ownership; he used to bring a
human sacrifice to the palm
tree once a year, the sacrifice
being performed at one palm
tree at Uhɛ̃ which is supposed to
stand on the spot where the first
palm tree grew (or to be the
same tree?). A praise-name is
Ezima n-uhɛ̃ n-ɔkp-ema ri‿awɔ
[ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “Ezima of Uhɛ̃ who
has beaten the drum to eat awɔ”
(= obobo [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ]).
ezɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] a repair, a defective place
made good; ezɔ na gĩ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] this
repair leaks; cf. zɔ 2 [ / ].
Ezɔmɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] a chief, the highest in
rank after the Ɔba; lives at
Uzɛbu [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ], a quarter of Benin
City where he seems to enjoy
sovereign rights to a greater
extent than any other ruler in
the Bini country; in former
times the inhabitants of Uzɛbu
are even said to have seized men
from Benin City; he is the head
of the egi-esã [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] sib (cf. ogie
[ ˩ ˩ ] “ruler” and esã [ ˥ ˩ ]
“Ishan”), and the Ezɔmɔs are
said to have been rulers of Ishan
once upon a time (though not
the first Ezɔmɔs); his messengers
are, or were, until a short time
ago, much respected in some
parts of the Ishan country. He
is considered to be the first war-
chief of the Binis, and as such
has the most powerful charms.
Every morning he sits on his
dais, calling down evil on the
enemies of Benin. The title is
hereditary; by Europeans he
is called Ojɔmɔ. A praise-name
is Ezɔmɔ N-uti [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ]; cf. Yor.
ɔjɔmɔ or ojɔmɔ [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ].
Ezɔti [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] name of an Ɔba.
