People and Culture

Edo State is one of the states, distinguished by the relative homogeneity of her people. The most persuasive logic is the cultural and linguistic affinities that exist among the various ethnic groups.  A lot of the communities trace their roots to the ancient kingdom of Benin. Customs of marriage, burial rites, diet and traditional modes of dress tend to be similar.  The political pattern and behaviour were based on a system under which both monarchical and republican ideas flourished not merely side by side but in an integrated manner. The monarchical (or chieftaincy) system revolved largely on primogeniture, while the republican element was reflected in the free selection by villages and communities of elders. The Binis (of Oredo, Egor, Ovia, Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode), Esan, Owan, Etsako and Akoko-Edo communities are classed among the Edo- speaking peoples. Dialects may vary from place to place.  However, Igala-speaking communities are found in Esan South East, Igbirra-related communities in Akoko-Edo as well as Urhobo, Izon and Yoruba communities in Ovia, mostly in the borderlands.

Edo State has one of Africa’s richest heritages of artworks. Benin City is world-famous for its bronze casters, who continue to produce excellent works on Igun Street, The symbol of the 1977 Second Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) held in Lagos was a Benin ivory mask of the most celebrated Queen Idia. Some of the leading lights in contemporary art in Nigeria hail from Edo State. They include the late Felix Idubor, late Odion, Mike Omoigbe etc. with Art galleries scattered all over Benin City.

Music maestro, Victor Uwaifo, MON, thrilled national audience in the sixties and seventies with his blend of folkloric lyrics and modern guitar rhymes. Some of Sonny Okosun’s compositions have local inspiration. Traditional oral performs still entertain at burials and ceremonial events.

The state has produced poets and writers of national acclaim. These include Odia Ofeimun, Funso Aiyejina, Harry Garuba, Frank Aig-Imuokhuede. Festus Iyayi won the Commonwealth prose prize with his novel, “Heroes”. Theater and dance groups are mostly active in Benin City.  The Culture Centre, on which finishing touches have been put by the present administrations in the State, is built on a modified architectural form of the Edos, with horizontal fluting on the walls.

Festivals are held at different times of the year in the State at which the people display their rich cultural heritage of dances, colourful dresses and costumes, arts and crafts and hospitality in terms of gifts of free meals. Festivals generally affirm common historical or cultural bonds.  Some may be connected with hero-deities, most likely transformed into a river at death (Ovia festival), or with the worship of divinities (Olokun festival) in Benin, (Ikhio festival) in Ubiaja.  There are also New Yam, New Year festivals as well as coming-of-age ceremonies.  The annual Igue festival is celebrated every December by the Oba to usher in the new Bini year and as a thanksgiving festival for the past year.

The Ukpesose festival between January and March in Otuo is a festival of Joy, marked by the outing of colourful masquerades.