BENIN (EDO) (Princely State)

  
TITLE: Oba RELIGION:
STATE: Nigeria (Edo State) DYNASTY: Edo??
   
PRESENT RULER: HH Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo SOLOMON IGBINOGHODUA AISIOKUOBA AKENZUA EREDIAUWA I, 38th Oba of Benin (1978/-)
born 22nd June 1923 (#1), educated at Cambridge University (Law), Crowned 23rd March 1979, Ediaken of Uselu, Member of the Uzama (Seven Kingmakers), married Esther Omoye amongst others, and has issue.
  • Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, born 1953, Nigerian Ambassador to Norway, Nigerian Ambassador to Angola. Has a B.A. in economics and sociology from the University of Wales. He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. Since 1987 he has been active in leading positions within the Nigerian business community, especially the gas and oil industries. (Translation by Frank H. Johansen 2000)
  • Princess Theresa Erediauwa-Ogiogwa, Princess Royal, State Counsel in the Edo State Ministry of Justice (resigned 1999).
  • Princess Ekiuwa Erediauwa-Inneh, born Benin City, Social Anthropologist.
  • Prince Aghatise Erediauwa
PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY: Igodomigodo founded and ruled by rulers styled Ogiso, ruler of Oyo founds Ile Ibinu (Benin City) (traditional version) about 1170, Edo becomes the name of the state about 1470, Royalty suppressed on 9th September 1897 by Britain, reinstated 24th July 1914 . Rulers were...
  1. Oba EWUARE 1440/1473, during his rule the Kingdom of Benin, through conquests from Idah to the North, Owo and Akure to Igboland, West of the Niger, had become an Empire. The Oba gave Benin a strong central government that weakened political factions and intrigues of the chiefs. His constitutional reforms strengthened the Oba against the Uzama and the Palace chiefs. A great and shrewd magician, regarded as a semi-divine monarch, Oba Ewuare gave Benin City the look and status of an imperial metropolis.
  2. ......

  3. Oba OZOLUA 1483/1504, 15th Oba of Benin.

  4. Oba ESIGIE 1504/1550, 16th Oba of Benin, according to some English visitors, the Oba could field twenty thousand warriors in one day, and up to 100,000 men if necessary. Oba Esigie, in an effort to spread Christianity in his realm sent Ohen Okun, the Olokun priest at Ughoton, as an ambassador to the king of Portugal to ask him to send priests to Benin to teach him and his people about the Christian Faith. He also allowed churches to be built in the city at Ogbelaka, Idumwerie and Akpakpava. The Oba and the King of Portugal exchanged valuable gifts and a Portuguese Ambassador was accredited to Benin.

  5. Oba ORHOGBUA 1550/-

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  10. Oba AKENGBOI 1669/-, 22nd Oba of Benin

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  13. Oba OREOGHENEN 1689/1700

  14. Oba EWUAKPE 1700/1712

  15. Oba OZUERE 1712/1713

  16. Oba AKENZUA I [Nisonorho] 1713/1735

  17. Oba ERESONYEN (by Queen Ede) 1735/1750

  18. Oba AKENGBUDA (by Queen Ohogha II) 1750/1804

  19. Oba OBANOSA 1814/1816, married (amongst others), Queen Omozogie, and had issue.

    • Oba OGBEBOR (qv)
    • Oba EREDIAUWA OSEMWEDE (by Omozogie) (qv)

  20. Oba OGBEBOR 1816 (for 8 months only)

  21. Oba EREDIAUWA OSEMWEDE 1816/1851, married and had issue. He died 1851.
    • Oba ODINOVBA ADOLOR (qv)
    • Prince Ogbewekon
    • Princess Aghayubini, ancestress of the Osula's and Aiwerioghene's of Benin.

  22. Oba ODINOVBA ADOLOR 1851/1888, married (amongst others), Queen (later Queen Mother), Iyoba Iheya [Iha II], and had issue. He died 1888.
    • Oba IDUGBOWA OVONRAMWEN (by Iheya)(qv)
    • Prince Orokhoro

  23. Oba IDUGBOWA OVONRAMWEN 1888/1914 (deposed in 1897 by the British authorities), married (amongst others) Eghahe and Arghobahi, and had issue. He died in exile in 1914 at Calabar.
    • Prince Ehigie, eldest son, Enogie of Uwaan village.
    • Oba AIGUOBASINMWIN EWEKA II (by Eghahe)(qv) 
    • Prince Usuanlele
    • Prince Uyiekpen
    • Princess Orinmwiame
    • ?Custodio Joaquim de Almeida, died 1935.

  24. Oba AIGUOBASIMWIN EWEKA II 1914/1933, married (amongst others) Ariowa, and had issue. He died 2nd February 1933.
    • HH Omo n'Oba n'Edo UKU AKPOLOKPOLO GODFREY AKORO EWEKA AKENZUA II (qv)(eldest son)
    • Prince Uwaifiokun, Enogie of Obagie.
    • Prince Ogiesoba, Enogie of Aideyanoba.
    • Prince Iyiwuarefo Eweka, 4th son, Enogie of Oghada [cr.1935], had issue.
      • Prince Dr. Ademola Iyi Eweka, second son, born 1945.

  25. HH Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo GODFREY AKORO EWEKA AKENZUA II 1933/1978, born 1899 in Benin City, married 1stly, 1922, Iyoba Agbabowa Ovbi N'Errua [Queen Eson], later Queen Mother of Benin, born about 1907 in Ishan (#2), died 1999, and had issue, about 50 children. He died 1st December 1978.
    • HH Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo SOLOMON IGBINOGHODUA AISIOKUOBA AKENZUA EREDIAUWA I (by Agbabowa)(qv)
    • Prince Edun Agharese Akenzua, Enogie of Obazuwa-Iko, Chairman of the Benin Centenary Committee.
    • Prince Uyiekpen Akenzua
    • Prince David Akenzua, Justice (retd)
    • Princess Elizabeth Akenzua-Olowu
    • Princess Adesuwa Akenzua, married 1959, Professor Emmanuel Emovon.
    • Prince Idu Akenzua
    • Prince Felix Akenzua

  26. HH Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo SOLOMON IGBINOGHODUA AISIOKUOBA AKENZUA EREDIAUWA I (see above)
OTHER MEMBERS:
  • Prince Clifford Ogiesoba Eweka fl.1998
  • Prince Enawekponmwen Basimi Eweka, born 1928.
  • Prince Olumuyiwa Iyi-Eweka
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1.Who's Who 1962; Adam and Charles Black; London 1962; p.223
2. Queens, Queen Mothers, Priestesses and Power : Case Studies in African Gender, (ed.) Flora Edouwaye Kaplan, New York, 1997.