Category: History – General
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Slavery, the forcible commodification and holding of humans for the provision of labor lasted for about 350 years. While it did, about 12.4 million Africans were transported to the Americas to the benefit of the plantation societies there. During the reign of Obalokun Agana Erin, Alaafin of the Oyo Empire, it was recorded that the Alaafin…
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Owiwi Battle was an historical military engagement of the Egba and Ijebu resulting in the defeat of the latter. The battle of Owiwi emanated from the rancor between the newly settled Egba people of Abeokuta and the people of Ijebu Remo. Ijebu villages gathered immediately after the withdrawal of Egba victorious army to avenge their…
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Okukenu was the first Alake in Abeokuta. Okukenu as an Egba noble (of the Eso military class) had earlier led other chiefs in addressing a petition to Queen Victoria of England requesting assistance in ending slave trade. This petition was replied in March 1849 with the Queen’s recommendation of the Christian religion as a means…
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Akitoye was the British protégé Oba of Lagos who signed an anti-slavery treaty with the Lagos Consulate in 1852. He was one of the sons of Ologun-Kutere, who was the favored son of Oba Akinsemoyin’s sister, Erelu Kuti. Akitoye’s first ascension to the throne was in 1841 but he was sacked by his nephew, Kosoko…
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Apati was the 19th Century Egba chief, one of the warlords who dominated the political life of the tribe from the time when the people newly settled at Abeokuta to the time when the first principal King of the town was chosen. Apati became a powerful figure in succession to the statesmanlike Sodeke but he…
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Ijebu History, like those of many other preliterate Yoruba people, was not well documented, and different oral versions arose due to what one historian listed as political exigencies, conspiracy and the fear of domination. Of these versions, three are preponderant. A good number of Ijebu historical figures ascribe the origin of their kingdom to Ile-Ife, just…
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Wall of Ijebu Ode is an enormous eighty-mile earthwork built around Ijebu Ode in ancient times with remains still surrounding the town. The construction of the Great Wall of Ijebu Ode is said to have been commissioned by Sungbo, a woman, who being rich and childless, decided to make for herself a monument. The wall…
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Adesanya Otubusin was born in 1888 and ascended the throne of Ijebu in September 1933. Before his coronation, he was a respected member of the St. Saviour’s Anglican Church. Daniel Adesanya was a difficult man to appraise, given his sometimes progressive tendencies but he was believed by his antagonists, a group constituting a great majority…
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Somoye, the Egba leader was appointed Bashorun or head war chief of Abeokuta in 1851. Somoye was a relative and follower of Sodeke, the man who led the exile to the town from their original homestead. He was the de facto Alake till his death, wielding more influence than the Okukenu who was then the…