Oba Of Benin performs Ugie-Erhoba ceremony at Ugie Festival

[File] Oba Ewuare II

The Ugie-Erhoba ceremony is a memorial anniversary in honour of the Oba’s ancestral fathers.

The ceremony is characterised by traditional dance by all eligible chiefs in Benin Kingdom. The chiefs, dressed in colourful ceremonial regalia danced with the Eben and paid homage to the Benin monarch amid cheers from the people.

His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II personally prayed at his forebears’ altar for divine protection, good health, prosperity and longevity.

The ceremony also witnessed anointing of the Oba with blood of sacrificial offerings by Chief Ihama, head of the Ihogbe group.

The Omo N’Oba later danced round the sacrificial offerings at the ceremonial arena four times with the Eben, with which the Oba pays homage to his royal ancestors.

Basically, Ugie-Erhoba ceremonial rituals are used to make propitiation to the spirits of departed kings, the Oba of Benin being a reincarnation of past Benin Obas, and descending from Oranmiyan, the first of the second kingship dynasty that began about 1170AD.