The Coronation Ceremony of the Oba of Benin as a Celebration of the Male Physique With Additions of the Female Presence: An Image Feast from Facebook and the Internet

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Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju

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Nov 18, 2016, 3:17:31 AM11/18/16

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The Coronation Ceremonies of the Oba of Benin as a Celebration of the Male Physique



    With Additions of the Female Presence



An Image Feast from Facebook and the Internet

Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju

Compcros

Comparative Cognitive Processes and Systems

"Exploring Every Corner of the Cosmos in Search of Knowledge"

Chief Victor Ekhator, then commissioner in Edo state, right, and Chief Osasere Ogiemwense, left, in conversation

                                                                                      Chief Victor Ekhator, left, Chief Osasere Ogiemwense, right, and another chief in the middle

The Oba, crowned and bedecked in his heavily symbolic clothing, holds aloft a chicken, over the head of a chief assisting him, as he crosses the symbolic Bridge of Transformation

Picture by Akintunde Akinleye

The Crown Prince, shown wearing a read cap in the centre of the picture, before his crowning as Oba, possibly in the process of setting forth from his palace at Uselu, attended by Uselu chiefs and

                                                                           a crowd of well wishers, crossing over into the heart of Benin in a sequence climaxing in the coronation

The Oba, in full coronation regalia, loaded with magical and symbolic objects, evoking the characterization of the Oba as 'the Anthill ', an image of complex unity and power emerging from the

synergy of diverse elements, as Joseph Nevadomy's description in "Kingship Succession Rituals in Benin. 3: The Coronation of the Oba", may be elaborated, attended by chiefs and watched by a crowd, on his way across the symbolic Bridge of Transformation

Picture by Akintunde Akinleye

Chief Osuan, preparing to receive the Crown Prince from the Uselu chiefs and escort him into Benin

Dancers wait in readiness

Picture by Pius Utomi Ekpei at Getty Images

Ambrose Osuan : "Chief Eribo performing the handing over of the Crown Prince to Chief Osuan and Chief Osa at the boundary of Uselu and Benin for the final stages of the coronation of the Oba of

Benin. Oba gha tor kpere ise"

"The Priest of Holy Aruosa [ a syncretism of classical Benin religion and Portuguese introduced Christianity] [ and attendants] blesses the way before the Crown Prince begins his coronation journey"

-Uto Tom in "The Unique Culture and People of the Great Benin Empire"

Picture by Omoregie Osakpolor

The Crown Prince Escorted into Benin by Chiefs Osuan and Osa and other chiefs and well wishers, as an accompanying chief performs the controversial action of consulting his mobile phone, inspiring the following discussion on Facebook : Nosa Ekpenede Idubor : "I dont.know if it was proper for him to check his text msg". Francisca Aihevba : " Maybe not, but I love how that simple act gives the picture a whole new meaning...."

The Crown Prince in procession, aided by chiefs

Picture by Omoregie Osakpolor

The Oba's Stool of Office, held aloft by chiefs

The Crown Prince, in red cap, backing the camera, standing opposite the Edign N'Use, dressed in white, his hands on the red coral beads on his chest, as they both play the Akhue game, one of the black seeds through which the game is played visible on the ground, through which the Crown Prince will arrive at the coronation name by which he will be known as Oba, as chiefs and other eager faces look on in excited attention

Picture by Chief Victor Ekhator