One of the interesting aspects of the coronation of a new king in the rich culture of Benin kingdom in Edo State is the name the Oba-designate is to get as he assumes the throne.

The hitherto crown-prince Eheneden has risen to officially become the 40th Oba of Benin in a very colourful ceremony in his palatial palace in central Benin City, attended by fellow traditional rulers, high calibre public officials, members of the international community and adoring natives of the Edo tribe.

Just a day to his coronation, as tradition demands, the then crown-prince travelled to a nearby village called Use to pick his titular name. This process is said to involve high priests of the kingdom conjuring the spirits of past kings of the kingdom and trying to see the one that matches that of the incoming king.

As was later revealed at the tail-end of the coronation ceremony, the new Oba of Benin will bear the name Oba Ewuare N’Ogidigan 11 (translatable as Oba Ewuare the strong).

The name derives from one of the earliest Obas of the kingdom, Oba Ewuare N’Ogidigan 1, who had the reputation of being a warrior king who fortified the Edo race with skilled leadership that ensured the respect and security the kingdom enjoyed under his reign.

Like Ewuare 1, not a few in Benin kingdom doubt that the present king would be a more conservative ruler than his late father Omo n’Oba n’Edo Ukuakpolokpolo, Oba Erediuwa. “This new Oba would be stricter and uncompromising about tradition,” you would often hear people say in Benin City when talking about Ewuare 11.

While his father (one of his names was Solomon) was seen as more refraining from confrontation, many people believe Oba Ewuare 11 is more decisive in dealing with any opposition to his ideals.

Already, it is gathered that the new king prior to his ascension of the throne had directed that burial ceremonies be reverted to taking place at night as was the case until a few years ago when day-time funeral ceremonies became fashionable.

“I like the idea of a night burial,” a Benin native says. “Burial rites are sombre occasions that should be gotten over with during the course of a night rather than the heavy daytime parties that almost make a mockery of what is supposed to be a sobering occasion.”

There are also whispers that the new monarch would use his influence with the incoming administration of Godwin Obaseki to push for a more reverent regard in the traditional council of Edo State.

Some years ago, during the military administration of Captain Anthony Onyearugbulam, the Edo government contemplated rotating the headship of the Edo traditional council. But the idea was quickly dropped when the Benin monarchy made it clear that his throne would never be subjected under another Edo monarch in any form, given the historical allegiance all other monarchies in the state owe to the Benin Oba.

Despite his perceived conservative persona, Oba Ewuare can come across as a monarch with a modern taste as well.

A local resident said: “Traditional sites that were seen as anachronistic and untouchable have been cleared up or renovated. The new king surely wants his palace and other traditional grounds to have a modern look. He’s a modern man in taste and style.”

The king sometimes spots a dark shade that makes him not out of place as a movie star. His background, though, has been very much in the field of diplomacy as he has been Nigeria’s Ambassador to several western countries.

Edo people will hope that the new king brings his diplomatic experience to bear in his traditional administration of one of the world’s most popular kingdoms.

•Photo shows newly-crowned Oba Ewuare 11 of Benin in his palace.

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