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173 At the Back of the Black Man's Mind By R. E. Dennett CHAPTER XXI. TRACES OF NKICI-ISM AMONG THE BINI The Week.-The Year.-The Seasons.-The Rivers.-A Temple.-Wells.Trees. -Omens. -Animals. THE BINI SEASONS. THE Bini have now eight days in their week, but the part of jujuism, which I identify with Nkicism, has preserved the more ancient form of four days. The names of the eight days are: 1. ELEOWU for EDEOWU, first day. 2. AKWE. 3. ILAGWE. 4. UNIYIELE. 5. USIELE. 6. DEHAN. 7. EDEYHINELE. 8. DELUMALE. Each of these days is a market day in or quite near to Benin City. 81 On the 1st day the market is at INYA = EK'lNYA. On the 2nd the market is at IOBA = EKIOBA (Benin City). On the 3rd the market is at IGO = EKIGO (on the Gilly-Gilly road). On the 4th the market is at BAREKE = EKEBAREKE (Benin City). On the fifth day EKINYA is again the market place, and the other three markets follow in the above order to the end of the eight days. But the juju doctor (OBO) renews the chalk marks in front of the ARO, or sacred grove, on the first 81 1. Yam market. 2. King's mother's market. 3. Money or cowrie market. 4. Slave compound market www.globalgrey.co.uk
174 At the Back of the Black Man's Mind By R. E. Dennett Chalk marks found on the ground in front of AKE. day, EDEKEN, and on the fifth, which is again EDEKEN. The names of these four days are: 1. EDEKEN, 82 spoken of as being IYASE's day (the king's prime minister and regent). 2. ED'AHO, spoken of as being OSUMA'S day (messenger connected with the king's wants). 3. ED'AWRIE, spoken of as being ESOGBAN's day (messenger connected with king's gifts). 4. ED'OKWAW, spoken of as being ESAWN's day (the king's captain or officer). Their year is divided into four parts, two of four lunar months, one of four, and one joining month, or thirteen lunar months in all, just as among the Bavili. There are six (or seven, counting the first month) seasons in this year. The joining month (called MAWALALA in Kongo) is also looked upon as a period or season in itself, and it is the time when the natives plant their yams, and thus represents 82 These are possibly the Big men or great Lords who are always near the king's person. But Mendael speaks of three only. See Great Benin, p. 92 www.globalgrey.co.uk
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TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE CHAPTER I
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