I don't dispute that. (Being the beginning of the 'Oba' Monarchy) I really enjoy reading these different accounts The Edo cosmological account of the universe draws significantly from the Egyptian one. The Egyptian version, which later formed the basis of Genesis in the Bible, is that the universe was created from chaos and primaeval (or ancient) ocean. After a hill (called ta-tjenen) arose from the bottom of the ocean, a son-god (God´s child or baby god) called Atom, (which is the Sun without which life on earth is impossible), appeared on the land created by the hill. The son-god or Atom then created eight other gods, which together with himself made nine gods. These nine gods are presumed by modern science to be symbolized by the nine major planets of the universe.
The Edo version is that, in the beginning, Osanobua (God, Oghene-Osa, Tu-SoS), decided to populate the world so He asked His four sons in Erinmwin (Heaven), to choose whatever gift of nature each fancied. The oldest chose wealth, the next in age chose wisdom, the third chose mysticism (spiritual energy), and as the youngest was about to announce his choice, Owonwon (the Toucan) cried out to him to settle for a snail shell. This did not make sense to him but he settled for it all the same. The brothers laughed at his silly choice but Osanobua said it was a wise choice. That when they get to the middle of the water where He was sending them, the youngest son should turn his snail shell facing the water.
There was no land only water every where and the four sons were in a canoe, sailing, drifting, propelled by the power of eziza (wind). In the middle of the water stood a tree on top of which lived (Owonwon) the toucan. The importance of the emergence of the tree before man on earth is not lost on modern science, which recognizes that without the tree manufacturing oxygen, life on earth would have been impossible. Modern science has also confirmed the Edo cosmology that birds, insects etc preceded man to earth. The Edo myth of creation was earth based in scope.
When the children got to the middle of the water, the youngest son turned his snail shell upside down resulting in an explosion from the bottom of the water that forced volumes and volumes of sand to gush out of the water and fill up space around them for as far as the eyes could see. With the explosion, the four elements of creation, amen (water), eziza (air), arhen (fire) and oto (sand or land) were in place. Land was every where but the kids did not know what it was. They were afraid to climb out of the canoe to step on the land, so they sent the Chameleon to test its firmness. That is why the Chameleon walks with hesitation.
The youngest son of Osanobua was the only spirit out of the four sons who could have the physical human body attribute on stepping on the land, because that was the advantage of the physical or material choice he made. It was put in his hand from heaven. The other sons were deities. The youngest son, the ruler of the earth, represents innocence and so is susceptible to the powers of the deities, his brothers. These same weak and strong, good and evil, physical and spiritual, influences form the basic elements of all modern religions, with man endowed with the power to make choices.
Junior wanted his older spirit brothers to remain with him on his land. The oldest brother chose to take his spirit gift and live in what was left of the water. The other two brothers accepted junior´s invitation and deposited their spirit selves and gifts on the land as soon as they stepped on it from the canoe. Junior stepped on his land gingerly at first, then vigorously, stamping hard and repeatedly on it, running and rolling over it. He looked around and felt good and happy with his enormous gift. He called his land agbon (earth), and himself, Idu, meaning the first human on earth. He decided to walk around and explore the extent and nature of his gift. It had trees, shrubs, birds, animals, insects, which all came out of water with the land, and the land sprawled endlessly. After walking for a while pushing through shrubs; almost stepping on insects, ants and crawlers; talking to birds that appeared to be serenading him and animals that came close or ran from him, he was tired. He sat on the stump of a tree to rest, later lying on the ground to sleep.
While asleep, Osanobua came down with a chain from heaven, looked around to ensure that everything was in place, including the Sun and the Moon that were to regulate day and night and the seasons. When Idu woke up, he was excited to find himself in the presence of a huge, soothing illumination, surrounded by darkness. The earth was dark. He knew he was in the presence of the ´Almighty´ and did not want to look directly at the illumination. He went down humbly and quickly on his knees to thank Osanobua for the immense earth gift bestowed on him.
“You are happy then?” Osanobua asked Idu. “Very, very,” Idu said, adding humbly, “but I am hungry. I have not eaten since I arrived here? What do I do for food?” Osanobua said, “Stretch your hand up above your head; the sky would respond by coming close to your hand. Pluck what ever you need from the sky. Don´t pluck more than you need to eat to satisfy your hunger at any one time though.” ”I won´t, I won´t,” Idu said eagerly, stretching his right hand right away to pluck a mouthful of food from the sky. As he munched away happily, eyes and head rolling to show joy and satisfaction, he managed to mumble, “it tastes very nice, I love it.”
“What else do you need?” Osanobua asked Idu. “Dad, I could do with a human companion. I am lonely. My brothers are spirits and I can no longer relate with them,” Idu said. Osanobua said, “You are not flesh and blood alone. You are part spirit too. Your spirit brothers are not far away. Experience would teach you how to harness wisdom, one of your spirit brothers, which would teach you how to combine your physical and spiritual energies to cultivate wealth and spiritual fulfilment, your other two spirit brothers.”
Osanobua gave the oldest son control of the waters. The Edo call this son, Olokun (meaning the god of the waters). Olokun represents aspects of life such as good health, long life, good luck, prosperity and happiness, to which man may appeal through ritual purity. The other spirit sons were allowed the freedom to use their magical powers to balance out the negative and positive forces of nature. To shorten the process of acquiring spiritual wisdom, Osanobua strengthened the mystical energy with three new forces: Oguega, Ominigbon and Iha, to provide humans with spiritual guidance to differentiate rights from wrongs.
Osanobua then told Idu to take sand with both palms from the ground and stretch his hands close together in front of him. As soon as Idu did as he was told, Osanobua called forth a female person, pointing His staff where she appeared in front of Idu. “Whao,” Idu exclaimed on beholding the beautiful female person standing in front of him. She smiled happily and went down on her knees to greet Osanobua, looking at Idu who she also greeted. Idu held her hands in response and hugged her. Osanobua said, “she is Eteghohi (a woman) and you are Etebite, (a man). In marriage you would multiply to ensure there is no shortage of hands in the management of the earth´s resources.”
As Osanobua was making to leave, Idu politely asked: “what if we have other problems and want to reach our creator quickly?” Osanobua said, “you can individually live for up to five hundred years, but you can come to me at will through your individual spirit self, ehi, whose double is permanently with me in heaven. All you would need to do is climb the Alubode hill and you are with ehi in heaven, who would bring you to me.”
As Osanobua left to his abode where the earth, water, and the sky meet, darkness was lifted from the earth.
Life was sweet and easy and before long, Idu and his wife, Eteghohi, were making babies. As the years rolled by, generations of extended Idu´s family began to spread out in all directions, setting up communities, villages and towns. The different communities farthest from base spoke variations of Idu language and knew that they came from one common ancestor, Papa Idu, the ancestor of all mankind. Everything went well for thousands of years until one day when Emose, a pregnant woman, out of greed, cut more food than she needed to eat at once, from the sky. There was an immediate explosion and the sky began receding from human reach. Direct interaction with Osanobua from then on became difficult because humans could no longer walk in and out of heaven at will. Emose´s greed destroyed the age of innocence and brought into human affairs, two new spirits, Esun and Idodo, both representing obstacles humans must now overcome to reach heaven. Idodo is the spirit ´police´ that ensures that natural or divine laws are obeyed. Idodo seeks to ensure we repent and atone for our sins. Esun is the ´servant´ spirit or angel that takes genuine human pleas, performed in the purity of heart, before Osanobua.
Emose´s greed also brought a lot of suffering and pains to humans. Forests were soon depleted of their natural food supply, so humans began to toil hard clearing forests, burning bushes, tilling the land, planting, weeding, nurturing, threshing and harvesting. It was not easy. Before long, the lazy began to die like fowls in the desert. Farming activities began to take their toll on the ecological balance of the earth too, causing droughts, unpredictable seasons, and environmental degradation. The soil began to suffer and die from over use, yielding less and less food despite the use of excrement as manure, which in turn caused its peculiar illness, pains and deaths.
Two new spiritual forces of nature were now evident and critical to human survival. They were Uwu (death), the harbinger of death, and Ogi´uwu (the spirit of death), representing mourning, evil omen, and diseases. Ogi´uwu owns the blood of all living things. Uwu and Ogi´uwu were causing havoc among humans. Humans who could live before for ukpo iyisen-iyisen vb´ iyisen (five hundred years) at a stretch, were now dying prematurely. Death was ready to take life at any time, and Ogi´uwu was sending every one who disobeyed Osanobua (or nodiyi-Osa) to death, regardless of age.
To convince Idodo to prevail on Uwu and Ogi´uwu to temper justice with mercy and get Esun to take our pleas to Osanobua to control the forces, required the services of our own individual spirit called ´ehi.´ Ehi could no longer go directly to Osanobua because of Emose´s sin, except at the point before our birth. The Bini say there are two aspects of man. One half is ehi, which is the spirit essence, and the other half is the okpa, which is the physical person. Before birth, ehi, (the spirit essence) of the individual, humbly goes before Osanobua to request endorsement of the kind of life the individual would wish to live on earth (agbon). The request is obviously made with a baby´s sense of innocence about rights and wrongs, and the weight of the karmic debt and credit baggage of the individual from previous life cycles and styles. However, the choice of the new life style is patently and entirely the individual´s, and could be any of one or a combination of scenarios. The individual may want to be a powerful spiritualist, a rich business man or farmer, a great warrior or soldier, a happy or unhappy family man, a wimp or beggar, a revered medicine man, a famous chief, politician, or popular king, and even a notorious or very successful thief.
The request process is called ´hi´ and leads to Osanobua stamping his sacred staff on the floor to seal the wish. The approved secret wish is only known to ehi, who is entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that his second half, okpa, (the physical human self), keeps to the promises made before Osanobua. Ehi is the spiritual counterpart of okpa in heaven. Half of ehi comes with okpa to earth to ensure permanent link with ehi in heaven. That half is called orhion. When okpa dies, orhion stays close to okpa until okpa is properly buried and all rites are completed. Orhion, cleansed of sins, returns to heaven to be one with ehi. Ehi and okpa may come back 7 times each, making a total of fourteen times in all. Each return, known as reincarnation, provides the opportunity to atone for the sins committed in previous life times. When cleansing is complete, ehi takes its proper place in Eguae Osanobua vb´ Erinmwin (heavenly paradise).
More at http://www.raceandhistory.com/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl/noframes/read/2315 |
Nosamega:
EDO'S and the YORUBA'S are two ethnic groups divinely United through the destiny of EKALADERHAN (ODUDUWA). ODUDUWA (EKALADERHAN) was the only son (prince) of OGISO OWODO (The 36TH OGISO of the OGISO Dynasty) of IGODOMIGODO (BENIN).
The whole scenarios started more than a thousand years Ago in IGODOMIGODO ( Present day Benin City). The King who only had one male child (EKAKADERHAN) and tens of daughters was very disturbed because of his only Son. So he send delegate to enquire why his wives could not have other male children. Among the delegate was one of the kings wife (ESAGHO) who had no child at all. On arrival and consultation The Oracle revealed that it was the Kings wife (ESAGHO) who has been responsible for the king not having other male children through black magic hence she had none. The Oracle instructed that the woman should be used for sacrifice to the Gods so that the rest women can have male children.
On their way back to the Kings palace, ESAGHO confronted the other delegates and vowed that She will tell the King that she was Raped by the delegates, such offence attract death penalty. So she compel them to say it was EKALADERHAN (ODUDUWA) who was the cause of the problem. On their arrival, the message was delivered to the KING as compelled by ESAGHO. When The King heard the message,he was aggrieved but he cannot stop the Gods from executing it request. So EKALADERHAN (ODUDUWA) was sentenced to die as a sacrificial lamb for the rest of his father's wife to have male children as indicted by the wicked wife (ESAGHO) .
On the sacrificial day,the young lad (EKALADERHAN-ODUDUWA) was handed over to the Executioner and he was taking to the forest to be executed,but the executioner did not slay him but Brock the chain used in binding him into two because of the love and affection he had for the proficient young prince.The young prince later ran toward the western part of IGODOMIGODO (BENIN). After weeks of continuous roaming in the jungle, he find him self in UGHOTON (GWATO-This place is situated in the western riverine area of Bight of Benin).After a shot while in UGHOTON,EKALADERHAN (ODUDUWA) realized that the place was a province of IGODOMIGODO (BENIN) because the EDO language was spoken there. So he left the place and moved further west until he find himself in ILE-IFE.
During this period, ILE- IFE was a conglomeration of principalities ruled over by smaller chiefs without any supreme ruler. OBATALA was one of the rulers in one of these principalities. At this same period, the YORUBA'S was constantly under attack by other rival tribes and they have been waiting for the Liberator King as prophesied by their Priest. On arrival,EKALADERHAN (ODUDUWA) coexisted with the people of the newly found land (ILE-IFE). First he started as an iron smith (OGUN) which is the main profession and Deity of the people of IGODOMIGODO (BENIN) , He was also into clothes making with cotton. It came to a time when ILE-IFE came under attack by their rival tribe and EKALADERHAN'S (ODUDUWA) home was also attacked. But unfortunately,the invaders met a fierce resistance from EKALADERHAN (ODUDUWA).The prince fought with all his might arming himself with the tools he made for sales.The invaders were later defeated and chased out of the town. He later organized and equipped some hundred of YORUBA brave warriors with Iron weapons and leather shields and foot wears and invaded the land of the rivals Tribes. It was these series of battles that brought about EKALADERHAN'S (ODUDUWA) fame and recognition in ILE-IFE.
The leaders of ILE-IFE now invited EKALADERHAN (ODUDUWA) to their gathering and ask him who he was. He gave his name as ODE-UWA (which translates in EDO *Path to Wealth*) He further told them that he is the son of OGIE-ISO (The King of the sky) . The word *OGIE-ISO* is the Ruling title of Kings that rules IGODOMIGODO in those period) from the East . As they heard him,they quickly prostrated and shouted KABIKABI O because the YORUBA'S now believed he is the liberator king foretold by the Oracle.
He was made KING over ILE-IFE and was given a wife. He had one son,called OKANBI .OKANBI had EIGHT children (Onipopo of Popo, Onisabe of Sabe, Alara of Ilara, Ajero of Ijero, Orangun of Oke-Ila, Owa Obokun Ajibogun of Ijesaland and Oranmiyan) by his "legal" wife, and one (OOni) by his slave turned wife, named ORUNTO.
After many years there was no peace in the kingdom of IGODOMIGODO (BENIN) after the death of the last OGISO ( OGISO-OWODO) because the KING has no other male child to succeed him. There was feud between the chiefs of whom will rule as KING. The People was left without a king for decades of years with EVIAN( The great monster buster) as interim leader. It came to a time when the chief priest consulted the Divine God (OGHENE). The God instructed the priest through an Oracle to design a compass made of palm fronds.The spirit of the kings was invoked on the compass and immediately the compass moved towards the west trailing EKALADERHAN'S (ODUDUWA) path, The Prince whom they believe was still alive somewhere. Emissaries were sent along the compass. Few weeks later,the compass arrived at ILE-IFE and settled at the KING'S palace hovering at the entrance to the KING'S courtyard.
At the appearance of the KING,the compass swiftly moved the Bearer to the feet of OKANBI. During this time,EKALADERHAN (ODUDUWA) was so old that he could no longer come out of his DEN. His Son OKANBI was in charge of the people affairs and he attended to the visitors from the East.The emissaries then delivered their message. after careful listening ,OKANBI convey the message to his Father (EKALADERHAN-(ODUDUWA) .When EKALADERHAN (ODUDUWA) heard the message,he ask his son OKANBI to bring them in to his Den for a chat. During the Chat, EKALADERHAN (ODUDUWA) communicated with the emissaries in EDO language.He was so please to see his people once again after so many years in Exile in ILE-IFE. The emissaries requested the KING to comeback Home (IGODMIGODO) or ask one of his grand Sons to come along with them to rule as their KING. EKALADERHAN (ODUDUWA) who was already too old burst into tiers and told his chiefs that the visitors were from his fathers land (IGODOMIGODO-BENIN) in the East.
Remembering what led to his departure from his father land,EKALADERHAN (ODUDUWA) decline their request because he had no trust on them because of what happened to him decades ago. But the emissaries begged with repentance and sincerity that they are changed people of a new generation. EKALADERHAN (ODUDUWA) now gave them an option that they should return back to IGODOMIGODO(BENIN) with three LICE .He ask them to train the LICE for three years,that if the LICE can survive with them for three years,then he will give them one of his Grandson. The emissaries went back Home with Great Hope and kept the LICE in the hair of a Slave for three years. Three years later,the Emissaries shaved off the hair of the slave and removed the LICE in it. This time,the LICE has Increased from three to hundreds. The LICE was kept in a container and taking to ILE-IFE by the emissaries.
On their arrival,EKALADERHAN (ODUDUWA) has already passed away. His Son OKANBI who has been acting instead of his Father (EKALADERHAN-(ODUDUWA) attended to them.When OKANBI saw the hundreds of LICE,he was convince that the people has really changed and his appointed Son will be in safe hands. So he ask his son ORANMIYAN to go with them. OKANBI felt that the troublesome people could be dealt by a warrior like ORANMIYAN who has, before then, had repeatedly proved his mettle. He believed that ORANMIYAN would be able to do the assignment and put the fear of IRASHA in the feuding Chiefs. ORANMIYAN was a great, valiant warrior, the Yoruba people of his era used to describe him as a true son of ODUDUWA after his grand father who was the first towering warrior in YORUBA LAND,He (ORANMIYAN) was the DE facto ruler carrying out war activities and defending ILE-IFE .
On arrival at IGODOMIGODO (BENIN),ORANMIYAN's war like acts put the City in order. ORANMIYAN was in IGODOMIGODO for only few years. But he never could stay for ever as a result of the strange disputes and cases he presides among the people which come to him. Such cases which he has never heard or witness in ILE-IFE. He exclaimed with great puzzle by calling the people ILE-IBINU (Place of problem/quarel). The word which was later corrupted as UBINU and later to BENIN by the PORTUGUESE (1453AD.). He had a son called EWEKA by the Daughter of OGIE-EGO of EGO . As his adventurous spirit took the better part of him, he installed his son EWEKA and returned to ILE-IFE with the hope of becoming king. On his return to ILE-IFE, It dawned on ORANMIYAN that he could not ascend the throne with his father's support for his brother, ONNI (OKANBI concubine's Son). He therefore left with his warriors towards North West to found OYO-AJAKA-Ajaka (pressent day OYO) and became the first Alaafin of OYO. His Son EWEKA ruled as the first OBA of IGODOMIGODO (BENIN) and a new Era of OBA DYNASTY begin to this day of OBA EREDIAWA (Current 38th Oba Of Benin). IF YOUR LANGUAGE RECOGNISES MONEY AS *IGHO* or EGHO*,.YOU ARE FROM IGODOMIGODO (BENIN CITY).THE PRESENCE OF YORUBA IN EVERY PART OF WESTERN NIGERIA CAME UP AS A RESULT OF ODUDUWA'S OCCUPATION AND HIS DECENDANTS CONQUEST ,NOT BY BIRTHS. THE CONQUERED PEOPLE WERE FORCED TO LEARN YORUBA CULTURE AND TRADITION. THIS LATER BECAME PART OF THEM CENTURIES LATER FOR THEY WERE ALL UNDER THE RULE OF ODUDUWAS SONS AND HIS PROMINENT WARRIORS. THE PRESENTS OF EDO PEOPLE IN ALL PARTS OF THE MIDWESTERN NIGERIA CAME AS A RESULT OF BIRTHS AND MIGRATION DUE TO OVER POPULATION IN THE CENTRAL CITY OF IGODOMIGODO (BENIN CITY). PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE IN YOUR FRIENDS LIST AND ADDRESS BOOK. OBA GHA TO KPEREE, ISE, compiled by Nosakhare Edwin Idehen. You are a great story teller, I learnt alot |
