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By Ayo Kehinde
Thousands of market women in the city of Benin, on Friday, organized protests in the main markets to denounce the alleged installation of the shepherd Josephine “otagbogbo” Ibhaguezejel as “Iyaloja” of the Benin markets.
The women, who converged in Oka, Ekiosa, Ogiso, Uselu and New Benin Markets, described the title as an alien to the tradition of Benin and swore to resist any attempt to introduce him to their market system.
By transporting signs and singing solidarity songs, the merchants praised the OBA of Benin, Omo N’Oba n’edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, for what they called his timely refusal of the “Iyaloja” designation, underlining that the monarch had once again defended the cultural values of the people’s people.
“We will never accept the strangers who impose titles that do not belong to our tradition. Our loyalty remains with the OBA of Benin and we support his decision,” said one of the leaders.
The demonstrators also warned by the other traders from paying samples or shares to the Josephine shepherd or its representatives, describing it as unwelcome in the Benin markets. They invited members to report any form of harassment or intimidation connected to the disputed title.
Friday’s protest is the first of a series of events planned by different groups of Edo South, since the leaders of the community insist on the fact that the attempt to install a “Iyaloja” in Benin represents a threat to the secular cultural heritage of the people.
The event ended with traditional songs of loyalty to the OBA: “Oba Gha a Kpere, ISE”.
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