The Palace of the Oba of Benin could be described as one in a million, where culture and traditions are held in the highest esteem.
Located in the heart of Benin, the palace today is confined to less than one kilometre square land space, as part of it was said to have been ceded to the British for administrative purpose ,during the reign of Oba Eweka II.
The Cultural Centre, National Museum and Monument, Oba’s Market, and Oredo Local Government Secretariat were said to be part of the palace in the past..
It was learnt that the palace was moved to its present location in 1255 AD, by Oba Ewedo, the fifth Oba of Benin. Prior to the relocation, the palace was at Usama where the coronation of new Obas takes place till date.
Daily Trust Sunday findings indicate that the Palace of the Oba, is the fulcrum of the Benin culture and heritage, as well as the pivot that propels the Edo man’s life on a daily basis.
According to Chief Omo-Osagie Utetenegiabi, the. Obadolagbonyi of Benin, there is hardly a story told of the Binis that will not include the palace of the Oba.
He said a Benin man believes that once you enter the Palace, you get justice, poverty is alleviated, sorrows are wiped out ,and he can never go back home empty.
“This is so because everything concerning the Benin man centres on the palace, monarchy and the Monarch himself. So the palace plays a more significant role in the life of an average Benin man.
“The Benin man believes that once you come to the palace, see the Oba and the Oba sits with mercy and grace to mediate in your matter, there must be justice.Once the Oba pronounces justice, it is final and it does not go anywhere again. So the palace is everything to the Benin man ,and the palace is never empty,” he said.
When Daily Trust Sunday visited the palace, it was observed that activities at the palace commence as early as 8 am, as people who are seeking justice throng the palace to have audience with the Monarch.
Beside the living quarters, chamber, administrative buildings, the palace also has a reception area where visitors wait till the Oba comes into the chamber, before ushering them in to have audience with the Monarch. There is also a police post ,a school, and a zoo for the pleasure of the Oba.
Culture and tradition are very important to the Binis, especially in the palace. Visitors to the palace, including the non-natives, are also expected to follow the traditions to the letter. Visitors who are not of Benin origin are tutored by a palace chief assigned to do so by the Oba. For instance, in the Benin tradition, black attires are used for mourning, and so, black attires are prohibited in the Palace, particularly individuals who are dressed in black tops, are not allowed to see the Oba because the Oba does not mourn.
Daily Trust Sunday observed that during court sessions, the chiefs must be seated before the Oba enters the chamber and according to their seniority. Once the Oba enters the chamber, all the chiefs, beginning from the most senior to the least, must pay homage to him by saying, “Oba ghato Kpe’re. Ise!” (Long live the King, amen!).
After the chiefs, all other visitors at the chamber will go on their knees to pay homage to the Oba by saying Oba ghato Kpe’re. Ise!
The Palace chiefs and palace guards have different attires, the Chiefs wear pure white attire with round beads on their necks and same hair style, while the royal sword bearers wear brown khaki short and shirt.
The reporter gathered that the royal palace sword bearers are not to be touched by any woman including their mothers, and must remain celibate until the Oba decides to allow them to live another life.
It was also gathered that in the palace, there are sessions for men, where women are not allowed to go into, just as men are also not allowed in the area for women, because the sanctity of the palace is non negotiable
Palace royal guard
According to Chief Omo-Osagie, in Benin Kingdom, it is only in the palace of the Oba of Benin that you have royal bodyguards (sword bearer)
“There are two palace guards called Emada Iwegua and Emada Iwebo who are private guards to the Oba, and some of them are sacrosanct chamberlains that must not be touched by woman even if she is their mother and they must remain virgin until his majesty decide to allow them to go and start life in different form. The Emanda Iwegua are the guards who attend to the personal welfare of the Oba,”
“The Emada of Iwebo must remain celibate and must not also be touched by women even if it is his mother.This is because this one takes personal care of the Oba’s personal apparel ,hence they too must be clean at all times.”
He said this is so because to the average Benin man, the Oba is not a man and this is why whatever he says is law and authority.
Guards’ attire
The Obadolagbonyi of Benin, said prior to the present time , the royal palace guards were stark naked and did not wear clothes, but “since the time of Oba Akenzua II, they have been given the privilege to wear brown Khaki shorts.”
“And those that must not be touched by women have red line on their brown khaki short and top. The Odionwere who is the head of the Emada group and more or less a governor (because he governs everything that happens within the inside of the palace that can’t be revealed to the ordinary man) wears an all red top, while his deputy also wears a red top with little difference ,and except one looks closely, he may not notice the difference,”
Court manners
Chief Omo-Osagie said in every culture, religion and tradition, there are modus operandi of approaching the king.The Omo’No’Oba Edo ‘Nku’Akpolopolo, is the king greater than kings.
He said the Bini do not see the Oba the same way other cultures and tribes see their kings.
“He (Oba) is ordained .You don’t address the Oba of Benin as you would the ordinary man, from the day he was born, he is born a king and there is no contest and contestation.
“It is a privilege for the Oba to stretch out his hand to shake a man and if that happens, that man should consider himself as being drawn close by the gods. There is no chief in Benin who can say the Oba shook hands with me. He is the spiritual, cultural, religion and traditional head of the Benin nation,” he said.
“Even well-known palace chiefs must go through the ritual to pledge allegiance and loyalty to the Oba , and in doing that he takes an oath and renews it every day ,saying Oba ghato’ Kpere. Ise,”
He said, “for visitors, those who have not been so privileged to be given a name by the Oba, (once Oba gives you name, your former name is inconsequential) they kneel before the Oba to ask for favour, and they do this by rubbing their hands together to greet the oba, saying Oba ghato’ Kpere. Ise,”
He explained that visitors who are not of Benin extraction and are not used to the Benin culture ,are guided by a chief appointed by the Oba or the Benin traditional council.
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