{{Short description|Ogiso of Igodomigodo (r. 1119 – c. 1121)}} {{good article}} {{Use Nigerian English|date=February 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox royalty | name = Obioye | title = 29th {{lang|bin|Ogiso}}, | titletext = Monarch of Igodomigodo | image = | caption = | succession = {{lang|bin|Ogiso}} of Igodomigodo | reign = {{circa|1119}} – 1121 AD | coronation = {{circa|1119}} | predecessor = Oduwa | successor = Arigho | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = Ihinmwirin, Igodomigodo | death_date = {{circa|1079}} | death_place = Uhunmwidunmwu, Igodomigodo | issue = Arigho | dynasty = Ohuede dynasty | father = Oduwa }}

'''Obioye''' ({{r.|1119|1121}}) was the third ruler of the Ohuede dynasty and the twenty-ninth {{lang|bin|Ogiso}} ('King') of Igodomigodo, an early kingdom of the Benin Empire. Born and raised in the rural community of Ihinmwirin as the eldest son of Idugioduwa (later {{lang|bin|Ogiso}} Oduwa), he had little urban or aristocratic experience before his accession. His short reign was dominated by a severe, kingdom-wide famine (commonly dated {{c.|1119|1125}}) and runaway inflation; contemporary sources record widespread hardship, migration and the collapse of customary tribute and guild support systems. In response Obioye ordered the seizure of privately held cowries to restrict money supply (known as {{lang|bin|Igho Obioye}} ('Obioye's money' or 'hard currency')) and urged subjects to practise austere consumption with the proclamation {{lang|bin|Le ne ukhunmwu}} ('flee the inflation'); these measures failed to restore food supplies and provoked resistance from merchants and nobles.

Contemporary chroniclers like Osarẹn Boniface Ọmọregie judged Obioye ill-suited to active kingship—he is remembered in the royal bardic tradition as "Obioye who knew not how to act the king"—and he died isolated in 1121. He was succeeded by his son Arigho, whose subsequent fiscal and trade measures are credited with attempting to stabilise the kingdom's economy.

== Early life and background == Obioye was from Ihinmwirin, a rural community in Igodomigodo (modern-day Benin Kingdom).{{efn|The Kingdom of Benin no longer functions as a political state, but the Oba of Benin continues to preside over a traditional kingdom and holds an advisory role within the governance of Benin City, Nigeria.{{sfn|Parks|2023}}}} He was the firstborn of Idugioduwa, who later became {{lang|bin|Ogiso}} Oduwa ({{circa|1112|1119}}).{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|pp=87–88}} When Idugioduwa moved to the city to work as an ironsmith at Ugboha — an event dated to the reign of {{lang|bin|Ogiso}} Odoligie — Obioye remained in Ihinmwirin to manage farmland and maintain agricultural activities.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=88}} This was before the introduction, during Ohuede's reign, of the {{lang|bin|Ugbo Owinna}} ('guildworkers' farms') system, in which each village farmer allocated a plot for royal city artisans to harvest at year's end.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=88}}

He grew up in a rural farming setting. Unlike his grandfather Ohuede, he did not hold the title of Senior Noble; he did not have the same urban exposure as his father and did not train in artisan work, focusing on subsistence agriculture.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|pp=88–89}} Even after his father became {{lang|bin|Ogiso}}, Obioye only occasionally visited the royal court and did not reside permanently at the palace in Uhunmwidunmwu.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=89}}

== Reign == When Obioye became ruler, the kingdom experienced a severe famine. The scarcity was notable as it came only two years after Oduwa had undertaken a diplomatic journey to {{lang|bin|Uhe}} ('Ife').{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=86}} Contemporary accounts cited three main factors for the crisis: poor harvests, reduced goods production, and a rise in prices (inflation), which prolonged shortages.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|pp=89–90}} In some cases, the price of a modest basket of yams could exceed one {{lang|bin|ebigho}} — an {{lang|bin|ebo}} or "money bag" holding 200,000 cowries.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=90}}

Cowries were counted in {{lang|bin|ebo}} ('bags') of 200,000 shells (equal to one {{lang|bin|ebigho}}), and reserves were stored in deep pits called {{lang|bin|uye}}, which could reportedly hold up to 1,000 {{lang|bin|ebo}} (200 million cowries). Cowries were also used for personal adornment by some wealthy individuals.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|pp=90–91}} The period was described in the following verse:

{{Verse translation |head1=Edo|lang1=bin |Obioye khin Ogiso Ukhunmwu suun lele ere; Igho akhua loobo hanfua, Te emunu yei ban unu.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=90}} |head2=English|lang2=en |Obioye became {{lang|bin|Ogiso}} Famine dragged after him; Had savings poured out of hands, Yet food stayed scarce against the mouth.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=90}} }}

As prices increased, the {{lang|bin|Ugbo Owinna}} system weakened, and many artisans returned to rural farming.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=87}} Some Royal Council members left palace duties to manage their households, and tribute deliveries from the {{lang|bin|Enigie}} ('dukes') and {{lang|bin|Edionwere}} ('senior village chiefs') were suspended.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=87}} The {{lang|bin|Edionnisen}} ('Great Nobles') and the {{lang|bin|Ughoron}} ('men of heaven's gate'){{efn|Royal bards}} continued to meet their obligations.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=88}} Obioye's limited administrative experience affected his response to the challenges.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=89}} The {{lang|bin|Ughoron}} referred to him with the phrase {{lang|bin|Obíoye ne o mai ren owe egie}} ('Obioye who knew not how to act the king').{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=88}}

To reduce inflation, he ordered the collection of all cowry shells from private holders to limit circulation and stabilise their value.{{sfn|Eweka|1992|p=13}} This did not resolve the food shortage.{{sfn|Ogundiran|2005|p=263}} The policy became known as {{lang|bin|Igho Obioye}} ('Obioye's money' or 'hard currency'),{{sfn|Osemwowa|2000|p=xx}} a term later used in reference to periods of high prices.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=91}} Merchants and nobles expressed opposition to the policy.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=87}} He also called for reduced consumption, sending the {{lang|bin|Avbiogbe}} ('royal messengers') with the proclamation {{lang|bin|Le ne ukhunmwu}} ('Flee the inflation'),{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=92}} which some interpreted as a directive to eat less. He reportedly limited his own diet to roasted yam with raw palm oil.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=92}} This is recorded in the verse:

{{Verse translation |head1=Edo|lang1=bin |Ogiso ne o lee ne ukhunmwu Ton iyan re, b'e mu evbi won.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=92}} |head2=English|lang2=en |The {{lang|bin|Ogiso}} who fled the famine By roasting yam and quaffing oil.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=92}} }}

Some inhabitants left the kingdom during the crisis, while others remained and adopted the austerity measures. Agricultural production did not significantly increase, and the shortages persisted.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|pp=92–93}} The issues of this period were later addressed through reforms under his successor, Arigho, who implemented trade and monetary policies intended to stabilise the economy.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|pp=101–102}}

== Death and aftermath ==

The famine prompted migration, with many citizens leaving the kingdom in search of relief.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|pp=92–93, 103}} Obioye neither initiated notable diplomatic negotiations nor introduced infrastructural measures to alleviate the crisis.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=93}} By the end of 1120 his position had become isolated and precarious; he died in 1121, with some accounts reporting that he effectively starved himself as part of his austerity measures.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=92}} Other traditions interpreted his death as divine retribution linked to his conduct and curses against the past and present.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=93}}

The famine continued after his death, having already devastated agriculture and disrupted trade; Obioye's currency measures had failed to restore stability or resolve runaway inflation.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|pp=92–93}}{{sfn|Ogundiran|2005|p=263}} Political authority was also weakened as nobles, chiefs, and officials increasingly detached themselves from palace affairs.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=87}}

Following Obioye's death, his son Arigho succeeded to the throne and inherited a kingdom in economic distress.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|p=103}} Arigho pursued a different course, introducing trade and fiscal measures aimed at stabilising revenue and managing currency circulation—policies collectively described in sources as {{lang|bin|Igho Arigho}}.{{sfn|Ọmọregie|1997|pp=101–103}} Scholars cite the contrast between Obioye's austerity and Arigho's monetary reforms when assessing the period's economic history and the effects of government intervention in currency and prices.{{sfn|Ogundiran|2005|p=263}}

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == === Citations === {{reflist}}

=== Works cited === * {{cite book | last=Ọmọregie | first=Osarẹn Solomon Boniface | title=Great Benin: The age of Ogiso Reform (1050–1130 AD) | date=1997 | publisher=Neraso Publishers | isbn=978-2734-47-0 |oclc=634055155}} * {{cite encyclopedia |last=Parks |first=Clint |date=19 October 2023 |title=The Kingdom of Benin |url=https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/kingdom-benin/ |encyclopedia=National Geographic Society |location= |publisher= |access-date=16 February 2025 |issn=0027-9358}} * {{cite book | last=Eweka | first=Ena Basimi | title=The Benin Monarchy: Origin and Development | publisher=Suben Printers | year=1992 | oclc=37277111}} * {{cite book | last=Ogundiran | first=Akinwumi |author-link=Akinwumi Ogundiran | title=Precolonial Nigeria: Essays in Honor of Toyin Falola | publisher=Africa Research and Publications | date=2005 | isbn=978-1-59221-218-7}} * {{cite book | last=Osemwowa | first=Usi I. | title=The Customary Law of the Binis | publisher=Fine-Fare Int'l. Coy | year=2000 | isbn=978-978-35114-6-0}}

{{s-start}} {{s-hou|||1079||1121}} {{s-reg|}} {{s-break}} {{S-bef|before= Oduwa}} {{s-ttl | title = {{lang|bin|Ogiso}} of Igodomigodo | years = {{circa|1119}} – {{circa|1121}} }} {{s-aft | after = Arigho }} {{s-end}}

Category:1079 births Category:1121 deaths Category:People from Benin City Category:11th-century Nigerian people Category:11th-century monarchs in Africa Category:Ogisos of Igodomigodo