Benin Men Shave Their Heads To Honour Erediauwa

Males in the Benin metropolis in Edo State have begun the shaving of their heads in honour of the late Oba of Benin, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, The demise of the monarch

was announced on Friday with the breaking of a native chalk by the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe.Part of the mourning rites to be observed by Benin sons include the shaving of heads and
the closure of markets in the seven local government areas that make up the Benin Kingdom.
Punch correspondent, who visited some of the barber shops, observed a substantial compliance by many male residents, who hail from the affected areas.A barber on Owina Street, who gave his name as Akhere, said that he recorded a 50 per cent increase in the number of customers at his shop.He also said that he had less difficulty attending to them, since it was a complete shave, rather than the usual choice of hairstyle by his customers.Akhere said, “Not many people came to have their heads shaved on Friday, when the palace made the announcement. But Saturday was different because a lot people came to do so; many of them were elderly men.”