The Oba of Benin, Ewuare Ogidigan II, has performed the Emobo rite in continuation of the spiritual activities marking the ongoing Igue festival.
Emobo is a memorial anniversary of the defeat of ARHUANRAN, the Duke of Udo by Oba Esigie about 1504-1550 AD, after a long period of epic battle over supremacy between the duo.
Emobo ceremonial ritual is also meant to ward-off evil spirits from the land.
The ceremony, which took place at the entrance of the palace main gate, saw Chief Esogban, the Odionweredohia of Benin kingdom, perform the opening of the spiritual dance of the Emobo rite.
He danced round the Ogbelaka royal drummers at the venue of the rite four times in accordance with the tradition of the land
At the end of each dance, he raised up his hands in a homage and absolute loyalty to the Benin monarch who was seated on the throne of his forebears.
Chief Esogban concluded his spiritual dance with prayers and supplications to the ancestors at Aro-Edion-Edo to ward-off all evil spirits from the kingdom.
Amidst shouts of ‘Iyare!’, ‘ Iyare!’, Oba Ewuare, the Benin monarch, customarily held and struck the ancestral ivory gong and also danced round the ancient Ogbelaka royal drummers who supplied the spiritual renditions four times to the admiration of the crowd.
The Oba concluded the ritual dance by holding the ancestral staff (UKHURE) and ceremonial sword (EBEN) to offer intense prayers to God and the ancestors including the spirits of the land at the Arue -Edion -Edo shrine to cleanse the land from wicked spirits.
