Here
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- The prime minister of Benin Kingdom is called iyase but iyase doesn't mean prime minister in èdó language
-The crown prince of Benin Kingdom is called Edaiken but Edaiken doesn't translate to crown prince....
-The king makers are called the Uzama but Uzama doesn't mean King makers in èdó language
- Chief Ezomo is called a war general but ezomo doesn't mean war general in èdó language...
Understand this are titles with etymological and official meaning, this is the same view on the title of the Ọba...
Òbá 'King'
In èdó tradition, the word Òbá is synonymous to King, but doesn't mean King, in it raw form the term king doesn't best explain it.
It's like the Alaafin title to the Oyo's, the Alake to the Egba's, the Orosuen to the Okpe's.
The word is an ancient term derived from the full royal title of the King of Benin, Òmò n’Òbá n’Èdó. The title that has been associated with the Oba’s throne for more than nine centuries and, over time, became so inseparably identified with the institution of Benin kingship that Òbá itself came to function as the Edo conception of kingship.
The èdó or edoid word for King in Benin is Ogie hence the Òbá is also called Òbá n'ogie'èdò ~ Òbá the king of the èdó people.
The term Òbá is derived from the èdó phrase; Òmò n'Òbá n'Èdó
The child, the light 'king', the land.
Omo - child, Oba - shine, edo - edo nation.
The child here according to nevadomsky is an appellation for a special child who is the embodiment and the personification of the èdó people.
Né - an epithet that introduce the attribute of a noun.
Hence Omo n'Oba n'Edo - the child that embodies light and the èdó nation→ The Divine light' that shines for the whole èdó race.
Since the Òbá embodies light, he shines "bá (obá)" for the land.
This is why Òbá doesn't mean King, it's rather synonymous to it and giving term an english equivalent reduces the importance, power and nature of the title. We believe Obasogie - the Òbá is greater than kingship, Ogieisoba ~ Kingship cannot surpass the Oba. It's seen as a divine title that carries both earthly and celestial element, this is why the èdó adage for Oba eweka;
Eweka n'gu'osa d'oba~ Eweka that bought Òbáship from Osanobua "God Almighty".