During the reign of Olowo Oshogboye, the Oba of Benin was aggressively expanding his empire by capturing territories across the region. At that time, Oshogboye was still a prince and had been sent to Benin to be trained in the royal palace. His mother was an Edo woman, and due to internal palace issues in Owo, his father, Olowo Omaro, sent him to Benin to live with his mother, hoping to shield him from political conflicts at home.
While in Benin, Oshogboye rose through the ranks in the royal court, starting as a sword bearer (Omada) and later becoming an instructor in medicine to the Oba and his children. He eventually gained command over a segment of the Benin military. His training made a significant impact, especially in the area of slave raids and warfare, where the success of Benin’s campaigns was attributed to his methods and leadership.
However, when his father, Olowo Omaro, died and it was time for Oshogboye to return home to ascend the throne, the Oba of Benin refused to release him. The refusal became even more contentious after the Oba’s court treated Owo messengers, who had come to request Oshogboye’s return, with disrespect. Seeing this, Oshogboye made a bold decision: he fled Benin without informing the Oba.
Upon his arrival in Owo, the Oba of Benin discovered his absence and sent military forces to retrieve him. Anticipating retaliation, Oshogboye had already commanded the people of Owo to dig defensive moats around the town. Using these moats and guerrilla warfare tactics, the people of Owo, under Oshogboye’s leadership, successfully repelled the Benin forces. The defeated soldiers retreated to Benin, and in their frustration, reportedly turned against their own king.
According to Robert Sydney Smith, in his book “Kingdoms of the Yoruba – Kingdoms of the East”, he wrote:
“Owo was attacked again by the Benin army… however, Oshogboye, heir to Olowo Omaro, was sent as a young prince to Benin for his education at the Oba’s court and enrolled as a page (Omada literally ‘sword bearer’). When Omaro died, Oshogboye seems to have returned to Owo to claim the throne without first obtaining the Oba’s permission to leave the palace, and when messengers were sent to him from Benin, he feigned illness. As soon as his coronation had been performed, Oshogboye set about fortifying the town against an attack from Benin, causing a ditch to be dug (and presumably also erecting a wall). The history of Owo implies that an attack was made and repulsed.”
If you visit some of these locations today, you can still see remnants of the warfare.”
According to professor Abiodun, owo is unique among yoruba kingdoms in that it has never had a non native monarch
“The title ‘Olowo of Owo’ has never been held by an outsider. the Olowo remains purely Owo. No foreigner and certainly no Benin man has ever become king in Owo. Even at the height of Benin’s power and military might, they could not conquer Owo. That respect was earned.”
The ancient trenches dug for defense during the war still exist in places like Upo, serving as enduring symbols of Owo’s resistance. Locals recount that: “Despite being a small village, Upo was never invaded. The warriors of the town fought from trenches, making them formidable even in their limited numbers.”
Olowo Oshogboye remains one of the most influential monarchs in Owo history. He not only resisted the powerful Benin Empire but also left a legacy of strategic brilliance, cultural blending, and political independence. He significantly shaped Owo’s cultural traditions by integrating knowledge and experience gained during his time in Benin, while ensuring that Owo remained sovereign.
Culture Beyond the Mainstream 