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 Unclad
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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