By Jethro Ibileke
The Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, will perform the funeral rites of his late mother, Iyoba Omo N’Ikuoyemwen, Iyoba Ewuare II, who transited 49 years ago.
The funeral which will be a private royal family ceremony, begins on Saturday, 15 February and end on Friday, 28 February 2025.
A statement by the Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), Frank Irabor, noted that the posthumous funeral ceremony is in keeping with Benin customs and tradition.
The statement explained that the royal funeral rites could not have been performed until now, because the Edaiken (Crown Prince) has to first ascend the throne and be crowned the Ọba, after which he has to first posthumously confer the title of Iyoba on his mother, and thereafter performs the funeral rites.
“It will be recalled that His Royal Majesty conferred the Iyoba title posthumously on his dear mother on Sunday, 21st November 2021.
“The first part of the ceremony will last for fourteen days. The second part begins with Ekasa immediately the first part ends. This will be the official mourning period.
“From the 15th when the ceremony begins, traditional coral beads will not be used in the Palace and the Kingdom until the end of the Ekasa ceremony. The whole of this period is declared the mourning period in the Kingdom,” the statement said.
Various traditional groups, including Ekasa, will perform both at the Eguae Iyoba N’Uselu, by 5 Junction and the Benin palace while the funeral rites last.