Art And Culture
With AMBROSE EKHOSUEHI
Edo Traditional Days EDO traditional days represent the four cardinal points or the four quarters of the earth. The four days are EkenEast, Orrie-West, AhoSouth, Okuo-North. The cruciform represent the four divine cardinal directions — Ikadale ene n’ Osa ya d’ agbon yi, the four days in Edo week, the unfolding of the day — Morning — Owie, afternoon — Avan, evening — Ota, night — ason, at the time of creation. The circled cross are quadrival, a basic cosmological form (Aghadaghada) meaning cross-road and the sun never misses the day (oweni ba ede ku). Eken-East, the rising of the sun (owen owie) is the rest day of the God, when priests stay at home adoring their gods. It is a day of rest observed by every person, but people may do minor works at home. Councils are usually held on Eken day. Orrie — West, the setting of the sun (Owen Ota) is usually the direction of some rituals for purifications. Human beings were usually buried directing their legs/feet west wards. Houses and places of worship were usually planned to face the east or the West. It portends longevity. Important rituals are performed on this day, such as the rite for marriage, starting new project, digging of foundation, beginning of funeral rites and other important ceremonies. Orrie is also known as Ado Eken edegbe — a day after Eken. Aho-South, the southern hemisphere (owen Igie), the second day after eken.
It is called Adesede — middle of the days or Eken n aka, little Eken as it is between Orrie and Okuo. It denotes some favourable fortunes from the OceanOkun. It forbids certain traditional rites. Okuo-North, the Northern hemisphere (Owen Than) is the day most rites and ceremonies are performed and festival begins. It is also known as akhue’ eken — “Tomorrow is Eken” Brides were usually taken to their groom on this day, to meet up with nuptial rites on the seventh day — (Ede ne oha tuo vbe Ukpoo). The other days were calculated by numbers, today, tomorrow, next day forth day, fifth day, sixth day, seventh day etc (Erre — today, akhue, Tomorrow, Irakhue-next day, Unien erre- 4 Usien erre ( Edehan erre (6th) Uhunmwu-erre ( or one week — Izola-okpa.The month was calculated from the observation of the phases of the moon and contained 29 or 30 days beginning from the new moon. (Ede ne a mien uki; A ghogho n’ uki). Young and old, children, youths as well as pregnant women would hail the new moon. The new moon marks stages of pregnancy, birth time and juvenile age. It also counts for planting season and time of harvest. It creates awareness for festivals and agricultural seasons. It gives light. The year was made up of twelve Lunar months, but a thirteenth Lunar may be added to re-establish solar year, if the twelveth new moon came out too early, a thirteenth lunar month is added to complete the season for the end of year festival and to begin
agricultural season for a new year. Towns and villages establish their market days, favourably to the
Aho — Ekenaka day (Adesede). Eki Ehor, Ehor market, Iguobazuwa, Uromi, Sabogida Ora Markets. Etc.
engage in a cultural rite, such as marriage ceremony, chieftaincy celebration, or festival; even anniversary in certain
traditional day of the elders choice and sanctioned by the monarch. In Benin City — Eki Edo — New Benin market has the official day of Eken. Oba market — Eki Oba is sanctified for Orrie, Eki Osa for Aho, and Agbado for Okuo. These form notable days in Benin City. In the county areas and country sides, markets were fixed for patronages by Merchants. There are important markets like urhonigbe market — Eki Urhonigbe, established for
On Okuo day, towns and villages like Egbeta, Eki Adolo, Ugo, Uzeba, Umunode, Afuze, Truekpen etc were established. Eken has Eki Ohuan (Ekenhuan) Eki Evboesi, Ozigolo, Udo, Fugar Igbanke, Ewatto etc. Orrie has Eki Uvbe, Agenebode, Ebue, Ozanisi, Ibillo, Odighi, Okada, Oka etc. Edo traditional days are particularly important for persons in diasporas, who may wish to perform specific rites, or may
act of culture. Edo traditional days were universally known in the olden days, and the neighbouring communities call the days in the same forms. The Igbo use the words, Eke for Eken, One for Orrie, Afor for Aho, Nkwo for Okuo and there are not much differences among other ethnic groups. Children born on market days are usually called Eki, Edeki, Eki Oghawuogho, etc, and in Igbo land children bear Eke, Okorie, Okafor, Okonkwo and
may be peculiar to other ethnic groups too. Period of year events were reckoned such as year of Locust, Ukpo ne agbe Irhiso, year of influenza, Ukpo egboghogbogho, year of salt rationing — Ukpo ne
Umwen ghanren etc. A complete calendar should have the traditional days, phases of the moon, events and the Christian calendar now in use. Moon calendar from the New moon to the last phase, from the first day of the moon to its 2 or 30 day as the case may be has been much appropriate in certain culture, therefore writers of Benin traditions should endeavour to keep to the traditional names universally known in Edo Culture.
“Young and old, children, youths as well as pregnant women would hail the new moon. The new moon marks stages of pregnancy, birth time and juvenile age. It also counts for planting season and time of harvest. It creates awareness for festivals and agricultural seasons. It gives light.”