The Oba of Benin is more than a traditional king. He is a keeper of one of the most powerful kingdoms in the history of Africa.
The Oba’s throne is embedded with the ideas of power, culture, and existence of time immemorial in the ancient Benin Kingdom located in what is now Edo State, Nigeria.
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List of the Obas of Benin
No | Oba Name | Reign | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Eweka I | 1200 AD – 1235 AD | Pre-Imperial Benin |
2 | Uwakhuahen | 1235 AD – 1243 AD | Pre-Imperial Benin |
3 | Ehenmihen | 1243 AD – 1255 AD | Pre-Imperial Benin |
4 | Ewedo | 1255 AD – 1280 AD | Pre-Imperial Benin |
5 | Oguola | 1280 AD – 1295 AD | Pre-Imperial Benin |
6 | Edoni | 1295 AD – 1299 AD | Pre-Imperial Benin |
7 | Udagbedo | 1299 AD – 1334 AD | Pre-Imperial Benin |
8 | Ohen | 1334 AD – 1370 AD | Pre-Imperial Benin |
9 | Egbeka | 1370 AD – 1400 AD | Pre-Imperial Benin |
10 | Orobiru | 1400 AD – 1430 AD | Pre-Imperial Benin |
11 | Uwaifiokun | 1430 AD – 1440 AD | Pre-Imperial Benin |
12 | Ewuare The Great | 1440 AD – 1473 AD | Imperial Benin |
13 | Ezoti | Reigned for 14 days | Imperial Benin |
14 | Olua | 1473 AD – 1480 AD | Imperial Benin |
15 | Ozolua | 1483 AD – 1504 AD | Imperial Benin |
16 | Esigie | 1504 AD – 1550 AD | Imperial Benin |
17 | Orhogbua | 1550 AD – 1578 AD | Imperial Benin |
18 | Ehengbuda | 1578 AD – 1606 AD | Imperial Benin |
19 | Ohuan | 1606 AD – 1641 AD | Imperial Benin |
20 | Ohenzae | 1641 AD – 1661 AD | Imperial Benin |
21 | Akenzae | 1661 AD – 1669 AD | Imperial Benin |
22 | Akengboi | 1669 AD – 1675 AD | Imperial Benin |
23 | Ahenkpaye | 1675 AD – 1684 AD | Imperial Benin |
24 | Akengbedo | 1684 AD – 1689 AD | Imperial Benin |
25 | Oroghene | 1689 AD – 1700 AD | Imperial Benin |
26 | Ewuakpe | 1700 AD – 1712 AD | Imperial Benin |
27 | Ozuere | 1712 AD – 1713 AD | Imperial Benin |
28 | Akenzua I | 1713 AD – 1735 AD | Imperial Benin |
29 | Eresoyen | 1735 AD – 1750 AD | Imperial Benin |
30 | Akengbuda | 1750 AD – 1804 AD | Imperial Benin |
31 | Obanosa | 1804 AD – 1816 AD | Imperial Benin |
32 | Ogbebo | 1816 AD (Reigned for 8 months) | Imperial Benin |
33 | Osemwende | 1816 AD – 1848 AD | Imperial Benin |
34 | Adolo | 1848 AD – 1888 AD | Imperial Benin |
35 | Ovonramwen N'Ogbaise | 1888 AD – 1914 AD | Imperial Benin |
36 | Eweka II | 1914 AD – 1933 AD | Post-Imperial Benin |
37 | Akenzua II | 1933 AD – 1978 AD | Post-Imperial Benin |
38 | Erediauwa | 1979 AD – 2016 AD | Post-Imperial Benin |
39 | Ewuare II | 2016 – present | Post-Imperial Benin |
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The First Oba Of Benin : Eweka I
Historical records shows Eweka I as the first Monarch (Oba) of the Kingdom of Benin and one of the major actors at the End of Ogiso and the Beginning of the Oba reign.
He was the son of Oranmiyan, the prince who came from the Yoruba city, Ife, and was called upon by the Edo people to come and heal their chaotic kingdom.
Nevertheless, there were elements within the kingdom that significantly opposed Oranmiyan and as such, he returned from his expedition, describing the region as ‘Ile-Ibinu’ (which means a land of vexation) that later on, the Portuguese distorted to Benin.
Before leaving however, Oranmiyan left behind a mistress pregnant with a child, whom he called Erinmwinde. The child, Eweka I, grew up in Benin in the care of his mother’s people.
As a little boy, Eweka had difficulties: he was unable to talk according to some reports, which was a source of worry to the people.
They sought the services of the oracle, certain rites were carried out and all this happened within the context of playing, or engaging in a game of marbles where Eweka, for the very first time ever, spoke and pronounced:
“owo mi ka” (more or less translated as ‘I caught it’ in Yoruba language). This momentous occasion was perceived quite differently for it sealed his fate of leading the people of Benin.
Eweka I was also still a child at the time of his coronation and ascendance to the throne as Oba, ruling with the assistance of Ogiegor, his maternal grandfather.
During his reign, the Eweka dynasty that still rules the current day Benin came into being, which was highly instrumental.
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Current Oba of Benin: Ewuare II (2016 – Present)
Ewuare II, who ascended the ancient throne on the 20th of October 2016, is the present Oba of Benin Kingdom. As he is joined by his father, Oba Erediauwa and his grandfather Oba Akenzua II, the Oba is at the forefront of efforts to rebuild and restore the historical narrative of this great African civilization.
And also to repatriate all the cultural treasures that were taken away from all over Benin and from the royal vault during the British occupation of the city in 1897.
Ewuare II incorporates the traditional roles of the Oba in the present day. Under his reign, he seeks to restore the sense of cultural identity amongst the Edo populations and also looks forward to economic growth and empowerment of the youth.
