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| Oba Ewuare II, 40th Oba of Benin Kingdom |
(By EdoFolks.com) - The Uzama are the most ancient and the highest ranking order of
Chiefs in Benin. The origin of Uzama dates back however to the era of Eweka I.
In the thirteenth century. They perform the function of crowning the king, The
idea that they make a king by crowning him may be correct but they do not
choose a king as the Oyomesi of Oyo Empire who can make and unmake a monarch.
Eweka I ordered that every Oba of Benin should be crowned by Chief Oliha, the
most senior Uzama, because it was he who led the team of elders to Uhe (Ife) to
persuade Izoduwa to return to Benin, to rule.
