The IZOTAN Traditional Burial Rites
This is a traditional, private, and confidential affair with no recording allowed. No Photos, cameras or videos are allowed.
The IZOTAN traditional rites takes place today as directed by the Igueben Palace commencing at 08:00. Dress code is white. The traditional Igbu throwover is optional for men.
The IZOTAN is an effective social welfare system that ensures that no community member is left destitute and without food or basic amenities.
During the IZOTAN the Edions and Edionwele of the community on behalf of the Royal Palace and community levy various of money on the children of the deceased Edionwele. This can be paid in kind.
What is levied?
How the raised money is disbursed:
Large sums of money are raised during the IZOTAN rites. This ensures readily available funds for community emergencies and general social needs arising.
1] Edions and Edionwele will on the day during the rites: disburse funds to sponsor e.g., a destitute family for example who just suffered a bereavement or other hardship or natural disaster.
2] Edions and the Edionwele will share the raised sum equally between various groups known as Meeting Groups in the community. Every adult in the community is a member of a Meeting Group with the aim of protecting various interest groups across the community.
The Meeting Groups
1] Meeting Groups banks all moneys awarded. They keep accurate accounts of their use.
2] Meeting Groups take care of individual family’s needs. They award loans to families and individual in their groups who have an emergency need or need basis. For example, if parents cannot pay school fees. They go to the meeting where, as a group the members decide if the need is genuine and how much should be loaned.
3] They award money too for purchase of vital tools needed for a member’s work. This avoids unemployment.
4] Meeting Groups may as a group agree to sponsor an individual to undertake further training. Skills acquired will be put back into the community (for community benefit).
5] Community Meeting Groups act as Local Government Authority agents sponsoring various causes.
The IZOTAN Traditional Rites fund the administrative system of the Benin Empire as was set up by the Benin Warrior Kings over 500 years ago. It was and still is a vital fund-raising tool for community welfare and social care needs.
Oba Gha To!
Okpere!
Ise!
(Long Live the King Amen!)
Ogua GHa To!
Okpere!
Ise!
(Long Live The Kingdom Amen!)
This is a traditional, private, and confidential affair with no recording allowed. No Photos, cameras or videos are allowed.
The IZOTAN traditional rites takes place today as directed by the Igueben Palace commencing at 08:00. Dress code is white. The traditional Igbu throwover is optional for men.
The IZOTAN is an effective social welfare system that ensures that no community member is left destitute and without food or basic amenities.
During the IZOTAN the Edions and Edionwele of the community on behalf of the Royal Palace and community levy various of money on the children of the deceased Edionwele. This can be paid in kind.
What is levied?
- Sums of money based on the known income and wealth of each child. Male children are levied on sums based on their seniority in the family. Married and unmarried daughters are levied different amounts.
- How well they cared for their father in his lifetime.
- How well they respected him.
- How often they visited him.
- Married daughters are levied on how often they visited their father since they left home.
- Husbands of daughters are also levied to cover the cost to the community of lose of a daughter to a different community.
- Any disrespect shown to the elders during this rite.
How the raised money is disbursed:
Large sums of money are raised during the IZOTAN rites. This ensures readily available funds for community emergencies and general social needs arising.
1] Edions and Edionwele will on the day during the rites: disburse funds to sponsor e.g., a destitute family for example who just suffered a bereavement or other hardship or natural disaster.
2] Edions and the Edionwele will share the raised sum equally between various groups known as Meeting Groups in the community. Every adult in the community is a member of a Meeting Group with the aim of protecting various interest groups across the community.
The Meeting Groups
1] Meeting Groups banks all moneys awarded. They keep accurate accounts of their use.
2] Meeting Groups take care of individual family’s needs. They award loans to families and individual in their groups who have an emergency need or need basis. For example, if parents cannot pay school fees. They go to the meeting where, as a group the members decide if the need is genuine and how much should be loaned.
3] They award money too for purchase of vital tools needed for a member’s work. This avoids unemployment.
4] Meeting Groups may as a group agree to sponsor an individual to undertake further training. Skills acquired will be put back into the community (for community benefit).
5] Community Meeting Groups act as Local Government Authority agents sponsoring various causes.
The IZOTAN Traditional Rites fund the administrative system of the Benin Empire as was set up by the Benin Warrior Kings over 500 years ago. It was and still is a vital fund-raising tool for community welfare and social care needs.
Oba Gha To!
Okpere!
Ise!
(Long Live the King Amen!)
Ogua GHa To!
Okpere!
Ise!
(Long Live The Kingdom Amen!)