Prince Idugbowa was a "blue blood" - royalty in the highest sense of the word as he knew it. He was to inherit not just an empire or a kingdom but the traditions of his fathers before him. Taking over the throne after the demise of his father was his birthright and he need not fight nor involve himself in palace politics to get it.
Everyone in the kingdom- at least every young man wanted to be Prince Idugbowa, the maidens would throw themselves at him if he asked, even if it meant becoming the second, third or fourth wife. The Prince was a tall, handsome and a yet rugged looking man.
Everyone would have been content with being the Crown-Prince of the Great Benin Kingdom. Better still, the thought of being someday called the Oba of the Great Benin Kingdom would be ecstatic and would send any man into over drive. But the Prince was no ordinary man.
He had been trained in the ways and traditions of his fathers and ancestors. His trainings and discipline was meticulous. He was to behave like an Oba before he even became one.
Born in the year 1857 to Oba Adolo, trained and properly educated in the customs and traditions of his ancestors. Prince Idugbowa excelled greatly and made up his mind to be more than an Oba. He was going to be a legend, his name will not cease to be mentioned generations after him. He was purely determined to be the Greatest Oba there ever was and ever will be.
For a Crown-Prince of the Great Benin Kingdom to think that way was to stretch every physical, mental and even spiritual limit. In the Benin Kingdom the Oba was not just a King, he was a "god" a "serious deity" and that's partly why traditionalists in Benin Kingdom even date conclude their prays with "Oba gha to kpere"! (Oba, live forever).
Mediocrity was not to be associated with royalty. That's how The Prince was prepared for his days on the throne as the greatest man or "man-god". Yet, he made up his mind to be even more. Why else would he name himself "The Rising Sun that Spreads over all"
Oba Adolor his father eventually died as is mandatory for all mortals and The Prince Idugbowa was coronated in 1888.
As tradition demands, the new Oba on his coronation has to choose a new name for himself. Why not? He was to become more than mere mortals. Everyone could be named by their parents and I've often wondered why but the Prince on the coronation ceremonies, rituals and rites involved in becoming an Oba would have to choose a name for himself. Don't get it twisted, this name choosing exercise was more spiritual and sacred than one can imagine.
The whole Kingdom, an ancient civilisation that was the envy of even the Europeans waited earnestly and expectantly for the name of their new Oba.
Finally it was revealed, he was to be referred to as Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi. Ovonramwen meaning "the rising sun" and Nogbaisi "which spreads over all"
If he was to become all that he wanted to be "The Rising Sun that Spreads over all" then fate, destiny or even the gods were going to grant his heart desire.
Over the centuries, the Benin Kingdom had maintained its independence and the Oba's had total control of trade between the locals and the Europeans. This did not sit well with the Europeans as they seemed to love being in control. The Benin Kingdom and their Oba's seemed to be too hard a nut to crack.
In 1892, Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi for the love of his people, culture and traditions signed a treaty with the Europeans to abolish slave trade and made the Benin Kingdom an autonomous protectorate of Great Britain.
The Europeans were still nit satisfied and for good reason. The Benin Kingdom was too rich in natural resources such as ivory, oil palm and rubber. Even more was their craftsmanship and art works which today are in virtually every museum around the world.
Like his fathers before him, Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi jad monopoly over trade and the Europeans did not seat well with the scheme of things.
The Benin Kingdom was the last of its kind still standing and the Europeans sought its downfall by all means necessary but Oba Ovonramwen was not going to give them the throne of his ancestors, no, not without a fight.
Nana of Itsekiri and Koko of Nembe had both been attacked. King Dosumu of Lagos had been subtly defeated in 1861, Jaja of Opopo was forced to seed the economic control of the east to the Europeans but Oba Ovonramwen was ready to fight and preserve his kingdom. He wanted to be the Rising Sun that spreads over all and now that's who he must be.
The Europeans were cunning and crafty. In 1735, Oba Oresoyen was shot at with a pistol but a Dutchman, commandant Willem Hogg, and ever since those days the Oba's have become cautious in their meetings with the Europeans.
The one event that would immortalize Oba Ovonramwen was his decision to preserve no matter the cost, the customs and traditions of his ancestors.
The Igue festival was a time of deep spiritual cleansing in the Benin Kingdom. No strangers were allowed to enter the kingdom at that time and even the Great Oba has to spiritually cleansed for two weeks away from the eyes of men.
The Europeans violated the sacredness of the festival and desecrated the land by entering into Benin during the Igue Festival. Oba Ovonramwen would not be insulted neither would he allow strangers abuse his fathers. So he ordered the execution of the Europeans.
The Europeans who had been looking for an excuse to invade Benin pounced on the opportunity. They accused the Oba of all manner of crimes including human sacrifices. And in January 1897 the British army launched a full scale invasion on Benin.
They had tanks, guns and sophisticated weapons even the Great Oba did not understand but he would not be deterred. Oba Ovonramwen took his stand and decided to fight. He would not be a coward, he would not surrender the throne of his fathers to the invaders. He would stand and fight for himself, his fathers, Benin history and his people.
He refused to be a coward and run or beg for mercy from the Europeans, he will be an Oba - the most revered man in the Kingdom. He would be Ovonramwen Nogbaisi - THE RISING SUN THAT SPREADS OVER ALL.
And fight the people of the Ancient and Great Benin Kingdom did. The war lasted about five days (from late January to February 1897).
The entire city of Benin was burnt down -so much for those who brought civilisation and a peaceful christian religion.
The Oba's palace was looted and razed, the houses of chiefs and shrines were robbed and torn down. But Oba Ovonramwen was neither found nor killed.
The great Benin kingdom is still as strong and dogged today as it was then, all thanks to Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi who refused to give up without a fight.
Oba Ovonramwen returned after the war accompanied by hundreds of loyal followers.
He was exiled to Calabar, where he lived the rest of his life he died in 1914 (the year of the amalgamation). His corpse was brought back to the land of his ancestors and buried there.
His son Prince Aguobasimwim reigned after him as Oba Eweka II.
There is almost no Benin History without due reference to Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi.
He indeed became THE RISING SUN THAT SPREADS OVER ALL.
