The Dein of Agbor Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Benjamin Ikenchuku Keagborekuzi the First (Keagborekuzi I) is a monarch with a very unique history. Agbor is a town in the oil-rich Delta State of Nigeria but the king has put the town on global map.
He was born in July 1977, but following the unexpected death of his father, the late Obi in 1979, he was crowned the monarch at the age of two years, four months -the youngest anywhere in the world. This feat was noted in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1980 when he was acknowledged as the youngest crowned monarch
The Dein of Agbor, when he was crowned in 1979 at the age of two years, four months, the youngest in the world. The Agbor Royal Family is called the Nhu-Dein. His mother later took him to England where he was baptized with the rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The Dein of Agbor attended the Catholic School of Kent and later, the College Bearwood in Surrey, College of San Benedict, Ealing and the Birbeck College in London. In his absence, a regent ruled until he came back in 2000 to fully resume duty as one of Nigeria’s youngest traditional rulers. By the way, you need to see the Dein speak, I am yet to see a more charming monarch! You will fall in love with him! Truly royal a figure, I must say.
He has no wife (thus Agbor Kingdom has no Queen for now but there is a Queen Mother). Immediately after the coronation, he went overseas for his education while a Regent ruled in his place. He obtained various degrees and certificates and came back in 2001 when he took over properly as the Dein of Agbor. He is passionate about horses. Despite his busy schedule, he still finds time to ride them.
In March 2006, he became the youngest monarch to be appointed the Chancellor of a Federal University when former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him the Chancellor of the University of Ilorin. He is currently the 4th Chancellor of University of Ilorin and is the Officer (Order of the Crown of Belgium) and the Vice-Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers’ Council. He is also of the Supreme Order of the Dein of Agbor, otherwise known as the Royal & Dynastic Order of the Dein of Agbor (Supremo Ordine Del Dein Di Agbor Ordine Reale E Dinastico). This Order was established in 2005 during his silver jubilee celebrations of his coronation. He is the Grand Master Protector of the Order and by virtue, he can bestow honours and awards on deserving individuals who have contributed greatly to the development of Agbor Kingdom. Its motto goes thus: ‘By Spirit and Knowledge.’
Agbor is in the Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.
When asked about his marital status,(I can feel the hearts of some ladies here fluttering already , he said:
“Now, you want to put me in trouble with my chiefs. The
wonderful answer is no. The press will be involved any time
such will happen. I look forward to being married. I am a
Christian and of a very young age.”
“I truly love my people from the depth of my heart. But I do not like lies. I do not like it when people say bad things about their own brothers and sisters. If you see your brother or sister doing something wrong stop him or her. If you see your brother or sister in trouble, do something to help him or her. As long as all these are done, Agbor will continue to grow from strength to strength. There is no need for the people to work against each other.” The Dein is widely respected and greatly loved by his people (yeah, I love him too even though I am not an ‘Agborian’…..lol)
Agbor Kingdom has been in existence since 721 BC. The name Ikeagborekuzi means ‘What will Agbor people say now?’ reflecting the controversy that surrounded his birth and coronation. His dad, the late king had many daughters and was worried until the Dein was born as the first son and Crown Prince.
His mother, the Queen Mother, Queen Victoria Nkem Egun Ikenchuku is also referred to as the Ojeba of Agbor. She was born on the 17th of January, 1960 and is the Honourable Commissioner for Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) (formerly of Women Affairs, Community & Social Development), Delta State.
OTHER THINGS ABOUT THE AGBOR KINGDOM
-There is a very controversial story about the death of the father of the Dein. It is believed in the kingdom that the late king died in an armed robbery incident in the palace which involved a white man who had come to visit the palace. In a nation where forensic records are not kept, this tale is dismissed by many as a rumour considering the fact that he had some quarrels with some of his wealthy subjects while some others hold their ground stating that the late king was shot when he disguised to rob the white man who had earlier visited him in the palace in broad daylight. Some others say he died from a hunting accident while another version says he was assassinated. No one knows for sure, exactly how his father died.
-It is forbidden for the Dein of Agbor by tradition to answer the call of nature in the palace, in other words, it is forbidden to have a toilet in the palace. Until three years after he returned, there were no toilets in the old palace as that would be a taboo for the king to defecate in the same building where he does his eating and sleeping. Please do not ask me how it is then done.
-There is no Queen at the moment for the Agbor Kingdom and that means there is no Heir Apparent to the throne. Agbor traditions demand that the Heir Apparent (first son) must be given birth to by an Agbor woman.
-Dein means ‘King’ in Agbor dialect and the village where the King comes from is called Ogbemudein which can be translated to mean the kinsmen of the Dein.
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