Royal walk to throne for Benin’s new Oba

Benin sons and daughters, especially those who have not witnessed the coronation of the Oba of Benin before were on hand to also give glamour to the activities as they sang and danced for the Crown Prince. Prince Erediauwa succeeds his father, the late Omo n’Oba n’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, whose death was announced […]

Benin sons and daughters, especially those who have not witnessed the coronation of the Oba of Benin before were on hand to also give glamour to the activities as they sang and danced for the Crown Prince.
Prince Erediauwa succeeds his father, the late Omo n’Oba n’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, whose death was announced earlier in April.
Before his journey to the throne began on October 8, the Crown Prince had completed all the required traditional rites, including the Emwinekhua, (royal funerals for the transited Oba Erediauwa).
Amongst the rites performed by the Crown Prince during Emwinekhuan were Iviore – a rite which represents purity and peace – Izakhue and Isoton where the Crown Prince made a foot procession from Uselu to Benin in the company of 201 palace chiefs.
The Isoton ceremony enables the Ediaken to formally take on the role of his late father.
Expatiating more, one of the palace chiefs, Chief Omon-Osaigie Utetenegiabi, the Obadolagbonyi of Benin Kingdom, said on his way to the ‘bachelor’s camp’ – Eko-Ohae, the Crown Prince will make a stop-over at Udin-Amamiesun-Amieuwa to symbolically climb an ancient palm tree which is about 500 years.
According to the rites, the moment the Crown Prince leaves the palace at Uselu, the Ediaken Palace will be permanently closed until another Ediaken is installed.
According to Chief Utetenegiabi, Oba Ewuare was the first oba to climb the tree to eat nuts during his suffering days.
He also said the Crown Prince will make a stop at Uselu Shear for blessings of the Queen Mother before he’s escorted to Iya-Akpan at the Five Junction, where sacrifices will be performed before he is handed over to Oredo chiefs by Uselu chiefs who then escort him to Eko-Ohae.
As the Crown prince prepared to move to Uzama two major families – Osa and Osuan – carrying a hand each of the Edaiken to Uzama were already on ground to lead him out of Eko-Ohae.
On his way he walked through Odeobawu, stopped over to pay special tributes to Aro-Emota and  Aro-Usama shrines before being handed over to the Uzama N’Ihiron.
The Crown Prince on Tuesday was accompanied to Uzama Palace by two royal drummers – Iguo-Shodin N’ Emaba and Ikpema N’Oba who play the drum to the dance steps of the prince. He’ll spend seven days here as coronation sacrifices and rituals continue.
The major coronation rites at Uzama, consisting Oliha, Edohen, Ezomon,  Ero,  Eholo N’Ire, Oloton and Ediaken, Daily Trust on Saturday learnt, are the prerogative of the Edion otherwise known as the Uzama N’Ihiron.
From here he proceeds to Use where he is expected to pick a name he would be called through the Izakhue game.
Daily Trust on Saturday reports that various societies such as Ifiento,  (oba’s soldiers) Ohenboba,  Asaka N’ Sohionba, Ewase, Holy Arousa and  other societies from different  communities of  Benin Kingdom fulfilled their responsibilities as the mammoth crowd struggled to catch glimpses.
Besides, as part of the coronation activities, the people of Ogbelaka and Eguadase communities on Thursday took the Ekasa dance – ‘dance of the spirit’ – to the Crown Prince at Uzama Palace.
According to the Bini history, the dance is performed by these communities during the coronation of a new oba and started in 1504 during the reign of Oba Esigie.
Only male children who have been initiated into the guild and have performed certain rites are qualified to be enlisted into the membership of the dance troupe.
The Ogbelaka dance troupe made up of 16 guilds, took off at Aruosa N’ Ogbelaka ceremonial shrine on Sapele Road by Ogbelaka Junction with members of the group dressed in white regalia and beads, armed with Ekasa wrapped with brown paper, later joined their counterpart from Eguadase Community at the King Square in Benin City to the Uzama Palace on Siluku Road.
At the palace, the troupe danced to the admiration of the guests and the Crown Prince who unveiled the Ekasa which was tied to a stick before the prying eyes of some high ranking Benin Palace Chiefs, amid cheers.
Among the flamboyant floats was, Peter Omokaro born of a Benin father and Italian mother. He said he was happy to perform the Ekasa dance, having participated during the coronation of Oba Erediauwa in 1979.
Speaking on the significance of the dance, Chief Robert Ohuoba, the Ohuoba of Benin who first participated in the dance at age of 17 during late Oba Erediauwa’s coronation and also participated in this said: “We have been preparing for this for over five months now. It is a ceremonial dance that is not experienced everyday in Benin Kingdom. It is once in an oba’s lifetime. I am a lawyer based in Lagos. I have to come home to participate in this dance,” he said.
Speaking on the coronation, an indigene of Uselu Mrs. Omouwa Omoregie said the three months spent by the crown prince in Uselu ushered in peace and tranquillity for the community.
She said it was her first time of witnessing the coronation of a new Oba of Benin and that she is now in a better position to relate the story to her children.
On his part, Chief Osamede Adun, the Aiyobahan of Benin Kingdom said he was 25 years old when the late Oba Erediauwa was crowned king in 1979 and that he stood among the crowd to watch the procession and coronation.
He said: “I was not a palace chief then. It is taking place now the same way they did it then.
“Today, I am the happiest person. Back then, I was looking from the crowd but today I am a top Palace chief. I am very happy to be near my oba.”
He described the Crown Prince as a man who abhors lies and upholds truth.
“I am advising all my fellow chiefs, if you are talking with our king, give him the true picture of things because when he later finds out that you are telling lies, he will never be happy with you,” he said.
Another chief who said he witnessed the coronation of Oba Akenzua, Chief Osarobo Orue, and the Oba Iyekeagbon of Benin Kingdom said the reign of the new Oba of Benin would bring peace than that of his predecessors.
“This is the third time I am witnessing the coronation of an Oba of Benin. I witnessed the coronation of Oba Akenzua, Oba Erediauwa and that of Edaiken N’Uselu. I am 100 years old now,” he said.
The new oba will be crowned in about a week.