The Binis occupy Oredo, ikpoba- okha,Ovia North-East, Egor, Uhunmwonde, Ovia South-West and Orhionmwon local government areas of Edo state, Nigeria.With Benin-city as the head-quarters and also its traditional head-quarters.The indigens are Binis and they speak Edo language as their native language and English as their second language.
In the early times, Benin was referred to #igodomigodo,the rulers then were referred to as ogisos. The tittle "OBA" was used after ogiso title and was created by Oranmiyan, Benin Empire's first oba. The oba Ewuare II is the traditional ruler of the Edo/Bini people and is currently the oba of benin.
THE OBA OF BENIN
The bini kingdom has been known for its sinificant traditional role in coral beads, known as "ivie" in the bini language. It is such which has a hard core that can be polished to bring out beautiful red,rose or pink colors. The significance of the red coral beads worn by the oba and chiefs cannot be overemphasized as it is not only royal and cultural but also religious. They are obliged to wear the beads around their necks continually without putting it off whatsoever.
BEAD WORN BY A CHIEF
The traditional food of the binis is as a representative of what is obtained in most southern state of nigeria. They include pounded yam with vegetable, melon(Egusi) or okra soups cooked with bush meat.
Native beverages include palm wine and ogoro, these drinks are made from the juices of palm trees. Also included is ogogoro "kai-kai" which is distilled from the juice of raffia palm trees.
Traditionally it is a belief for the binis that the world is divided into two, which are the visible world and the spirit world. It is also a belief that these two worlds were created by osanobua(ALMIGHTY GOD). Osanobua is rather remote hence the worship of other dieties who are belived to be his children. OLOKUN(ruler of the global waters and provider of wealth and fetility) who is perceived to be Osanobua's oldest son is the most venerated diety, Ogun(the god of iron), Obienmwen(goddess of safe delivery), Ogiuwu(the god of death), among many others.
To the binis death is part of a cycle which an individual moves between the spirit world and the everyday world in a series of fourteen reincarnations.The beginning of each cycle commences with the appearance before osanobua. And it is here it is belived that the person announces his or her destiny.
