Queen Iyoba Idia: A Mother's Legacy

In the powerful Kingdom of Benin, Queen Iyoba Idia was a brave and wise ruler. She had a son named Esigie, whom she believed was deserving of the throne. But there was a rule that only the first son could become the Oba, the king of Benin. Esigie's older brother, Arhuaran, went away to learn from the white men in Portugal. When Arhuaran returned, he had changed a lot and was much bigger than Esigie. However, Iyoba Idia knew her son's abilities and taught him everything she knew about ruling and protecting their people. Tradition stated that if a new Oba was crowned, his mother had to be eliminated as she was seen as a threat to his power. Iyoba Idia couldn't bear the thought of losing her son or abandoning her people, so she fought to make Esigie the Oba. The brothers battled each other with their armies. With Iyoba Idia's help, Esigie emerged victorious and became the 16th king of Benin. Arhuaran went on to rule another land called Udo. However, the rule to eliminate the king's mother still stood. Esigie sought the help of a wise man named Omoregie Ero, who had a secret shrine to protect Iyoba Idia. Esigie fought to change the old custom, and eventually, Iyoba Idia was saved. She was crowned the Eguae-Iyoba, the first Queen Mother of Benin, and given a special place of honor in the palace. Esigie promised never to have direct contact with his mother again, as it was believed to protect the kingdom. Iyoba Idia ruled from Uselu, a hidden part of Benin, and supported Esigie with her wisdom and advice. She made important contributions to the kingdom's cultural history and even dressed as a man to fight alongside her son in the famous Idah battle of 1515. Throughout Esigie's reign, Iyoba Idia protected him from assassination attempts and guided him in developing their kingdom. She was his rock and confidante. Sadly, Iyoba Idia passed away in 1550, leaving Esigie heartbroken. But he had another strong woman by his side—Elaba, his favorite wife, whom Iyoba Idia had groomed to continue her legacy. To honor his mother's memory, Esigie commissioned the royal carvers to create a figure representing Iyoba Idia. This figure became the official emblem of the FESTAC 1977 Festival in Nigeria, ensuring that her name and impact would never be forgotten. And so, the untold tale between Oba Esigie and Iyoba Idia became a story of a mother's unwavering love and sacrifice, and the remarkable achievements of a woman who defied tradition to shape the destiny of a kingdom.