The Giant in Benin

Prince Arhuaran The Giant of Ancient Benin Empire , Son of Ohonmin Queen mother - father Oba Ozolua´ The kingdom of Benin (in present-day Nigeria) was plunged into a state of turmoil at the end of the fifteenth century when oba Ozolua died and left two powerful sons to dispute succession. His son Esigie have to move the capital from UDO To BENIN Due to the disputed Birth right between the two brothers. Arthuaran the Giant birth was mysterious Oba Esigie (1504-1550 CE). Oba Ozolua´s first son, Prince Osawe succeeded him to the throne and took the title of Oba Esigie. The feud between Oba Esigie and his brother, the Duke of Udo had been building up from the day of their birth. They were products of two of the wives of Oba Ozolua. Idia, the subject of the famous FESTAC mask, was the mother of Osawe, while Ohonmin was Idubors´s mother. Ohonmin gave birth to Idubor, a few hours before Osawe arrived, but because Idubor did not immediately cry at birth, Osawe who did, was reported first to the king, according to tradition. By the time Idubor cried, to enable the mother report his birth, the king had performed the proclamation rites of Osawe as first son. Idubor, while growing up was very bitter about his treatment. He more than on one occasion asked his mother if his father was his true father to be so callous as to take away his birthright in such a mean fashion. As the Duke (Enogie) of Udo, Idubor refused to accept subordinate role to his brother, Oba Esigie, and at first tried to make Udo the capital of Benin kingdom with himself as king. It didn´t take too long before the two brothers went to war. The war was difficult, bitter, and long drawn out. Arhuanran had two sons Kpamabira and Onioni. They were ruling along with their father and before the war, Kpamabira died. Before Arhuanran moved from home for the last battle with his brother Esigie, he told his son Onioni to stay at home and wait for him to return and told his household that when they hear the sound of the magical bell that he placed at home, they will know that his brother had conquered him. Finally, Arhuanran transform into water and merge with local lake,He did not die inside the lake (Odighi) for he was still coming out in the night to parade the town of Udo for protection. Every night that Arhuanran used to come out of the water, all the children in Udo town always cried and the people of Udo decided to make an appeal to Arhuanran spiritually. Since that time, he stopped coming out of the lake (Odighi). The river that the wife entered was in the opposite direction of the lake (Odighi) and a road separated the river from the lake. Once in a year, the river where the wife jumped in always crossed the road to meet the lake (Odighi) where Arhuanran leaved. Up to these days, it is forbidden to touch or drink the water from the lake (Odighi). It is also forbidden to kill or eat any animal from or around the lake (Odighi). It was told that around 1955, a group of Udo people were returning from their farm when they saw a young boy shooting birds closed to the lake (Odighi) and the stone dropped into the lake (Odighi), immediately, there was a loud voice that sounded like a thunder from the lake (Odighi) and many trees around the place were shaking as if heavy wind had blow. At that moment, the boy became sick and he was rushed home for treatment. Therefore, Udo use this opportunity to tell the public that Arhuanran did not die but still is living in the lake (Odighi).as there is no prove or evidence of his death. By tradition and custom, Benin kindom does not believe the lost of hawking traing in market. And as result of this our Duke, Arhuan Nokemezi is not death and if he was death he would have be given a beffiting burial as tradition and custom demands by the Benin kingdom and all the necessary rights performed, for he merrited a royal funeral. If by commision or omission of history or delay of historical proof the death of Arhuan and any ramain of him with proof is found today, the necessary right would be carried out. We are giving you what we know of Arhuan till date to avoid perversion of history. We cannot change this version of this history unless there is the need for that and the need does not come fron the administrator and the moderators of great udo but from the elders of the land.