𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐰𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐬 𝐀 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐛𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞

1. The Uwangwe (Uwangue) title commonly claimed to be an Edo, or rather Bini, title is actually not. In fact the phoneme /ng/ does not exist in the Bini language.

2. The Bini themselves claim that although the title belongs to them the word Uwangwe has no literal meaning because it is ancient Bini language and the meaning is lost in time. This of course isn’t true.

3. The Uwangwe title is used in the Warri Kingdom, the Bini kingdom, the Udo Kingdom, and the Owo Kingdom. The Uwangwe is responsible for the king’s attire and wardrobe. In other words, he seasons up the look of the king. It is important to state that Portuguese documents stated that the ancient Great Benin, which was the Udo Kingdom, was a Olukumi (Licomin)-speaking kingdom. Olukumi is an old Yoruba dialect which is still spoking by the Itsekiri, Ilaje, Owo and other Yoruba groups.

4. But does the word Uwangwe (Uwangue) really have no meaning? No, it has a meaning. Uwangwe means salt. The symbolism behind the use of the word salt as a title is that salt is know to make anything good, especially taste-wise, and it is also known as a preserver. Salt adds taste and that is exactly what the Uwangwe does when he dresses the king up in the best and most befitting clothing or attire.

5. Etymological Uwangwe is Yoruboid. Uwangwe can be broken down into two words in the Itsekiri language: Uwan (tongue) and Gwe (wash). This is significant because in ancient times, and even till today in some places, salt with water was used to wash the mouth.

6. In the general Yoruba language, that is standard Yoruba, Uwangwe would be Ahonwe: Ahon (tongue) and We (wash). Uwan/Ahon and Gwe/. We are clear dialectical cognates of one another.

7. Get familiar with the terms “Salt of the name” or the Biblical term “Salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13) you will see that the reference to a person as “The salt” is a very old practice that is still in use across the world today.

By Dede Chibu