Our reporter
His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, has unveiled the detailed schedule for the long-awaited funeral rites of his late mother, Iyoba Omo N’ Ikuoyemwen, 49 years after her passing.
Iyoba Ikuoyemwen, mother of the current Oba, passed away in 1975, but her funeral rites were postponed until the ascension of her son to the throne, in accordance with Benin Kingdom’s customs and traditions. Now, nearly five decades later, the monarch has authorised the commencement of her burial ceremonies, marking the fulfilment of a royal duty long overdue.
A statement issued by the Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), Frank Irabor, confirmed that the monarch posthumously conferred the title of Iyoba upon his mother on November 21, 2021, as a tribute to her enduring legacy and contributions to the royal family and the kingdom.
The planned funeral ceremonies will begin on Saturday, February 15, 2025, with the Iwarinmwin rite. The rites will be conducted privately for the royal family at the Eguae Iyoba N’ Uselu, near the Five Junction in Benin. The funeral will take place in two distinct phases, with the first phase running from February 15 to 28, 2025, and the second phase, which will include the Ekasa performance, spanning March 1 to 27, 2025.
A key feature of the ceremony will be the suspension of the traditional coral beads, a customary practice observed during the royal family’s private mourning period. The grand finale of the funeral will take place on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the Oba Palace in Benin City, with the final Ekasa performance marking the culmination of the proceedings.
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