Oral history

A Song of Prayer for the Benin People and the Ọba

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PrayerSong

This video includes two songs and a prayer for the Benin people and the Ọba, with an admonition in proverbial expressions characteristic of Benin prayers. The first song calls the Ọba the leopard that owns life, the great owner of life and the leopard that hunts at noon. In the song, she describes the Ọba in sparkling red regalia, called Ododo in the Ẹdo language. The second song was used to greet the people of Benin Kingdom both at home and abroad as well as wish them all a safe return. In Benin, if someone does not return home, it means that the person is lost. It is customary in Benin Kingdom to conclude prayers by praying for the Ọba of Benin. Lady Jane Ekhator did with admonition and good wishes for the Ọba. She then wrapped it up with the Iyare song, which is an expression of joy over the ‘safe arrival’ of a person from a long journey, competition or war.

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