By Abdulmalik Abdulwahab
The “first Jihad in Yoruba Land” refers to the Fulani Jihad led by Sheikh Salih bin Janta in the 18th century. This historical event marked a significant period of upheaval and transformation in the region. The Jihad aimed to spread Islam and establish Fulani dominance over the Hausa kingdoms, including those in the Yoruba-inhabited areas such as Ilorin. It resulted in major socio-political changes and the establishment of new Islamic states in the region.
In the 1700s, around 1750 and onwards, a powerful Oyo warrior known as Afonja. His father was Laderin. Laderin himself was the son of Alugbin, who himself was the son of Pasin. Alaafin Majeogbe governed Oyo from 1754 to 1770 and was followed by Alaafin Abiodun the same year. Abiodun was on the throne for about 19 years, until 1789 when he died.
Aole (the late king’s son) became Alaafin and ruled from 1789 to 1796. It was during these years that Afonja was Kakanfo, and was domiciled in Ilorin, a small town that nestled on the banks of a tributary of the River Niger. Afonja was the sixth Kakanfo, coming after Oku of Jabata. His tenure as Kakanfo sparked a dispute between him and Alaafin Aole which worsened into insurgency. This development has had a terrific impact on the history of the Yoruba peoples north of Oyo to date.
Alaafin Aole ordered Afonja to attack a town named Iwere-Ile which to Afonja was a suicidal mission and he adamantly denied, it because the town born Alaafin Aole’s paternal grandmother and Alaafin Ajagbo who established the Kankanfo (Field Marshall) had placed curses on any Kakanfo that attempt to attack Iwere-Ile.
Alaafin Aole, also called Arogangan, ordered Afonja to attack Apomu, the acclaimed source of the Yoruba people’s town in Ile-Ife, this was in 1795. This order Afonja complied with this, but on his return from the Apomu expedition, he sought the support of Sheikh Alimi also known as Salih Janta who had both spiritual and military power.
Sheikh Alimi was invited to Ilorin by Afonja, who came with his many Hausa slaves. Afonja also invited his rich Muslim friend Solagberu who named his large residence Oke-suna, Afonja marched to Oyo, stormed the palace, and demanded that Aole resign.
Afonja sent an empty calabash to Aole signifying his rejection as the Alaafin and according to the customs of Oyo, he was to commit suicide at such and he did. He performed a ritual and cursed the entire Yoruba land so that their sons and daughters would be taken as slaves and sold to different parts of the world.
Afonja leaves Oyo rudderlessly. Aole was succeeded by Adebo who ruled barely a year from 1796 to 1797, and was succeeded by Makua, who ruled a few months and also died in 1797. From 1797 to 1802 the Oyo throne was vacant. Alaafin Majotu was crowned in 1802 and he then reigned till 1830.
After defeating Aole, Afonja wanted to become the Alaafin, but the Oyomesi elevated Adebo over him, he then frustrated Adebo into a pawn, he began by declaring Ilorin independent from Oyo and many other kingdoms under Oyo followed his precedent and succeeded, the tribute was stopped and the authority of Oyo began to weaken, The Alaafin was no longer regarded as Alaafin, he was not feared or respected. Afonja began to expand Ilorin from a small town into a big city.
Afonja and Alimi’s relationship strengthened to the extent that Afonja enlisted Alimi’s slaves into his army and disbanded many of his men whom history claimed he didn’t fully trust. Unknown to Afonja, the Fulanis were gradually entering his army and before he could realize it, it was too late.
This period clinched the beginning of Jihad in Yoruba Land, this Alimi’s slaves called themselves Jama. Afonja began to use them as bodyguards and soldiers, he made them so powerful that they could do and undo, the Jamas became so holy that Afonja began to be seen as a sinner. He was unaware of the evil they were perpetrating, but when he eventually noticed, it was too late.
These Jamas knew that Afonja was a Yoruba and might decide that they should leave Ilorin and its environment any time, Afonja armies who were Hausas and Fulani went to Alimi and told him to be their godfather and Alimi accepted their offer.
Afonja later did as they had thought, but Sheikh Alimi refused, he said they couldn’t leave Ilorin, Alimi joined hands with the Jama to fight Afonja, the war broke out between Afonja and Alimi his close friend, and his priest, Afonja sent for Onikoyi and his friend Solagberu, but they refused. Before Afonja knew what was happening, the war he was preparing for was already with him.
He was shot so many arrows that his dead body remained suspended in an upright position for a long while, they were scared to move near to him thinking he might be executing some magic, but the brave one among them moved close to him and shot him another arrow, it was then that he was confident Afonja is dead. All the Yoruba armies have fled, and no one to assist Afonja. The James collected Afonja’s corpse and burnt it.
Sheikh Alimi rebuilt Afonja’s house, assumed the post of baale away from Afonja’s family, and became a baale. He was the first baale of their tribe. Alimi later kills Solagberun who says he is not interested in the war between Afonja and Alimi, he beheads him in the open.
After the death of Sheikh Alimi, Abdulsalam declared himself the Emir of Ilorin and pledged allegiance to the Sokoto Caliphate. This was how the monarch of Ilorin held the title of Emir till today instead of Oba or any other Yoruba title for a king.
Afterward, the Yorubas attempted to regain control of Ilorin from the Fulani Jamas but failed. Toyeje, the successor of Afonja, led the first and second attempts to drive the Fulani people out of Ilorin. The second attempt is known in history as the Mugbamugba war in which Yoruba people suffered untold defeat in the strive to regain the throne of Ilorin.
Reference:
>Afonja: The Kakanfo and fall of Oyo empire (Adekunle Adekoya)
>The True & Sad Story Of How Afonja Lost Ilorin And Its Kingship To The Fulanis (Eyeview)
>The Afonja Syndrome (Opeyemi Agbaje)
>The true history of Ilorin (Folaranmi Ajayi)