Akenzua II

Akenzua II
Oba of Benin
Reign 1933 – 1978
Coronation 5 April 1933
Predecessor Eweka II
Successor Erediauwa
Born Godfrey Edokparhogbuyunmwun Basimi Eweka[1]
January 7, 1899
Died June 11, 1978 (aged 79)

Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Akenzua II (January 7, 1899–June 11, 1978) was the Oba of Benin (traditional leader of the Edo people, in Nigeria) from 1933 until his death in 1978.

Akenzua II was enthroned as Oba of Benin in April 1933 following the death of his father, Eweka II (r.1914 – 1933) in February that year.[2]

Oba Akenzua II was dedicated to the provision of western education for his subjects, the Edo people.[1]

In 1936, he began the movement to return to Nigeria the Benin Bronzes looted from the royal compounds and ancestral altars in the punitive Benin Expedition of 1897. During his reign, only two of the 3,000 royal court bronzes were returned. However, two coral crowns and coral bead garment, thought to have belonged to Ovonramwen, were returned to him in the late 1930s by G.M. Miller a son of a member of the Benin expedition, who had loaned the pieces to the British Museum in 1935.[3]

Oba Akenzua II died on June 11, 1978, when he was succeeded by his son, then Prince Solomon, who took on the title of Oba Erediauwa and duties as the traditional leader of the Edo people in Benin City, Nigeria.[4]

Family

In 1923 his first son was born Prince Solomon Aiseokhuoba Igbinoghodua Akenzua[5], whose chosen title was founded on the name Ere, relating to Oba Eresonye who is traditionally considered to be an incredibly wealthy Oba.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Benin monarchy". National Daily Newspaper. 22 December 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  2. ↑ The Crisis Publishing Company, Inc (July 1933). "AFRICA". The Crisis. 40 (7): 159. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  3. ↑ Plankensteiner, Barbara (2016). "The Benin Treasures: difficult legacy and contested heritage". In Hauser-Schäublin, Brigitta; Prott, Lyndel V. Cultural Property and Contested Ownership: The Trafficking of Artefacts and the Quest for Restitution. Routledge. ISBN 9781317281832.
  4. ↑ http://www.edo-nation.net/osawe1.htm
  5. ↑ Uche, Atuma (30 April 2016). "Life and times of Oba Erediauwa – - The Sun News". - The Sun News. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
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