Ancient & Pre-Colonial Nigeria
Histories of Nigerian kingdoms, empires, trade routes, and cultures before colonial rule, including Nok, Benin, Oyo, Sokoto, and Kanem-Bornu.
Yoruba Civilisation Did Not Begin With 14th Century Oyo
Yoruba civilisation did not begin with 14th century Oyo. Oyo was powerful, influential, and historically important, but it was not the beginning of Yoruba...
Ilori the Osi and the Ibadan Crisis at Jalumi
Nineteenth-century Ibadan stood as one of the most powerful military centres in Yorubaland. Its rise followed the decline of the old Oyo Empire, when...
When Ibadan Entered Ikirun, Akirun Oyebode’s Relief Marked a Critical Moment in the Jalumi War
The arrival of Balogun Ajayi Ogboriefon of Ibadan in Ikirun on Thursday, 31 October 1878, belongs to one of the most tense episodes in...
When Ilori Fell at Jalumi, The Ibadan Victory That Almost Became a Disaster
The Jalumi War of 1878 stands as one of the most dramatic moments in the military history of nineteenth century Yorubaland. It was not...
Ilori the Osi and the Ibadan Lesson in Command Under Pressure
Nineteenth century Ibadan was not built like an ordinary town. It rose during a period of political breakdown, war, migration, and military ambition after...
How Aare Latosa’s Appointments Tested Ibadan’s War Command
Nineteenth century Ibadan was built on war, reputation, and command. It was not a kingdom shaped mainly by hereditary kingship. It grew into a...
Ikirun and the Battle Remembered as Jalumi
The Battle of Ikirun, remembered in Yoruba history as the Jalumi War, was one of the major conflicts of the nineteenth century Yoruba wars....
Ikirun and the Osi’s Defeat During the Jalumi War
The Jalumi War of 1878, also remembered as the Battle of Ikirun, stands as one of the defining military conflicts of nineteenth century Yorubaland....
Inside Kwara’s Yoruba Kingdoms, Tradition, Power and the Politics of Recognition
Kwara State stands as one of Nigeria’s most culturally layered regions, where history, identity and traditional authority intersect. Its story cannot be told through...
How British Rule Redrew Yorubaland After the Wars of the Nineteenth Century
The British remaking of Yorubaland did not begin in a quiet or stable region. Long before colonial authority moved inland from Lagos, Yorubaland had...