Before the drums echo across Benin City, before the colourful celebrations and royal pageantry, and before the entire Benin Kingdom comes alive, there is Ugierhoba.

Ugierhoba is the sacred ceremony that officially marks the beginning of the Igue Festival, one of the most significant cultural and spiritual events in the Benin Kingdom. It is a solemn rite performed to usher in a season of spiritual renewal, thanksgiving to the ancestors, and prayers for protection, peace, and prosperity over the land and its people.

This ceremony is deeply rooted in Benin tradition and is regarded as a spiritual foundation for the entire Igue Festival. Unlike the public celebrations that follow, Ugierhoba is a quiet and sacred observance, emphasizing reverence, reflection, and spiritual cleansing. It prepares the Oba of Benin spiritually and symbolically reaffirms the covenant between the throne, the ancestors, and the people.

Cultural historians explain that Ugierhoba represents continuity—linking the past, present, and future of the Benin Kingdom. Through prayers and rituals, blessings are sought for the Oba’s well-being, the unity of the kingdom, and protection from misfortune. It is believed that without Ugierhoba, the Igue Festival would lack spiritual depth and legitimacy.

Over centuries, this sacred rite has remained unchanged, standing as a testament to the resilience and richness of Benin cultural heritage. It reminds the people that celebration must be preceded by gratitude, humility, and respect for ancestral traditions.

In essence, Ugierhoba is where the Igue Festival truly begins—before the drums, before the dances, and before the kingdom comes alive in celebration.