Why And How History Defines Who We Are (Part 5) By Mike Ozekhome, SAN

INTRODUCTION

In the last four parts, I have been able to demonstrate why and
how we must study history. By way of summary, history must be
taught across schools so that the new generation is well guided and
prevented from committing the mistakes of the past.
THE KINGDOM OF BENIN: A QUINTESSENTIAL REMINDER OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY

REMINISCENCES

While in primary school, I was taught the history of great
historical figures such as Vasco Dagama, Mungo Park, Clapperton,
Lander Brothers, Booker T. Washington, Prince Henry the Navigator,
George Washington Carver, Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, Mary
Slessor, Lady Nightingale, the Slave Trade and the Abolitionists,
etc. I had earlier, in part 2 of these historical series named
specific teachers that taught me history in primary school between
1964 and 1969. They fired the embers of my knowledge of the
indispensability of history in human affairs.

However, some other historical personalities and historical
facts that I have already dealt with, or yet to treat, were taught
me in secondary school, not primary school. In this categorical are
Kingdom of Benin, Oyo Empire, Mansa Musa, Songhai Empire, Haile
Sellasie, Kanem Borno Empire, the Asantes, Fantes, etc. I have
decided to write exclusively on the Benin Kingdom today. I have,
therefore, decided to devote more time to this unique Benin
Kingdom. Very proudly also, I am the ENOBAKHARE OF BENIN
KINGDOM and I sit comfortably in the pantheon of the
highest league of High Chiefs of Benin Kingdom, in the Oba’s
palace, called EGHAVBONORE. Our leader is Chief
Sam Igbe, the Iyase (traditional Prime Minister of Benin
Kingdom).

In this prestigious group you find the Eson of Benin Kingdom,
Chief Amos Osunbor, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David
Edebiri and the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief (Dr) Gabriel
Igbinedion, etc.

ORIGIN OF THE KINGDOM

The kingdom of Benin, or Benin Kingdom, or Benin Empire, or Edo
Empire, are one and the same reference to a large pre-colonial
African State of modern Nigeria. The Benin Kingdom which began in
the 900s when the Edo people settled in the rain forests of West
Africa, was one of the oldest and most highly developed Empires in
the coastal part of West Africa until its annexation by the British
Empire in 1897. By the 1400s, the people of Benin Kingdom had
created a very wealthy kingdom with a pre-eminently powerful ruler
known as the OBA. This Oba lived in beautiful
palaces decorated with shining brass.

These people who lived in small family groups, and who began to
cut down trees and make clearings in the forests, gradually
developed into a great Kingdom. The Kingdom was called
“Igodomigodo” and was ruled by a series of Kings
called the “Ogisos” (Kings of the
Sky). The first Ogiso was called Ogiso
Igodo, was wielded much influence and gained popularity as
a good ruler. Upon his death after a long reign,
Ere, his eldest son succeeded him. About the
12^th Century, a great battle for power erupted between
the warrior crown prince, Ekaladerhan (the only
son of the last Ogiso) and his young paternal uncle. Ekaladerhan
was sentenced to death as a result of the act of the first Queen
(who was barren) deliberately changing an oracle’s message to the
Ogiso. The Palace messengers who were directed to carry out the
royal instruction to execute Ekaladerhan, had mercy on him and set
him free at Ughoton near Benin. The death of
Ekaladerhan’s father ended the Ogiso dynasty. The people and royal
King makers preferred their late King’s son, Ekaladerhan, as their
king.

The exiled prince who had by this time changed his name from
Ekaladerham to Izoduwa
(“I have chosen the path of prosperity”),
sojourned across forests and found his way to Ile-Ife in
Yorubaland. Ekaladerhan arrived Ile-Ife at a time the Yoruba oracle
had pronounced that their king will come out of the forest. Thus,
when Ekaladerhan arrived Ile-Ife, he was promptly and warmly
received by the native people and given the title of Oni
Ile-Ife Imadoduwa (now known as Ooni of Ile-Ife
Oduduwa). The elders of Benin led by Chief Oliha, mounted
a search for the banished Prince Ekaladerhan, to return home and
ascend the vacant throne. But, he could not return to Benin due to
his advanced age, and the fact that, as he argued, a king cannot
leave his Kingdom. He told the messengers that since he had seven
sons, he would direct one of them – Oranmiyan-to
go with them and become their king.

NOW THIS

Oranimiyan was fiercely resisted by Ogiamien Irebor, one of the
Palace Chiefs. He therefore took up his abode in the Palace built
for him by the Elders at Usama (now a coronation
shrine till date).

Soon after his arrival, he married a beautiful lady, Erinmwinde,
daughter of Ogie-Egor, the ninth Enogie of Egor, by whom he had a
son. After residing there for some years he called a meeting of the
people and renounced his office, remarking in
vexation, Ile-Ibinu (“ile” means land, “binu”
means anger; and thus the kingdom was called Ibinu, which was
mispronounced “Bini” in the 15th and 16th centuries by the
Portuguese). This was out of frustration as he often expressed that
“only a child born, trained and educated in the arts and mysteries
of the land could properly reign over the people”. He arranged for
his son born to him by Erinmwinde, Eweka, to be made king in his
place, and returned to Yorubaland thereafter. His son the new king
was soon found to be deaf and dumb, and so the elders appealed to
Oranmiyan. He gave them charmed seeds known as “omo
ayo” to play with, saying that to do so will make him
talk. The little Eweka played with the seeds with his peers at
Egor, his mother’s hometown. While playing with the seeds, he
announced “Owomika” (meaning “I captured it”),
when he struck the only remaining he took this as his royal name.
Thus, he gave rise to the tradition of the subsequent Obas of Benin
spending seven days and nights at Usama before proceeding to
announce their royal names at Egor. Eweka, taken from “Owomika”
thus started a dynasty that now bears his name. Oranmiyan went on
to serve as the founder of the Oyo Empire^[1], where he ruled as the
first Alaafin^[2] of Oyo. His
descendants now rule in Ile Ife, Oyo and Benin.

AND THIS EXPANSION OF BENIN
KINGDOM

By the 15th century, Benin had expanded into a thriving
city-state. The twelfth Oba in the line, Oba Ewuare the Great^[3] (1440–1473) would
expand the city-state^[4]’s territories to
surrounding regions.

It was not until the 15th century, during the reign of Oba
Ewuare the Great, that the kingdom’s administrative centre, the
city of Ubinu (or Ibinu), began to be known as Benin City^[5], by
the Portuguese^[6], a pronunciation later
adopted by the locals as well. The Portuguese would write this down
as Benin City. Benin’s neighbours, such as the Afenmais, Esans,
Ika, Ijaw, Itsekiris and the Urhobos, continued to refer to the
city as Ubini up until the late 19th century.

Aside from Benin City, the system of rule of the Oba in the
empire, even through the golden age of the kingdom, was still
loosely based upon the Ogiso dynasty’s tradition, which was
military protection in exchange for pledged allegiance and taxes
paid to the royal administrative centre. The language and culture
was not enforced, as the empire remained heterogeneous and
localized according to each group within the kingdom, though a
local Enogie (or Duke) was often appointed by the Oba for specific
ethnic areas.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where
there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when
courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things
for the better.” (Harry S
Truman). 

LAST LINE

I thank Nigerians for always keeping faith with the Sunday
Sermon on the Mount of the Nigerian Project, by Chief Mike
Ozekhome, SAN, OFR, FCIArb., Ph.D, LL.D. I enjoin you to look
forward to next week’s treatise.