REINCARNATION IN EDO STATE
BENIN
KINGDOM
INTRODUCTION
To the Binis, the Oba is the embodiment of their tradition and culture.As rightly put by Bradbury in his book BENIN KINGDOM PP 40, 42, ‘’THE
SACRED KINGSHIP ’is the focal point of the Benin political system. As the
latest in the line of kings, descending from Eweka 1 and the reincarnation of
one of them the Oba has his own divinity. He is the head of the nation and his
person is held sacred.
The chief priest of Benin kingd
om, Chief Nosakhare Isekhure said the Benin
monarchy is a world renowned institution which has continued to strive amid
modernization and sometimes intrusions from detractors. The firmness and
success of the monarchy and the kingdom have to do with the complex, yet solid
foundation upon which their superstructures have been constructed by the
ancestors of the Benin people.
The Omo N ‘Oba is seen as a quintessential icon of royalty and
splendor."Today", as one cultural/art historian puts it, ‘’even though the
ancient glories of Benin kingdom are no more, the Oba still commands tremendous
love, awe, reverence, authority, power and influence in Edo land. He was, and still is, the source of customary law and the spiritual
head of Edo people. A position which is now largely symbolic and ceremonial
with no real powers.
Due to modernization and the threat from the indigenous
Pentecostal churches popularly called the born again churches which is
spreading like wild fire. Using the high profile American styles TV Christian
ministry. The traditional institution is only striving for survival as many Edo
Christians see the overall head of their churches as their spiritual head.
There are many educated who do not see themselves as subjects of the
traditional institution and the traditional religion which it represent. They do
not have to because Nigeria is a nation and the constitution given them the
right to be a republican, if they choose not to be a subject to any traditional
institution. In days gone by, the Oba exercises legislative, judicial, and
executive powers.
Today, however, he is still the spiritual head, but exercises
the other powers only within the operational system of the local government
council headed a chairperson who exercise certain executive powers, the
legislative of Edo state house of Assembly, the framework of Edo state
government headed by the executive governor who is also the chief security
officer, and the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.
As the spiritual head of Edo people, he is the fountain of their
customary law. Thus the Oba holds court with his chiefs daily to attend to
complaints from his subjects. Apart from his settlement of various disputes
within his kingdom and other disagreement, he must also give approval for the
commencement of all major festivals and rituals. In contest of government
machinery, the Oba who, in the days gone by was the sole authority is now the
president of the Benin traditional council, and the Edo state council of
traditional rules.
One of the most articulate, consistent and well respected traditional
rulers in Nigeria. He has remained steadfast in providing necessary and
relevant advice as the occasion demand on topical issues to the local, state
and federal governments in Nigeria.
REINCARNATION: HOW REAL?
Reincarnation, a rebirth which involves a return to earth by the dead
with the characteristics of the past, is still shrouded in mystery despite the
empirical evidence often manifested in the near death experience. How real is
the belief?
When Ehimwenma 30 from Benin in Edo state came into the world like
every other babies before her, the parents rejoiced to high heavens. But as the
process of getting the new baby girl cleaned up continued, they expected that a
stage, the shriek cry ought to subside or at least have a breaking point, but
instead, the cry continued unabated till the next day stressing the baby beyond
a tolerable level.
To save the situation, an elder in the family was called in, opening up
a traditional process of calming the new born baby. On enquiry through
divination, it was discovered that the non-recognition of the baby in the past
world by members of the family some of whom she expected to call her name in
the previous world, informed the unusual cry.
What the baby expected, it was discovered, was to be called Edede
meaning an old woman, a nickname she was called during her first coming and
which, the divination revealed, she cherished so much. Without hesitation or expression of disbelief, the father picked her up
and sonorously called her the name repeatedly while intermittently cuddling
her. Within a few seconds, and to the dismay of the people around, the baby stopped
crying and the chant of praise God! Rent the air.
As the situation became normal, the seer brought by the elder warned
that the baby, at adult, must not be deprived of going to worship God in the
church as according to him, it was part of her unfinished works in the past
life. To reincarnate is to cause to be born again in another body or form, to
embody again in flesh.
In Africa traditional setting, the belief is strong as contact is often
made with the past in dealing with the problem of the present. Within the
traditional circle, the belief is enhanced by the seeming efficacy of the
references they make to their ancestors in process of divination which often
manifests in the response of the spirits of the dead to their request.
With such response of the spirits, the belief has been extended to
include the potentiality of the dead to transform into the same family he
previously left to the world beyond. The indication of such reincarnation is
often insinuated to reflect on the token of identity which the family of the
reincarnate often claimed to recognize. With such recognition, the baby is thus
given name that suggests or indicates that he or she reincarnated. Example of
such names is; NORE in bini. In the traditional setting, a lot of empirical
facts derived from the experiment of having to inflict a bodily mark on a child
branded Abiku have given credence to the belief in reincarnation.
In the rating of most of the traditionalists contacted. A child reborn
several times could be identified with the return of the marks inflicted on him
or her in the previous life. Such child usually with short span of life if not
stopped spiritually according to them could continue to come and go tormenting
the parents. In the gospel of the grail, although there are indications of
their believe in such reborn, they however, made it emphatically clear that a
reborn is only such person to return to earth to finish the job he or she left uncompleted.
Those who have completed their works on earth according to the grail messengers
have no business coming back to earth. To them, you come back only when your
sojourn on earth in the previous life was abruptly brought to an end.
But in
the word of Mr. Enoghownayeke Festus a traditionalist now a trainee pastor,
‘’everything about being reborn or reincarnation is a ruse. Those they call by
special names like Babajide are so called because their birth coincided with
the death of their grandfathers or fathers as the case may be’’ though it
somewhat sounds odd to some Christians to discover that there are those amongst
them who share similar belief with those they regarded as infidels believing
that the bible says ‘’it is appointed for man to die once and after death, judgment.’’
The conflicting issue of john being the reincarnate of Elijah poses another
challenge. For some Christians who believe in reincarnation, John that was
beheaded in prison could not be saved by Christ because he was Elijah that
reincarnated as John and got beheaded in fulfillment of God’s law that he who
killed by the sword will die by the sword. A law some Christians believe was
contravened by John in his encounter with the prophets if Baal in his first
coming as Elijah.
Although the issue of reincarnation is still shrouded in mystery, what
appears more real is near death experiences. There have been series of reports
of some men for instance who died and
were buried only to be seen far away from where they earlier lived and died
living another life even with wives and children.
There was a case witnessed by this writer in Benin where an accountant,
man of about 50 then, abandoned his flat for the church the night his dead
father physically appeared to him in his bedroom wrapping around him the white
cloth with which he was buried about a year ago to the time of the incident. He
ran to the church when he heard that the strange visitor had banged the outer
door and disappeared into thin air.
In similar circumstance, there have also been reported cases of a man’s
spirit returning to his dead body after an accident.
Such repossession of one’s body by a departed spirit even when doctor
has certified the person dead has continued to rekindle the belief in life
after death.
In India, it is even believed that human being can be a reincarnation
of god or goddess as the case may be. For instance, a two year old India girl
born with four arms and four legs and who was recently operated upon is said to
be a reincarnation of a goddess.
Relating how important it is to know one’s past life, some California
Psychics say it can be valuable information for living a better life here on
earth right now.
The soul, according to them inevitably comes into this world with past
life experience or memory adding that the ultimate benefit of knowing about our
past life is to become self-aware.
Being aware of the past, according to Astrologer Rainbow is one way to
look at the souls past behavior in terms of fears, weaknesses and challenges as
well as gifts and strengths. She said, “Recognizing soul mates understanding
how we were connected to a particular place or person can be helpful in
understanding our relationships in this life time”.
According to her, “people contact me wanting to know why they cannot
disentangle themselves from a bad relationship. As I look at the situation I
can often see the Karmic link”.
“When you meet someone with whom you have a strong immediate connection
or bond that is almost a guarantee of a past life connection”, explains Jesse a
tarot reader for California Psychics. The connection can be for the positive or
negative”. Some people, she said are under the misguided idea that a soul mate
is one who has agreed to be with them for the rest of their lives” that is
rarely the case” she believes that a soul mate is actually a being who is here
to help you embrace and transcend a part of your spiritual journey. Sometimes a
soul mate can make you very angry and propel you into an area of life where you
would never have gone adding that, in many cases, fears are leftovers from a
past lifetime experience”.
GUARDIAN ANGEL (EHI) AND REINCARNATION
Itan Edo (Edo proverb): One cannot master how to walk with one’s Guardian
Angel spirit, when you are in his front he says you are making him walk too
fast; when you are behind him he complains that you are treading on his heels. “A igue okhian ne ehi; a gha karo ne o we a
tua iren okhian; a gha ke iyeke ne o we a solo iren owe”.
In the traditional world view of the people of the Great Benin (Edo)
kingdom, every person has a personal guardian angel or counterpart that resides
in heaven
The Edo [Great Benin] word for guardian Angel is Ehi. Your guardian
angel takes a special interest in your welfare from the time you’re in heaven
and is at your side when you predestine. Predestined us were a person goes
before a supreme being [Osanobua] and declares what he or she wishes to
accomplish in their turn of reincarnation in the physical world. The Supreme
Being, a benevolent king in the spiritual world, stamps his approval with a
divine mace in an act called Ise or ashe. Your guardian angel serves as a
witness to the request and assists you in remembering your predestined goals as
well as attaining them. In heaven and on earth, the guardian angel follows you
like a shadow, observing your every move.
Many times it is the guardian angel
that sends messages through dreams to help alert you to posing problems or to
realign you with your predestined goals. Sacrifices are made to the guardian
angel through your personal deity known as the Uhunmwun [head]. In great Benin,
sacrifices are made annually in public and private ceremonies during the
festive occasion called Igue.
Similar to many African traditional cultures, the people of great Benin
believe in the concept of reincarnation. The person and Ehi go through an alternate
reincarnation cycle for 7 times each or a total of 14 reincarnations. In other
words, each entity gets a chance to be a person and a guardian angel throughout
the cycle of reincarnation, looking after each other’s well being. At birth,
there is a naming ceremony and diviners determine who has returned in the
reincarnation cycle and what their name should be. Many names reflect who has
returned. Most societies believe in the concept of a guardian angel in some
form or manner.
However, the Edo view of a guardian angel has some unique
qualities that differentiate it from many. The Edo cultures philosophy and
interpretation of Ehi is quite in depth and very intimate. The Edo guardian
angel has a vested interest that depends upon how well his alternate performs
on earth. Thus, it is to the guardian angels benefit that the person fulfills
his goals. The guardian angel is an ever present companion that works in heaven
as well as on earth for the benefit of his alternate as well as indirectly for
his own eventual reincarnation. Thus, through the alternate cycle of birth and
rebirth, in turn, each person gets the benefit of wisdom and guidance from his
unique and personal guardian angel when properly petitioned.
WALK IN ACCORD WITH YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL!!!
Written by Love Obasuyi Osemwende
REFERENCES
1. Ewawa, Osiru Divination
2. Nigerian Tribune
REINCARNATION IN EDO STATE
BENIN
KINGDOM
om, Chief Nosakhare Isekhure said the Benin monarchy is a world renowned institution which has continued to strive amid modernization and sometimes intrusions from detractors. The firmness and success of the monarchy and the kingdom have to do with the complex, yet solid foundation upon which their superstructures have been constructed by the ancestors of the Benin people.
The Edo [Great Benin] word for guardian Angel is Ehi. Your guardian
angel takes a special interest in your welfare from the time you’re in heaven
and is at your side when you predestine. Predestined us were a person goes
before a supreme being [Osanobua] and declares what he or she wishes to
accomplish in their turn of reincarnation in the physical world. The Supreme
Being, a benevolent king in the spiritual world, stamps his approval with a
divine mace in an act called Ise or ashe. Your guardian angel serves as a
witness to the request and assists you in remembering your predestined goals as
well as attaining them. In heaven and on earth, the guardian angel follows you
like a shadow, observing your every move.
Written by Love Obasuyi Osemwende
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