Erinmwinde - Restorer of Peace (4/4)
Land of Fire
Ascending to the throne as a young man in a foreign land is already a formidable feat, but being tasked with governing a land embroiled in turmoil posed an insurmountable challenge, and this is precisely the overwhelming situation that poor Oranmiyan faced upon his arrival in Igodomigodo.
Land On Fire
Igodomigodo found itself in a state of turmoil. Evian had passed away, and his son was embroiled in a power struggle. Even though the Uzama had established a new hereditary title for Evian, known as the Ogiamien, hoping it would quell their thirst for power and open the path for the rightful bloodline to return, the situation remained precarious.
Oranmiyan grappled with the complicated power dynamics of Igodomigodo. On one side, there were the Uzama, who wielded power and influence on par with the monarch. On another front, there were staunch supporters of Evian and his family's claim to power. Simultaneously, some believed that any form of monarchy was outdated, advocating for Igodomigodo's transformation into a democratic republic, and lastly, distant relatives of the Ogiso Owodo were also hovering around for power. These factions created a volatile mix of conflicting interests and ideologies within the kingdom.
Igodomigodo Becomes Benin
Oranmiyan gave his best efforts, diligently striving to learn the language and culture of Igodomigodo. He even found love and married the daughter of the Enogie of Ego, Erinmwinde. However, despite his sincere attempts, none of these was sufficient to help the young and foreign king acclimatise to his new role.
Oranmiyan eventually came to the conclusion that only a native, someone rooted in the ways of the land, could effectively govern Igodomigodo. Thus, after just three years on the throne, he made the difficult decision to abdicate and return to Ife. Upon his return, he declared, "ile Ibinu," which translates to "the land of turbulence." Over time, these words and “Ubini” (one of the names of the land) evolved and were shortened to "Bini," eventually becoming a colloquial term for Igodomigodo to the outside world. This ultimately became the name of the land, a name that the Portuguese later spelled as "Benin."
Erinmwinde
With Oranmiyan gone, Erinmwinde had to face the dangerous and arduous task of bringing to life the future king of Benin. Very little has been written about her in the history books, but many speculate, based on Oranmiyan's belief that only a true native could govern the land, that Erinmwinde, along with her father, had devised a plan in conjunction with Oranmiyan to bring peace to Benin. This theory gains further credence from the fact that Oranmiyan maintained contact with her and even with his son, conveying coded messages through unconventional gifts.
Nevertheless, Erinmwinde's undertaking was fraught with danger. Amidst the divisions within the kingdom, she had to give birth in secrecy and raise her son far from those who might seek to harm him. With the assistance of her father, Erinmwinde and the Uzamas diligently trained the young prince, preparing him for the formidable task that lay ahead – ruling Benin.
The First Oba
Erinmwinde sent regular updates through discreet messengers to Oranmiyan regarding the growth of their son, who blossomed into a handsome and lively boy. However, a significant problem arose – the young prince did not speak. This deeply troubled everyone, as the hope of restoring the bloodline to the throne rested on this child, and a king who could not communicate could not rule.
Upon receiving this distressing news, Oranmiyan responded by sending seven magically brown marbles known as "akhwȩ" to his son. The game of Akhwȩ involves throwing the marble on the floor and attempting to hit your opponent's marble with your throw. The young prince engaged in this game with the magical marbles from his father and successfully struck his opponent's marble, exclaiming, "Ọwọmika." This unexpected utterance astonished those around him, not only because the young prince had finally spoken but also because his first word was not in the Benin language. The word was whimsically transmuted to "Eweka," which eventually became the young king's coronation name.
Peace At Last
In the year 1180, Eweka ascended the throne of Benin. With the Ogiso period fading into the distant past, a new dynasty emerged—the Oba dynasty. Despite being one of the youngest kings to assume the throne, Oba Eweka I enjoyed one of the longest reigns in Benin's history. With the guidance of his grandfather, the nobles and his mother, Erinmwinde, Oba Eweka adeptly navigated the complex terrain of Benin politics, a feat his father had struggled with. The plan conceived between Oranmiyan and Erinmwinde had proven successful, as they had effectively restored peace to the land.
Thank you for reading. See you next week.
Is there any indication of why Eweka's eponymous first word was not in the Benin language?