Oba of Benin's beautiful palace is built to a world-class standard, Just like the outside, the inside of the Oba of Benin's palace depicts wealth, history and tradition. He expanded the kingdom and improved the capital, present-day Benin City; the city was defined by massive walls. An Oba of Benin from the late 17th century The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler and the custodian of the culture of the Edo people and all Edoid people. Thetwo surviving British soldiers escaped and found their way back to Europe to relay what happened in Benin. News ), Opera News is a free to use platform and the views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent, reflect or express the views of Opera News. Before he ascended the throne of his forefathers, he had acted in several capacities, including his ambassadorial roles and business ventures. [11] He later wed more women. African Roots is supported by the Gerda Henkel Foundation. [6], The capital city of the empire was rebuilt during Ewuare with significant redesign. Oba Ewuare II Ogidigan - Oba of Benin Net Worth $60 Million He is also Nigeria's ambassador to a number of foreign countries. Oba Ewuare the 1st's magnetism and glamour enabled and ushered in the wearing of elegant flamboyant traditional attires associated with the Royal Houses in Benin today. The present Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo nOba nEdo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II was born October 20, 1953 ad ascended the throne of his forefathers on October 20, 2016. The Oba title was created by Oba Oranmiyan, the first Oba of Benin Empire who is also a grand son of Oduduwa, the first Oni of Ile-Ife. He was also instrumental in making the Empire a great ivory and wood carving site and created the Bronze heads for their ancestors who ruled before him, a tradition that carried on after his death. The people of Benin lived under harsh conditions under his brother and secretly prayed for his return. This is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Oba, Mr Osaigbovo Iguobaro and made available to newsmen in Benin. Found in the centre of the old Benin dynasty, the Oba of Benin house has been home to many great kings over the years. The division was further emphasized through the introduction by Ewuare of scarification for freeborn citizens to differentiate them from the slave population. [1] One oral history says that the date of the Igue festival was set initially to the marriage between Ewuare and a wife named Ewere. 'Ososomaye' Juju Used By The Oba Of Benin, Ewuare, . The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler and the custodian of the culture of the Edo people and all Edoidpeople. The Oba is rumoured to be worth an estimated $60 million (?24.6 billion) and ranked among the richest kings in Nigeria. Oranmiyan chose his son Eweka to be the first Oba of Benin. He was then made the Oba. The uzama were able to appoint the Oba of Benin upon the death of an Oba and could limit any efforts by the Oba. Art Institute of Chicago: Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ewuare&oldid=1124971785, This page was last edited on 1 December 2022, at 14:27. 23rd January 2022. At this point, Ewuare was known by the name Prince Ogun. Ozolua, his third son, became Oba around 1483 and ruled until 1514. Oba Ewuare II who started his diplomatic career with the United Nations in the early eighties served as Nigeria's Ambassador to Sweden, with accreditation to Norway, Denmark, and the Republic. He is the 40th Oba, a title created for the Head of State (Emperor) of the Benin Empire at some time between 1180 and 1300. Ewuare was born as the third son of the Oba Ohen. Spiritual power and magic have also been a great part of African traditional societies, however, these facts have been sidelined due to modernity and westernisation. But after his father died, his younger brother Uwaifaikon was appointed as the Oba and Ewuare was exiled. Ewuare II (born 20 October 1953) was crowned the Oba of Benin on 20 October 2016. Any/all written content and images displayed are provided by the blogger/author, appear herein as submitted by the blogger/author and are unedited by Opera News. For instance, the palace of the Oba of Benin has been given a . [7] One analyst reported that "what the oba has done is likely to be more effective than anything the international anti-trafficking community has managed to do after millions of dollars and many years". Igue Festival: Edo govt delegation visits Oba Ewuare II The Kingdom of Benin was founded around the year 900, but it reached the height of its power in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries as a result of the conquests of new territories by two kings Oba Ewuare and his son Oba Ozolua (Oba means "king"). Oba of Benin son wedding was also held in 2014, wherePrince Osama Erediawa got married to his heartthrob, Ediri Ebbah. The Oba of Benin issued a curse in 2018 against any juju priest involved in human trafficking. One must believe in it. Conservationists believe that wildlife species render valuable services in the ecosystem and contribute to environment sustainability, but there are instances where forest communities still hunt these animals for meat. Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II, on Tuesday concluded the first public performance of Ugie-Ododuwa ceremony at the sacred Ugha-Ehengbuda axis of the palace ground. Oba Ewuare II has made it his mission to halt human trafficking, which usually follows the migrant trail (below left) from Edo State in Nigeria, across Niger, Libya and the Mediterranean Sea. Oduduwa himself left a tell tale evidence of his It s a place that has witnessed the birth of some of the greatest monarchs to ever walked the area called Nigeria. Ewuare II (born 20 October 1953) was crowned the Oba of Benin on 20 October 2016. One of the cars you will find in Oba of Benin's garage is a customized 2016 Rolls-Royce Phantom. [7], Ewuare also created two additional layers of administration in towns and villages with the creation of the Eghabho n'ore (town chiefs) and Eghabho n'ogbe (palace chiefs). The name Oba was derived from Oba. A few months after his coronation, he kicked startedthe process by formally announcing a ban on the groups activities in the seven local government areas in his monarchy, namely Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba Okha, Ovia South-West, Ovia North-East, Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode council to the applause of most of his subjects. And not too long, the ban was reinforced by the state government with an enactment of a legislation known as Edo State Private Properties Protection (PPP) Law which prohibits forceful and illegal occupation of landed properties, violent and fraudulent conduct related to landed properties and the illegal collection of land based community development levies by any group or groups in the entire state. He personally led the army against many of the Edo communities, living west of the Niger river, and key Yoruba settlements like Akure and Owo. His net worth amounts to about 60 million USD. At the death of his younger brother, he claimed the throne and officially became Oba Ewuare I. Oba being carried by warriors in Benin Empire. All previous books on Benin history didnt recognise Ekaladerhan as an Oba before now. Oral tradition describes the king as a wise magician, doctor and warrior. Ewuare the Great is often referred to as the first Oba of Benin not because he was the first to rule the Benin Kingdom but because he was the first Oba to transform its fortunes. It would be recalled that Oba Ewuare II, in May 2020, welcomed his first infant Prince after he ascended the throne of his forebears as the 40th Oba of Benin from her Royal Highness, Princess (Oloi) Iyayota Ewuare II. One must work at it. During the second anniversary of his coronation last year the monarch had launched a book titled, The Red Book: The Benin Monarchy: An Anthology of Benin History, which is a compendium of the work of various historians, researchers, anthropologists, sociologists, writers and analysts. Golden Age. Oba Ewuare ruled as king for 23 years from 1440-1473. 0. Eheneden Erediauwa Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin. I am African! Similarly, he has been assisting the government to sensitize his subjects to pay taxes and rates, educate the populace to perform their civic duties, get support for public office holders for them to deliver good governance. It is widespread in several parts of Southern Nigeria - thanks to Oba Ewuare. He also created administrations in the towns and villages to have better control over the structure of society and not make the Oba have the sole power. The British invasion of the capital of the Kingdom of Benin in 1897 was part of a campaign waged from 1892 through 1902 to forcibly bring most of the inland territory of modern-day Nigeria under British rule. [8], In 2021, the University of Aberdeen approved the repatriation of one of the Benin Bronzes, which was handed to a delegation that included representatives of Ewuare II on 28 October 2021. The Benin palace (eguae) shares many contemporary elements with royal accommodations worldwide: air conditioning, electricity, electronics, and a glamorous new facade-an innovation of the current monarch, Oba Ewuare II. As a top diplomat he worked at the United Nations, UN between 1981 and 1982, served as Nigerias Ambassador to Angola and Sweden, with accreditation to Norway, Denmark and the Republic of Finland as well as a former Nigerias Ambassador to Italy. Oba Ewuare II obtained his A-level certificate from South Thames College in London. Oba Ewuare II is one of the richest kings in Nigeria. He not only placed them on a stipend of N20,000 each for three months but also, through the Oba Ewuare Foundation provided the necessary tools for those who had undergone relevant skill acquisition training that needed a lift from poverty. This current Oba is actuallythe late Oba of Benin first son,Omo N Oba Erediauwa. Mandy News brings you things you should know about the Benin Crown Prince, Ezelekhae Ewuare and his father, Eheneden Erediauwa Ewuare II who was crowned the Oba of Benin on 20 October 2016. As a result, he was able to conquer and capture the centre of the Benin kingdom. Oba Ewuare, the first Golden Age Oba, is credited with turning Benin City into a city-state from a military fortress built by the Ogisos, protected by moats and walls. The integration combines the power of Taloss robust trade infrastructure solutions with Bybits access to a wide array of digital assets and best-in-market enterprise, Former US Republican lawmaker Liz Cheney has been appointed as a professor at the University of Virginia, the school said Wednesday. 2023 Tribune Online, an online publication of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc. >>> See this later:Top 10 richest kings in Nigeria (2021), their net worths & cars. Oba of Benin Rolls Royce Phantom is said to be worth more than 150 million. 2005: 90). The monarch has similarly been in the vanguard of campaign against human trafficking, a menace that has brought odium to Edo state in particular and Nigeria in general; giving financial and material support to victims of trafficking especially some of the Libya returnees, sustained advocacy for the return of Benin bronzes that were carted away by the British, among others. Prince Ogun was the name given to Ewuare at this time. The old Benin kingdom was largely populated by the Benin ethnic group also known as the Edo people. [9] He consolidated the power of the Oba, changed lineage procedures, and created an administrative structure for the Empire. Is it true Oba of Benin can not see his first son? The first oba, or king, in Benin was Eweka. Through his magic, Ewuare is said to have protected his people from ailments and strange curses and healed people easily. Germany's Scholz urges China not to send Russia weapons, Why Germany's military is in a bad state, and what's being done to fix it, Germany in a hurry to replace Leopard 2 tanks, Nigeria's election results leave country more divided. The country rose from 25th position in, The oldest commercial airline in the country, Aero Contractors, has returned to scheduled operations after four months of voluntary withdrawal. It will be recalled that Oba Ewuare II, had conferred the chieftaincy title of Iyoba N' Uselu posthumously on his mother, Queen Ikuoyemwen on November 21, 2021. Hundreds of traditional worshippers, native doctors and priests in their full regalia had stormed the ancient Urhokpota ground at the heart of Benin City in red attires with different traditional instruments of war and heaped disastrous curses on those committing sacrilege in the kingdom. Oba Ewuare II gave the advice when the delegation of European Union Mission Long Term Observers monitoring the general elections paid him a visit in his palace on Sunday in Benin City, Edo. In some folktale stories, it is suggested that at the death of their father, both Ewuare and Uwaifaikon were banished from the city for reasons yet unknown, but Uwaifaikon managed to find his way back, lied to the Uzama people about the harsh and cruel treatment he faced under his brother and had to flee for protection. This is the reason why till today, a few Kings in Nigeria are highly respected because of the value their throne holds in the society. [8] The royal lineage from Ewuare would continue for multiple generations. Oba Ewuare II Ogidigan is a dignified traditional ruler in Benin State, Nigeria. [1], In October 2017, he celebrated his first anniversary on the throne, with great participation by the local populace as well as several officials, politicians, and visitors from other parts of Nigeria such as Lagos, Calabar, and Jos. He has modernized everything. In other words he believes that a good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well. There is one particular car in Nigeria that you will always find in the garage of first-class kings. Content created and supplied by: SAEAN (via Opera He created the South Point Royal School, Benin and the Benin Royal Dynasty Trust which is a non-governmental organization. [9] Archeological evidence has found that the walls built around the palace and the city, and even out into the country, were significant constructions taking multiple years to complete. 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