Oluyole
Encyclopedia
For the Local Government Area of Oyo State, see Oluyole, Nigeria
.
Oluyole was a distinguished, dominating army commander from Oyo
. 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.
He was born in Old Oyo to the polygamous family of Olukuoye by Omoba Agbonrin, a daughter of the Alaafin
Abiodun
.
and Old Oyo by the Fulani's had resulted in forcing many Oyo natives to leave their abode in the West African Savannah
and move towards the thick forest
s of southern Yorubaland
. However, the resulting influx of northern Yorubas known as Oyo's to the hinterland
led to skirmishes and later wars with the Egba
s, who controlled a large chunk of the Yoruba hinterland. It was during this era that Oluyole rose to prominence. He first gained esteem when he was a member of the victorious coalition that won the Owu wars, which eventually led to the collapse of many Egba towns including Ibadan. As a reward for the prominent role he played in defeating the Egba
s at Ipara and Ijebu
Remo, and to strengthen the disparate Oyo nobility
which had weakened as a result of the wars, Oluyole was made the Areago of Ibadan. He later created for himself the post of Osi-Kakanfo, the second in command of the Ibadan army.
After the success of the Owu war, some Yoruba chiefs decided to recapture Ilorin which had fallen to the Fulani's. The mission failed, and Old Oyo was finally destroyed, a few powerful Yoruba
leaders also lost their lives in the mission. Subsequently, a power vacuum
emerged in the vital military and leadership sphere in Yorubaland. Oluyole took on the challenge in successfully defending his new city, Ibadan, against the regrouped Egbas, the Fulanis and Dahomey. He was later crowned the Oloye Bashorun, a title which made him the military leader of Ibadan. By this time, he was considered by many to be the second leader of the scattered people of Oyo, after the Alaafin himself. He was also a successful farmer
, with large estates of tuber
crops and vegetables. He had one of the largest productive plantations in Ibadan, with indigenes always touring his farm, trying to imitate his planting technique. His effective power could be explained by his will to control economic and social events. For the fear of Oluyole, and also for lack of efficient pricing, many traders usually did not sell their products when he took his to the market
.
Oluyole, Nigeria
Oluyole is a Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Idi Ayunre.It has an area of 629 km² and a population of 202,725 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 200....
.
Oluyole was a distinguished, dominating army commander from Oyo
Oyo Empire
The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire of what is today southwestern Nigeria. The empire was established before the 14th century and grew to become one of the largest West African states encountered by European explorers. It rose to preeminence through its possession of a powerful cavalry and wealth...
. 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
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
during the city's formative years, a period which had its share of tumult and uncertainty.
He was born in Old Oyo to the polygamous family of Olukuoye by Omoba Agbonrin, a daughter of the Alaafin
Alaafin
Alaafin or Man of the Palace in the Yoruba language was the title of the emperor of the medieval Oyo empire of northwestern Yorubaland. It was retained through the fall of that state as the official title of the ceremonial ruler of the contemporary Oyo clan....
Abiodun
Abiodun
Abiodun was an 18th-century alaafin, or ruler, of the Oyo people in what is now Nigeria. Coming to the throne shortly after the Oyo subjugation of neighboring Dahomey, Abiodun soon found himself embroiled in a civil war over the goals of the newly wealthy state.Bashorun Gaha, the empire's prime...
.
Life and career
The spread of the Fulani Jihad and subsequent attacks on IlorinIlorin
Ilorin is one of the largest cities in Nigeria and is the capital of Kwara State. As of 2007 it had a population of 847,582.-History:Ilorin was founded by the Yoruba, one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, in 1450...
and Old Oyo by the Fulani's had resulted in forcing many Oyo natives to leave their abode in the West African Savannah
Savannah
Savannah or savanna is a type of grassland.It can also mean:-People:* Savannah King, a Canadian freestyle swimmer* Savannah Outen, a singer who gained popularity on You Tube...
and move towards the thick forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s of southern Yorubaland
Yorùbáland
Yorubaland, or Yorùbáland , is a cultural region in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo that includes the indigenous territory and cultural reach of the Yoruba people.- History :-Settlement:Oduduwa is regarded as the legendary progenitor of the Yoruba...
. However, the resulting influx of northern Yorubas known as Oyo's to the hinterland
Hinterland
The hinterland is the land or district behind a coast or the shoreline of a river. Specifically, by the doctrine of the hinterland, the word is applied to the inland region lying behind a port, claimed by the state that owns the coast. The area from which products are delivered to a port for...
led to skirmishes and later wars with the Egba
Egba
The Egba are a clan of the Yoruba people who live in western Nigeria. Many Egba live in the city of Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State.- History :...
s, who controlled a large chunk of the Yoruba hinterland. It was during this era that Oluyole rose to prominence. He first gained esteem when he was a member of the victorious coalition that won the Owu wars, which eventually led to the collapse of many Egba towns including Ibadan. As a reward for the prominent role he played in defeating the Egba
Egba
The Egba are a clan of the Yoruba people who live in western Nigeria. Many Egba live in the city of Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State.- History :...
s at Ipara and Ijebu
Ijebu
Ijebu was a Yoruba kingdom in pre-colonial Nigeria. It formed around the fifteenth century. According to legend, its ruling dynasty was founded by Obanta of Ile-Ife...
Remo, and to strengthen the disparate Oyo nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
which had weakened as a result of the wars, Oluyole was made the Areago of Ibadan. He later created for himself the post of Osi-Kakanfo, the second in command of the Ibadan army.
After the success of the Owu war, some Yoruba chiefs decided to recapture Ilorin which had fallen to the Fulani's. The mission failed, and Old Oyo was finally destroyed, a few powerful Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
leaders also lost their lives in the mission. Subsequently, a power vacuum
Vacuum
In everyday usage, vacuum is a volume of space that is essentially empty of matter, such that its gaseous pressure is much less than atmospheric pressure. The word comes from the Latin term for "empty". A perfect vacuum would be one with no particles in it at all, which is impossible to achieve in...
emerged in the vital military and leadership sphere in Yorubaland. Oluyole took on the challenge in successfully defending his new city, Ibadan, against the regrouped Egbas, the Fulanis and Dahomey. He was later crowned the Oloye Bashorun, a title which made him the military leader of Ibadan. By this time, he was considered by many to be the second leader of the scattered people of Oyo, after the Alaafin himself. He was also a successful farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, with large estates of tuber
Tuber
Tubers are various types of modified plant structures that are enlarged to store nutrients. They are used by plants to survive the winter or dry months and provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing season and they are a means of asexual reproduction...
crops and vegetables. He had one of the largest productive plantations in Ibadan, with indigenes always touring his farm, trying to imitate his planting technique. His effective power could be explained by his will to control economic and social events. For the fear of Oluyole, and also for lack of efficient pricing, many traders usually did not sell their products when he took his to the market
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
.