THE LONG TREK TO THE THRONE: A CASE STUDY OF BENIN KINGDOM AND THEIR IGALA KINGDOM BROTHER
Irrespective of how much external effects have affected our tradition and sometimes given another definition, there is always a part that remains unchanged. Igala and Benin still retain the ritual or practice of long trek by the king to-be called Aidokoanya in Igala and Edaiken in Benin as part of our coronation processes.
In the same way, the journey of both kings start from outside the time or the location of their seat or throne. In Igala Kingdom, the journey of Attah starts from Ugwolawo which is in Ofu LGA and it has Igalamela between and Idah. This is where the last house of Attah before coming to the palace is. After leaving that house on that day, and being followed by music, dance and various people to Idah, he will never go to that house again. In fact, the house is immediately set on fire as soon as the Attah leaves the room and starting the journey to Idah.
In the case of Benin Kingdom, the Edaiken has his last house at Uselu. From there, he will proceed to the palace of Oba which is located Benin town just like Idah where the throne is. This is the last time he will see the house at Uselu and the house is pull down completely until another king is to be coronated. And like the new or returning Attah Igala (because Attah or Oba or kings don’t die, they only travel and would later return), the new Oba will not come to the palace directly as the process or journey will take some days, and will involve some stopovers and carrying out of various traditional activities. In Benin, it takes place in not less than 10 days, and Igala is 9 days. The long trek is to demonstrate that the king is healthy and he is strong to lead his people and to defend them even during war anytime and any day. The long trek also signifies that the king will endure many things from his people including some people that may even be prove to be disloyal but he would find a way to solve the problems with wisdom. In ancient Egypt, the long trek ritual by the king is called Sed ritual or tradition.
Also, the burning of house or abandoning of house as part of the process here is known in ancient Egypt as execration ritual. Again, though external factors have changed some parts of our traditions, Benin and Igala still maintained the long trek to the throne tradition.
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