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Ewuare:
The story of Ewuare interests me because it contains both very negative and very positive qualities of leadership, and can be read as a parable. King Ohen seeks to disguise his paralysis (306, line 9) and even kills his iyase to keep the paralysis a secret (306, 10). The people react to the death of the iyase, and when they are not provided with an explanation, they “rose up against the king and stoned him to death”(306, 12). We see that secrecy results in a loss of power, and ultimately death.
After Ohen, his four sons rule, one after the other. None seem to make a mark, except for Ogun, who comes to be called Ewuare. Growing up, even while in exile, he is a great man, and he becomes a great king. While in exile, Ewuare is saved by “a slave named Edo”(306, 25) who “put a ladder down the well so that [Ewuare] was able to escape before dawn”(306, 26). He was also sheltered in the city by a market woman. When he became king, Ewuare rewarded these two people by remembering them – “he gave the name Edo to the city, and that remains the second name of the city of Benin”(306, 28-30) and he ensured that “a tree was planted where [the market woman’s] stall had been, and after that tree another and another, until in the modern era a statue was erected”(306, 31-33). Here, we see that memory and recognition of one’s history are incredibly important. Rather than the money or social status that is often emphasized in American and European tales, this seems simpler and yet more enduring.
The story of Ewuare also shows the reader the need to recognize and react to the spiritual parts of life. Ewuare awakes one morning to find that he has been spared death by both a “leopard in the tree above him”(307, 4) and a poisonous snake that lay beside him. He reacted swiftly; “he quickly drew his weapon and killed both beasts”(307, 5). In recognition of his safety, he “later established a shrine at that place”(307, 6). Even though he was a king, Ewuare showed that the spiritual world must be recognized and honored as well.
The story of Ewuare’s son is of friendship that turns into conflict that results in death. The two sons are friends, but when one insults the other (307, 10), they are unable to fix the situation. Rather than discuss what happened, or try to remember their past, they poisoned each other and both died as a result (307, 13). Here, it’s forgiveness and understanding that are emphasized, and we see what happens when they are forgotten.
Lastly, the story of Ewuare ends with mourning. We see that the king is overwhelmed with grief after the passing of his son – he “decreed three years of mourning, during which no one in the land could wash or take pleasure or have intercourse”(307, 15-16). The people do not respond well to such extreme mourning, and leave the king to live in other kingdoms (307, 17).
Ewuare is a talented king, who is shown to have many good traits, but whose weaknesses are not ignored. He is unable to save his son from death, even though the cause was a simple dispute. He is unable to deal with his son’s death, and drives his people away in his grief. And yet, “the reign of Ewuare is remembered for the walls he built and for the number of heroes and magicians who lived at that time 307, 21-22). Ewuare was a talented man and a good king, and he should be remembered as he remembered those who assisted him.
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