Oral History
Roles
Aiko Obobaifo
About
Mr Aiko Obobaifo was born in Benin City into the family of the Obobaifo of Benin Kingdom. He is a retired civil servant. He was the Secretary of the Institute for Benin Studies until January 2020 and has been engaged in the study and documentation of Benin history since 1997.
Bernard Oviamwonyi
About
Mr Bernard Oviamwonyi is a descendant of the Enogie of Umelu town. He is a member of the elders council, and he lives at Umelu town along Saint Saviour Road in Ikpoba-Okha LGA, Edo State.
Interviews
The origin of Umẹlu town
Chief Aibuẹdẹfe
About
Chief Aibuẹdẹfe is a member of the Ewua of the Ogbelaka guild.
Chief D. U. Edebiri
About
Chief David Uyuhungbebe Edebiri is the Esọgban of Benin Kingdom. His books on various aspects of Benin history and culture include Ekuase (a legend from colonial Benin) and Moonlight at Noon (about the coronation of Ọba Erediauwa). He earned a doctor of letters from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and is a recipient of the prestigious national honour of the Order of the Niger.
Chief Eguaogie Evbuomwan
About
Chief Eguaogie Evbuomwan is the Odionwere of Iyoba Iheya quarter and Odionwere of the entire Uselu n’Eguae-Iyoba. He was born in 1947 at Uselu.
Interviews
The Iy’Ọba of Uselu
Chief Omo-Osagie Utetenegiabi
About
Chief Omo-Osagie Utetenegiabi, the Obadologbonyi of Benin Kingdom, is a son of the late Iyase of Benin, Chief Humphrey Omo-Osagie. Utetenegiabi was schooled in Benin City and at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He studied dance and choreography. He has worked as a teacher, but today he is a performing theatre artist and has won several awards as the best dancer in Nigeria.
Chief Omoregie Osarenmwinodamwen Ehigiaduwa
About
Ohen-Olokun Omoregie Osarenmwindomwan Ehigiaduwa is the Ohen Ọba N’amen of Uhunmwuniduhun, the Aro-Olokun of the Ọba of Benin. He is a palace chief and custodian of the Olokun shrine of the Ọba of Benin. His title and priesthood are hereditary.
Interviews
Different Types of Beads and Their Uses
Chief Osayomwanbo Osemwengie Ero
About
Chief Osayomwanbo Osemwengie Ero was born in 1932 at Igueomokhua village at Iyekeorhiomwon, where his grandmother hails from. His father, Chief Osemwengie Ero, was born at Urubi in Benin City into the Ero family, but he lived at Igueomokhua where he was farming. He was enabled by Ọba Ovonramwen to become the Esa of Benin Kingdom. His father’s house was located at the present location of the Ọba Market Police Station. His father lost the house as a result of the British invasion of 1897. His father was the son of Ero Omoregie and the younger brother of Ero Izedomwen and Iyoba Iheya. Chief Osemwengie Ero started his educational career in 1945 with sponsorship from his mother and his elder brother whom he lived with in Benin City. Osayomwanbo Ero attended Holy Cross Primary School, United African Missionary School (UNA), now known as Ebenezer. UNA was located on Oza Street, Benin City. It was founded by Ohuoba after he left the Anglican Church. Chief Ero was taken from UNA to Arinze Primary School at Standard Five by a teacher popularly known as BP, who hails from Auchi, because of his proficiency during a football game. When he completed his primary school in 1953, he joined Ext-Omo Plus Rubber Plantation Company as a paid labourer for two years. In 1955, he started teaching at Odiguetue and went to St. Joseph Teacher Training College at Ozoro in 1959. Chief Ero was among the first students of the Edo Language Programme in Lagos. He was taught in the language class by Ogierhiakhi, Agheyisi and Art History by Ekpo Eyo. He later joined the NTA and was a newscaster and translator . He came to Benin in the 1970s and joined the National Broadcasting Service of the Midwestern State. He was initiated into the Iwebo Palace Society in 1978 following his coverage of the obsequies of Ọba Akenzua II and the coronation of Ọba Erediauwa in 1979. He was benevolently enabled by Ọba Erediauwa as the Obazogbon of Benin, and in 2011 he was elevated to the rank of Eghaevbo N’Ogbe as the Edeobayeokhae of Benin Kingdom.
Chief Palmer Enabulele
About
Chief Palmer Enabulele is the Odionwere of Ewua N’Ogbelaka of the Ogbelaka guild of Benin Kingdom. He is a retired civil servant and a librarian by profession.
Chief Sam Odighi Udinyiwe Igbe
About
Chief Sam Odighi Udinyiwe Igbe is the Iyase of Benin Kingdom. He was installed as the Iyase of Benin in November 1997 by Ọba Erediauwa of blessed memories. Before then he was the Obamwonyi of Benin Kingdom. He retired voluntarily from the police force in 1978, which coincidentally was when Ọba Akenzua II joined the ancestors. Sam O. U. Igbe and Mr Erhabor Emokpae were close associates of Prince Solomon Edokpaorhogbuyumwun Akenzua. Hence they came to Benin to show their solidarity as delegates of the Benin people in Lagos. They went back to Lagos and made arrangements to use Benin objects at the National Theatre in decorating the ring road and the streets of Benin as part of the ongoing ceremonies in Benin City. As a result of this, Ọba Erediauwa initiated them into the palace society. Erhabor was sent to Iwebo because his father had been there. Sam himself was sent to Ibiwe because Igbe Arase, his father, was the last Ine N’Ibiwe before the reign of Ọba Erediauwa. Igbe Arase was the son of Arase N’Okuku n’Ugboka. The Arase family lived at Oza Street off Sokponba Road. Chief Igbe grew up under a master who lived where the present-day Saint Matthew Anglican Cathedralis located. Chief Igbe later came to Benin and was engaged as a member of different government committees. Chief Sam Odighi Udinyiwe Igbe was first given the title of Obamedo of Benin, and after three years the Obamwonyi of Benin.
Chief Ẹfesọba
About
Chief Ẹfesọba of Benin is a member of the Ewua of the Ogbelaka guild.
Dr. Eduviere Justin Aigheyisi
About
Prof. Justin Agheyisi hails from the town of Umoghun N’Ọkhua in Orhionmwon LGA. He is a professor of geography in the Department of Geography and Regional Planning at the University of Benin, Benin City.
Dr. Enibokun Uzebu-Imarhiagbe
About
Dr. Enibokun Uzebu-Imarhiagbe is a historian and lecturer in the Department of History and International Studies at the University of Benin, Benin City. Her areas of specialisation are Benin material culture and women in the Nigerian judiciary. She is a fourth-generation descendant of Ọba Osẹmwẹndẹ.
Dr. Frank Ikponmwosa
About
Dr. Frank Ikponmwosa, associate professor of history at the Department of History, University of Benin, Benin City, specialises in economic history with an emphasis on the economy of Benin in the pre-colonial, colonial and postcolonial periods.
Dr. Josephine Ebiuwa Abbe
About
Dr. Mrs Josephine Ebiuwa Abbe is a Lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Benin, Benin City. Her area of specialisation is performance studies with an interest in African dance.
Esohe Iriemwen
About
Mrs Esohe Iriemwen started pottery making about twenty years ago. She learnt the art at Oka village, Ikpoba-Okha LGA.
Igbinoghodua Edebiri
About
Ohen Osa Igbinoghodua Edebiri is the chief priest of Holy Aro Osa (Aruosa) Benin National Church of God. Ohen Edebiri was installed on 26 September 2021. He is the son of the former Ohen-Osa N’Wanren, later Ohen Edebiri.
Iroghama Stella Uwagie-Ero (née Aisien)
About
Madam Iroghama Stella Uwagie-Ero is a member of Idemudia Aisien family and one of the daughters of the late Ohen-Osa Idemudia Aisien. She lives in Benin (Edo) and is a retired police officer, having left service in 2015.
Iseherhien Idemudia-Aisien
About
Madam Isehiehen Idemudia Aisien is one of the daughters of the late Ohen-Osa Idemudia Aisien. She resides in Benin (Edo). We cannot tell her exact position among siblings both male and female, she should be one of those in the twentieth (position) initially but today, she is the fifth among the females.
Iziengbe Pat Ebuka-Onuoha
About
Iziengbe Pat Ebuka-Onuoha is a researcher, author and lecturer in the Department of History and International Studies, University of Benin, Benin City. Her research focuses on Benin women’s history from the pre-colonial, colonial and postcolonial periods. She is an African-studies scholar and has written on this topic for several local and international journals. Her book 'Heroines in Pre-colonial Benin, Their Lives and Transformations' has been cited widely. She is in the last phase of her doctorate studies at the University of Ibadan.
Interviews
Pre-Colonial Female Figures in Benin Kingdom
James Orebor
About
Mr James Orebor is a native and an elder of Umelu town along Saint Saviour Road in Ikpoba-Okha LGA, Edo State.
Interviews
A History of Umẹlu Town
Jane Ugieresoyen Ekhator
About
Jane Ugieresoyen Ekhator was about seventy-seven years old when she was interviewed by the Digital Benin team. She officially started cultural dance performance in 1965. Some of her contemporaries were the late Solomon Omoregie Ogbodu, High Priest Osemwengie Ebohon, Lord Mayor of Hotel D’Jordan (an NTA TV series). Along with Mrs Roseline Ogbodu and Mrs Pat Ugo, among others, she was one of the founding members of the Edo Cultural Group in 1965.
John Osazeme Igbineweka
About
Mr John Osazeme Igbineweka is a carver from the Igbesamwan guild. He was born into the family of the late Chief Ine of Igbesamwan about sixty-two years ago. As early as age five, Mr John started learning how to carve by working with his father at Igbesamwan.
Interviews
Igbesamwan Wood Carving: On Learning a Craft Wood Carving: Significant Motifs and the Cowries Igbesamwan Wood Carving Pt. 5: Patination Making Ekenekene Igbesamwan Wood Carving Pt. 4: Forming an Oko Igbesamwan Wood Carving Pt. 3: Shaping the Object Igbesamwan Wood Carving Pt. 2 Igbesamwan Wood Carving Pt. 1: Introduction Ivory Carving by Ine n’Igbesamwan (Igbesamwan Guild) Pt. 3: Process Description Ivory Carving by Ine n’Igbesamwan (Igbesamwan Guild) Pt. 2: Patterns in Benin Carving Ivory Carving by Ine n’Igbesamwan (Igbesamwan Guild) Pt. 1 Igbesamwan Wood Carving: Final Stage of the Production of an Oko
Monday Aigbe and Ewaen Aigbe
About
Mr Monday Aigbe and Mr Ewaen Aigbe are both descendants of the Aigbe family of Igun Eronmwon. They are members of a renowned bronze-casting family in Igun quarters. The Aigbe family have produced important bronze objects for the royal court, and for a century their works have been some of the best in the Benin bronze market.
Interviews
Bronze Casting at Aigbe Foundry Pt. 9: Bronze Casting Bronze Casting at Aigbe Foundry Pt. 8: Molten Brass/Bronze Bronze Casting at Aigbe Foundry Pt. 7: Digging a Pit for Bronze Casting Bronze Casting at Aigbe Foundry Pt. 6: The Making of an Odudua Mask Bronze Casting at Aigbe Foundry Pt. 5: Bronze Mould in Furnace Bronze Casting at Aigbe Foundry Pt. 4: Making of an Osun Bronze Figure Bronze Casting at Aigbe Foundry Pt. 3: Wrapping the Wax Designs with Red Sand Bronze Casting at Aigbe Foundry Pt. 2: Modelling the Core out of Wax Bronze Casting at Aigbe Foundry Pt. 1
Obeh Okakuo
About
Obeh Okakuo was born and lived in the village of Evbohighae, around seventy kilometres southeast of Benin City. He did not know his date of birth, but his mother already had two other children by the time of the British invasion of Benin in 1897, so he was likely four or five years old at that time. When he was interviewed in 1993, he would have been at least 100 years old.
Interviews
Obeh Okakuo on the sack of Benin in 1897Ogaimueyen Evbuomwan
About
Elder Ogaimueyen Evbuomwan is a member of the Uselu elders council. He is the secretary of the Eguae-Iheya n’Iyoba elders council at Uselu.
Interviews
The Iy’Ọba of Uselu
Ohen-Olokun Aigbokhaevbo
About
Ohen-Olokun Aigbokhaevbo, also known as Opia, is the Ihama of Aro-Olokun Uhunmwunidunhun. In Benin, an Ihama is a priest that officiates during rituals and carries out the sanctification of the chief priest or traditional leader.
Osaisonor Godfrey Ekhator-Obogie
About
Osaisonor Godfrey Ekhator-Obogie is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Benin Studies and presently the Secretary to the Executive Council of the Institute. He is a Fellow of the French Institute for Research in Africa, Nigeria (IFRA-NIGERIA), and a member of Lagos Studies Association (LSA). He serves as a tour guide for visitors to the historical/heritage sites of the ancient Benin Kingdom and has developed a flair for the promotion of the history, cultural tradition and language of Benin and Edo speaking people. His ongoing PhD research is focused on the cultural history of the Benin people and kingdom. His research interests are ethnicity and nationalism, migration and citizenship, cultural history in general and Benin Studies in particular. Ekhator-Obogie graduated from Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, with a BA in arts and education (history). He holds an MA in history from the Ibadan School of History in Nigeria’s premier University of Ibadan. He has also given talks at academic conferences and workshops.
Interviews
The Bronze Snake Sculpture About the Osun Staff About Manillas About Games in Benin About Execution and Human Sacrifice About the Ada Sword About the Sacrificial Gourd Ukomwen Ceremony: Final ritual of burial rites In Benin Kingdom and the significance of Ukhure and materials for carving of UkhureOsayemwenre Idemudia Aisien
About
Osayemwenre Idemudia Aisien is the twenty-sixth child of Idemudia Aisien.
Pa Enabulele Otabor
About
Pa Enabulele hails from Iguehana village in Ebue chiefdom. He worked with the Bendel State Urban Water Board where he retired as the station head of Ugoneki Rural Water Board. Pa Enabulele was installed as the Odionwere (village head) of Iguehana village in February 2021.
Pa Iyekeoretinomwan Aikpitanyi
About
Pa Iyekeoretinomwan Aikpitanyi was in his early seventies at the time of this interview. He was born in Benin City to Benin parents. He was schooled in Benin City and worked as a classroom teacher until his retirement. While still a teacher he started participating in cultural activities because of the cultural renaissance of the 1960s and 1970s in Nigeria and Africa in general. This took him and other young cultural enthusiasts to events at places like Ibadan. He is a pioneer member of the Edo Cultural Troupe, which was formed by Chief Solomon Omoruyi Ogbodu, the Efeobasota of Benin Kingdom. As curator of the group, his interest was to impart the art and culture of Benin Kingdom for the purpose of documenting and preserving them.
Pa Ohenhen Egbenayaloben
About
Pa Ohenhen Egbenayaloben was born in 1940 at Orogbo town. He was born into the family of Pa Ohenhen Omorodion, whose father Omorodion hails from Ugoneki town. He attained Benin Divisional Council School, Orogho, up to standard six, then he came to Benin City to continue his education at St Patrick Modern School. He was trained as a botanist at Moor Plantation Forestry School, Ibadan, before the creation of the Midwest Region. Under the newly created Midwest Forestry Department, he served as a server and enumerator, where he became experienced in the identification of different species of plants. He also worked at Sokponba Forest, where wood carvers usually sourced materials for carving.
Patrick Oronsaye
About
Patrick Oronsaye is one of the great-grandsons of Ọba Ovonramwẹ. His mother was the daughter of Ọba Ẹwẹka II. She was one of the first midwives in Nigeria and the founder of Oronsaye Orphanage, which Mr Oronsaye manages now. Patrick Oronsaye is a member of the Ekaiwe guild, a trained art historian and an avowed cultural enthusiast. He has worked with the National Commission for Museum and Monuments in Benin City, where he served on the curatorial team for the collection of objects for the museum.
Phil Otaniyen Omadamwen Foundry
About
Phil Omodamwen is a Benin traditional bronze caster. He is the sixth generation of the Omodamwen family of Igun-Eronmwon. He learnt bronze casting from his father, because this skill is passed from father to son. The Omodamwen family has been in the trade of bronze casting for over five hundred years.
Prof. Osarhieme Benson Osadolor
About
Prof. Osarhieme Benson Osadolor is professor of history and international studies at the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Prof. Osadolor studied African history at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and continued to the University of Hamburg in Germany for his doctorate. Prof. Osadolor is interested in the study of the African past, particularly the early periods of African history. His research focus is on Benin Kingdom and its empire.
Robert Ize-Iyamu
About
Robert is a descendant of the Ize-Iyamu family of Benin. He is a grandson of Chief R. O. Ize-Iyamu, who was the Esọgban of Benin and the first Benin man to own a two-storey building in Benin City, which is known as Egedege N’Okao. Currently Robert is the custodian of this house.
Interviews
Esogban and Witchcraft in Benin Kingdom
Roseline Ogbodu
About
Mrs Roseline Ogbodu is a performance artist and one of the founders of the famous Edo Cultural Group, which started cultural dance performances in the now defunct Midwestern State. She is the current Vice President of the Edo Cultural Group of Benin, which was founded on 6 March 1966.
Sir Onaiwu Ambrose Ekhosuehi
About
Late Sir Onaiwu Ambrose Ekhosuehi died in April 2022. He was a trained forest guard in the colonial Benin Division. He was a Knight of Saint John International. He was a columnist at the Nigerian Observer, Benin City, and his writings were focused on aspects of Benin culture.
Theophilus Umogbai
About
Theophilus Umogbai is the Head of Research Department at the NCMM Abuja. He was the Curator of the National Museum, Benin City, where he worked between 2012 and 2022. Before coming to Benin, he was Curator of the National Museum, Owo, from 2001 to 2012.