Ewuare II

{{Infobox royalty

| name = Ewuare II

| image = File:Igue_festival_(Ọba_of_Benin).jpg

| succession =

| reign = 2016–present

| predecessor = Erediauwa

| successor =

| spouses = 5{{cite web |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/kriminalitaet/benin-die-beute-bronzen-15359996.html#trauma-in-nigeria |title=Benin: Die Beute Bronzen. Kapitel 3 - Trauma in Nigeria |trans-title=Benin: The looted bronzes. Chapter 3 - Trauma in Nigeria |author1=Lutz Mükke |author2=Maria Wiesner |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |language=de |date=15 January 2018 |access-date=15 January 2018 |archive-date=16 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116021031/http://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/kriminalitaet/benin-die-beute-bronzen-15359996.html#trauma-in-nigeria |url-status=live }}

| issue = At least 4

| dynasty =

| father = Erediauwa

| mother =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|10|20|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| place of burial =

| signature =

| religion =

|}}

Ewuare II (born 20 October 1953) was crowned the Oba of Benin on 20 October 2016.{{cite web|last1=Olaitan|first1=Oluwatoba|title=New Benin king crowned as Ewuare II|url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/new-benin-king-crowned-ewuare-ii/|website=Tribune Online|publisher=Tribune Online|access-date=18 November 2016|archive-date=19 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119075430/https://tribuneonlineng.com/new-benin-king-crowned-ewuare-ii/|url-status=live}} He is the 40th Oba,{{cite web|last1=Keazor|first1=Ed |title= Crowning the Oba of Benin Kingdom: tradition 700 years old |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/18/africa/oba-of-benin-coronation/index.html |website=CNN |date=21 November 2016 |access-date=21 June 2023 }}{{efn|The Tribune Online erroneously described him as the 39th Oba.}} a title created for the Head of State (Emperor) of the Benin Empire at some time between 1180 and 1300.

Education

Eheneden Erediauwa, as he was known before becoming Oba of Benin, attended Edo College in Benin City (Nigeria) from 1965 to 1967 and Immaculate Conception College from 1968 to 1970. He got his A-Level Certificate from South Thames College, London. He graduated with an Economics degree from the University of Wales, UK and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Rutgers University Graduate School, New Jersey, USA.{{cite web|title=The coronation of Oba Ewuare II: A cardinal event|url=http://www.newsplus.ng/coronation-oba-ewuare-ii-cardinal-event/|website=Newsplus|access-date=2 March 2017|archive-date=14 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514103236/http://www.newsplus.ng/coronation-oba-ewuare-ii-cardinal-event/|url-status=live}}

Career

He worked at the United Nations between 1981 and 1982. He also served as Nigeria's Ambassador to Angola and Sweden, with accreditation to Norway, Denmark and the Republic of Finland. He was also Nigeria's Ambassador to Italy.{{cite web|title=Ewuare N'Ogidigan II: 40th Oba of Benin|url=http://sunnewsonline.com/ewuare-nogidigan-ii-40th-oba-of-benin/|website=The Sun|access-date=2 March 2017|archive-date=3 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303043021/http://sunnewsonline.com/ewuare-nogidigan-ii-40th-oba-of-benin/|url-status=live}}

Reign

File:Kings wives.jpg

File:Traditional high priests procession for the coronation of a new king photo6.jpg

Ewuare II chose his name as tribute to the 15th-century Ewuare I.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/04/10/the-desperate-journey-of-a-trafficked-girl |magazine=The New Yorker |date=April 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403090127/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/04/10/the-desperate-journey-of-a-trafficked-girl |archive-date=April 3, 2017 |title=The Desperate Journey of a Trafficked Girl |first=Ben |last=Taub |quote=The Oba chose the name Ewuare II, in tribute to a predecessor who assumed the throne around 1440.}} Since his ascension to the throne, Ewuare II worked closely with Godwin Obaseki, a former governor of Edo State .{{cite web |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/10/21/coronation-anniversary-obaseki-salutes-oba-ewuare-ii-lauds-inspiring-partnership-with-govt/ |title=Coronation Anniversary: Obaseki Salutes Oba Ewuare II, lauds inspiring partnership with Govt |author1=Lutz Mükke |author2=Maria Wiesner |work=This Day |date=21 October 2017 |access-date=15 January 2018 |archive-date=16 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116085635/https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/10/21/coronation-anniversary-obaseki-salutes-oba-ewuare-ii-lauds-inspiring-partnership-with-govt/ |url-status=live }} Like many of his predecessors, he started his rule by demanding that the spiritually and historically important Benin Bronzes that were stolen in 1897 by the British Empire be returned to his people.

In October 2017, he celebrated his first anniversary on the throne, with great participation by the local populace as well as several officials, politicians, and visitors from other parts of Nigeria such as Lagos, Calabar, and Jos. The Sokoto Sultanate Council and Ile-Ife's royal family also sent representatives to take part in the celebrations.

In 2018, Ewuare II issued a curse against any juju priest involved in carrying out human trafficking within his domain, and he publicly revoked all curses used by priests to manipulate trafficking victims.{{Cite news|last=Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani|date=24 March 2018|title=A Voodoo Curse on Human Traffickers|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/24/opinion/sunday/voodoo-curse-human-traffickers.html|access-date=24 August 2022|archive-date=23 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423202738/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/24/opinion/sunday/voodoo-curse-human-traffickers.html|url-status=live}} One analyst reported that "what the oba has done is likely to be more effective than anything the international anti-trafficking community has managed to do after millions of dollars and many years".

During the governorship campaign in the Edo State 2020 election, the Oba encouraged all political players to conduct themselves peacefully, an act that accorded him praises by groups such as the Edo Equity Forum (EEF) as well as the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).{{Cite web|date=2020-09-04|title=Group, party laud Oba of Benin over peace deal|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/09/group-party-laud-oba-of-benin-over-peace-deal/|access-date=2021-02-06|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-04-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413041357/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/09/group-party-laud-oba-of-benin-over-peace-deal/|url-status=live}}

In 2021, the University of Aberdeen approved the repatriation of one of the Benin Bronzes, which was handed to a delegation that included representatives of Ewuare II on 28 October 2021.{{cite news |title=Benin bronze: 'Looted' Nigerian sculpture being returned by university |work=BBC News |date=27 October 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-59063449 |access-date=28 October 2021 |archive-date=27 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027222326/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-59063449 |url-status=live }} He received it, and a bronze cockerel returned by Jesus College, Cambridge, at a ceremony in the royal palace in Benin City on 19 February 2022.{{Citation |title=OBA OF BENIN RECEIVES RETURNED BRONZE HEAD - ARISE NEWS REPORT |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs0piuuu7z0 |language=en |access-date=2022-08-29}}

Personal life

By the time he was crowned Oba, Ewuare was married to Queen Iroghama (Obazuaye N'erie), Princess Iyayiota (Obazuwa N'erie) and Princess Ikpakpa (Ohe N'erie).{{cite web |title=Oba of Benin's pretty wives and Rolls Royce |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/oba-benins-pretty-wives-rolls-royce/ |author=Juliet Ebirim |website=Vanguard |date=4 October 2016 |access-date=15 May 2019 |archive-date=4 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104173336/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/oba-benins-pretty-wives-rolls-royce/ |url-status=live }} He later wed more women.