page_title: Ewuare
section_title: Arts and celebration
hierarchical_section_title: Ewuare / Arts and celebration
caption_attribution_description: Benin, testa commemorativa di re oba, fine XVIII sec
context_page_description: Ewuare was the Oba of the Benin Empire from 1440 until 1473. Ewuare became king in a violent coup against his brother Uwaifiokun which destroyed much of Benin City. After the war, Ewuare rebuilt much of the city of Benin, reformed political structures in the kingdom, greatly expanded the territory of the kingdom, and fostered the arts and festivals. He left a significant legacy and is often considered the first King of the Benin Empire.
context_section_description: Ewuare greatly expanded the arts in Benin during his reign and was aided greatly in this through increased trade.  Ewuare is generally credited with expanding ivory and wood carving in the empire and the creation of Bronze heads for shrines to deceased Obas. In addition, Ewuare began many of the royal decoration traditions involving coral.
  In both folktales and artistic representations, Ewuare is considered someone with significant magical powers.  His herbal and magical knowledge is attested to in a number of significant art work from the era. Crucial in this is the creation during Ewuare of the Igue festival, which was originally celebrated as a festival to renew his magical powers.  One oral history says that the date of the Igue festival was set initially to the marriage between Ewuare and a wife named Ewere. He is also said to have founded the Ugie Erha Ọba festival which honored the Obas.
caption: A Benin Bronze head for display at a shrine to the Obas, a tradition started under Ewuare
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