# Igue festival

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Festival in Nigeria by the Binis

Igue festival Igue Festival (Chiefs and the Ọba) Nickname King's Festival Status Active Genre Festivals Date December Begins 1440 Frequency Annually Location Edo State Country Nigeria

**Igue festival** (also known as **King's Festival**) is a celebration with its origin in the [Benin Kingdom](/source/Benin_Kingdom) of [Edo State](/source/Edo_State), southern [Nigeria](/source/Nigeria).[1] One tradition states that the festival date coincided with the marriage of [Ewuare](/source/Ewuare) to a wife named Ewere.[2] Celebrated between Christmas and New Year, the festival includes the Oba's blessing of the land and his people.The Igue festival also honors the memory of former Obas and spans a period of seven days.[3] During the Igue ritual season, the Oba is prohibited from being in the presence of any non-native person.[3]

## History

Chiefs during Igue

The Igue Festival was initiated in the 14th century during the reign of Oba Ewuare I, who reigned in Benin between 1440 and 1473.[4] Following Oba Ewuare I's experience whilst fighting as a prince for the Benin throne, he was known as Prince Ogun, the son of Oba Ohen at that time.[5]

The Igue festival, however, now consists of several other festivals put together by [Oba Akenzua II.](/source/Akenzua_II) This is because he wanted the festival to last for a couple of days due to the current movement of people and the Igue festival has become a terminal for many other festivals celebrated by the Benin people.[5][6]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Ryder1981_1-0)** Ryder, A.F.C. (1981). D.T. Niane (ed.). *General History of Africa: Africa from the Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century*. Paris: UNESCO. pp. 339–370.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Egharevba1960_2-0)** Egharevba, Jacob (1960). *A Short History of Benin*. Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) ["Igue Festival: A unique Benin celebration"](https://dailytrust.com/igue-festival-a-unique-benin-celebration). *[Daily Trust](/source/Daily_Trust)*. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 2021-08-30.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Vanguard News"](https://www.vanguardngr.com/). *[Vanguard](/source/Vanguard_(Nigeria))*. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-01-25.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_5-1) ["There' nothing fetish about Igue Festival — Chief David Edebiri"](https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/there-nothing-fetish-about-igue-festival-chief-david-edebiri/). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian_(Nigeria))*. Lagos, Nigeria. 2018-01-28. Retrieved 2021-08-31.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:2_6-0)** Osahue, Stevenson; Omoera (2008-12-01). ["Igue Ceremony as a Theatrical Performance: An Appraisal"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/215711068). Department of Theatre and Media Arts, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. *Kamla-Raj 2008*. Studies of Tribes and Tribals 6(2) (2): 111–115. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/0972639X.2008.11886584](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F0972639X.2008.11886584). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [194787661](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:194787661).

## External links

- [The Igue Festival - Edo’s colourful festival](https://oldnaija.wordpress.com/2015/07/19/igue-festival/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250125182031/https://oldnaija.wordpress.com/2015/07/19/igue-festival/) 2025-01-25 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

v t e Edo State State capital: Benin City Local government areas Akoko Edo Egor Esan Central Esan North-East Esan South-East Esan West Etsako Central Etsako East Etsako West Igueben Ikpoba Okha Orhionmwon Oredo Ovia North-East Ovia South-West Owan East Owan West Uhunmwonde Education Universities Ambrose Alli University Benson Idahosa University Edo University Igbinedion University, Okada Mudiame University Samuel Adegboyega University University of Benin Wellspring University Polytechnics Auchi Polytechnic Edo State Polytechnic Usen Kings Polytechnic Shaka Polytechnic Colleges of education College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi College of Education, Ekiadolor Edo Technical College Secondary schools Edo College Federal Government Girls College, Benin Lumen Christi International High School, Uromi Presentation National High School Healthcare Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Teaching Hospital Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital University of Benin Teaching Hospital See also: List of hospitals in Edo State Mass media Newspapers Nigerian Observer Prime 9ja Online Obaland Television Edo Broadcasting Service Nigerian Television Authority Africa Independent Television Independent Television Radio 88.1 90.5 92.3 92.7 93.7 94.1 94.3 95.7 96.9 97.3 100.1 101.5 105.5 Transportation Benin Airport Murtala Muhammed International Airport Tourist attractions Landmarks Royal Palace of the Oba of Benin Benin City National Museum Holy Aruosa Cathedral Sports venues Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Parks Okomu National Park Ogba Zoo Reserves Okomu Forest Reserve Ohosu Game Reserve Sport clubs Edo Queens F.C. Bendel Insurance F.C. Bendel United F.C. Culture Igue festival Literature Languages and dialects Edo Edoid Esan Afenmai Enwan Ghotup Igwe Ikhin Ikpeshi Ivbiosakon Okpela Ososo Sasaru Uneme Akuku Oloma Okpe

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Igue festival](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igue_festival) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igue_festival?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.