DESCRIPTION

In this video, Ekhator-Obogie Godfrey describes the circumstances that warranted human execution before 1897 as the exclusive prerogative of the Oba of Benin. He speaks about the misconception that the execution of criminals by the Ọba of Benin, as the final arbiter in matters of life and death, was human sacrifice. He cited the example of Avan, a retainer of Oba Ewuare I, who became the first chief Osuma of the Benin Kingdom.

Transcription:

0:00- 00:24 Slaves are part of the household in Benin Kingdom. The Ọba had slaves, the chiefs had slaves. Irrespective of their social status, they were part of the wealth, they were considered part of the wealth of their lords.

0:25- 0:55 But in pre-colonial Benin, during important festivals, those who were condemned, who were criminals – I have put it this way – those who were criminals were usually executed during important festivals. And the right to order the execution was the prerogative of the monarch. Only the Ọba could order anyone to be executed in the kingdom. And this was usually done after or during important festivals.

0:56- 01:39 And it was this practice that early European writers have misconstrued to be described as human sacrifice. And I do not think that it was only in Benin Kingdom that human execution was carried out during important state festivals, annual or thereabout. I’ll give you an example. There was a particular steward of Ọba Ẹwuare who had accompanied Ọba Ẹwuare to war in the Niger Coast area. And on their way back, Ọba Ẹwuare forgot one of his very powerful charms. And Ọba Ẹwuare had to send him, Avan, his name was Avan, to the Niger Coast to get the particular charm for him.

01:40-02:07 Otherwise, the people, if they get hold of it, they will be able to overrun the Benin Kingdom. By the time Avan got to that area, he was captured and then sold into slavery, after many years. And this particular young man had tried effortlessly to get to the king, but could not. Luckily enough for him, the person who bought – the trader who bought Avan as his slave brought him to Benin Kingdom. And he stayed several years.

02:08 - 02:40Avan made several efforts to reach the king, but he could not. Then he committed an offence in the house of his master, only to be condemned. And by the time he was condemned by the master, the master brought him to the king, because it was the king who had the right to order his execution. But before he could be executed, Avan had requested that the king grant him an audience to speak with the king, Oba Ewuarein confidence, which the king – despite pressure from the chiefs, the king granted Avan that audience, and Avan spoke to the king, Ọba Ẹwuare, in confidence.

02:41-03:07 As a result of speaking with Ọba Ẹwuare in confidence, Ọba Ẹwuare asked that he not be executed, and rather to give him the title which is today called Chief Osuma of Benin Kingdom. Osuma of Benin Kingdom means somebody that speaks in confidence. That is a confidant. So, to now describe human sacrifice, human execution in Benin Kingdom as human sacrifice, indeed is quite out of place.