| 释义 |
oba W. Afr.|ˈɒbə|
Also obba.
[Yoruba.]
The title of the ruler of the ancient West African kingdom of Benin, now part of Nigeria, whose power used to be absolute. Now revived as the title of a local chief.
1903H. L. Roth Great Benin xi. 118 The Obba kindly promised to send a messenger round with orders. 1906R. E. Dennett At Back of Black Man's Mind xvii. 175 The Oba's throne or chair was placed on a platform of mud three steps above the ordinary level of the ground. 1926P. A. Talbot Peoples S. Nigeria I. iv. 155 The land of Southern Nigeria, including the kingdom of Benin, was discovered by Ruy de Sequeira. The Portuguese were presented by the Obba with..carved wooden platters. 1936J. U. Egharevba Short Hist. Benin i. 8 The oracle declared..the senior wife of the Oba, to be the cause. 1957W. M. Hailey Afr. Survey (rev. ed.) ii. 35 The Yoruba kingdoms in Nigeria were..highly centralized... The rulers, generally known as Obas, were traditionally sacred persons. 1967W. Soyinka Kongi's Harvest 4 When an Oba stops the procession And squats on the wayside, It's on an urgent matter. 1972R. N. Henderson King in Every Man i. ii. 43 The first king or oba, Eweka I, whose regalia came from the Yoruba city of Ife. 1975Times 16 July 77/5 A massive Benin bronze head of an oba. 1976Nigerian Herald 20 July 4/5 The Deji suggested that a law should be made by the federal military government to leave the selection and appointment of obas and chiefs to those who were versed in the custom culture of the community concerned as a means to curb chieftaincy wranglings in the country. 1976Sunday Times (Lagos) 1 Aug. 24/3 It is the turn of this ruling house to provide an Oba for the town. |