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The value of the word "Omo" ,as in "Omo N' Oba" and "Amwen Omo" when a relative,s wife is addressed is more than the meaning of a child. In my humble understanding Omo has come to carry a higher meaning than just a child from the time of Oba Ewuare N' Gidigan ( Ewuare the great )
As a mark of royal-like respect for all Bini married women they were to be addressed as "Amwen Omo". From the time of Oba Ewuare the word "OMO" had started gaining the status of a single- personality - head that encompasses the entire Bini chiefs and subjects within the Benin kingdom.
The word "Omo" began to enjoy a euphemism for the Oba as the subjects could not ulter the names or title name of the Oba for reasons of respect. Amwen omo therefore, in theory, was the wife of every man and woman in her husband's family which was ultimately headed by the Oba. I hope no one will mis-interpret this again. Practically there was a red line between this wife and all , except the real husband
By Emokpae Odigie
In every language of the world there is the spoken and the written versions including the Edo language and the Guosa.
First of all, what is the meaning of “omo” (omon) in the Edo language? Omo is a child or an off-spring (singular) and the plural is “emon”. Any off-spring can be called Omo (Child, singular) just like children being rerred to as “emon” – plural (males or femailes) and it is a neutral gender in the Edo language.
Now, lets split the difference:-
“Omo” (Child) is also an appellation or highest honors used only for the Oba of Benin or the "King of the Benin", the Binis or Edo people of Nigeria who are also known as "ivbie Edo" If you like – “The Benin Monarch” (Omo N'Oba N'Edo) meaning: "The Child-King of the Edo people”. Please take note, never “the king child of the Edo people".
Therefore, there is nothing like Omo No Oba in the Benin Kingdom and Edo language unless you are not referring to the Oba of Benin. "Omo No Oba" may be translated into a sentence such as “the Oba is a king” or something else. We knew the “Oba” in Edo language meant “King” in the English language but you are not definite about the appellation usage of the “Omo” (Child) in this context. Again, let me summarize bellow the correct format:
Omo N’Oba Ne Edo,
Omo N’Oba N’Edo
Omo N’Oba N’Edo,
Oba Erediauwa, CFR
The Oba of Benin
Edo State of Nigeria
ALEX G. IGBINEWEKA
The Azekazudo of Edo Land, and
Guosa Language Evolutionist
A Nigerian and West African (ECOWAS) Common Indigenous Future Lingua Franca.
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