Benin City agog as Oba of Benin unveils renovated Emotan shrine

DOWNTOWN Benin city was agog yesterday during a traditional visit by His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin to the renovated site of Emotan Shrine, opposite Oba Market.

The Omo N’Oba among other activities performed certain sacred traditional rites of edification and fortification.

Accompanied by the Iloi (Queens of the Royal household), a large throng of Chiefs, Enigie, Priest of different divinity and deistical leanings, market women, members of the Royal family and a mammoth crowd to the Emotan Shrine, the Benin monarch meticulously performed a number of sacred rites, with the active involvement of all the customary functionaries and groups.

Historically, Emotan lived and came into reckoning in the reign of Oba Ohen and his children, including Prince Ogun, who later became Oba Ewuare the Great in about 1440AD – 1473AD.

Though a widow and childless, her heroic exploit in strategizing and assisting Prince Ogun, the rightful heir to the Royal stool to reclaim the throne from the usurper Oba Uwaifiokun earned her the status of veneration.

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Thus, when Emotan died, Oba Ewuare directed that she be buried at the spot where she used to sit and sell her wares opposite the Oba Market.

In addition, Oba Ewuare then made a proclamation to deified Emotan, and ordered that every man invested with a title will have to pay obeisance at Emotan Shrine, and also that all funeral processions must also visit the shrine to pay reverence to the spirit of Emotan.

Significantly, Emotan represents a true bastion of fairness, equity, justice, peace and harmony.

Therefore, the presence of Oba of Benin at the Emotan Shrine, was symbolic and spiritual in many respect, the legendary Emotan having being deified and venerated closed to six hundred years ago by the reigning royal, father forebears.

Interestingly, at the site of Emotan Shrine, which the Omo N’Oba has completely transformed into an aesthetic model, Omo N’Oba Ewuare II prayed fervently to the spirit of Emotan, the royal ancestors and God to ceaselessly grant him radiant health, good fortune, progress and longevity.