uncrippled) and R.D. xvii, 1,
2, 4.
ɔhɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ] red ant; builds its nest
by threading leaves together in
the shape of a ball, and lives
inside; they live mostly on kola
and unwɔnwɛ [ ˥ / ˩ ] trees; they
are said to tremble ( “shake”)
always and are therefore used
by doctors, when making “medi-
cines” for frightening people
(and other purposes).
Ɔhɛ̃nika [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] a chief who per-
forms the purification rites in
cases of suicide in Benin City
(at Ogbe and at the quarter
where the suicide occurred). He
is not the “land-owner”.
ɔka [ ˩ ˥ ] (1) headman (always fol-
lowed by a genitive); ɔka‿ɛgbɛe
[ ˩ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ] headman of a sib; ɔka‿
ɛrhia [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] ringleader (in a bad
sense); ɔka-kuo [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] war-chief;
ɔka‿olotu [ ˩ ˥ ˥ \ ˩ ] a title appear-
ing in the history of Benin,
“headman of headmen” (Egh.
Hist.), also “senior headman”.
(2) when used alone: master of
ogwɛga [ ˩ \ ˩ ].
ɔka [ ˥ ˩ ] corn (maize); cf. Yor. ɔka
[ ˧ ˩ ] and Ibo ɔka [ ˥ ˩ ].
ɔkã [ ˩ ˩ ] a position in the ogwɛga
[ ˩ \ ˩ ]-divination (c.c.c.o.); (a) ɔkã
n-abe [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] the same position
occurring on both strings of
seeds; it foretells quarrel, hence
(b) idiom.: quarrel; v. gbe 1 [ ˥ ];
(c) in erhã n-ɔgb-ɔkã n-abe
[ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] a creaking tree; of Yor.
origin? A combination of ɔkã
with odĩ [ ˩ ˥ ] is ɔkãdĩ [ ˩ / ˥ ]
which is used as an idiomatic
word for “heart” (v. ɛkokodu
[ ˥ ˥ \ ˩ ]) by old men and masters
of the ogwɛga [ ˩ \ ˩ ]-divination.
