The Edo people, also referred to as the Benin people,
The names Benin City and Bini are Portuguese corruptions, ultimately from the word Ubini, which came into use during the reign of Oba (ruler) Ewuare, c. 1440. Ubini is an Edo word meaning 'livable', used by Pa Idu, the progenitor of the Edo state people, to describe the area found as a livable locale during their sojourn from Ancient Egypt. Ubini was later corrupted to Bini by the mixed Ethnicity living together at the centre; and further corrupted to Benin around 1485, when the Portuguese began trade relations with Ewuare giving them coral beads,
History
Administrative region
Edo people can be found in Nigeria's
Edo State, which got its name from the primary inhabitants of the region's most notable historical
conglomeration,
Benin City, which is also the central capital homeland of the Edo people. Edo people also have many related groups in their immediate surroundings also encompassed by the political and administrative borders of Edo state.
Most of these groups have traced their history back to the historical city center of the Benin people, Benin City. Examples of such adjacent groups include various
Afemai people sub-groups, the
Esan people people of Edo state and the
Akoko Edo people situated on the state's northern borders.
Edo state was formerly part of the old Bendel State of early post-colonial Nigeria, also known as the Mid-Western Region, Nigeria. This region's influence and culture reflect those of the Edo, Urhobo people, Esan people and other Edo related peoples.
Fashion
The Edo people have a rich and flamboyant traditional fashion style. This is usually prominent during ceremonies such as weddings, coronation and the like. When it comes to cultural attire, the Edo people maintain a unique way of dressing. Coral
bead accessories are a true passion for Edo women and men. Common attire includes coral beads,
,
raffia work and so on.
The men usually wear a white T-shirt or shirt and above it, a multicolored striped fabric. There are options with other patterns. The choice of
Headgear depends on the preferences of a man. Some men even prefer to wear black hats as part of their traditional attire.
It is also popular to choose a carved walking stick that makes a groom look like a true gentleman. Wearing a wrapper around the waist is also a tradition for many men.
The cultural attire is usually accompanied by a cap or hat. The caps are often called headdress and are made either of a mesh of coral beads or of fabric.
The women tie wrappers made from a variety of fabrics including velvet, lace and george. They also wear the Ewu-ivie, a beaded cape or blouse. Women adorn their necks with coral beads known as Ivie-uru and wear the Ivie-obo on their hands and beaded Earring. Their handbag is made out of coral beads as well the Ekpa-ivie.
Traditional beliefs
In the traditional religion of the Edo, there exists, besides the human world, an invisible world of supernatural beings acting as interceders for the human world. Offerings are made to them in their respective shrines.
Osanobua is the creator and Supreme God. His son/daughter
Olokun is ruler of all bodies of water and is responsible for the prosperity and fertility of his/her human followers. Another son
Ogun, is the
patron god of
Metalworking. The
epithet Osanobua Noghodua means
God Almighty. The word
Osanobua encompasses a large number of divine principles - including the divine state of being merciful, timeless, goodness, justice, sublimity, and supreme. In the Edo belief system, Osanobua has the divine attributes of
omnipresence (),
omniscience (), and
omnipotence (). The Supreme Deity is believed to be present everywhere and at all times.
[Peavy, Daryl, Kings, Magic, and Medicine, p. 5, [1]][Paula Ben-Amos, Flora Edouwaye S. Kaplan: Edo Religion. In: Lindsay Jones: Encyclopedia of Religion. Thomson-Gale, 2005. ]
Art and architecture
Traditional Edo art consists of widely identifiable sculptures, plaques and masks which reflect various spiritual and historical aspects of their cultural traditions. Some of the notable Edo art pieces include the mask of the Queen Mother
Idia and a vast collection of historical Edo art pieces called the
Benin Bronzes which can be found not only in Nigeria but further dispersed around the world, including in museums such as New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Notable Edo people
-
Ewuare II,
-
Esther Erediauwa, the first wife of the 39th Oba of Benin kingdom, Oba Erediauwa.
-
Victor Uwaifo, musician,
-
Peter Odemwingie,
-
Charles Novia, film director,
-
Osayuki Godwin Oshodin,
-
Benson Idahosa,
-
Samuel Ogbemudia,
-
John Odigie Oyegun,
-
Victor Ikpeba,
-
Godwin Obaseki,
-
Gabriel Igbinedion,
-
Erhabor Emokpae,
-
Mercy Aigbe,
-
Guosa Alex Guosa Igbineweka, Guosa Language Evolutionist, Creator: a Nigerian and ECOWAS indigenous zonal lingua-franca
-
Abel Guobadia,
-
Jane Igharo,
-
Professor Osasere Orumwense,
-
Suyi Davies Okungbowa,
-
Archbishop John Edokpolo, Honourable Minister of Trade and Founder of Edokpolor Grammar School
-
Chief Jacob U. Egharevba,
-
Kamaru Usman, Nigerian mixed martial artist
-
Gbadamasi Agbonjor Jonathan (MC Edo Pikin),
-
Rema, music artist
-
Johnny Drille, music artist
-
Shallipopi, music artist
-
Boy Spyce, music artist
-
Zerrydl, music artist
-
Ayo Edebiri, American actress and comedian
-
Wisdom Kaye, Nigerian-American model and social media personality
See also
-
List of the Ogiso
-
Kingdom of Benin
-
Oba of Benin
External links
