The Iyeki position and how it should not be politicized, and why the term General Iyeki was rejected by the Oba of Benin. It’s very important we understand the nature of Benin Tradition and the importance of the Iyeki to the various markets they reside.
There are only three titles in the Benin Kingdom that are open to women, and only one out of these three titles is regarded as a chieftaincy title → Iyoba, Iyeye, and Iyeki → These three titles are strongly associated with motherhood.
Iyoba → Mother of the Oba
Iyeye → Mother of the Nation
Iyeki → Mother or Mothers of their respective markets.
The Iyoba is the only chieftaincy title; the two others are titles attached to the palace but are not chieftaincy titles.
The Oba made it clear Edo people do not practice the iyaloja system akin to Yoruba tribe where a market leader supersede other market women, each Iyeki is the mother of their own market, choosen by the market to represent them in traditional functions and to atone for the market when things go wrong, see In Benin there are shrine in every market these women serve as their priest, so it’s funny when a pastor in a church is fighting for the role of a priestess for a market shrine.
These are the reasons the Oba of Benin rejected Bishop Josephine's installation as Iyaloja.
→ There can not be a general Iyeki in the Benin kingdom; she can call herself leader of the Edo market association, but the term general Iyeki is an abomination.
→ The Iyeki must be selected unanimously by the market women in their respective market, for an Iyeki selected by the market women in Oba market can not lead the affairs of the Edaiken or Egor market.
→ The Iyeki should be ready to perform all traditional and spiritual rites in the markets, which most time’s it’s done every market day.
→ The Iyeki will get her endorsement from the palace/Oba of Benin.
These are the phases to become an Iyeki in Benin, and bishop Josephine failed in all these phases mentioned here. The palace did not endorse her installation. Every iyeki is autonomous from each other, because it’s a position of a mother, a mother chosen by Party A cannot override the one chosen by Party B.
This is a case of politics, trying to bring politics into the ancient social life of a people… it will clearly be resisted!!!