Thread by @uwagbale_

Edo Queens:

1: Illoi (Queens) of Oba Ewuare II (2018)

2: The pretty & youngest Iloi of Oba Akenzua II, Queen Ohan—a title that refers to the Oba‘s spirit/wind, 1953, London.

3: The Iloi of Oba Akenzua II (Queen Ohan 4th) in 1956.

4. Queen Idia, the 1st Iyoba of Benin (1500s)

Queen Idia & later Iyobas wielded considerable power in Benin. Iyoba doesn't just mean Queen Mother. It's a position in the King's court ranking equal to the senior chiefs. The Iyoba of Benin had her own palace called Eguae-lyoba
in the town of Uselu & her own military regiment.

In times of war, the Iyoba was the only woman in the kingdom that was constitutionally empowered to participate. As a chief of high rank, she served as the commander of her own military regiment - the Queen's Own. She is extolled for “fighting with a double-edged sword”.

The position of the Iyoba of Benin was created by Oba Esigie who ruled frm 1504-50 to honour/reward his mother, Queen Idia for helping him win the battle for the throne btw Benin & Aruanran/Udo & a war btw Benin & Igala. Esigie was 3rd inline to the throne yet he became the Oba.

Oba Ozolua & his son, Oba Esigie were were Warrior Kings. They expanded Benin & trade with the Portuguese. Queen Idia was considered the driving force of her son’s successful military campaigns against neighboring kingdoms. Also the Binis had guns & Portuguese mercenaries.

Until recently, the Queen, who bore the oba’s 1st son, had no other child & devoted her life to raising the future Oba. Queen mothers were viewed as instrumental to the protection & wellbeing of the Oba & therefore the kingdom. Below is an Iyoba & her ladies-in-waiting.

The Iyoba court consists of women with mystical powers & ladies-in-waiting - a coterie of aristocratic girls who attend to her while studying to become a Lady & eventually a Queen. In 1952 Oba Akenzua II offered his daughter, Princess Egbe as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth.

Many people like the Benin style of hair attachment laced with beads. You need to see the actual hair style. As a pupil of Olua primary we usually see some of the women of Iyoba palace which was behind the school. Their hair had no attachment. It was a single large dreadlock.

The Obas usually wore carved ivory pendant masks representing the iyoba during ceremonies designed to rid the kingdom of malevolent spiritual forces. Some of these masks are now in museums in New York, London, Stuttgart & Seattle.
One mask is estimated at £3.5m-4.5m.

However, there is currently no living Iyoba. Queen Eghiunwe, the late mother of the present Oba Ewuare II, was posthumously given the title by her son during his coronation in 2016. Of the 40 Obas of the present benin dynasty only 18 were able to install their mothers as Iyoba.