The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has stated that the title of “Iyaloja-General” is not recognized in Benin culture. He made this known when President Bola Tinubu’s daughter, Folashade Ojo-Tinubu, who holds the title of Iyaloja-General of market women associations in Nigeria, visited him in his palace.
The Oba emphasized that the concept of Iyaloja is not part of Benin tradition, describing it as a socio-cultural thing specific to other cultures.
In Benin, market leaders are known as “Iyeki,” and each market has its own independent Iyeki, selected by traders and confirmed by the palace.
The Iyeki performs cultural roles in shrines located within markets, on behalf of the Oba, and has a special relationship with the palace.
The Oba stressed that it’s not in their culture to have a general Iyeki, and each Iyeki is particular to their market, with no authority over other markets
Folashade Ojo-Tinubu visited the Oba to inform him of her plans to inaugurate Pastor Josephine Ivbazebule as the Iyaloja of all markets in Edo State. The Oba took the opportunity to clarify the cultural differences and explain the Benin tradition regarding market leadership.
