Ibadan Republic

Ibadan Republic
Ibadan Republic
c. 1838 – 1893
	Anthem: "Ibadan, city of warriors They who made it into a great city We its children will not allow That their honour and glory perish"
	Ibadan ca. 1840
Status	Military Republic
Capital	Ibadan
Common languages	Yoruba
Religion	Yoruba religion, Christianity, Islam
Government	Military Republicanism
The Baale, Balogun or Seriki
• c. 1850's - 1867	Ogunmola
• c. 1872 - 1885	Are Latosa
History
• Battle of Òsogbo	ca. 1838
• British intervention of 1893	1893
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Oyo Empire
Southern Nigeria Protectorate

Last updated December 13, 2024

The Ibadan Republic or the Ibadan Empire^[2],was a powerful Yoruba state in present-day Nigeria, emerged in the 19th century following the collapse of the Oyo Empire. Initially a war camp in the 1820s,^[3] Ibadan evolved into a major military power after its decisive victory against the Ilorin Emirate in 1838 at the Battle of Òsogbo. This victory not only halted the Fulani jihad's advance but also established Ibadan as the principal defender of the Yoruba region, propelling its imperial ambitions. Its empire, however, was relatively short-lived, lasting until its incorporation into British colonial Nigeria in 1893.^[2]

Formation

Ibadan's rise was fueled by several factors. The collapse of the Oyo Empire created a power vacuum, allowing Ibadan to consolidate its power. Its unique military system, based on merit rather than heredity, cultivated a formidable fighting force. Strategic alliances, particularly with the British, initially provided access to firearms and other resources. Ibadan's central location within Yorubaland enabled it to control vital trade routes and the flow of valuable goods like palm oil, strengthening its economic and military power.^[4] The population of the capital was 60,000 to 100,000 by 1851^[1]

Government Structure

Ibadan's system of government in the 19th century marked a departure from traditional Yoruba governance structures. Unlike the hereditary constitutional framework common in Yoruba towns, Ibadan, had no resident crowned ruler. Instead, the Alaafin of Oyo was nominally recognized as king. But due to his geographical remoteness and reliance on Ibadan's military power, the Alafin weilded practically zero control over the city. Ibadan's government comprised four distinct lines of chiefs, one civil chief, two Lines of military chiefs, and a line a female chiefs. The first three lines were the most important. Leadership positions were open to all freeborn male residents of Ibadan, with merit especially demonstrated military ability being the primary criterion. ^[4]

Economy

Ibadan's military and economic development were linked closely. The demands of a military state stimulated economic activity, driving growth in agriculture, trade, and craft production. Ibadan's agricultural system was sophisticated, encompassing both Oko Etile (farms near the city worked by daily commuters) and Oko Egan (large, distant farm villages worked by resident labor). Slaves handled a bulk of the work force on farms and a singular farm could have as many as 600 slaves.^[5] Many Fulani and Hausa war captives were enslaved on farms to tend to horses and cattle. ^[5] However, the constant state of warfare also hampered long-term economic growth. Raids and insecurity frequently disrupted agriculture, sometimes causing famine.

Because of Ibadan's militaristic orientation, specialized industries like blacksmithing and silversmithing thrived to meet the military's needs. The blacksmithing industry, supported by about 70 workshops scattered across the town, was central to Ibadan's military strength. Many blacksmiths were refugees from the Old Oyo Empire and worked under the patronage of military leaders. They produced essential weapons, including locally made guns, poisoned bullets, swords, axes, spears, and knives. These workshops relied on the smelting industry for a steady supply of pig iron. ^[5]

A complex trade network, managed by the Alarobo guild under the leadership of the Parakoyi, facilitated the exchange of goods through a system of rural and daily markets, each overseen by an Iyaloja (market leader). The high demand for firearms catalyzed the production of palm oil, which became a key trade item during the era of legitimate trade between West Africa and Europe. In addition to palm oil, Ibadan exported foodstuffs like corn, beans, and yams to the coastal traders, especially the Ijebu, who relied on the hinterland for sustenance due to their primary focus on commerce.^[5]

Ibadan’s geographic location contributed significantly to its emergence as a trade hub. Situated near the boundary of the forest and savannah regions, it served as a meeting point for traders exchanging goods from both ecological zones. This natural advantage of accessibility, reflected in its name "Ibadan," meaning "near the savannah", positioned the city as a key node in regional commerce.^[5]

With the decline of the western Yoruba region following the collapse of the Oyo Empire, Ibadan became a critical waypoint in the continuation of the trans-Saharan trade network leading to the coast. Ibadan's focus on short-term military gains often came at the expense of broader, long-term economic interests.^[5]

In 1890, just a few years before its collpase, the capital city was describred by British missionary as

"The London of Negroland . . . Surrounded by its farming villages, 163 in number, Ibadan counts over 200,000 souls, while within the walls of the city itself at least 120,000 people are gathered. Its sea of brown roofs covers an area of nearly 16 square miles, and the ditches and walls of hardened clay, which surround it, are more than 18 miles in circumfere.."

^[1]

Decline

Unlike the Oyo Empire, Ibadan lacked traditional and religious legitimacy, hindering its ability to gain widespread acceptance of its rule. And the empire's eventual downfall was brought about by a combination of internal and external pressures. Ibadan's increasingly oppressive rule over its tributary states fueled resentment and sparked rebellions, most notably the Ekitiparapo revolt also known as the Kiriji War.

The Kiriji War, Triggered by the beheading of a Ibadan representative in Okemesi for allegedly disrupting a religious festival, the war was essentially a struggle for independence waged by Ibadan's tributary states. Tired of Ibadan's oppressive rule, the Ekiti, Ijesa, Igbomina, and Akoko people formed the Ekitiparapo Confederacy, a formidable alliance that challenged Ibadan's dominance. Initially, Ibadan, with its superior military strength and the support of Oyo, seemed poised to crush the rebellion. However, the Ekitiparapo forces, bolstered by the acquisition of modern breech-loading firearms such as the Snider rifles, Martini-Henry rifles, and Winchester repeaters from their kinsmen in Lagos and covert support from the Alaafin of Oyo (who feared Ibadan's growing power), put up a fierce resistance.^[6]

The war reached a stalemate by 1880, with both sides establishing fortified camps that evolved into virtual cities. The conflict, characterized by its prolonged sieges and devastating battles, became a war of attrition, draining the resources of both sides. Ibadan's traditional military tactics, relying on superior numbers and the use of cavalry, proved less effective in the face of the Ekitiparapo's modern weaponry and the difficult terrain. The war not only exposed the limitations of Ibadan's military but also highlighted the deep-seated resentment against its rule.^[6]

The influx of refugees to Ibadan during the war further strained its resources and exacerbated internal tensions, highlighting the challenges faced by the empire during this tumultuous period. While Ibadan was able to prevent a defeat, the war significantly weakened its power and prestige, paving the way for British intervention and the eventual demise of the empire. The British treaties of 1886 and 1893 curtailed Ibadan's autonomy, leading to its absorption into the British colony.^[4]

Its rapid growth and emphasis on military might, though initially successful, ultimately proved unsustainable in the face of internal dissent, external pressures, and the changing political landscape of 19th-century Yorubaland.

Related Research Articles

Ibadan is the capital and most populous city of Oyo State, in Nigeria. It is the third-largest city by population in Nigeria after Lagos and Kano, with a total population of 3,649,000 as of 2021, and near to 4 million within its metropolitan area. It is one of the country's largest cities by geographical area. At the time of Nigeria's independence in 1960, Ibadan was the largest and most populous city in the country, and the second-most populous in Africa behind Cairo. Ibadan is ranked one of the fastest-growing cities in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the UN Human Settlements Program (2022). It is also ranked third in West Africa in the tech startups index. Ibadan joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2016.

Yorubaland is the homeland and cultural region of the Yoruba people in West Africa. It spans the modern-day countries of Nigeria, Togo and Benin, and covers a total land area of 142,114 km² (54,871 sq mi). Of this land area, 106,016 km² (74.6%) lies within Nigeria, 18.9% in Benin, and the remaining 6.5% is in Togo. Prior to European colonization, a portion of this area was known as Yoruba country. The geo-cultural space contains an estimated 55 million people, the majority of this population being ethnic Yoruba.

The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire in West Africa. It was located in present-day southern Benin and western Nigeria. The empire grew to become the largest Yoruba-speaking state through the organizational and administrative efforts of the Yoruba people, trade, as well as the military use of cavalry. The Oyo Empire was one of the most politically important states in Western Africa from the mid-17th to the late 18th century and held sway not only over most of the other kingdoms in Yorubaland, but also over nearby African states, notably the Fon Kingdom of Dahomey in the modern Republic of Benin on its west.

The Rev. Samuel Johnson was an Anglican priest and historian of the Yoruba.

The Ìgbómìnà are a subgroup of the Yoruba ethnic group, which originates from the north central and southwest Nigeria. They speak a dialect called Ìgbómìnà or Igbonna, classified among the Central Yoruba of the three major Yoruba dialectical areas. The Ìgbómìnà spread across what is now southern Kwara State and northern Osun State. Peripheral areas of the dialectical region have some similarities to the adjoining Ekiti, Ijesha and Oyo dialects.

Chief Oluyole was a leader and military commander from the Oyo empire. He rose to fame as Bashorun, a title he subsequently made famous, and was one of the leaders who contributed immensely to the military and economic development of Ibadan during the city's formative years, a period which had its share of tumult and uncertainty.

Orompoto was an Alaafin of the Yoruba Oyo Empire. The empire of which she ruled is located in what is modern day western and north-central Nigeria.

The documented history begins when Oranyan came to rule the Oyo Empire, which became dominant in the early 17th century. The older traditions of the formerly dominant Ile-Ife kingdom are largely oral.

Old Oyo, also known as Oyo-Ile, Katunga, Oyo-Oro, and Eyo is the site of a ruined medieval city that was once the capital of the Oyo Empire in what is now modern-day Nigeria. It has been abandoned since 1835.

Kisi is a large town in Oyo State, Nigeria. It is the headquarters of the Irepo Local Government Area. Kishi, is located at the northern part of Oyo State. Kisi is very close to old Katunga which collapsed in the 18th century as a result of Jihad activity by the Hausa/Fulani of Ilorin, Kwara State. Kisi is reputed as a town whose people were never conquered or defeated in battles, hence many people from old Oyo migrated and settled in Kishi during and after the Fulani Jihadist invasion. Kisi is about 240 km from Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo state, and about 200 km and 110 km from Oyo Alaafin and Ilorin respectively.

The Ilorin Emirate is a traditional state based in the city of Ilorin in Kwara State, Nigeria. It is largely populated by the Yoruba-speaking people, though the kingdom is a hybrid state due to the influence of the many other tribes that make up the city.

Joseph Adebowale Atanda was a Nigerian native of Eruwa, in Oyo State, Nigeria. He obtained his B.A. (Hons) in History in 1964 from the University of London and a PhD. in history in 1967 from the University of Ibadan.

Afonja of Ilorin was the "Are-Ona-Kakanfo", or chief military leader, of the Oyo Empire. Laderin, the great-grandfather of Afonja, was the founder of Ilorin city. He was succeeded by his son, Pasin, a powerful warrior who became a threat and target to, Basorun Gaha, because of his rising profile. He was driven into exile and killed. Alagbin, his son was made Baale. After the death of Alagbin, his son, Afonja, took over. These were the only four Yoruba baale in Ilorin.

Ọba Timi Abibu Sàngólámì (Ọ)Lágúnjú was a Yoruba monarch of the town of Ede, and leader in the 19th century. He was the first Muslim Timi that Ede produced, he also belonged to the first generation of Yoruba Muslims who held high political office in the pre-colonial era and who used their positions to enhance the growth of his town, Ede and his religion, Islam. Indeed, Abibu Lagunju was the second Muslim Oba in Yorubaland given the fact that he was already on the throne for a couple of years when, in November 1857, the American Baptist Missionary, Reverend W.H. Clarke, visited Ede.

The Yoruba Revolutionary Wars, also known as the Yoruba Civil Wars, were a series of conflicts that engulfed the Yoruba-speaking areas of West Africa from approximately 1789 to 1893. These wars were characterized by intense and prolonged struggles among various Yoruba city-states and kingdoms, leading to significant political, social, and economic changes in the region.

The Kiriji War, also known as the Ekiti–Parapo War, was a 16-year-long civil war between the subethnic kingdoms of the Yoruba people, specifically divided between the Western Yoruba, which was mainly the Ibadan and Oyo-speaking Yorubas, and the Eastern Yoruba, who were the Ekiti people, Ijesha, Ijebu people, and others.

Fabunmi of Okemesi born Prince Fábùnmi Ìṣọ̀lá, also known as Orara l'ada, was a Yoruba warlord, chief and ultimately king. He was known to have singlehandedly triggered the longest civil war in Nigeria - the Kiriji War.

Alaafin Atiba Atobatele was a king of the Oyo Empire. He was the son of King Abiodun of Oyo, and Eni-olufan from Akeitan.

Orile Ijaye is a small town located in Akinyele local government, Oyo state, Nigeria. It is about 18 miles from Ibadan, Oyo state capital. This town was re-inhabited in 1895, 32 years after it was destroyed due to an intra-ethnic and supremacy war with Ibadan; another military power at that time. The name of the town came from the original name, Ijaye, the name meaning Ijaye city-town.

The Battle of Òsogbo took place in 1838 and was a major battle of the Fula jihads of Yorubaland.

References

1 2 3 Watson, Ruth (May 1999). ""Ibadan – a model of historical facts": militarism and civic culture in a Yoruba city". Urban History. 26 (1). Cambridge University Press: 5–26. doi:10.1017/S0963926899000115. JSTOR 44613017. PMID 22545296.
1 2 3 akinwumi, ogundiran (2020). The Yoruba: A New History. Indiana University Press. ISBN 9780253051509.
1 2 Danmole, H. O.; Falola, Toyin (1985). "IBADAN-ILORIN RELATIONS IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY: A STUDY IN IMPERIAL STRUGGLES IN YORUBALAND". Transafrican Journal of History. 14. Gideon Were Publications: 21–35.
1 2 3 Awe, B. (December 1965). "The End of an Experiment: The Collapse of the Ibadan Empire 1877-1893". Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria. 3 (2): 221–230. JSTOR 41971159.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Awe, Bolanle (1973). "Militarism and Economic Development in Nineteenth Century Yoruba Country: The Ibadan Example". The Journal of African History. 14 (1): 65–77. doi:10.1017/S0021853700012172. JSTOR 180777.
1 2 Usman, Aribidesi; Falola, Toyin (2019). The Yoruba from Prehistory to the Present. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781107587656. ISBN 9781107064607.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[Watson-1] 1 2 3 Watson, Ruth (May 1999). ""Ibadan – a model of historical facts": militarism and civic culture in a Yoruba city". Urban History. 26 (1). Cambridge University Press: 5–26. doi:10.1017/S0963926899000115. JSTOR 44613017. PMID 22545296.

[Akinwumi-2] 1 2 3 akinwumi, ogundiran (2020). The Yoruba: A New History. Indiana University Press. ISBN 9780253051509.

[Danmole-3] 1 2 Danmole, H. O.; Falola, Toyin (1985). "IBADAN-ILORIN RELATIONS IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY: A STUDY IN IMPERIAL STRUGGLES IN YORUBALAND". Transafrican Journal of History. 14. Gideon Were Publications: 21–35.

[BAwe-4] 1 2 3 Awe, B. (December 1965). "The End of an Experiment: The Collapse of the Ibadan Empire 1877-1893". Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria. 3 (2): 221–230. JSTOR 41971159.

[Awe-5] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Awe, Bolanle (1973). "Militarism and Economic Development in Nineteenth Century Yoruba Country: The Ibadan Example". The Journal of African History. 14 (1): 65–77. doi:10.1017/S0021853700012172. JSTOR 180777.

[Usman-6] 1 2 Usman, Aribidesi; Falola, Toyin (2019). The Yoruba from Prehistory to the Present. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781107587656. ISBN 9781107064607.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]