Dressing like Oba of Benin, wives attract curses, Palace warns

The Oba of Benin Palace in Benin City, on Friday, placed curses on individuals, collaborators plotting to tarnish Benin monarchy, and those peddling false narratives about Benin customs and tradition on social media.

Addressing newsmen in Benin shortly after some Palace Chiefs comprising traditional Physicians, Priests, Priestesses, and Ayelala devotees, 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 leading other palace chiefs said the consequences of the breach and violation of this age-long customs and tradition would be meant with serious consequences on those involved and their generations yet unborn.

“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,” the palace said.

“For some time now, some uninformed and disgruntled elements, when performing marriage and burial ceremonies, adorn themselves with Benin dressing.

“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 who put on this Okuku are inadvertently bringing curses to themselves.

“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 Udegugghg.

“The 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 would henceforth engage in this abominable, sacrilegious and denigrating act of our very revered cherished Benin customs and tradition as laid down by our ancestors.”

Libations were poured on ancient spiritual traditional weapons, while traditional physicians blew occipital horns, and summoned ancestral spirits to bear witness against those seeking to destabilise the kingdom.

Specifically, the curse targets conspiracy theorists spreading false information, creating memes, or misusing palace insignia and individuals that disrespect the Benin monarchy.

They condemned the unauthorized use of ceremonial swords, otherwise called ‘Ada and Eben’, during social events, including burials and Birthday celebrations.

They also condemned unauthorise use of sacred Benin Royal paraphernalia, including Benin Royal costumes by Benin Chiefs and Ikele’ beads, ‘Okuku hairstyle’ – reserved for specific members of Benin Royal family.