Idia

Mortal first Iyoba (Queen Mother) of Benin, mother of Oba Esigie. On Ozolua's death she championed Esigie against his brother Arhuaran of Udo in the succession war and was credited with his victory and with his triumph in the Idah war through her counsel and reputed mystical powers. Esigie created the Iyoba office and the Eguae-Iyoba palace for her; the two Idia ivory pendant masks (British Museum + Met Museum) are her court-portraits and the most globally recognizable Benin court objects. Carried in the registry only implicitly (Esigie's prose names her) until materialized here. Mortal class.

Children

• Esigie

Powers

• Mystical and medicinal aid securing victory in war

Relations

• spouse: OzoluaEgharevba (1968) (secondary)
• mother of: EsigieEgharevba (1968) (secondary)
• mother of: ArhuaranEdo tradition makes Idia the mother of both rival princes, Esigie and Arhuaran (though some versions make Arhuaran the son of a different senior wife); included per the dominant Egharevba-line tradition.Egharevba (1968) (secondary)

Sources

• existence: J. U. Egharevba, A Short History of Benin (1968) (secondary); Idia ivory pendant masks, British Museum Af1910,0513.1 and Metropolitan Museum of Art 1972.63 (primary)