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Oba of Benin |
Although not all
visitors are granted audience with the Oba
of Benin, quite a number of people are allowed to tour specific areas of
the palace.
visitors are granted audience with the Oba
of Benin, quite a number of people are allowed to tour specific areas of
the palace.
However, if you are a
visitor to Benin City, and you are
lucky to tour the Oba’s Palace alone, these are the eight things you must not
do.
visitor to Benin City, and you are
lucky to tour the Oba’s Palace alone, these are the eight things you must not
do.
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- Pointing – Pointing fingers at any of
his Chiefs is not allowed at the Oba’s Palace. The Oba himself does not point
fingers at anyone as well, except in a bid to bless or curse another
individual. - Whistling!
Whistling might seem like a simple and harmless act, but when in Benin City,
especially at the palace, this is considered rude. Based on superstition, the
people of Benin believe whistling to
be medium through which mortals can call the spirits and the dead.TheOba palace
houses over 3000 deities and mysticisms with spirits attached to them. It is
believed that when a person whistles in the palace, there is no control over
which spirit or group of spirits that could be invited into the ambience to
start manifesting. - Opening
Umbrella during Festivals—Umbrellas are festooned to offer
protection from harsh weather conditions such as rain or sun, however if you are
visiting Benin and you plan to attend a festival, be prepared to stand through
any condition the weather throws at you without protection because during major
festivals such as the Igwe festival, the Oba of Benin is the only one whose head
can be covered with an umbrella. The palace Chiefs are expected to leave their
umbrella at the palace gate during festivals. - Black
Apparel—Black as a color typifies mourning in many cultures
and in Benin culture, it is a taboo for the Oba to mourn, no matter the circumstances he is not allowed to set
eyes on the color black. As a result anyone wearing black attire is not allowed
entrance into the palace, especially if the person has the intention of gaining
an audience with the Oba or there is
a high chance of the person crossing paths with the Oba. - Dogs.
In the pre-colonial times, after human sacrificed was abolished, dogs were used
in many communities as substitutes to human offerings or just for special sacrifices.
If you have visited the Oba’s palace,
you will discover that dogs, on their own, as though they have a premonition do
not venture into the palace or run around it while playing. And dog that stray
within dies immediately. - Male
visitors to the Royal Harem—No male visitors of any kind is
allowed near the royal harem.The royal harem includes the Queen as well as other wives and concubines belonging to the Oba. This regulation is so severe that
the members of the harem, especially the queen are not even allowed a hand
touch from their father or brother. - Banga
(Palm fruits) on the head—white Banga
soup is notably consumed by the people in Benin City, carrying its source-the
palm fruit on your head in or around the palace is strictly prohibited. Also any
vehicle loaded with the palm fruit seed is also not allowed through the streets
surrounding the Oba’s palace. The palm fruit is usually red in color, same color
of blood, and it is believed that the palm fruit at the Oba’s palace or around
it means that the land will take blood and someone around would have to die. - Women
at the Alaka Area.
The Alaka
is a section of the palace known to harbor Oba Ehenguda Shrine. The
shrine in Alaka is believed to
contain his spirit and so, any female who enters the area immediately become
infertile. To avoid barrenness among the Benin girls and women, a ban was
placed around the shrine. Women till date are refused entrance into the area.