HISTORY: Oba Of Lagos Visits Oba Of Benin [Photos]
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| From Left: Oba, Erediauwa I, Oba Rilwan Akinlolu |
The Oba of Lagos recently paid visit to the Oba of Benin, There is something great about to happen.See More Photos Below...
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| From Left: Oba, Erediauwa I, Oba Rilwan Akinlolu |
From Wikipedia
Oba of Benin
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| Oba, Erediauwa I |
The Oba of Benin, or Omo N'Oba, is the traditional ruler of the Edo people and head of the historic Eweka dynasty of the Benin Kingdom. The Benin homeland (not to be confused with the modern day Republic of Benin, which was formerly known as Dahomey), has been and continues to be mostly populated by the Edo (also known as the Bini or Benin ethnic group).
The title of Oba was created by Oba Eweka I, the kingdom's first 'Oba'. The current capital is Benin City, which is in modern day Nigeria.
In 1897, the British launched a Punitive Expedition, sacked Benin city and exiled Oba Ovonramwen, taking control of the area in order to establish the British colony of Nigeria. The expedition was mounted to avenge the defeat by the Binis of a British invasion force that had violated Benin territory earlier in 1896. It consisted of both indigenous soldiers and British officers, and is still remembered by the Edos with horror today. To cover the cost of the expedition, the Benin royal art was auctioned off by the British. Ovonramwen died in 1914, his throne never having been restored to him.
The present Oba, Erediauwa I, is the 39th Oba of the dynasty.
Profile:
Erediauwa (born 1923) was crowned the 38th Oba of Benin, head of the traditional state of Benin, Nigeria on 23 March 1979. He is the traditional ruler of the Edo people, with his capital in Benin City. Formerly Prince Solomon Akenzua, Oba Erediauwa's full title is His Royal Highness Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Solomon Igbinoghodua Aisiokuoba Akenzua Erediauwa I.
Erediauwa was born in 1923, son of Oba Akenzua II. Before being crowned he was known as Prince Solomon, Aiseokhuoba, Igbinoghodua Akenzua. He attended Government College, Ibadan (1939–1945), then Yaba College, before going to King's College, Cambridge to study Law and Administration. He joined the Eastern Nigeria Civil Service in 1957 as a District Officer, later moving to the Federal Civil Service where he retired as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health in 1973. For a short period he was the regional representative of Gulf Oil. In 1975 he was appointed Commissioner for Finance in Bendel State during the Military Administration of Major-General George Agbazika Innih.
Ascending to the throne on 23 March 1979, he celebrated his 30th anniversary in 2009. During this period, he several times acted as a peacemaker between politicians. For example, he intervened in a dispute between Abia State governor Orji Uzor Kalu and Tony Anenih, Chairman of the People's Democratic Party Board of Trustees, and resolved another face-off involving Anenih and former Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion.[2] Apart from the ceremonial aspects, his 30th anniversary festival was a week long carnival and a showcase of Benin arts and culture, with numerous performances of traditional music and dance, as well as an art exhibition and food fair.
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Oba of Lagos
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| Oba Rilwan Akinlolu |
The official residence
of the king, since 1630, is Iga Idunganran, a castle constructed by the
Portuguese over the course of close to a century. It is today a very
popular tourist site.
The king has no political power, but is sought as a counsel or sponsor by Nigerian politicians who seek support from the various residents of Lagos. Among other ceremonial roles, the Oba also plays a central part in the Eyo festival as well as indulging in tourism advertisements on behalf of the city, often stating, "you've gotta go to Lagos".
Although its line of kings are indeed of Edo origin, they have also largely been of Yoruba descent, and the modern kingdom is commonly considered to be a Yoruba traditional state as a result of this fact.
The Royal Seat.
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