Ighogboya: The Richest Woman in Ancient Benin
How a Poor Girl Became Benin’s Richest Merchant
This is a story not commonly told in Benin history. In fact, we (Next Gen Bronzes) only discovered it last year—and we’ve been captivated ever since.
Born into a poor and humble family in ancient Benin, the legend of Ighogboya begins not with royalty or grandeur, but with compassion. However, in her time (during the 12th century), Ighogboya became the richest merchant in the kingdom. But her fairy-tale rise to success was overshadowed by a heart-breaking personal tragedy.
A Humble Beginning
Ighogboya’s parents earned their living selling firewood, often going without in order to share with others. It was said that they were so poor that they owned only one wrapper between them—when the husband went to market, the wife had to remain indoors, wrapped in a tattered skirt barely fit for dignity.
One fateful day, a mysterious old woman, frail and dirty, came begging for food. Though they had very little, the couple gave her their only meal and offered her water. Grateful beyond words, the old woman blessed them, saying:
“Your kindness will be rewarded. You will soon have a baby girl who will make you rich beyond your dreams.”
To the aging couple, who had long lost hope of bearing children, the woman’s words seemed unbelievable. Yet, they showed her compassion once more. When she died just days later, they buried her with dignity, despite the cruel gossip of villagers who mocked their decision.
A Miracle and a Kingdom’s Gifts
Soon after the burial, the impossible happened, Ighogboya’s mother became pregnant. The village was stunned. Whispers of disbelief and wonder spread quickly.
As the months passed, something even more mysterious unfolded. Gifts began arriving—clothes, cooking utensils, and ornaments —from nobles, Dukes, and strangers. The story of the couple’s kindness and their miracle child reached every corner of the kingdom.
When the baby girl was born, they named her Ighogboya (also pronounced Ighokpoya in some regions), meaning “money has conquered suffering.” She was seen as a divine child, a symbol of hope and grace. The couple’s rags became robes, their home transformed, but their humility and generosity remained unchanged.
A Woman of Wealth, Not of Want
As Ighogboya grew, she inherited her parents’ compassion. She wisely used the gifts and goodwill surrounding her to build a thriving trading empire, including goods, fabrics and property. Her entrepreneurial spirit made her one of the wealthiest figures in 12th century Benin. Yet, despite the riches and suitors, she chose not to marry. Instead, she followed in her parents’ footsteps, feeding beggars and helping the poor.
However, a longing remained, she yearned for a child of her own. With no man who moved her heart, she wondered if her destiny for motherhood would go unfulfilled. Then, in a moment of déjà vu, she found an answer while feeding a beggar just as her parents had.
The old man told her:
“You must marry one of your servants, or you will remain childless.”
At first reluctant, she eventually agreed and married a loyal servant named Enosakhare. Soon after, she gave birth to a son, Ilawagbon.
But the beggar gave a dire warning:
“Your son must never enter the forest to cut grass. If he does, he will return to the spirit world from which he came.”
The Spirit’s Call
Ighogboya loved her son deeply and reminded him of the prophecy often. Ilawagbon grew into a fine young man. He fell in love and was preparing for marriage when tragedy struck.
On a stormy night, while Ilawagbon‘s fiance was visiting him heavy rain damaged the roof of his dwelling. Rather than sending one of his servants, Ilawagbon set out alone at dawn to gather wood from the forest, ignoring his mother’s warning.
As he bent to cut the wood, a voice called out:
“Ilawagbon! Ilawagbon! Ilawagbon!”
He answered, “Yes? Who is calling me?”
The voice replied:
“You are wanted in the spirit world, from where you escaped thirty years ago. You will never return to your parents again.”
In that instant, Ilawagbon collapsed and died.
By the time Ighogboya’s servants reached the forest to stop him, it was too late. Her son was gone, and her heart was shattered.
Legacy Lives On
But fate had one final twist. Ilawagbon’s wife-to-be was pregnant. She gave birth to a son named Iwinosa. Ighogboya, though broken by grief, poured her soul into raising the child. He grew to become a noble and wealthy figure, inheriting not only his grandmothers fortune but her values of kindness and humility.
When Ighogboya passed, she was buried with the honor of a queen. Her life—rising from rags to riches, from anonymity to legend—became one of the most remarkable stories ever told in the Benin Kingdom.
The Spirit of Generosity
The tale of Ighogboya is not unique to ancient Benin. It’s a story that reverberates through many civilizations. It continues to enthral us, probably because compassion is a more powerful force than we care to admit.