geography of the edo nation
historical location
The people of Ancient Benin Kingdom, known as the Bronze people live on the South East Coast of West Africa and cover an area of about 4,000 square miles. There are five main dialects, Ancient Benin Kingdom proper, Ishan, Iybiesakon, Etsako, and Ekoko Edo. Others that emigrated from Ancient Benin Kingdom, often classified as non-Benin are Urhobos, Itsekiri, Ika, Ikwerri Ibos, Ogbas, Udowas, Ga of Ghana, and Onitsha Ibos.
great moat/wall of benin
Benin City is surrounded by two moats with high walls. The two moats are amebic in shape and were dug by two different Kings, about 200 years apart.
great moat/wall of benin
The outer wall, about 28 miles in perimeter, was dug in about 1280 A.D. by King Oguola (the 6th King of the 2nd dynasty), to keep his enemy away.
marriage practices of the edo peoples
ogamwen
In the past, potential suitors give his “service” known as “Ugamwen” to his prospective parents-in-law, helping them in farm work. Today, it is in terms of presentation of gifts such as yearly contribution of goats, turkey for the New Year/ Christmas celebration.
ancestor offering and marriage contract
On the day of the marriage contract is finalized, the suitor brings wines, kola nuts and coconuts as offerings to the ancestors of the girl. This is to notify the ancestors that the marriage of their daughter is about to take place and to ask their help to make it a fruitful and prosperous one. The marriage contract is then sealed with the payment of a token fee. Part of the kola nut is given to the groom as a present to his own ancestors.
wedding day
On the wedding day, this is the day of escorting the bride to her husband, the relatives and friends of the bride gather at her parent’s house to help carry her belongings to her husband’s house. Her father or mother does not participate in this escort. The husband sister or any female relative brings in a bowl of water in which coins or cowries (money used for transaction by the Ancient Benin Kingdom’s in the past) have been placed and wash the bride’s hand. This rite symbolizes the acceptance of her into the household and the money expresses the hope that the marriage will be a fruitful one. She is then led away to be bathed and she then eats a meal in solace. While this is going on, the husband entertains the bridal party.
burial practices
burial rites
Burial rites take seven (7) days for the ordinary people and fourteen (14) days for the king or for important chiefs. Just after death, the body is washed and laid on the bed inside the house. While the corpse is being prepared, the grave is dug. Ordinary persons are buried in the general cemetery, and the corpse is escorted there by the children. As the body is lowered in the grave, prayers to the effect that in the next incarnation the deceased may not meet the misfortunes that troubled him in the last are said
burial process on days 1 - 4
1st day:- Iwa-orimwin - “laying out of the corpse and embalmment”.
2nd day:- The male descendants and son-in-law of the deceased offer goats and foods to provide meal for the participants at the burial. Burial songs are sang throughout the nights till morning.
3rd day:- Izakhue – Eldest son of the decease slaughters a cow or goat to appease the Edion (departed elders) spirit of the family and the meat is consumed.
4th day:- The fourth day is used in preparation for the next day event, which is elaborate and time consuming.
burial process day 5
5th day:- Isoton – This is a procession of the deceased children through the town. Each grown up male son organizes it. In this procession, Okun (a box), decorated with a red cloth and brass ornaments which represents the prosperity of the deceased. If the procession is in Benin City, each group visits the statue of Emotan (a woman that lived in the fifteen Century honored by King Ewuare for her generosity) to pay respect. The gifts offered at this statue are collected by Akairo-mwon (the royal jester), who is the caretaker.
burial process day 6
6th day:- Okpovbie (wake keeping) takes place on the evening of the 6th day. During this evening, the children of the deceased entertain all the attendants. A person is usually chosen by divination and dressed up in fine clothes to represent the deceased. He is known as “Eno-derhayi” or the “deceased representative”. According to belief, on no account should he sleep during the night. If he does, it is believed that he will dream of the deceased and he will shortly die. People gather around him to keep him occupied till dawn.
burial process day 7
7th day:- Isuerhanfua “Casting away” - At dawn, the decease representative lead the procession to a nearby bush, where a framework of stick covered with cloth is erected. The decease representative pretends to sit on these, and then the other mourners do likewise. Finally, the structure collapses and its components are thrown away. A few hours later, Ukhure “staffs representing the deceased” is placed upright on the altars of the deceased. A goat is then slaughtered for the offering.
origins of the benin kingdom
benin kingdom recorded beginnings
The first recording of the Kingdom was around 900 A.D. and the first ruler known as Ogiso (God representation on Earth – an expression used to describe his greatness). There were about 31 Ogisos that ruled the Kingdom between 900 and 1200 A.D. Thereafter, a second dynasty of the King was established. The original name of the Kingdom was Igodomigodo, named after the first ruler Igod
oral record ogiso dynasty
About mid twelve century, Ancient Benin Kingdom witnessed a traumatic event during the last Ogiso Owodo’s reign, which almost collapsed the kingdom. History stated that Ogiso’s wives could not bear children. Meanwhile, one of his wives whom he married earlier as a prince had an only son called Ikaladeran. After a considerable period on the throne, the other wives began to worry about their bareness and felt Ogiso had brought this condition upon them, and so they resorted to the Oracle, one of the only way Ancient Benin people found solutions to their problems.
oral record ogiso dynasty
Upon consulting the seer (Also the medical doctor), Ogiso’s wives were told Ikaladeran was responsible for their infertility and unless he was sacrificed to the god of fertility, they won’t have children. After much pressure on the Ogiso by his wives, instead of having them desert him, yielded and ordered Ikaladeran offered for sacrifice. However, the guards that were instructed to sacrifice Ikaladeran outside Benin City set him free and ordered him to run away and never to return. After much wandering, Ikaladeran finally settled in Ile-Ife (which in Benin means I ran to safety) the birth place of the Yoruba Kingdom. Ikaladeran later founded his Kingdom under assumed name Oduduwa (which in Benin also means I have found road to prosperity).
oral record ogiso dynasty
As fate would have it, the Ogiso’s wives remained childless. Upon the death of Ogiso (Owodo), years later, there was no heir to the throne. The elders who had plotted his escape, revealed what they had done. A search was then mounted to locate Ikaladeran, and they finally caught up with him at Ile-Ife. He was now being worshipped as a King in his new place and when the search team requested him to return with them, he refused citing the Binis nonchalant attitude to his father’s decision to have him killed. After much pressure on him to return and himself knowing Binis might forcibly move him back to Benin City, he ordered his son Oranmiyan to go with them instead.
oral record eweka dynasty
When Oranmiyan arrived Benin City, he did not like his new home and returned back to Ile-Ife, from where later he went to found Oyo empire and became the first Alaffin of Oyo. However, before he left Benin, one of his wives bethrothed to him had a son named Eweka, who continued the second dynasty and became the first King. The current King Erediauwa is the 39th King of the second dynasty that started about 1170 A.D., after 31 previous Kings (Ogisos)
agriculture
Agriculture in Ancient Benin Kingdom varies. Yam is the main crop of the Benin people and it is planted in April and harvested in early September. Thee three main types of yams grown are white yam (called Emowe or Arebu), water yam (called Igiorua); and red yam (called Ikpen). The later yam is preferable, because it is hardier and stays on the ground for a longer period.
Other crops grown are corn, cassava (introduced in early 20 century, which most conservative Benin do not eat), plantains, coco-yams, and rice. Edible vegetables grown include Okro, Melons, Peppers, Groundnuts, Beans, Garden Eggs, etc. In the past, eating utensils were made out of pottery and gourds (from which spoons, plates, cups were produced).
