The Oba of Benin Palace, Ewuare II, has placed curses on people he said were tarnishing the image of the Benin monarchy and those peddling false narratives about Benin customs and tradition on social media.
Speaking to journalists in Benin after some palace chiefs performed the solemn ritual at the main entrance gate of the Benin Palace in Benin City, Edo State, Chief Norense Ozigbo-Esere, the Osuma of Benin said the consequences of the breach and violation of this age-long customs and tradition would be met with serious consequences on those involved and their generations yet unborn.
The ritual performance also involved traditional physicians, priests, priestesses, and Ayelala devotees.
Chief Ozigbo-Esere said, “It has come to the attention of the Benin Traditional Council that some individuals have formed the habit of indulging in the abuse, aberration and abomination of the well-cherished Benin customs and tradition.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Eben is only used by titled chiefs when paying homage to the Oba of Benin. The Eben has not and is not part of the items used during marriage and burial ceremonies.
“It has also been noticed that some women and cultural groups as part of their dressing mode, adorn themselves with full paraphernalia head-gear of the Oba’s wives (Queens) known as Okuku. It should be stated clearly that the Okuku is only worn by the Queens (Iloi) of the Oba of Benin. Those women that put on this Okuku are inadvertently bringing curses to themselves.
Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare Il
“The dressing mode of a true Benin person during marriages, burial ceremonies and other social events is Ewu lwu dress with the long coral beads called Udeguogho.”
He added that indiscriminate abuse of the coral bead (Ikele), Eben and Okuku would no longer be tolerated by the Palace of the Oba of Benin.
“Let it be known by the general public that His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare Il, CFR, Oba of Benin has directed the Chiefs, Priests and Priestesses of various deities in Benin Kingdom to place a curse on those that engage in this abominable, sacrilegious and denigrating act of our very revered cherished Benin customs and tradition as laid down by our ancestors,” Ozigbo-Esere said.
Libations were poured on ancient spiritual traditional weapons, while traditional physicians blew occipital horns, summoned ancestral spirits to bear witness against those seeking to destabilise the kingdom.
