The
royal house of Benin is one of the most famous in Africa and the world at
large. Yearly, tourists and visitors troop to the ancient city located
in Edo state, Nigeria to see the palace which holds the rich
history of ancient royalty.
Although not all are
granted audience with the Oba – Omo N’Oba N’Edo, quite a number of people are
allowed to tour specific areas of the Palace. While paying a visit, it is
important to check with your tour guide for regulations which govern movements
around the palace.
However, if you are
set to visit Benin City in a bid to tour the Oba’s Palace
alone, Jovago.com, Africa’s No. 1 online hotel booking portal has put
together a list of 8 things visitors are encouraged not to do at the Oba’s
palace.
Pointing
Pointing fingers at
either Oba or his chiefs are 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.
Pointing is seen as
an act with deep spiritual meaning and so, anyone who does this is promptly
arrested by the security guards of the palace known as the Ifienwenro for
questioning and possible punishment. The Ifienwenro is a ‘spiritual’ guard
whose major duty is to wade off spiritual attack against the Oba. These guards
are usually clad in brown wrapper skirts with armlets around them. After
arrest, the offender is usually compelled to take an oath before confessing or
giving explanations for pointing fingers at the Oba. In dire cases, the
offender might be asked to present certain animals for sacrifice.
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 a medium through which mortals can call to spirits and
the dead. The Oba 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 deity would be roused by the call, and
in a situation where the roused spirit does not see any food, offering or
appeasement, it might take the life of the whistler or anyone around the
vicinity.
Open umbrella during
festivals
Umbrellas are
fashioned 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.
During major
festivals such as the Igue 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 umbrellas at the palace gate during festivals. For tourists and visitors
who have no prior knowledge of this rule, the security guards known as the
Ifiento issue a warning at the entrance.
Black apparel:
Black as a colour
typifies mourning in many cultures. Seeing as it is a taboo for the Oba to
mourn, no matter the circumstance, he is not allowed to set eyes on the colour
black. As a result, anyone wearing a 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.
Women at the Alaka
area
The Alaka is a
section of the palace known to habour Oba Ehemgbuba shrine. According to Benin
history, Oba Ehemugba, famously know as a powerful mystic, was born a
haemophrodyte and since his father did not have any other heir to ascend the
throne after him, he invited powerful witch doctors and mystics to work on
young Ehemugba. At the end of the healing session, the female parts of Oba
Ehemugba was removed from him and he was left with only the male parts. To
assuage the worries of the people and assure them that the next Oba would
indeed be completely male, Oba Ehemugba was paraded naked around the entire
community. 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 places around the shrine. Women till
date are refused entrance to the area.
Male visitors to the
royal harem
No male visitor of
any kind is allowed near the royal harem. The royal harem include 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 touch from their father or brother. The only males allowed to
approach the harem are designated male offspring from the royal family, males
with blue blood.
Banga (palm oil
fruits)on the head
While Banga soup is
notably consumed by people in Benin City, carrying its source- the palm oil
fruit- on your head in or around the palace is strictly prohibited. Also, a
vehicle loaded with the palm oil fruit is also not allowed through the streets
surrounding the Oba’s palace. The palm kernel is usually red in colour, same
colour as blood, and it is believed that the palm fruits at the Oba’s palace or
around it means that the land will take blood, and usually someone around would
have to die. It is considered a bad sign and an omen. In a situation
where someone, possibly a visitor, fails to adhere to this rule, an animal is
essentially sacrificed to the Ogun Oba as soon as possible, to avert impending
death or catastrophe.
Dogs
In the precolonial
times, after human sacrifice 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 would discover that dogs on their own, as though
they have a premonition, do not venture into the palace or run around it while
playing. Any canine that strays within dies.
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