Owodo

Owodo (r. 1125–1130, d. c. 1133) was the thirty-first and last Ogiso ("king") of Igodomigodo, an early kingdom that later became part of the Benin Empire. His reign marked the end of the Ogiso era and initiated a transitional period that led to the establishment of the Oba monarchy. Historical accounts describe his rule as being marked by political upheaval, economic challenges, and criticisms regarding his leadership. His administration experienced notable discontent—attributed to difficulties in managing the growing influence of the Edionnisen ("Great Nobles"), persistent economic challenges, and decisions regarding preferred sources of counsel. Ultimately, Owodo was deposed and banished, reportedly becoming the first Ogiso to be removed from power.

Owodo inherited a kingdom still recovering from the effects of the Great Famine (c. 1119 – c. 1125), which had destabilised the economy and weakened royal control. According to some sources, he did not succeed in curbing the increasing autonomy of regional nobles, who had expanded their power through slave labour and land acquisitions. In addition, his rule was challenged by reports of the Osogan, a man-eating creature described in oral traditions that disrupted trade at the Ekiogiso ("Ogiso market", later called Agbado market), one of Igodomigodo's major commercial centers. These unresolved issues contributed to growing dissatisfaction among both the ruling class and commoners. A notable episode during his reign was the succession crisis involving his only son, Ikaladerhan. Several sources indicate that Owodo's senior wife, Esagho, conspired with his chamberlains by attributing the barrenness of his other wives to Ikaladerhan. As a result, Owodo reportedly ordered his son's execution; however, some accounts claim that the executioners spared him and released him into the wilderness. One claim further suggests that Ikaladerhan later became known as Oduduwa—the progenitor of the Ooni of Ife and the Yoruba monarchy—although this connection is disputed by other sources, which maintain that his fate remains uncertain.

The final event contributing to widespread disapproval of Owodo's reign was his commission of Kirikuvua, defined as the killing of a pregnant woman. The woman, Ehiosu, who was the widow of a nobleman previously assassinated, engaged in a public confrontation with the king that escalated into violence and resulted in her death. According to tradition, an act of Kirikuvua was considered a grave offence that required deposition and exile to avert divine retribution. In 1130 AD, the Edionnisen convened and formally removed Owodo from the throne. He was banished to Ihinmwirin, a small village in Igodomigodo, where he lived in isolation until his death in 1133 AD. Following Owodo's deposition, the Ogiso monarchy ended, and the kingdom entered an interregnum marked by administrative instability. Initially, the nobles appointed Evian as a caretaker ruler; however, his attempt to establish a hereditary rule was rejected. Subsequently, a delegation was sent to Ile-Ife to invite a ruler, resulting in the arrival of Oranmiyan, the father of the first Oba ("king"), Eweka I. This transition marked the beginning of the Oba dynasty, which replaced the lineage of the Ogisos in Benin's history.