The Legend of Agboghidi

Part 1 - The Legendary warrior of Ugo

Throughout its history, the kingdom of Benin has engaged in its fair share of wars. This created many heroes and villains, some of whom have been immortalised in bronze carvings. These castings, coupled with indigenous oral narrations, have helped to preserve Benin's history for the next generation.

In this three-part series, we bring you the story of one of the most powerful warriors to have existed in Ancient Benin and his formidable wife. His name was Agboghidi.

The serene town of Ugo in the old Ugo n'yekorbuonwon district of Edo State, Nigeria, celebrates an annual festival for their sea goddess, Igbaghon in what is now river Jamieson. Worshippers believe the goddess is responsible for the community's divine protection, agricultural prosperity, and overall development. The festival is overseen by the town's traditional ruler, and the rituals performed are a re-enactment of events that took place during the period of Agboghidi.

The mighty warrior

Emokpaogbe was Agboghidi's birth name (which means 'children uplift the family'. Born into the royal house of the Enogie of Ugo, Agboghidi was the first male child after a succession of daughters, making him the heir to the Enogie title. In Benin tradition, an Enogie is equivalent to a Duke. The title is a hereditary one, and they are given regional power to govern the province in which they reside. Before his birth, Agboghidi’s family had made sacrifices to the sea goddess, Igbaghon for a male child, so his birth was met with great jubilation. After the demise of his father, Emokpaogbe inherited the title Enogie and took the name Agboghidi. During his tenure as Enogie, he was extremely successful. The possession of spiritual powers was revered and considered essential to ruling over the people in ancient Benin. Agboghidi was said to have had it in abundance. According to legend, his enemies recoiled in horror as a snake slithered out of Agboghidi's nose and wound itself around his head. This was a sign that the mighty warrior was prepared for battle.

His secret weapon

Despite his awe-inspiring abilities, there was one weapon that Agboghidi valued the most. It was his wife, Emokpolo. Given the name Emokpolo (big child) because of her size as a baby, she was equally skilled in battle as her husband. They were inseparable, partners in love and war. Agbighidi fought without her. Emokpolo was a fearless woman, smart and tactical. Her particular accessory was her magical ukuse, a small brown round musical instrument with beads. Oral tradition depicts that she would beat the instrument against her palms and chant incantations as her husband fought to provide him with a magical shield. So pivotal was she that the whole of ancient Benin knew that Agboghidi was undefeatable with Emokpolo by his side.

The mentor

A key point in Agboghidi's life was when he was blinded whilst hunting near river Jamesson. His wife, Emokpolo sought far and wide for a cure, eventually finding the wise counsel of Ogie-oboro (The Obi of Ubulu uku). But Emokpolo had to pay a heavy price for her husbands recovery. Unscrupulously, Ogie-oboro demanded that Emokpolo sleep with him first before he healed her sick husband. Emokpolo bitterly concurred and Ogie-oboro cured Agboghidi and then trained him further in the mystical arts. Soon the two men became great friends and formed a lifelong bond.

The prediction

One day during his training in the field, Agboghidi was summoned by his teacher, Ogie-oboro. In his usual spontaneous manner, Ogie-oboro informed Agboghidi that he had visions of his own death at the hands of the young warrior. Agboghidi was stunned. His protests were vehement. How could he possibly betray the man who had saved his life and trained him? Nevertheless, Ogie-oboro was adamant that his young student would destroy him. In addition, he warned Agboghidi that instead of being celebrated as a hero, it would also be the beginning of his demise too.

Next week we will uncover how lust and revenge contributed to the deadly war that pitted the student against his master.