The Royal palace of the Oba of benin

Last weekend i decided to go on a tour at the oba of benin palace.Located in the heart of benin city,Edo state,The palace of the oba of benin was built as at 1255AD-1280AD.The Palace of the Oba of Benin could be
described as one in a million, where culture and
traditions are held in the highest esteem.
Located in the heart of Benin, the palace today is
confined to less than one kilometre square land
space, as part of it was said to have been ceded
to the British for administrative purpose ,during
the reign of Oba Eweka II,1987.
The Cultural Centre, National Museum and
Monument, Oba’s Market, and Oredo Local
Government Secretariat were said to be part of
the palace in the past..
It was learnt that the palace was moved to its
present location in 1255 AD, by Oba Ewedo, the
fifth Oba of Benin. Prior to the relocation, the
palace was at Usama where the coronation of
new Obas takes place till date.
The Palace of the Oba, is the fulcrum of the Benin culture and heritage, as well as the pivot that propels the Edo man’s life on a daily basis.
Everything concerning the
Benin man centres on the palace, monarchy and the Monarch himself. So the palace plays a more significant role in the life of an average Benin
man.
“The Benin man believes that once you come to the palace, see the Oba and the Oba sits with mercy and grace to mediate in your matter, there must be justice.Once the Oba pronounces justice,
it is final and it does not go anywhere again.
Beside the living quarters, chamber,
administrative buildings, the palace also has a reception area where visitors wait till the Oba comes into the chamber, before ushering them in to have audience with the Monarch. There is also a police post ,a school, and a zoo for the pleasure of the Oba.
Culture and tradition are very important to the Binis, especially in the palace. Visitors to the palace, including the non-natives, are also
expected to follow the traditions to the letter.
Visitors who are not of Benin origin are tutored by a palace chief assigned to do so by the Oba.Once the Oba enters the chamber, all
the chiefs, beginning from the most senior to the least, must pay homage to him by saying, “Oba,ghato Kpe’re. Ise!” (Long live the King, amen!).
After the chiefs, all other visitors at the chamber will go on their knees to pay homage to the Oba
by saying Oba ghato Kpe’re. Ise!
The Palace chiefs and palace guards have
different attires, the Chiefs wear pure white attire
with round beads on their necks and same hair style, while the royal sword bearers wear brown khaki short and shirt.
The reporter gathered that the royal palace sword bearers are not to be touched by any woman including their mothers, and must remain celibate until the Oba decides to allow them to
live another life.
It was also gathered that in the palace, there are sessions for men, where women are not allowed to go into, just as men are also not allowed in the area for women, because the sanctity of the palace is non negotiable
PALACE ROYAL GUARD
In Benin Kingdom, it is only in the palace of the Oba of Benin that yit is only in the palace of the Oba of Benin that you have royal bodyguards (sword
bearer).
“There are two palace guards called Emada Iwegua and Emada Iwebo who are private guards to the Oba, and some of them are sacrosanct chamberlains that must not be touched by woman
even if she is their mother and they must remain virgin until his majesty decide to allow them to go and start life in different form. The Emanda Iwegua are the guards who attend to the personal welfare of the Oba,”
“The Emada of Iwebo must remain celibate and must not also be touched by women even if it is his mother.This is because this one takes personal care of the Oba’s personal apparel,hence they too must be clean at all times.”
He said this is so because to the average Benin man, the Oba is not a man and this is why whatever he says is law and authority.
GUARDS ATTIRE
Prior to the
present time , the royal palace guards were stark naked and did not wear clothes, but “since the time of Oba Akenzua II, they have been given the
privilege to wear brown Khaki shorts.”
“And those that must not be touched by women have red line on their brown khaki short and top.
The Odionwere who is the head of the Emada group and more or less a governor (because he governs everything that happens within the inside of the palace that can’t be revealed to the ordinary man) wears an all red top, while his
deputy also wears a red top with little difference,and except one looks closely, he may not notice the difference,”
COURT MANNERS
Bini do not see the Oba the same
way other cultures and tribes see their kings.
“He (Oba) is ordained .You don’t address the Oba of Benin as you would the ordinary man, from the day he was born, he is born a king and there is no contest and contestation.
“It is a privilege for the Oba to stretch out his hand to shake a man and if that happens, that man should consider himself as being drawn close by the gods.Photo credit...vivo Y1IT smartphone.