It is no more news to not a few residents in Edo State and those in diaspora that the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, recently frowned at a dance by a groom, Izoduwa Imasuen, at his traditional wedding ceremony in which the groom and his men danced and twirled the traditional Eben (Royal Scepter).
The wedding ceremony, which was videoed, went viral on the social media, and expectedly incurred the wrath of the esteemed monarch, for undermining the age-long tradition of the Benin Kingdom.
The Oba, in a statement dated October 18, 2023, and signed by the Esere of Benin, Chief S. O. Obamwonyi, described the action of the celebrants as undermining as it is inherent with frivolities and disrepute the highly valued age-long tradition of the Benin People.
Given the backdrop of the condemnable activities which the groom exhibited at the wedding, and which traditional and cultural connoisseurs saw as a taboo taken too far, the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) issued a statement that unarguably explains why the twirling of the traditional Eben (Royal Scepter) by the groom, Imasuen is a taboo, and outright infringement of the Benin Tradition and culture.
The Statement issued from the office of the Private Secretary of the Oba of Benin, and signed by Chief S.O. Obamwonyi, (Esere of Benin) as the Oba’s palace Public Announcement on October 18, 2023 reads:
“The attention of the Benin Traditional Council has been drawn to a recent traditional marriage ceremony of one Izoduwa Imasuen which took place on 26th August, 2023. It was observed that during the marriage ceremony, Izoduwa Imasuen and his groom’s men were twirling the traditional Eben while dancing during the marriage ceremony.
The general public should note that this act by Izoduwa Imasuen is an abomination, aberration and a distortion of Benin traditional marriage processes and procedures. The twirling of Eben in Benin customs and tradition is by chieftaincy title holders while paying homage to the Oba of Benin. Twirling of Eben is never a part of marriage ceremony.
The Palace of the Oba of Benin condemns this act by Izoduwa Imasuen and his groom’s men in all ramifications. His Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin has instructed the Ewaise group to place a curse on all those that are undermining and bringing into frivolities and disrepute our highly valued age-long tradition.
The general public especially those that are planning traditional marriages should endeavour to stick to the acceptable customs and tradition, and avoid bastardization and self-imposed curses.
Against the foregoing backdrop, Mr. Amos Egharevba, a history teacher based in Benin, said, “The reaction of the Oba of Benin cannot in anyway be said to be misplaced as he is the chief custodian of the tradition and culture of the Benin people”.
Mrs. Esther Ehimwenma, a Lagos resident, said the abuse of the twirling of Eben was rightly tackled by the leadership of the palace because if nothing were said to have been done, the trend would gain ground, and even some children may begin to play with it as toy”
As gathered by DAILY INDEPENDENT, Eben (Scepter) is a symbol of authority used in the Benin Kingdom. People mistakenly confuse Eben for sword; it is not a sword. It was introduced to Igodomigodo during the Ogiso dynasty. Benin was formerly called Igodomigodo. According to history, it was Ogiso Ere who introduced Eben.
Ogiso Ere invented the famous African kingship paraphernalia which includes the Ada (a sword of honor), Eben (a sword for dancing), Ekete (a royal stool), Agba (a rectangular stool), and Epoki (a leather box). (Daily Independent)
