Today in History:100yrs Ago-The Pacification of Benin Kingdom.-1

[ademola Iyi-Eweka]

Benin slept while Oba Ovonramwen was being smuggled out of Benin City by
British soldiers. The first group of chiefs who went to chief Agho Obaseki's
house could not believe it, as they were refused entry into the house. They
had gone there to perform the traditional "waking of the King" ceremony
early in the morning as they have been doing for years. This ceremony is a
prayer session with the king early in the morning just as Xtians and other
religious faith does today. "The whiteman has taken him away," they were
told. With bowed heads they retreated from the house with their backs as if
avoiding a plague. They had lost their voice because they were stunned to
ask any questions. Soon the news spread quietly throughout Benin City and
then to the villages. Markets that were already in sessions broke up and
everybody went home. People refused to go their respective farms. The Edos
huddled in front of their fire places crying quietly.Their "Divine King, a
representative of God on earth, The man who can kill without looking back,
The Lion slayer with a fist and the man who sits on the top of mountain to
get a better view of the world than anybody else" taken away just like that.
The Benin people liken that day to another in their history called "EDE
EKALADERHAN---EKALADERHAN'S DAY." The Edos says that when Ekaladerhan the
only surving son of OGISO OWODO in the first period of Benin History
{IGIDOMIGIDO ERA} was being led out to be sacrificed innocently for the sins
committed in his father's harem, the ELEMENTS were on his side. The day was
so dull and uninspiring that the Edos believe that Ekalederhan was innocent.
Therefore any dull and uninspiring day with a mournful tune to march is
called Ekaladerhan's day. The Edos belive that Ekaladerhan is the same as
man called ODODUWA,ODUDUWA,ODUA, IDODUWA, IZODUWA, OGHENE OF UHE--ILE IFE,
because his executioners spared him, for they knew he was a victim of a
conspiracy.
On Sept 15 1897 the elements wept on behalf of Oba Ovonramwen. But when Edo
people were able to regain their voices after some days, only one word came
out of their throats and that was AGHO [AGHO OBASEKI]. And the Royalists and
Loyalists in Benin were to hound him for the rest of his life until he died
in 1922!
Meanwhile Oba Ovonramwen was on board the IVY, a British ship cruising at top
speed towards Old Calabar with Ralph Moor's precious cargo. They were afraid
of a rescue attempt. Oba Ovonramwen's eighty or so wives were handed over to
their relatives. Only two were allowed to join him later on at old Calabar
where he lived until he death and was announced in 1914
The following chiefs were appointed members of the Native Council to rule or
govern Benin--Osague, Imaran, Oshodin, Ehioba, Uwangue,Aiyobahan, Agho
Obaseki,Ihaza,Ehondo,Osula, Obahiagbon[the then Eson of Benin].
Although Oba Ovonramwen was gone, his traditional Prime Minister was still
around. Iyase Okizi was the leader of the war party. He actually gave the
order for the Jan. 4th. 1897 Benin Massacre. He had surrendered to Captain
Roupell in April 1897. He not only confessed giving the order,but got
annoyed at seeing Yoruba soldiers serving under British Flag. At his trial,
he spent most of the time attacking the yorubas serving in British colors
than defending himself.His anger was based on the fact some of these soldiers
had served under him while on military assignment in Akure and Ekiti areas.
Some he captured during the campaign and spared their lives. But it was Oba
Ovonramwen Ralph Moor wanted and that was what he got.
And so Iyase Okizi, who was himself very happy that Oba Ovonramwen was out of
his way, was made the administrator of Benin from 1897-1900. He tried to set
up an administration. He started building a new palace bigger and better
than the destroyed Oba's Palace. Then suddenly in 1900, he was found dead
on his bed. His death was attributed to either witchcraft and poison.
The royalists were probably at work inspite of the fact that Oba Ovonramwen
was not around.

Iyi Eweka..

[Philip S. Abode]

> The Benin people liken that day to another in their history called "EDE
> EKALADERHAN---EKALADERHAN'S DAY." The Edos says that when Ekaladerhan the
> only surving son of OGISO OWODO in the first period of Benin History
> {IGIDOMIGIDO ERA} was being led out to be sacrificed innocently for the sins
> committed in his father's harem, the ELEMENTS were on his side. The day was
> so dull and uninspiring that the Edos believe that Ekalederhan was innocent.
> Therefore any dull and uninspiring day with a mournful tune to march is
> called Ekaladerhan's day. The Edos belive that Ekaladerhan is the same as
> man called ODODUWA,ODUDUWA,ODUA, IDODUWA, IZODUWA, OGHENE OF UHE--ILE IFE,
> because his executioners spared him, for they knew he was a victim of a
> conspiracy.

There seem to be conflicting versions of the relationship between Edo and
Yoruba, the most fundamental one being about their respective origin.
Apparrently, the above statement is a theory of Yoruba origin. However, a
similar if not identical account has been advanced to explain the origin
of Ijebu people (Rev. Johnson: History of Yoruba) Do you have an
alternative explanation regarding the origin of the Ijebu. What probable
dates would you ascribe to the events surrounding "Ekaladerhan"?

Also, what do you know about the relationship between Sobe and Benin? One
account had it that Sobe had a pride of place in the precolonial Benin and
that during coronation, the Oba would not be crowned in the absence of
Sobe delegation.

Ilesanmi Omoaregba Abode

[ademola Iyi-Eweka]

In message Sun, 6 Apr 1997 09:47:27 -0700 (PDT),

My dear Abode:
You have asked about three questions in this your posting. Most of the
questions you asked, I dealt with in some postings on this net last year.
I did not save them on hard disk because of space. But I will answer one
question right away without refering to any book. And that is the
relationship between Sobe and Benin City:
SOBE [UHOBE] was part and parcel of the ancient Benin Empire. Sobe's
language is a dialect within the Edo language group, we generally call ORA
[OWAN].Sobe' dialect is not different from what Ishan[Esan], Ika [Eka],
Isoko, Itsekhiri, some western Ijaw dialect or
Urhobo are in the Edo language group. BINI is a dialect within the group.
>From about the 14th century, the ORA-Speaking group which included
SOBE[UHOBE] gained certain rights over all the other clans within the Edo
language group [with the exception of the BINIS]. It was directly related to
Oba Ozolua who lived the last years of his life in that area. A royal
decree went forth which proclaimed every ORA-SPEAKING[OWAN] man a prince.
That decree gave Oras a conspicous position in ascension to the Benin
throne. That is why Owan-speaking Edo man do not prostrate before the Oba
of Benin. You may also notice that until a few years ago, there were no
chiefs among the Owans. The enthronement of OMO BARE as a traditional
ruler/chief was done with reluntance by Oba Akenzua the Second in view of
the old royal decree and also opposition from the Owans.
The coming of the whiteman and the establishment of a Western Regional govt
at Ibadan created a situation , where everybody in then Western Region was
described as a yoruba man. The way and manner Benin was destroyed by Ralph
Moor added more insult to injury. When Oba Eweka the second was to ascend
the throne in 1914, he was asked to sign a document which effectively ended
his claim to Ondo, Akure, Ekiti, Ijesha,Owo,the whole of Delta Province,
the Ora-speaking areas[owan] Ika,Afemai and even Ishan[Esan]. But the
British Resident soon discovered that Oba Eweka still had control over
these areas through the Enogies, the chiefs and some who call themselves Obas
in some parts of the yoruba speaking areas. Many were members of
the Benin royal family. And they still are. Imagine the Oba of Lagos[Eleko
was the title recognised in Benin] saying with fanfare in the early eighties
that he was going home, as he was preparing for a visit to the Oba Of Benin.
If you are from Sobe, inspite of all the yorubanisation going on there,
you are an Edo man. The same goes for IFON. When Ifon and Sobe was not put
into the old Western Region rather than the Midwest State when it was
created inspite of the argument put forth by the Edos ,you effectively
lost your Edo connection politically.
Your other questions I will deal with at a later date.

Iyi Eweka.

[Bamidele Olufunmilayo Ademola-olateju]

Kingdom.-1 -Reply

Dear Ademola,
Peace, can you please educate me on the relationship between the
Akoko's and Benin? In Akoko South East we call our kings Ovie (e.g
Epinmi, Isua, Sosan, Ipe etc) and we speak our dialects that
resembles Ishan and a mix of Itsekiri language in addition to Yoruba
in the mainstream. Apart from this, the culture is a generous mix of
Ekiti and Benin. Thank you.
Bamidele.

=======================================================
"Which one of the favors of your lord will you deny?"
=======================================================