Benin Monarch Celebrates 700 Years of Ancestral Excellence

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu/

All roads lead to the Republic of Benin, this month, as the King of Ilase/Avrankou is celebrating 700 years of his ancestors’ Togbolassou (education).

The monarch, His Royal Majesty, King Guidimandjegbe of Avrankou said the scheduled celebration slated for July 20th to 23rd was to reawaken the values of traditional education in Africa.

Traditional rulers and elders are expected to teach the young generation the ways of the ancient Africans in which culture was considered in day-to-day activities, making it difficult for people to embrace social vice.

He said, “In those days, a man would not steal anything belonging to another, nor would he rob a maiden of her glory by deflowering her and refusing to marry her. Today, things have changed. Our children no longer have good manners. The school teachers that are supposed to guide them are also misbehaving; in some families, disrespecting of elders is taken lightly.

“In the light of this, the best we can do is to re-introduce traditional education. Let every man start the cleansing of the society from his household. Children must be made to know that ancestral curses are automatically on some unruly or nonchalant behaviours.”

Guidimandjedgbe said traditional rulers were expected from most African countries including Nigeria.

He stressed that the Benin people originated from Ile-Ife to Aladja, a present day town in the Republic of Benin.