The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku’ Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, has five wives and many children. The Oba of Benin’s wives are Queen Iroghama, Princess Iyayiota, Princess Ikpakpa, Queen Owamagbe Ewuare, and Queen Aisosa Ewuare.
The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler and the custodian of the culture of the Edo people, a representative of the supreme deity, and is considered a god in his own right. Hence, both he and his entire household, including his wives, are held in height esteem. Enjoy the following facts about the Oba of Benin’s wives and children.
Oba of Benin’s Wives
It is customary for monarchs to marry as many wives as they desire, and like his predecessor, the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II lives a polygamous life and is married to five women. Interestingly, three of the Oba of Benin’s wives – Queen Iroghama (Obazuaye N’erie), Princess Iyayiota (Obazuwa N’erie), and Princess Ikpakpa (Ohe N’erie) – were married to him long before he became king.
The Oba’s first three wives were in March 2016, inducted into the royal court of the Kingdom, following the conferment of traditional titles on them.
The induction ceremony, which was part of the traditional rites being performed by King Erediauwa before his coronation, saw the first wife, Iroghama, being named the Obazuaye N’Erie, while the second and third wives were named Obazuwa N’Erie and Ohe N’Erie, respectively.
A few months after his official ascension to the throne, the king married two more women, making them a total of five wives.
List of Oba of Benin’s Wives
- Queen Iroghama,
- Princess Iyayiota,
- Princess Ikpakpa,
- Queen Owamagbe Ewuare,
- Queen Aisosa Ewuare
Queen Iroghama Ewuare is Oba of Benin’s First Wife
Also known as Oloi in the typical Benin language, Queen Iroghama is the first wife of Oba Ewuare II of the Benin Kingdom. She was married to the king years before his enthronement. While not much has been revealed about the fair-skinned queen, she is largely regarded as the wife of the King’s youth.
Upon her husband’s crowning as the Oba of Benin, she is now commonly referred to as the queen mother of Benin. The exact date the Oba of Benin got married to his first wife Iroghama Ewuare is not known; the two apparently have lived together as a couple and have raised many children, including the current crown Prince and future King Ezelekhae Ewuare. Other children the King and Queen Iroghama have together include Princess (Barrister) Ikuyoyemwen Victoria Ewuare, Prince Obhagator Ewuare, and Prince Igbinidu Ewuare.
Queen Iyayota Ewuare
She is the second of the Oba of Benin’s wives. Also a native of Edo state, the Olori became Ewure II’s wife even before he became king, and together, they raised children of their own. Three years after the King’s coronation, Queen Iyayota had a baby boy. The little prince became the first child the King welcomed since his coronation
Queen Ikpakpa Ewuare
Queen Ikpakpa Ewuare is the third wife of the Oba of Benin Kingdom. She is one of the women he married years before becoming a king. The queen was given the chieftaincy title “Ohe N’Erie” in March 2016, in line with the coronation rites of her husband, the Oba of Benin. Queen Ikpakpa also has children of her own, although details of their names, gender, and age are not yet disclosed.
Queen Owamagbe Ewuare
Queen Owamagbe Ewuare Owamagbe Ewuare is the fourth wife of HM King or Oba Ewuare II of Benin Kingdom. She is also the older sister of the fifth wife. Not much has been revealed about the King’s fourth wife, but from what we gathered about her, she is from Edo state and the mother of two of the king’s children.
Queen Aisosa Ewuare
Queen Aisosa is the 5th wife of the Oba of Benin. She is the younger sister of the fourth queen Owamagbe Ewuare Owamagbe. She caught the attention of the king while visiting her sister.
Queen Aisosa Ewuare welcomed quadruplets (three boys and one girl) on the 7th of August 2021. Her birth of the four babies was described by the royal family as an “unprecedented and historical event” in the Benin Royal family.
Did Oba of Benin’s Youngest Wife Escape?
The Oba of Benin’s youngest wife did not escape from the palace as has been purported by the media. In 2020, there were claims that one of the Oba of Benin’s wives escaped the palace to be with her boyfriend.
While the unverified rumor continued to spread like wide fire on various social media platforms, counter news from the palace was put forward, debunking the rumor and labeling it as fake news. The report also claimed that none of the Oba of Benin’s wives left the palace for such “absurd reasons”.
How Many Children Does the Oba of Benin Have?
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has many children from his five wives. While the exact number of children the Oba has is not known, we are aware of a few of them, including his quadruplets, whom he welcomed in August 2021. The Oba’s first son, Prince Ezelekhae Ewuare, is a grown-up man doing quite well in his business.
The other of the Oba’s children known to the public include Princess Ikuyoyemwen Victoria Ewuare, Prince Obhagator Ewuare, and Prince Igbinidu Ewuare. Unfortunately, details of their age and career are not yet known, except for Princess Victoria, who is a barrister.
List of Oba of Benin Children Include
- Ezelekhae Ewuare (Crown prince)
- Princess (Barrister) Ikuyoyemwen Victoria Ewuare,
- Prince Obhagator Ewuare,
- Prince Igbinidu Ewuare
Who Is Oba of Benin’s First Son?
The Oba of Benin’s first son is Prince, Ezelekhae Ewuare. He is a businessman and the crown Prince of Benin. He owns the Odumalife Foundation, with the motto ”People, Culture, Enterprise.” It is a foundation set up to enable youth development through the acquisition of skills.
Although it is widely said that the Oba’s eldest son does not see his father and are far apart, Ezelekhae Ewuare’s father, who is now the crowned Oba of Benin, is the first Crown Prince in the history of Benin Kingdom reputed to have been so close to his father. He modernized the custom that now allows the crown prince to meet and be close to his father.
Does Oba of Benin Have Quadruplets?
The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku’ Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, has a set of quadruplets -three boys and a girl, which he welcomed in August 2021. He had his quadruplets with his fifth wife, Queen Aisosa, and the news about their arrival was described by the king as “an “unprecedented and historical event”.
The set of children arrived two years after the king welcomed his first child and son on the throne in 2019. He had his first son on the throne with his second wife, Her Royal Highness, Queen Iyayota