Government
The Oba unique position was aptly summarised by Bradbury in his book, The Benin Kingdom,
“ . . . The Oba, once installed, cannot in principle be deposed. Wars of succession that occurred in the past are explained in the terms of uncertainty as to which of the deceased Oba’s sons was senior. It is custom for each new Oba to make two or three of his immediately junior brothers the hereditary chiefs of villages within or (formerly) outside the kingdom.”
“. . . the Oba’s power appears to lie in the traditional mystical values attaching to the sacred institution of kingship and to the eguae (palace). Individuals all over the kingdom claim to belong to one or other of the palace associations and the position to which anyone can aspire is to be “next to the Oba”, a claim which is made, with some degree of truth, by and on behalf of the heads of many groups within the state.”
The evolution of Edo titles vary with each successive monarch leaving his imprints on the annals of Edo history. It should be remembered that Benin Chieftaincy titles are functional and all of them fall within set groups. It is this grouping that has sustained the oral and unwritten history uniquely remembered in the world all over. Honorary titles are hard to come by in Benin chieftaincy system. The power to confer, create and confirm these titles rests with the Oba. And the titles are the property of the Oba of Benin.
Broadly speaking, the categories of the chieftaincy titles in the Edo land have been aptly described by Omo N’ Oba Erediauwa, Oba of Benin, in his press conference of 24 February, 1982 as follows:
A .The Enigie who are in charge of Districts; who can only be created and assigned to a particular District by the Oba. The Oba went further to at the press conference that “ in the olden days certain city chiefs ( whom l will speak about ) were assigned the responsibility of looking after certain districts and it was through such chiefs that the enogie of a districts was able to reach the Oba.”
B . The second category of chiefs comprises of city chiefs . These are the chiefs who are actually functionally resident in Benin City. These City chiefs are divided into the following groups:
.“ . . . The Oba, once installed, cannot in principle be deposed. Wars of succession that occurred in the past are explained in the terms of uncertainty as to which of the deceased Oba’s sons was senior. It is custom for each new Oba to make two or three of his immediately junior brothers the hereditary chiefs of villages within or (formerly) outside the kingdom.”
“. . . the Oba’s power appears to lie in the traditional mystical values attaching to the sacred institution of kingship and to the eguae (palace). Individuals all over the kingdom claim to belong to one or other of the palace associations and the position to which anyone can aspire is to be “next to the Oba”, a claim which is made, with some degree of truth, by and on behalf of the heads of many groups within the state.”
The evolution of Edo titles vary with each successive monarch leaving his imprints on the annals of Edo history. It should be remembered that Benin Chieftaincy titles are functional and all of them fall within set groups. It is this grouping that has sustained the oral and unwritten history uniquely remembered in the world all over. Honorary titles are hard to come by in Benin chieftaincy system. The power to confer, create and confirm these titles rests with the Oba. And the titles are the property of the Oba of Benin.
Broadly speaking, the categories of the chieftaincy titles in the Edo land have been aptly described by Omo N’ Oba Erediauwa, Oba of Benin, in his press conference of 24 February, 1982 as follows:
A .The Enigie who are in charge of Districts; who can only be created and assigned to a particular District by the Oba. The Oba went further to at the press conference that “ in the olden days certain city chiefs ( whom l will speak about ) were assigned the responsibility of looking after certain districts and it was through such chiefs that the enogie of a districts was able to reach the Oba.”
B . The second category of chiefs comprises of city chiefs . These are the chiefs who are actually functionally resident in Benin City. These City chiefs are divided into the following groups:
- The Uzama headed by Oliha.
- The Egharevbo N’ Ore headed by Iyase.
- The Egharevbo N’ Ogbe headed by Uwangue.
- Other titled chiefs who do not fall into any of the above three groups but who have specific functions to perform. There are many subdivisions here, each them with its own headed chiefs.
- Intermediate or junior title holder. It is in this group that we have all the chief priests other than a chief priest of the rank of Enogie. All Chief priest are appointed by the Oba or with the Oba’s confirmation.
Traditionally, Benin Chieftaincy titles though prestigious, impose a lot of responsibilities on the incumbent title holder. The custom of the Edo people forbids them from abandoning their traditions which revolve round their kings and their beliefs.
Culled From- EVOLUTION OF BENN CHIEFTAINCY TITLES by
Prince Ena Basimi Eweka.