Hello everyone, I am from the Bini tribe in Edo state. The people of Edo state share the same ancestors with the people of Yoruba, History says they were brothers. Although the traditions of both people are not alike.
According to Wikipedia, The Edo or Benin people are an Edoid ethnic group primarily found in Edo State, Nigeria. They speak the Edo language and are the descendants of the founders of the Benin Empire.
I will be sharing some of our traditions, what we believe in, basically how things are done in my state. Some of them are specific to some tribes while others are general.
The most important figure to the people of Benin is the Oba Of Benin. He is the supreme head and everyone is expected to abide by whatever he says. It does not matter if the President says one thing and the Oba says another, the people of Edo state will always abide by what the OBa says.
The successor to the Oba must always be from his bloodline. In other words, his first Son is usually the Heir to the throne and if he does not bear a son during his lifetime which is almost impossible since the Oba always has 7 Wives(unless he does not want to). In a case where there's no son the throne goes to the brother but whatever happens, the throne does not leave the family.
Mostly the Oba is not allowed to see his first son until death - The father and son do not see each other, the son is mostly sent abroad so there is no chance of "mistakenly" seeing the father - it is forbidden. I think the present Oba has changed that rule though, I'm not really sure.
When the Oba dies, the people in the palace announce the news by saying "the ground has swallowed a white chalk" - this is said in the native language though. Whenever we hear news like that we know it is time for every male indigen to shave their hair completely regardless of age and the women are expected to wear their hair in a bun.
This is because a ritual will be done before the Oba can be buried - when you hear ritual be rest assured that the lives of people are at stake (in case you don't get it, I mean they will bury some people with the Oba and none of these people must be indigenes). So if you are not from Edo and the Oba dies when you are around, please go home or stay indoors.
Enough about the Oba, let's move to other things. In benin, a wife is not allowed to cheat on her husband for whatever reason, to the extent that a man cannot jokingly call a married woman "my wife". it's a taboo.
Also, the woman is not allowed to cook for her husband with the money she collected from a man who pronounced love to her. If she does this her husband or children will die in such a way that the family will know it's because she was unfaithful.
I don't know if this next one applies to everyone or just my tribe, but a woman shouldn't laugh with a child before he grows teeth. It is believed that this will make the child speech impaired - stutter when he's old enough to talk. Also, don't show a newborn a mirror, it will cause convulsions.
There's also this thing we do when we go to the bush with friends or family. If they are on the other side of the bush and we need to call out to them we do this by saying "oh eey".
It is believed that there are spirits around and if you call out to your friend by name, chances are a spirit will answer instead (we all know that may not end well).
The people of Edo value respect and character over money. So if you're marrying into the tribe, either marrying their son or daughter, they don't care the amount of money you have or don't have. What they want is respect and good character.
There are a lot of other things I can't mention with this one post but I hope I've been able to give a little insight on my tribe and the things we do.
I invite @iamchuks to participate, here's a link to the original contest.
Thanks for stopping by ❤️
What a tribe! So many cultures for just one tribe. You seem to know a lot about your tribe unlike me 😏 and it's so cool.
The part of the Oba being a great King is so true, I've heard a lot about his supremacy in the land. But the circumstances that follows after his death is a really wrong and scary culture and I'm glad it may be a thing of the past now.
I've also heard about the woman not using the money she collected from another man to prepare food for her family, a friend of mine told me about it with a very clear example, it's really scary.
All the same dear, you did well on sharing your culture with us. I wish you the best in the contest.
Lol, it's because I schooled there for four years and my parents also talk a lot about the culture.
I'm not sure it's a thing of the past tho, the last time the Oba died I was in school and we were asked to not come for classes and I saw people having their hair
Thanks dear
If you give me I go chop my baby...
😂 It is like you want to eat poison. Anyway the rule does not apply to you, you are not a Benin man.
Benin city is filled with lots of cultural display. It's true about how they call each other when they are in the bush because they don't want to call each other by names in the bush.
The oba of Benin is always the oba of all obas. The king of all King's. Many clans emerged from the clan of Benin, mine inclusive... So, you came fr great city.
Yes and they find joy in the native attire, I saw a lot of it during my school days.
Yeah that is true, I have heard stories about it. Thank you for your comment.
One thing I know is that the people of Edo have a very rich culture. I have heard similar stories too because I had friends in school from Edo and they loved to gist.
I see your Oba is valued due to the ceremony that goes with his burial. So even if you are overseas and the Oba kicks the bucket, would you still have to shave your head as a male? Hehe.
This is funny. You do know babies smile and laugh even before their teeth are formed. How can the mother not laugh with her baby?
I'm sure you don't agree with some of these cultural values. Nicely written. Good luck in the contest. 🙂
haha yeah the Edo people do have a rich culture.
Some people do so just to show respect, it is not compulsory though. But if they are in the state it is in their best interest to shave their hair, cause the people they will use for the ritual are those who have hair on their head, because it is assumed they are not one of us.
Definitely, first why won't I laugh with my baby and also why do you have to kill innocent people because someone else died? na ment na😂
This is outrageous, wow, worst is that the oba doesn't see his first son, thank God the present oba changed it, the believes in your town got me scared, a man dying because he ate from the money a man who profess love to her gave her and the custom of shaving hair. Omoh, so many things to be scared of, but does this still exist?
Sorry, my voting power is low, I will help reblog the post for now.
When I heard that part I had the same feeling, like why won't the father and son ever see each other.
I guess this is to make her stay grounded in the marriage, reduce the risk of her going outside the marriage.
Thank you!
You're welcome, I enjoyed your article, success in the contest
Edo, love their culture hehehe. I heard alot of cultural value you all adhere to and you all try your possible best to pass it down. Nowadays, most of cultural values are beginning to be forgotten.
I felt kind of saw about this. Why? The father will not have a good relationship with his son and then he won't even know what is son looks like in person. I don't think I can't take😅
Heheh this is good but what if that is the only money at home to feed the family? What would the wife do? 😅
This one got me 😂. I must laugh because sometimes babies can be funny.
Wow! I must say I everything about your article. I had good read. Thank you for sharing these with us. Wish you the best in the contest.
I don't know but I think they should communicate well on phone just can't see each other physically, I'm not also sure if they are allowed to share pictures.
😂😂 I don't think having no money at home would be the reason she should put the life of her husband and children in danger. Plus she should have friends that can help
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it
Nicely written dear. I like the fact that you are well informed about your culture.
I can remember when I was still in school (University of Benin) and we heard the news of the death of the Oba. I had to stay indoors for fear of being used to buried with the king.
It was really scary.
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However Benin city has done a good job with trying to preserve their culture. I love the respect given to the Oba. I always hear people singing his praise.
Good thing is they don't use women for the ritual. A good time to be a woman I must say😂😂
He's like a god to them. I admire the respect they give him though, the awesome thing is he gives them that respect back, remember during the EndSars protest he actually came out to address his people when they got to the palace.
Thank God they don't use women o. I didn't know about that.
I have learnt something new
Hi blezyn,
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