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140 At the Back of the Black Man's Mind By R. E. Dennett
The sons of the OBA were, and are still called OBIOBA, and of these the eldest is entitled
EDAIKIN, and had his residence between the SHELU and IKPOBA roads. The other sons
were sent out as viceroys to govern different districts or collection of towns, and
became known as OGI'CI.
Thus we have these OGI'CI (or viceroys who were succeeded by their sons) still ruling
over the districts which were once given to the CIBIOBA, in the same way as in the
Kongo.
In the case of the present deposed OBA CIVERAMI, EGWABASIMI should be the
EDAIKIN and OSWALELE is an OBIOBA. The daughters of OVERAMi are EBAHABUKUN,
OMONO, and GRINYAMI. These women may choose their own husbands, and when
widows may cohabit with whom they like. The children of these daughters are called
EKÃIWI.
The chief CISULA is the EKÃIWI of ADOLO, Overami's predecessor.
There are six great chiefs who may represent the OBA in one or other of his six great
estates; they are Ezomo (called also Ojumo), ERU (called AIRO and ARO), OLIHA,
EDAIKIN, OGIFA, IYASE.
Ezomo in the popular parlance of travellers in Africa is the "great war chief," but as a
matter of fact he combined with his office as head of the war department an office
nearly equivalent in a primitive kind of fashion to that of the Lord Chancellor as head of
the Court of Equity. Among his followers was the famous general OLUGBOSHERI, who
led the troops against and massacred Consul Philips' expedition on its way to Benin city.
This office of general is hereditary, and OLUGBOSHERI'S son under the OBA's reglime
would have succeeded to his father's position. Ezomo was the only great chief who
gloried in a "court" similar to that of IOBA, that is to say he was followed by his chiefs
and followers under the offices of IWEBO, IWEGWE, IBIWE, and IWASE. ERU70 was a
great judge a kind of Lord Chief justice with all the policemen at his call. OLIHA must
have been a kind of Archbishop of Canterbury, as he crowned the king. The above three
great chiefs had the right to sacrifice human beings.
EDAIKIN, as the eldest son, represents the state and medicine men outside the
compound of the OBA.
OGIFA71
is said to represent all the people. He is the direct descendant of the OCIFA who
was in the city when the son of AWYAW first came. He may be said to hold an office
some, what like that of the Speaker of the House of Commons. He used to call the people
together for great palavers, etc.
All the above great chiefs are succeeded by their sons in their offices.
70 ERU is spoken of as ARO or AIRO
71 These two chiefs had the right of sacrificing one cow to their father and one cow to their mother
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