The ancient city of Benin is set to come alive in October as the Palace of the Oba of Benin unveils an elaborate programme of activities to mark the 10th coronation anniversary of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, CFR, the 40th Oba of Benin Kingdom.
According to the programme published by the Royal Palace of Benin, the anniversary celebrations will run from October 3 to October 25, 2026, featuring cultural festivals, a royal Durbar, sporting competitions, lectures, exhibitions, economic and security summits, a grand reception and a thanksgiving service.
Oba Ewuare II ascended the throne on October 20, 2016, succeeding his father, the late Oba Erediauwa. The Palace describes the anniversary as a celebration of “a decade of restoration, culture, and calm” under the monarch’s reign.
Palace Unveils Anniversary Programme
The celebrations will officially open on Saturday, October 3, with a cultural festival in Benin City featuring traditional Edo performances, masquerades, music and heritage displays.
On Sunday, October 4, the programme will feature a grand Durbar involving a royal procession, traditional ceremonies and cultural displays. The same day, an Arise TV documentary on the Oba’s reign and the 10th anniversary is scheduled for broadcast.
The sporting activities will begin with an international Chess and Lawn Tennis Tournament from October 7 to 10, while an international golf tournament will run from October 8 to 11, ending with a trophy presentation.
On Friday, October 9, the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre will host a Food Festival, Art Exhibition and Trade Fair, designed to showcase Edo cuisine, creativity, craftsmanship and local enterprise.
The Oba Erediauwa Memorial Lecture is scheduled for Saturday, October 10, at the University of Benin/Cultural Centre, with discussions expected to focus on Edo heritage, Benin history and contemporary issues.
Also on October 11, a novelty football match will be held at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium alongside the finale of the golf tournament and presentation of trophies.
The programme continues with the Benin Economic Summit on October 13, bringing together investors, business leaders and policymakers to examine economic growth and investment opportunities in Edo State.
Children’s Day is scheduled for October 14 at the Cultural Centre, while the Benin Security Summit will take place on October 15, bringing security stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss safety, security and community resilience.
A wrestling competition is scheduled for October 16, followed by another major football match at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on October 18.
The Palace has also listed October 19 for a proposed exhibition by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), featuring repatriated Benin Bronzes and other returned artefacts. The Palace specifically describes this event as “proposed.”
The centrepiece of the anniversary will come on Tuesday, October 20, the exact date of the Oba’s coronation in 2016, with a grand reception at the Royal Palace/Festival Hall for dignitaries, government officials, international guests and distinguished personalities.
The celebrations will end on Sunday, October 25, with a thanksgiving church service at Holy Aruosa Cathedral or other major churches, offering prayers and blessings for the monarch and his decade on the throne.
A Decade of Cultural and Diplomatic Renaissance
Since his accession, Oba Ewuare II has positioned the Benin Palace as an important centre for cultural diplomacy and engagement.
The Palace highlights his campaign for the return of artefacts looted during the 1897 British invasion of Benin Kingdom as one of the defining features of his reign. It also credits the monarch with efforts to revive aspects of Benin Native Laws and Customs, strengthen traditional dispute resolution, combat human trafficking and promote cultural preservation.
The Palace further points to the return of 119 artefacts from the Netherlands in June 2025 as part of the continuing international repatriation effort.
The monarch has also promoted historical scholarship through initiatives including the Oba Erediauwa Annual Lecture Series and The Benin Monarch: An Anthology of Benin History, while opening the Palace to wider diplomatic, religious and cultural engagement.
From Eweka I to Ewuare II: The Benin Throne Through the Centuries
The history of the Benin monarchy stretches back more than eight centuries. The present Oba dynasty is traditionally traced to Oba Eweka I, generally regarded as the first Oba of Benin following the earlier Ogiso period. Historical sources place his reign around the early 13th century, although dates for some of the earliest rulers remain debated.
The early Obas included Eweka I, Uwakhuahen, Ehenmihen, Ewedo, Oguola, Edoni, Udagbedo, Ohen, Egbeka, Orobiru and Uwaifiokun.
The kingdom entered a particularly influential period under Oba Ewuare the Great, who reigned in the 15th century and is remembered as one of the kingdom’s most important rulers. He was followed by monarchs including Ezoti, Olua, Ozolua, Esigie, Orhogbua, Ehengbuda and Ohuan.
Among the later rulers was Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, who became Oba in 1888. His reign coincided with the British invasion of Benin in 1897, after which he was exiled to Calabar. The event profoundly altered the political history of the kingdom and resulted in the looting of thousands of royal and cultural objects, many of which are now known as the Benin Bronzes.
Following the return of the monarchy after the colonial disruption, the post-1897 Obas included Eweka II, who reigned from 1914 to 1933; Akenzua II, who reigned from 1933 to 1978; and Erediauwa, who reigned from 1979 until his death in 2016.
Oba Ewuare II succeeded his father, Erediauwa, and was crowned on October 20, 2016, becoming the 40th Oba of Benin.
His 10th anniversary therefore represents more than a royal celebration. For the Benin people, it is an occasion to reflect on the continuity of an ancient institution, the preservation of Edo identity and culture, and the place of the Benin Kingdom in Nigeria and the wider world.
With activities spanning culture, sports, education, business, security, diplomacy and religion, the October anniversary is expected to bring together traditional rulers, government officials, academics, artists, business leaders, diplomats and members of the Benin royal family and wider community.
The Palace has urged the public and invited guests to join the kingdom in celebrating a decade of Oba Ewuare II’s reign under the theme of restoration, cultural renaissance and peace.
