SUMMARY OF HORACE ARES POETICA

The trials of Oba Ovoranwem

The Benin Empire up until 1897 was perhaps the largest and most popular Empire in the coastal area of present-day Nigeria. The empire is famous for its famous artefacts of bronze and ivory carvings which were not just artistic pieces but rather were a means of preserving the people's cultural heritage and history from one generation to another.

     The Bini's had traded with the Portuguese traders for hundreds of years until the fallout Berlin conference of the 18th century where European and American Nations were mandated to make their presence felt in the African continent. With the British interest in the Niger area ( Nigeria ), there was the need to depose all kings and Emperors who do not agree to terms with the British powers and supremacy.

       The Bini country must fall within the British control as they have successfully done in Lagos establishing its colony, Opobo, Akure and other surrounding Empires and units of the Bini kingdom (Empire)

Oba ovoranwem No,Ogbais successfully reigned on the throne of his father for nine good years, until the oracle spilt the ill news of the eminent overthrow of the Empire by the British forces. The Oba and his chiefs have continuously succeeded in keeping the white man away from their land all along. However, with Acting-consul General Philip, things will definitely be overturned the other way around as he has vowed to capture Bini and take power away from their moat dreaded enemy "the fetish priest-king" Oba Ovoranmi, for the honour of her Majesty's reign Queen Victoria of England, Scotland, Ireland and Empress of India. Following the Absence of the consul general Moor on leave to England and in defiance of orders from the home government when he deems ill-advised to stay away from Bini until the Oba is through with making his father's "the Ague festival " during which customs forbid him,  from seeing any foreign visitor except initiates in the royal cult.

      Following persistence from the British to get the Oba to sign a treaty entrusting his kingdom and resources to the protection and control of the British. The Oba appoints his childhood friend Chief Obaseki who is from Itskeri to represent them on the grounds of trade with the white men, reporting back to the Oba whose words are law and must not fall to the ground. Against odds Philip defies warnings not to visit Benin until the festival is over, being pre-occupied that the Oba is carrying out human rituals and must be stopped and such, therefore, he must speak with Oba Ovoranmi.

    The Oba on hearing of Philip's decision to see him, decides to accord him and his encourage audience for a little while against his traditions and norms, to save Bini from the impending doom about to befall her. He appoints his son-in-law Ologbose in the company of a few other chiefs to go and bring the white man to him by nightfall through the passage from Urho' Kpere. However, the chiefs on their own accord intending to save their traditions and customs decide to keep the Whitman hostage until the Oba is through with his rituals, following the refusal of Philip and his men to adhere to their orders, they engaged in a gun battle, during which they killed all the whites including Philip excluding two men who escaped through the bush. Having fulfilled their own plans, they returned triumphantly to the Oba, who shamed by their misconduct warned them to prepare for War. The murder of the white men came to be known as the Benin massacre of 1897. Not long, the British troops returned in full force to avenge the death of their men and crush the rebellion of the enemy to the ground.

     Ovoranwem deeply distressed by the development confers with the gods on his next course of action, but the gods warn him not to act in haste but rather allow events to unfold themselves to him, they tell him that his fame would spread Far and near. Following the attacks from the British forces and the West African frontiers, the walls of Benin were brought to rubble, their palaces left desolate, and houses burnt down. The British made away with all the artefacts they could find within the palace On the 5th day of August, chief Obaseki due to his ambition delivered the Oba who had been in hiding to the British forces and on the 1st of the September same year, the trial of the Oba together with his chiefs commenced, with sir Ralph Moor sitting as Acting-consul general, high commissioner, accuser, judge and jury during the trials, the was stripped of honour and forced to pay obeisance to the portrait of Queen Victoria of England as his new Lord and Empress, he, however, refuses to bow down to the portrait for there can be no two kings ruling a place at a particular time. He later on appeal removed his kingly attire and bowed down as Prince Idugbowa.

      Afterwards, the trials proceeded wherein two witnesses were brought in and made to testify against the Oba instigating the chiefs to kill the white men. In the process of testifying falsely against the king Idiaghe falls into convulsion and dies immediately while had counterpart goes unharmed. However, one of the chiefs involved; chief Uwubamwem commits suicide while still in detention, Chief uso, ologbose alongside Ugiagbe and Obaiuwana admit their crime and are convicted to death. As for the Great Oba Ovoranmew No,Ogbais ( the enlightened one) He was sent to exile in Calabar where he died in 1914, while Chief Obaseki was made the native administrator of the Benin country. He ensured that following the Oba's death in exile in January 1914, his son was installed as Oba Iweka the 2nd thereby restoring the monarchy of the Old Benin Empire.