Iyaloja concept is alien to our culture – Oba of Benin tells President Tinubu’s daughter

Iyaloja concept is alien to our culture – Oba of Benin tells President Tinubu’s daughter

Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has said that the ‘Iyaloja’ market leadership idea is alien to Benin tradition.

The monarch said this while he addressed the daughter of President Bola Tinubu and Iyaloja standard, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

Mrs Tinubu-Ojo visited the monarch to inform him that she used to be inside the country to inaugurate Pastor Josephine Ivbazebule because the Iyaloja of all markets in Edo country.

The Oba, having cautiously listened to Tinubu-Ojo, requested her if she (Tinubu-Ojo) knew what Iyeki (marketplace leader) inside the Benin state capability and the connection with the palace.

The Oba told the Iyaloja trendy that within the Benin nation, the Iyeki must be showed by the palace after being decided on with the aid of the market ladies.

Oba Ewuare II told Tinubu-Ojo that the Iyeki performs sure cultural roles on his behalf in the markets, outside her function of coordinating the affairs of investors in the marketplace

He stated the Iyeki has a special courting with the palace and performs anticipated roles inside the shrine positioned in each market.

“Iyaloja is alien to us here in Benin. you’re in Benin, the house of lifestyle; we’ve got our culture right here. i’ve mentioned this matter with my chiefs and people who’re knowledgeable. Do you realize the position of Iyeki in Benin lifestyle? every Iyeki has a special dating with the palace. Are you privy to that? Do you realize that each Iyeki has a cultural function to carry out interior every marketplace? The Oba does now not intrude so long as the Iyeki does what’s expected of her within the shrine of a selected marketplace on behalf of the Oba. We aren’t going to mention a whole lot, barring to give an explanation for to you the notion of Iyeki in Benin,” the Oba stated.

leader Osaro Idah, whom the Oba authorized to enlighten Tinubu-Ojo, also brought: “Iyeki is unbiased in every market, like the Oba marketplace, Ogiso marketplace, and others. The investors choose their leaders from within the market. The Iyeki do more than the function of coordinating traders. There are sure shrines in all the markets. They play positive roles on behalf of the palace. After their selection, they convey the character to the palace for affirmation. the newness of a fashionable Iyeki is alien to Benin custom and lifestyle. We simply consider the Iyaloja is your socio-cultural factor, like you have got other clubs.”

“It isn’t always in our lifestyle to have a popular Iyeki. Iyeki is precise to each market. no one has the proper to control every other in a one of a kind market. The Iyeki in Oba marketplace has no role to play in Ogiso marketplace. The Oba hooked up the marketplace for all within the society,” chief Idah added.