Queen Idia, was the mother of Oba Esigie, who ruled between 1504 and 1550, this great woman was the first Iyoba (mother of the king) in the great Benin Kingdom, she played a vital role in the rise and reign of Oba Esigie.
In the ancient Benin Kingdom, Queen mothers were seen as an instrument for protection of the Oba and the kingdom at large. Until recent times, the Iyoba, who bore the Oba's first son; heir apparent to the throne, were not allowed to have any other kids, their lives were devoted to raising the future King.
In the 15th century, after the demise of Oba Ozolua, there was a succession dispute between his two sons; Esigie and Arhuaran.
Both son's were very powerful and respected figure in the Kingdom, Esigie controlled the affairs of Benin, while Arhuaran was stationed at Udo, a twenty-mile journey from Benin.
The people of Igala, a neighbouring community capitalised on the ensuing civil war within the Benin Kingdom; which lowered the standard of Benin as the power base of the territory, launched an attack on the Kingdom.
The Igala people travelled across the Benue River to forcibly take charge of the northern territories of Benin Kingdom. But Idia, mother of Esigie would not let this happen. She was a warrior, and mother to all inhabitants of Benin Kingdom.
Idia was known to posses great mystical powers, medicinal knowledge and also a meticulous political counsellor.
She went into battle against the Igala people with her son, Esigie, who eventually conquered the Igala people and defeated his brother, to unify the Kingdom, reestablishing the Kingdom's military power.
Esigie, as a means to show appreciation to his mother who was instrumental to his success in battle, bestowed on her the title ''Iyoba'', mother of the king; an outstanding position that came with remarkable privileges, power, a separate abode and staffs.
She was sent to reside at lower Uselu, and was referred to as, ''the Iyoba of Uselu''.
Now Iyoba, Idia continued to play a significant role in Benin Kingdom, safeguarding the territory, giving political counsel and helping her son,Oba Esigie win battles.
It is believed that the Iyoba is a destined role, which a Queen mother would play even before her birth ; before a woman who would give birth to the Oba is born, there are hidden powers that have chosen her to be on earth to bore an Oba.
In ancient times, the Oba of Benin usually wore a carved ivory pendant mask which represented Iyoba during ceremonies, these pendants worn on their neck was believed to wade off malicious spiritual forces from the Kingdom.
Within the Oba's court, the position of the iyoba is equal to that of a senior chief, giving her authority to assign spiritual and political powers.
Queen Idia, The Great Warrior.
While reigning as Oba, Esigie added Idah, an area situated between Benin and present day Benue to Benin Kingdom. In 1515, the people of Idah waged war against Benin Kingdom, in an attempt to reclaim their land. Queen Idia offered to go to the war front with the warriors, which was the first of its kind.
She donned distinctive coral war beads; some resting on her forehead ''ugbe ne beghe ode, eirhu omwan aro'' ( a stone you see coming cannot blind your eyes) a charm comprising of four cowries that was meant to divert the weapons of the enemies targeted towards her.
On the back of her head was, ''iyeke ebe z' ukpe'' , a charm which was to return whatever was thrown at her to the sender.
A rope with 4 teeth extracted from a leopard was tied on her neck; ''iri okina'', which alerted her whenever there was danger lurking around and she needed to take caution. ''ukugbavan'' was a belt she tied on her chest, this charm ensured dawn, irrespective of the problem she encountered. Embedded in the ukugbavan was ''uuba igheghan odin'' , a set of hypnotic dumbbells which Queen Idia used in hypnotising her enemies, while ''ukugba igheghan'', the belt of bells, jingled to frighten the enemies.
To prevent Queen Idia from being hungry while in the battlefield, she used a charm called ''ukugba ohanmwen'', which she tied under her loincloths, this helped her go on for days, weeks and probably months without food.
She also had concealed under her loincloths ''aidede okherhe vb'igban'', (you do not embrace a young oil palm tree full of thorns) , the purpose of this charm was to make her enemies cowardly.
''Atete iwi y ogho'' ( traditional tray never gets lost while being used for hawking); with this charm, Queen Idia's safe return was guaranteed, no matter what she encountered in battle.
The charms were fastened with ''ukugba ason'' .(the sacred belt of the night witches), to her war dress, made from the skin of a mature leopard with the head, fore and hind legs still intact. The purpose of this was to make the Iyoba invisible to accident and above defeat.
She went into war armed with two ''agbada'' (daggers) three ''ifenmwen obi'' (amulets) and ''ebei k'awe y' uhun erhan'' a poisonous arrow, and ''etebetebe'', a war sword.
If any parts are missing or incorrect in this article, please drop your suggestion in the comment section below.
Ref: Metropolitan Museum of Arts, New York
Asiri Magazine
Further Reading : Culture in development, NL
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