BENIN CITY — The Palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has suspended members of the Isikhuan royal praise singers group over what was described as a breach of palace protocol and an age-old Benin traditional custom.
The suspension followed the group’s performance at the 92nd birthday celebration of Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin, at the business magnate’s residence.
According to a report by Daily Post, the singers performed a traditional royal act said to be exclusively reserved for the Oba of Benin. The performance allegedly took place without prior authorisation from the Palace.
The development has once again brought attention to the strict protocols surrounding the Benin monarchy, one of Nigeria’s oldest and most enduring traditional institutions.
Why the performance became an issue
In the Benin traditional system, certain songs, praises, dances, regalia and ceremonial expressions are closely associated with the person and office of the Oba. Such practices are not regarded merely as entertainment but can carry deep historical, spiritual and institutional significance.
The Palace, therefore, maintains protocols governing the use and performance of certain royal traditions, particularly those considered exclusive to the Omo N’Oba.
The reported performance at Chief Igbinedion’s birthday celebration was consequently viewed as crossing a traditional boundary, prompting the Oba’s intervention.
The suspension, according to the report, was imposed as an immediate disciplinary measure following the alleged infraction.
A throne steeped in centuries of tradition
The Benin monarchy predates the modern Nigerian state and remains a central symbol of the history, identity and cultural continuity of the Benin people.
Oba Ewuare II, who ascended the throne in 2016, is the 40th Oba of Benin according to commonly cited historical accounts. His reign has combined traditional authority with efforts to preserve Benin cultural heritage and strengthen the institution’s relevance in the modern era.
The Palace has, on several occasions, demonstrated that breaches of royal protocol are treated seriously.
In March 2026, for instance, the Benin Traditional Council sanctioned palace personnel and a chief following an unauthorised visit involving social media personality Habeeb Hamzat Adelaja, popularly known as Peller. The Council described the incident as a breach of protocol involving the sacred precincts of the Palace.
The latest development involving the Isikhuan group therefore underscores the Palace’s continuing insistence that traditional customs and royal protocols must be observed regardless of the status or occasion involved.
Igbinedion and the Benin Palace
Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, one of Edo State’s most prominent businessmen and philanthropists, has maintained a longstanding relationship with the Benin traditional institution.
The Esama, who has built a reputation as a major business pioneer and patron of culture and education, has over the years remained an influential figure in Edo social and traditional circles.
His 92nd birthday celebration was reportedly attended by prominent personalities and traditional dignitaries, making the alleged unauthorised performance by the Isikhuan group particularly noteworthy.
The suspension has also sparked renewed conversation about the delicate balance between celebrating distinguished sons and daughters of the Benin Kingdom and preserving practices that the Palace considers exclusive to the Oba.
For observers of Benin history and tradition, the incident is another reminder that, despite the changing times, the authority of the Benin throne continues to be anchored firmly in centuries-old customs, institutions and ceremonial practices.
