Fabunmi of Okemesi

Fabunmi of Okemesi (c. 1849 - 1903) born Prince Fábùnmi Ìṣọ̀lá, also known as Orara l'ada, was a Yoruba warlord, chief and ultimately king. to Prince Adesoye, a younger brother of Fatimehin Aponlese, the 9th Owa Ooye of Okemesi. His mother was a princess from the town of Ogotun-Ekiti. He was about ten years when Ijesa conquered Okemesi and went on exile at Ila with his father. His father died in Ila, leaving Fabunmi as the oldest member of his family with huge amount of wealth and slaves. He is described as being a tall, light skin man whom was impulsive and quick spoken.

Life as a Warrior In 1878, Fabunmi became known as the single individual who triggered the Kiriji war in Yorubaland. Oyepetun, an Ibadan Administrator (Ajele) was stationed in Okemesi, and his boys were rapacious and evil; forcefully coveting other people’s properties. Ekitiparapo army moving through Imesi-ile quickly overran Igbajo, Iresi, Otan and Ada kingdoms but were beaten back as Ibadan entered the war at Ikirun. The coalition was in disarray. For he had told Governor Moloney in 1886, that, ‘because, of all the Ijesa and Ekiti war Chiefs, it was I who took the initiative in throwing off the Ibadan yoke, and declaring war against them. Had it turn out that the Ekitis failed to unite in resistance, or the Ibadans succeeded in inflicting heavier calamities upon our country, my name and my people would be subject to everlasting execration from all our tribes on account of my presumption.' It was there Fabunmi voluntarily surrendered the leadership to Ogedemgbe. In 1902, Imesi-ile sought after him and installed him as their thirty-eighth king. He reigned for six months and died in 1903. His son, ‘loja Oke Ladokun Adefenwa Fabunmi II succeeded him.