Benin monarch calls for rituals, prescribes items to avert disaster

The Oba of Benin, on Friday called on traditionalists in the Benin Kingdom to immediately perform the traditional ceremony of waving away calamity, known in the local parlance as “Bisusu”.

Oba Ewuare II, who prescribed one of the traditional items to be included in the ritual, also directed that the ceremony must be performed “with immediate effect”.

In a one-paragraph statement endorsed by Chief Stanley O. Obamwonyi, the Esere of Benin Kingdom on behalf of the Omo N’Oba, listed the “head of a deer” as one of the items to be used in the ritual.

The statement reads: “His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, Obaf Benin, has directed that all chiefs, Enigie, Ikao, Edionwere and all Igie Ohen of various deities in Benin Kingdom, to perform the traditional ceremony of waving away calamity known as “Bisusu”. The head of a deer should be included in the traditional items that are normally used. The ceremony should be carried out with immediate effect”.

Bisusu, is a Benin traditional appeasement ritual, performed to ward off calamity from the kingdom.