{"id":8993,"date":"2025-10-07T12:15:55","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T12:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/?p=8993"},"modified":"2025-10-07T12:16:04","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T12:16:04","slug":"oba-of-benin-rejects-iyaloja-role-in-edo-markets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/2025\/10\/07\/oba-of-benin-rejects-iyaloja-role-in-edo-markets\/","title":{"rendered":"Oba of Benin Rejects Iyaloja Role in Edo Markets"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"236\" data-end=\"416\">There has been controversy in Edo State after the Benin monarch, <strong data-start=\"301\" data-end=\"318\">Oba Ewuare II<\/strong>, rejected the introduction of the <em data-start=\"353\" data-end=\"362\">Iyaloja<\/em> (market leader) system in markets across the state.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"418\" data-end=\"602\">Governor <strong data-start=\"427\" data-end=\"447\">Monday Okpebholo<\/strong> was unable to install an Iyaloja in Edo State \u2014 raising questions about whether this shows weakness or a lack of respect for the ruling party\u2019s structure.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"604\" data-end=\"927\">During a visit by <strong data-start=\"622\" data-end=\"651\">Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo<\/strong>, the daughter of President <strong data-start=\"679\" data-end=\"694\">Bola Tinubu<\/strong> and the national <em data-start=\"712\" data-end=\"729\">Iyaloja General<\/em>, the Oba made it clear that the <em data-start=\"762\" data-end=\"771\">Iyaloja<\/em> system does not exist in Benin culture. Tinubu-Ojo was in Edo to inaugurate <strong data-start=\"848\" data-end=\"879\">Pastor Josephine Ivbazebule<\/strong> as the <em data-start=\"887\" data-end=\"896\">Iyaloja<\/em> of all markets in the state.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"929\" data-end=\"1229\">However, the Oba explained that in the Benin Kingdom, the position of <strong data-start=\"999\" data-end=\"1008\">Iyeki<\/strong> (market leader) already exists and carries deep cultural and spiritual significance. According to him, the Iyeki acts on behalf of the palace in every market and also performs traditional duties in the market\u2019s shrine.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"1231\" data-end=\"1438\">\n<p data-start=\"1233\" data-end=\"1438\">\u201cIyaloja is alien to us here in Benin,\u201d the Oba said. \u201cWe have our own culture. Every Iyeki has a special relationship with the palace and performs certain roles in the market shrine on behalf of the Oba.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"1440\" data-end=\"1598\">He further clarified that the selection of an Iyeki is done by market women, but the appointment must be confirmed by the palace before it becomes official.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1600\" data-end=\"1807\">Chief <strong data-start=\"1606\" data-end=\"1620\">Osaro Idah<\/strong>, speaking on behalf of the Oba, explained that each market has its own Iyeki, independent of others. For example, the Iyeki of Oba Market has no authority over traders in Ogiso Market.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"1809\" data-end=\"1974\">\n<p data-start=\"1811\" data-end=\"1974\">\u201cIt is not part of our tradition to have a \u2018General Iyeki,\u2019\u201d Chief Idah said. \u201cEach market has its own leader who answers to the palace, not to any external body.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"1976\" data-end=\"2126\">He added that the concept of a single <em data-start=\"2014\" data-end=\"2023\">Iyaloja<\/em> overseeing all markets is a cultural practice from elsewhere and does not align with Benin traditions.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2128\" data-end=\"2314\">The statement from the palace reinforces the Benin Kingdom\u2019s stand on preserving its cultural heritage and ensuring that external influences do not override its traditional institutions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There has been controversy in Edo State after the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II, rejected the introduction of the Iyaloja (market leader) system in markets across the state. Governor Monday Okpebholo was unable to&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8993"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8995,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8993\/revisions\/8995"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}