Oba Ewuare concludes funeral for Late Queen Mother with Ekasa

By Sebastine Ebhuomhan I Friday, March 28,2024

 

BENIN CITY, Edo State – The Monarch of Benin Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, CFR, has concluded the six-week long funeral ceremony for his mother, the late Queen Mother, Omo N’Ikuoyemwen, Iyoba Ewuare II.

Iyoba Ewuare transited to eternal glory exactly 49 years ago. The programme of activities of her funeral rites began on Saturday, 15th of February with Iwarinwim and concluded on Thursday, the 27th of March with Ekasa. Unlike some other aspects of the rites, Ekasa held at the Palace of the Oba of Benin.

In Benin Kingdom, Ekasa is a deeply spiritual cultural dance performed solely for the pleasure of the monarch during coronation ceremony and funeral rites. It can also be performed during other deeply meaningful cultural and spiritual activities relating to the royal family held indoors.

Decked in his traditional regalia of a red cap on a white short-sleeve shirt and a red heavy wrapper, complete with white beads on his neck and hands along with a pair of matching shoes and sunglasses, Omo N’Oba emerged from the inner chambers of the palace to the throne of his forefathers at the Ughozolua area of the palace.

At Ughozolua, princes and princesses, other members of the royal family, members of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), political leaders of Benin Kingdom and Edo State, other dignitaries and very important personalities paid him homage before the final ceremony began under the salute of “Iyare, Iyare, Umogun” through the rubbing of both palms together and the rendition of traditional songs symbolising victory, peace, unity, blessings, progress and development in Benin Kingdom, Edo State, Nigeria and the world.

Notable Ekasa groups in Benin Kingdom from Ogbelaka, Eguaedase, Eben and Ogele took turns to perform the traditional and cultural dance to the admiration of all. The palace erupted with shouts of joy and obeisance, Iyare, Iyare, when Oba Ewuare took the symbol of Ekasa from 11-year-old Eguavoen Ayadin to dance around alongside Ekasa dancers.

The final ceremony expectedly drew a huge crowd of radiantly dressed, proud, satisfied and happy participants from Benin City, Edo State, and all walks of life.

Particularly, the leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Edo State, Chief Benjamin Ekekwere led members of his socio-cultural organization to the palace,where they also paid homage to Oba Ewuare II like many other traditional rulers across and beyond the state, palace chiefs across and beyond the state, public and private functionaries across and beyond the state, priests and priestesses of deities across and beyond the state as well as traditionalists and native doctors across and beyond the state.

Oba ghator kpere, Ise!

 

Mr. Sebastine EBHUOMHAN is an award-winning journalist and media consultant from Edo State. He can be reached on: usie007@yahoo.com and 08037204620.