Eweka Dynasty

Until quite recently, all the known historical traditions about the origin of the Eweka dynasty of Benin were unanimous in saying that the first oba of this dynasty was a son of Oranmiyan, a Prince of Ife, who came to Benin in response to the free invitation of the city’s notables at a time of political instability. During the past few years, however, a number of other traditions have been coming to light challenging certain aspects of the accounts contained in the received traditions. Although one may be tempted to dismiss these recent stories as new inventions, there seems to be some definite worth in analyising them and their claims. For example it will be useful to examine them for consistency and relate them to other bits of evi- dence which demonstrate either tacitly or, until early in this century, quite actively, the links between the Ife and Benin ruling dynasties.