Afonja

Afonja of Ilorin ( – ) was the Are-Ona-Kakanfo (supreme military commander) of the Oyo Empire. His great-grandfather Laderin founded Ilorin city.

Laderin's son Pasin, a powerful warrior, was perceived as a threat by Basorun Gaha due to his rising influence. Pasin was subsequently driven into exile and killed, after which his son Alugbin became Baale. He was Abiodun's cousin. Aole then named Afonja, the Kakanfo of Ilorin. Iwere was also the maternal home of late King Abiodun. So to achieve this, he declared independence from Oyo. Afonja decided to completely whittle down the powers of Oyo. Many Hausa slaves ran to Ilorin and were protected from their masters. The most important were Toyeje, the Baale of Ogbomosho who led Afonja's right wing with his own army and Fagbohun, the Baale of Jabata, who commanded his left wing. He decided it was an opportunity to avenge the death of his father and obtain his title. Slaves, who ran from their owners to join Afonja's Jamas would return to oppress former masters who had treated them badly. Then the Jamas began ill feelings and disaffection against him.

Ilorin came under the rulership of Fulanis. They were invited as friends and allies, but they were more astute than the Yorubas. They studied their weaknesses and misrule. According to Samuel Johnson (1921) " Their more generous treatment of fallen foes and artful method of conciliating a power they could not openly crush, marked them out as a superior people in the art of government."

First attempt to retake Ilorin The death of Afonja was very bitter for the Yoruba people. They became afraid it was a matter of time before the Fulani occupy the whole of Yorubaland, so they decided to form a formidable army under the leadership of Toyoje, the Baale of Ogbomosho who became the new Kakanfo. But the astute and discerning Alimi, already suspected this and was already fortifying himself and his Jamas to when the time came. He has studied the Yorubas and knew how to undercut them. The Yorubas encamped at Ogele but the Fulani army with their horses, assisted by Chief Solagberu of Oke Suna, a powerful Yoruba Moslem; routed the Yoruba army.

2nd Attempt - Mugbamugba War The Yoruba forces came together again to attempt to recover Ilorin. The war was fought during the month of March and April when the locust fruits (Igba) were out. There was famine at the time since wars prevented farming. The Fulanis who were experts in cavalry, routed the Yorubas and Monjia, the King of Rabbah, who joined forces. This was the last war fought by Alimi the Moslem Priest. He was succeeded by Abudusalami, his son, who was installed the first King or Emir of Ilorin. This was the beginning of Emirate in Ilorin; and the Gambaris (Hausas) who formed the bulk of the Jamas were afforded home.