Emotan of Benin : Story by SFN

Emotan of Benin

It's a real story about One of the greatest kings of Benin. king Ewuare who became king with the help of Emotan.

Emotan's real name was Uwaraye, and she was born in Eyaen, a village near Benin, she was very hard working young woman who was good at spinning thread, she also loved trading and so she went to the market regularly.

Although she was so beautiful, she did not want to marry any man, so, she sent away many suitors, her father made her marry Azama, an important man in the palace of the Oba of Benin, this was around the year of 1379 when Oba Ohen was the king of Benin.

Some years later, Oba Ohen was killed by some of his chiefs and a lot fighting started, Azama, Emotan's husband was in great danger.

Oba Oven had made a law that his four sons must rule one after the other, prince Ogun who later became king Ewuare was the third and strongest, the chiefs hated him and wanted to killed him. he was sent far away from benin for many years.

No body heard about him, even when it was his turn to rule, so his weak younger brother became king, and the chiefs could do what they liked, by this time, Emotan had become a very important trader in Ekioba, the king's market. She sold fine cotton and a special food.

She became known as Queen of Ekioba, people rested at her stall and mothers left their children with her to look after. But she herself had no child.

Emotan did not like the king on the throne, she wanted prince Ogun to come back and save the people of benin, one day, a man dressed in rags came into Emotan's stall in the market, She gave him food.

As soon as the man had eaten, he threw of his rags and said, So, the stories about the kindness of the Queen of Ekioba are true.' Emotan was amazed. she said, can it be true? Prince ogun , you are alive and well.'

She knew that the prince had many enemies. So she let him hide in her house and she went round the city to meet people she could trust. Chiefs, farmers and royal attendants all agreed to fight for Prince Ogun. They waited for a day when the king was having a special festival and was dancing around the town.

Prince Ogun attacked him and killed him, the bead crown fell off and the prince kept it. The news of the King's death brought joy to the people. Soon, the kingmaker's gathered and crowned Prince Ogun as king Ewuare.

Unfortunately, Emotan who was an old woman died a day before the king was crowned. But king Ewuare remembered her, he planted a tree in her memory so that all Edo people can remembered the brave woman who helped him to became king of Ewuare.

Source: SFN