In 1952, Oba Daniel Anirare Aladesanmi II, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, was photographed welcoming visitors to his palace grounds. The image offers a glimpse of the traditional institution at the centre of Ado-Ekiti’s public life during the colonial period.
Aladesanmi II ruled from 1937 until 1983, witnessing major changes in the town’s political, social and economic life. His reign coincided with growing agricultural activity, expanding trade and efforts to organise local development. His story provides a window into the history of Ado-Ekiti and the communities that contributed to its growth.
The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti and His Reign
Oba Daniel Akomolafe Anirare Aladesanmi II became the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti on 18 June 1937. His reign lasted nearly forty-six years, spanning British colonial rule, Nigeria’s independence in 1960 and the political changes that followed.
As the traditional ruler of Ado-Ekiti, he occupied an important position in the town’s customary and civic affairs. Traditional rulers during this period operated within a changing political environment in which established institutions had to engage with colonial administration and, later, modern Nigerian government.
Aladesanmi II’s influence also extended beyond Ado-Ekiti. In 1938, he became president of the Pelupelu, the council of Ekiti paramount rulers. This position placed him among the traditional leaders involved in discussions affecting Ekiti communities.
His public responsibilities grew over time. Following independence, he served as Deputy President of the Western House of Chiefs from September 1960. The appointment reflected the continuing role of traditional rulers in regional affairs during Nigeria’s early years of independence.
Ado-Ekiti’s Agricultural and Commercial Development
Agriculture was central to the economic life of Ado-Ekiti and surrounding communities. Farming supplied food for local households and supported the exchange of produce between towns. The cultivation of economic crops and the collection of forest products also contributed to commercial activity.
Historical accounts of Ado-Ekiti describe Aladesanmi II as a supporter of cash-crop cultivation and the establishment of trading and commercial enterprises. These activities formed part of a broader period of economic change in which farming and trade helped connect local communities to wider markets.
Agricultural development, however, was not the work of one individual alone. Farmers, traders, migrant communities and local institutions all contributed to changes in production and commerce. The Ewi’s leadership formed one part of this wider history.
The Contributions of Migrant Communities
The economic history of Ado-Ekiti also reflects the contributions of people who arrived from other parts of Nigeria. Historical accounts describe the arrival of Urhobo people in Ado communities during the early 1940s, bringing their methods of extracting palm oil. Palm produce was an important part of the region’s agricultural economy, and processing methods helped turn harvested produce into a marketable commodity.
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The Ebira people also migrated into the area in significant numbers during the 1940s and 1950s. Accounts of the period associate their arrival with the cultivation of particular varieties of yams, cassava and beans.
These movements demonstrate how migration could influence local farming practices and economic relationships. Communities brought knowledge, skills and working traditions that interacted with existing practices in their new homes.
Such contributions should be understood as part of a shared regional history. Ado-Ekiti’s economic development involved both its established residents and people who settled there from elsewhere, working and trading within the same growing local economy.
The Rise of Rice Cultivation in Igbemo and Ado-Ekiti
Rice cultivation became increasingly important in parts of Ekiti during the twentieth century. Historical accounts place the growth of rice farming in Igbemo and Ado-Ekiti in the early 1950s, around the period captured by the photograph of Aladesanmi II.
Igbemo-Ekiti subsequently became particularly associated with locally produced rice, commonly known as Igbemo rice. The crop became an important agricultural product, supporting farming households and supplying markets beyond the immediate community.
Research on indigenous rice production in Igbemo-Ekiti documents the importance of the crop to the community’s agricultural history. Rice farming depended on the work of farmers and the knowledge developed across generations, as well as access to suitable land, labour and markets.
Accounts of rice cultivation in Ekiti also describe its spread to other communities in later decades. This expansion illustrates how agricultural practices could move between neighbouring settlements and become part of a wider regional economy.
It is important, however, not to attribute the development of rice farming or the entire agricultural expansion of Ekiti to the Ewi alone. These changes involved many people and communities over time. Aladesanmi II’s reign provides the historical setting in which these developments took place.
Leadership and Community Development
Aladesanmi II’s reign also included efforts to organise local development. Historical accounts record that he established an advisory board in 1941 to oversee matters including construction, transportation and town planning.
The creation of such a body reflected an interest in coordinating projects that affected the community’s physical development. Roads, transport and town planning were increasingly important as towns responded to changing administrative arrangements, population needs and commercial activity.
In January 1950, Aladesanmi II also established a weaving centre for children in Ado-Ekiti, according to published accounts of his reign. The initiative reflected an interest in practical skills and productive learning.
These activities offer a broader picture of his leadership beyond ceremonial responsibilities. Traditional authority remained connected to questions of community organisation, skills development and the changing needs of local residents.
Nevertheless, the development of Ado-Ekiti was not the achievement of the palace alone. Farmers, traders, craftspeople, families and community organisations all played important roles in the town’s economic and social life.
A Photograph from a Changing Period in History
The 1952 photograph is a record of a moment during Aladesanmi II’s long reign. It shows the Ewi welcoming visitors within the palace grounds, placing the traditional institution at the centre of a public encounter.
The image also belongs to a period when Ado-Ekiti and surrounding communities were experiencing changes in farming, trade and local administration. The expansion of commercial agriculture, the movement of people between communities and the growth of rice cultivation all form part of the wider historical setting.
A photograph alone cannot establish the full story of these developments. Its date, location, people and original context depend on the reliability of its caption and accompanying records. In this case, the photograph is credited to Bimbola Babarinde, and its supplied description identifies the scene as taking place in 1952.
Read alongside historical accounts of Aladesanmi II’s reign, the photograph helps preserve a visual connection to Ado-Ekiti’s past.
The End of a Long Reign
Oba Daniel Anirare Aladesanmi II died on 7 January 1983, bringing his nearly forty-six-year reign to an end. His time on the throne had encompassed the colonial period, independence and significant political changes in Nigeria.
His legacy includes his position among Ekiti’s traditional rulers, his participation in wider traditional councils and his involvement in local development initiatives. The agricultural and commercial changes associated with the period also remain important to understanding Ado-Ekiti’s history.
The town’s growth was shaped by the combined efforts of its residents, farmers, traders, migrant communities and traditional institutions. Aladesanmi II’s reign offers a way to examine how these forces interacted across several decades.
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Conclusion
The 1952 photograph of Oba Daniel Anirare Aladesanmi II captures more than a royal encounter. It offers a glimpse of Ado-Ekiti during a period of economic and social change. From the expansion of farming and trade to the contributions of migrant communities and the growth of rice cultivation, the history of this period reflects the work of many people.
Remembering Aladesanmi II alongside these wider developments helps place his reign within the history of Ado-Ekiti and the communities that shaped its growth.
Author’s Note
Oba Daniel Anirare Aladesanmi II’s reign remains an important chapter in the history of Ado-Ekiti, reflecting the town’s traditional leadership, agricultural development and commercial growth.
References
Aladesanmi, D. A. The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti: My Early Life. Omolayo Standard Press, 1977.
Aremu, Johnson Olaosebikan, and Bolarinwa Akinwamide. “Prospects and Challenges of Sustainable Rice Production in Igbemo Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria.” European Journal of Educational and Social Sciences, 2018.
“Remembering Oba Daniel Aladesanmi II.” The Nation, 8 January 2014.
Ekiti State Government. “Ado-Ekiti.” Official state government profile.
