itself, begin with a greeting
ceremony, Otue, in which the living king receives the homage of all
his chiefs and titleholders, in order of their rank. They greet him and
receive gifts of kola nuts and palm wine in return, thus dramatically
showing their acceptance of his superiority and of their own rank in the
Benin sociopolitical hierarchy. In the central rite of Ugie Erha Oba,
the Oba appears in public, dressed lavishly (fig. 11), preceded by the
Ifiento, retainers who clear a path for him with magically charged
bracelets (see fig. 49). Sacrifices are performed to appease evil spirits,
honor the earth, and to commemorate the Oba's father, the focus of the
day's events. The chiefs, dressed elaborately, again demonstrate their
support and reverence for the king by dancing past him with upraised
ceremonial eben swords (fig. 12). The king, dressed in his most
elaborate beaded costume, then performs in similar fashion with an
eben before the altar dedicated to his father. Ugie Erha Oba concludes
with a ritual called Iron, in which the seven Uzama engage in a mock
battle with supporters of the king, who eventually triumph (fig. 13).

This part of the festival refers to the past conflicts between the Oba and
the Uzama, [b]who represent the original people of Benin as opposed to
the alien rulers from Ife.[/b] The inclusion of Iron in the ceremony
honoring the ancestors of the king emphasizes the supremacy of the
Obas and the struggles that were necessary for them to achieve it; it
also indicates the Oba's ability to vanquish any enemies who may
oppose him during the coming year; finally, it illustrates the historical
consciousness that has motivated so much of Benin art and ritual.

I guess many Benin people would have witnessed or heard of this ceremony. Certainly, the battles between Ogiamien & Oba Ewedo, and between subsequent Obas & Uzama/ancient senior nobles for supremacy from an Oba that was simply a primus inter pares to a sovereign ruling over a centralised kingdom/later empire are stuff of history & folklore.

But it was the Uzama chiefs led by Oliha who went to get Prince Ekaladerhan from Ife in the first place and not actually his son Oranmiyan, but had to accept Oranmiyan just to ensure Ogiso bloodline continue to rule.

They were much more concerned about influence of people who came from Ife with Oranmiyan. Like the Oloton, who's the keeper of royal ancestral shrine till tomorrow. They feared those people might bring Ife system to Benin, against the established Igodo/Benin system of the Ogisos.
It was also about maintaining own personal influence.

Remember that the Uzama defied Ogiamien, ruler of Igodo that time & son of usurping ruler, Evian, who took power after Ogiso Owodo, the last Ogiso/Obagodo died without an heir. His only heir having been maliciously banished, presumed dead until discovered in Ife.

Ugie Erhoba honours all royal ancestors. But Ododuwa is not in the roll call of Benin Obas because he never was Oba of Benin. Even Oranmiyan did not stay long enough for Ododuwa to have used him to influence Benin. In fact, Oranmiyan never even set foot in Oredo/Benin proper.

His palace was in a village outskirt of Benin. He was in Egor area, though now grown to meet Benin but many kilometres away from Benin then. Evian/Ogiamien prevented him. It took Oba Ewedo, great, great grandson of Oba Eweka I, several battles to enter Benin proper and build a palace. About 100 years after Oranmiyan left Benin.

About 530 years after Oranmiyan, in 1714, Anne, the Queen of England died heirless despite having conceived 18 times and had some kids that all died, the royal descendant of English royal family, George the Elector of Hanover became King of England. British parliament had passed the Act of Settlement in 1701 that forbade Catholics becoming King/Queen of England. Till today. The mother of George, The Princess Sofia of Hannover was made crown princess. With her descendants as heirs after her. So far not Catholic. But Sofia died three months before Anne. So George became King.

George who was raised German and barely spoke English did not feel comfortable in England. So he appointed Robert Walpole, an English man to rule as Chief minister on his behalf while George mostly lived in Germany. That position became Prime minister of England.

Even in 1066, William of Normandy waged war on England successfully to claim the crown of his dead relative, King of England.

Anecdotally, the position of modern prime minister began earlier in 1624 when French King Louis XIII made Cardinal Richelieu his chief minister.
So bringing a royal descendant back to be King is something quite normal. Even in Europe. For various reasons.

The reason for this epistle is to illustrate that royal ceremonies in Benin not only have a meaning but also a very detailed and logical history behind it. Sometimes also reflected in the history of other distant countries.

AreaFada2:


I guess many Benin people would have witnessed or heard of this ceremony. Certainly, the battles between Ogiamien & Oba Ewedo, and between subsequent Obas & Uzama/ancient senior nobles for supremacy from an Oba that was simply a primus inter pares to a sovereign ruling over a centralised kingdom/later empire are stuff of history & folklore.

But it was the Uzama chiefs led by Oliha who went to get Prince Ekaladerhan from Ife in the first place and not actually his son Oranmiyan, but had to accept Oranmiyan just to ensure Ogiso bloodline continue to rule.

They were much more concerned about influence of people who came from Ife with Oranmiyan. Like the Oloton, who's the keeper of royal ancestral shrine till tomorrow. They feared those people might bring Ife system to Benin, against the established Igodo/Benin system of the Ogisos.
It was also about maintaining own personal influence.

Remember that the Uzama defied Ogiamien, ruler of Igodo that time & son of usurping ruler, Evian, who took power after Ogiso Owodo, the last Ogiso/Obagodo died without an heir. His only heir having been maliciously banished, presumed dead until discovered in Ife.

Ugie Erhoba honours all royal ancestors. But Ododuwa is not in the roll call of Benin Obas because he never was Oba of Benin. Even Oranmiyan did not stay long enough for Ododuwa to have used him to Influence Benin. In fact, Oranmiyan never even set foot in Oredo/Benin proper.

His palace was in village outskirt of Benin. He was in Egor area, though now grown to meet Benin but many kilometres away from Benin then. Evian/Ogiamien prevented him. It took Oba Ewedo, great, great grandson of Oba Eweka I, several battles to enter Benin proper and build a palace. About 100 years after Oranmiyan left Benin.

About 530 years after Oranmiyan, in 1714, Anne, the Queen of England died heirless despite having conceived 18 times and had some kids that all died, the royal descendant of English royal family, George the Elector of Hannover became King of England. British parliament had passed the Act of Settlement in 1701 that forbade Catholics becoming King/Queen of England. Till today. The mother of George, the Princess Sofia of Hannover was made crown princess. With her descendants as heirs after her. So far not Catholic. But Sofia died three months before Anne. So George became King.

George who was raised German and barely spoke English did not feel comfortable in England. So he appointed Robert Walpole, an English man to rule as Chief minister on his behalf while George mostly lived in Germany. That position became Prime minister of England.

Even in 1066, William of Normandy wage war on England successfully to claim the crown of his dead relative, King of England. Anecdotally, the position of modern prime minister began earlier in 1624 when French King Louis XIII made Cardinal Richelieu his chief minister.
So bringing a royal descendant back to be King is something quite normal. Even in Europe. For various reason.

The reason for this epistle is to illustrate that ceremonies in Benin not only have a meaning but also a detailed and logical history behind it. Sometimes also reflected in the history of other distant countries.

Bro I dey feel you gan, you know alot of history, but how did you know all these

cbrass:


Bro I dey feel you gan, you know alot of history, but how did you know all these

Lol. Thanks.

I began listening to elders at a very young age. Early interest. I was lucky to have a close relative who wrote & taught the history.
I also have relatives who are palace chiefs, and some dukes of the Kingdom.

Any country I visit or live in, I go to their museums and try familiarising myself with their history. Funny enough, I find Benin arts and history taking a prominent place in these foreign museums. Aside Egyptian history, no other African arts draws more people than Benin one. Not even Nubian or Ethiopian sections.

But crucially, it's also part of my ancient family history.

Kgdavid:
The argument over who came first or second is very cute and all but when it comes to indisputable historical facts, the undeniable truth is that the Benin Empire was the most dominant kingdom in southern Nigeria, annexing vast areas of both Yoruba and Igbo areas, with its expansion halted solely by colonialism, which was resisted fiercely. When it comes to culture, the Binis were far ahead of other tribes in what we know as Nigeria today, being sophisticated artisans and builders.

So Whether the first oba of Benin was a son of Oduduwa or not, the Benin empire has always been far greater than any Yoruba kingdom in history.

You can't annex what is already yours, by the time the Benin kingdom was expanding it was already the territory of an expansive Yoruba lineage from Ife who had already lorded over much of those same Yoruba areas for many years. It would seem they moved their base to a different area for economic or geographical purposes.

9jacrip:


Ogunwusi pikin set now. If Obatala conquer Oduduwa pikin after Olowu's mother and a number of my folks who married from ruling houses, e nor go bad na.

I like Omisore though, I just wonder why everyone hates him even when majority do not know the story or verified data on whatever he is being accused of.

That guy was just a whipping boy to take the fall during all that Bola Ige saga and the whole dabacle of Bisi Akande, the guy nah family in a way, he married my cousin but the wahala he has given us no be today.

I can remember seeing him often while growing up at mama's Christmas parties in ibadan. Cool guy sometimes

AreaFada2:


Lol. Thanks.

I began listening to elders at a very young age. Early interest. I was lucky to have a close relative who wrote & taught the history.
I also have relatives who are palace chiefs, and some dukes of the Kingdom.

Any country I visit or live in, I go to their museums and try familiarising myself with their history. Funny enough, I find Benin arts and history taking a prominent place in these foreign museums. Aside Egyptian history, no other African arts draws more people than Benin one. Not even Nubian or Ethiopian sections.

But crucially, it's also part of my ancient family history.

Now I see. Its very good to have elders that know history live around you. Have been to the national museum onikan some many years back am not sure if I remember seeing any benjn arts there how come we have it in foreign museums instead of here

9jacrip:


Loool e go waka ehn! Considering many ruling houses have been revived, na serious waka for am o.

If he does not do it, hopefully, Lafogido the real source will fix everything when dey ascend the throne. Imagine Ogunwusi or his daughter having a son then he goes to set up Adeyeye ruling house of Agbedegbede, Giesi - this is the reason for the proliferation of ruling houses in Ife. I think Okiti is with Lafogido but it is at Igbodo towards Ita Akogun then Wunmonije that is also with Lafogido is towards Igbo Itapa. Why have to use names to form ruling houses?

You want him to de-crown the same people who made him Ooni? Besides, would he also demote Ogunsuwa back to Baale because I think Sijuade elevated some chiefs to Oba because of Ogunsuwa. Although Sijuade had his excesses; imagine crowing someone as Oba Asa (king of culture) and he goes about with paraphernalia of a true Oba? You can look him up - dude used to come to my compound, I disliked his vibe till he showed his hand by pulling a scam of about 10 Million using Ooni's name, my compound's name and his supposed royalty. He was banned from visiting Ife or parading himself as Oba anything but dude goes around every part of Yoruba land doing his thing . I stumbled on his wife's FB page and she had 'Olori Oba Asa' I was like these people must really take the irrelevant title serious - Obas such as these ones should be publicly dethroned using every arm of the media.

You be Ife true and true, my brother I salute you.

I like this kings modern vibes but when you realise the detriment to traditions this his reign offers its becomes sad.

According to people present , when Aderemi was much younger beholding him on Olojo day you'd think he was high on opium because he would be so rampaging with his eyes blazing , drunken with power.

Those days are long gone, or the several oros that took place every night , it made Ife had to habitate because you don't dare be out after 8pm.

For those newly crowned Oba that's matter is something else, the 7 quarter heads need to be demoted to Ba'ale or whatever they were before their obaship which for all purposes does has not changed their function, they remain the custodians of tradition and the families to whom certain deities are assigned, and by proxy the rulers of their regions on behalf of the Ooni , dukes/lords in essence.

The Oba Okos need to be reverted too, you can't have 30 minor Obas in an area the size of Lagos without conflict.

Imagine if Ogunwusi tried to impose his son as the successor to the throne, I don't know why I feel he'll try it when the time comes. He has already flouted a few rules why not go all the way.

cbrass:

Now I see. Its very good to have elders that know history live around you. Have been to the national museum onikan some many years back am not sure if I remember seeing any benjn arts there how come we have it in foreign museums instead of here

Several reasons. Benin also has one of the few national museums in Nigeria. So logical that most Benin arts should be in National Museum in Benin.

The major reason for being in Museums abroad is because when British Forces invaded Benin, razed the palace and burned most of the city in 1897, apart from deporting Oba Ovonramwen to Calabar, they also carted away thousands of Benin arts to Europe. From Europe, some found their way to USA.

About 2,400 pieces are in foreign museums: British Museum (700 pieces), Berlin Museum (580), Oxford Museum (327), Hamburg/Germany Museum(196) , Leiden/Holland Museum (98), Dresden/Germany Museum (182), New York Museum (163), Philadelphia/USA Museum (100), Leipzig/Germany Museum(87), Cologne/Germany Museum (73), Boston/USA Museum (28). And many but unknown number in private collections across the globe. Meanwhile Britain have only returned just a single item since 1897.

They were sold by the British to cover the cost of the war against Benin.

Meanwhile, only about 50 original pieces like the looted ones are in Nigeria as a whole. Most in Benin Museum are just replicas.

Many other museums/collections worldwide have replicas. Of course these replicas are NOT counted among the looted pieces.

@kgdavid



This Benin supremacy claim started by the present King of Benin and it's a form of political liberation from the yorubas. Go read the book written by the portuguese explorer (joao afonso aviero). He stated how the Obas of Benin accorded the Oni of Ife then and till modern history.

https://books.google.com.ng/books?id=hBTqPX4G9Y4C&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159&dq=joao+afonso+aveiro+ife&source=bl&ots=FQdVs4h4at&sig=LM0fpsmfzDkT7cG4SORdc1RsGyw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjoybr0mZHLAhWFDA8KHQ4UBukQ6AEINDAE#v=onepage&q=joao%20afonso%20aveiro%20ife&f=false