HISTORY: WHEN OBAS HAD TO GO ON EXILE (Part 1)

 

WHEN OBAS HAD TO GO ON EXILE (Part 1)

In Yoruba land, the Oba is an unquestionable monarch. He is not primus inter pares(first among equals),he is revered and widely known as being second only to the gods-“Igbakeji Orisa”. But despite this near infallible status, an Oba can be dethroned, deposed or sent on exile. In modern political terminology, an Oba can be impeached, either by conduct, intrigues, power play, rebellions or governmental intervention.

OBA OF LAGOS FALLS FIRST VICTIM

The gale of exiles, started with Oba Akitoye in Lagos. He ascended the throne as Oba of Lagos in 1841 and tried to ban slave trading. Local merchants, who were prominent slave traders, opposed the move and Oba Akitoye was eventually deposed and sent to exile. Akitoye was eventually succeeded by his brother, Kosoko, as Oba of Lagos. At exile in Great Britain, Akitoye met with British authorities and some anti-slave traders who had banned slave trading in 1807.

The British authorities, resolved to assist Akitoye, back to the stool as Oba of Lagos in 1851. Oba Kosoko was immediately deposed and sent on exile to Badagry and later Epe, where he also founded kingdoms. This British involvement and meddlesomeness in the affairs of the throne of Lagos, in practical terms, finally established British influence on the throne Of Lagos and this authority became absolute, when Lagos or “Eko” was later annexed 10 years later in 1861 as a territory of British colony.

Shortly after the British annexation of Lagos, their next point of call was Benin kingdom. Benin, before the expedition was a very prosperous kingdom, noted for its rich resources in palm oil, rubber and ivory and was largely independent of British control.

Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, was Oba of Benin in 1888, until the British punitive expedition of 1897, which forced him out of the throne. He was sent on exile to Calabar with his two wives and died in exile in 1914.

FELA’S MOTHER LEADS CAMPAIGN AGAINST ALAKE OF EGBA LAND

The Alake of Egba land is the paramount ruler of the Egbas, comprising of Egba Alake, the Owu kingdom ,Oke Ona and Gbagura. Oba Oladapo Samuel Ademola II, ascended the throne of the Alake of Egba land in 1920 after the demise of Oba Gbadebo I, on the 28th May 1920.

Oba Oladapo Samuel Ademola II, was an educated Oba, with a deep sense of business acumen. His son, Justice Adetokunbo Ademola became indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria in 1960. Oba Oladapo Samuel Ademola II, ruled for 42 years, but he was on exile for two years, between 1948 to December 1950, as a result of a protest against native authorities, especially against the Alake of Egba land, by the Women’s Union, led by Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti (the mother of Afro beat Legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti) ably supported by Eniola Soyinka-her sisterin law and mother of the Nobel Laureate-Wole Soyinka .

This organization with a membership of over 20000 women campaigned vigorously against taxes and price control. The Abeokuta Women’s Union was a well orgarnised and disciplined organization. The Egba women’s refusal to pay abnormal tax, combined with enormous protests, organized under the guise of picnics and festivals, was a guise to beat the security of the British colonizers, who teamed up with the local lackeys, to subdue the women. At one protest, the “Oro” stick was brought out- a symbolic artifact of the secretive male cult of the Ogbonis, supposedly imbibed with great powers, and the women were instructed to go home, before evil spirits overcame them. When the women shrank

back in fear, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, grabbed the stick, waved it around, that women now had the power before taking it with her, displaying it prominently in her home. This action gave her, a reputation of fearlessness and courage, which led 20,000 women to follow her to the home of Alake of Egba land (Alake Ademola). As the women protested outside the King’s Palace, they sang in Yoruba; “Alake, for a long time you have used your penis as mark of authority that you are our husband, today we shall reverse the order and use our vagina to play the role of husband”. 

With this unified action and song, they chased him out of the Palace, condemning him to exile on the threat of castration and this resulted in the king’s abdication. Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a teacher, a political campaigner, women’s rights activist and traditional aristocrat, who was described by the West African Pilot Newspaper as the “Lioness of Lisabi”. She was the first woman in Nigeria to ride a car. 

Later in life, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was sadly thrown out, from an upstair (2nd floor precisely), when a battalion soldiers invaded Fela Anikulapo Kalakuta Republic in 1978.

She died as a result of injury sustained on 13th April, 1978. She was married to Rev. Israel Oludotun Kuti and she begat four children- Olikoye- a Professor of Medicine and former Minister of Health, Dolapo, Fela- a musical icon and legend and Bekola- a medical doctor and human rights activist and also many grandchildren- Brig-Gen. Enitan Ransome Kuti- a military officer, Frances Kuboye- a dental surgeon and jazz exponent, Femi and Seun Kuti- Afrobeat musical exponent.

Her coffin was sent to Dodan Barracks in Lagos- General Olusegun Obasanjo’s residence as Head of State, together with a newly writte song- “Coffin for a Head of State- They kill my mama, 78 years old mama, influential mama, political mama…”

Oba Oladapo Ademola II, was sent to exile in Oshogbo, where he lived for two years, before he was recalled back to the throne. It is interesting to note, that Oba Oladapo Ademola II, was accompanied to exile by the last Alaafin of Oyo , Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, who was then living with Oba Oladapo Ademola II.

Oba Lamidi Adeyemi’s father, Adeniran Adeyemi II, who was the Alaafin of Oyo for 10 years1945 to 1955, had seen in the young Lamidi Olayiwola, a future Alaafin and had nurtured him along the paths of royalty.

He had trained him as an Islamic cleric in Iseyin, he had lived under the tutelage of Pa Olatoregun- an Anglican school teacher and disciplinarian, in Oyo, all in an effort for young Lamidi, to learn the rope of traditional kingship, statesmanship and dignifying royalty. 

Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, in the quest of this preparation for Royalty, was at an early age, sent to Abeokuta to live with Oba Adedapo Ademola and had some part of his early education in Ake Palace Elementary School and he is today still fluent in Egba dialect. 

Oba Lamidi Olayiwola, at a later date in his adolescence, also lived with a Lagos Aristocrat-his father’s friend-Sir Kofo Abayomi and his wife, Lady Oyinkan Abayomi. He also attended St Gregory’s College, Lagos- a Catholic School. Perhaps, this early preparation for royalty, has no doubt made Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, aquintessential monarch, not only with wit, but also with class, candour, panache and indeed, a deep sense of wisdom. 

Amongst Oba Adeniran’s children, Lamidi Adeyemi was his favourite. He had seen at birth, the lacerations on his left breast and the spots on his leg, at the same spot on Lamidi Olayiwola, as telltale signs of future royalty.

To be continued

Credit: The history and Yoruba Culture