The Survival Of Igbomina Indigenous Political Structure Under The Ilorin Emirate System In The 20th Century

 

The Survival Of Igbomina Indigenous Political Structure Under The Ilorin Emirate System In The 20th Century

 

Chapter One

 

General Introduction

 

Statement Of The Problem

 

The provocation to take over this study on “ the survival of Igbomina indigenous political structure under Ilorin emirate system in the 20th century ” is born out of adding question on the identity and tenacity of the culture of Igbomina people and further especially their political system.

 

For over a century, the Igbomina people were under different important political authorities. While places like Oke – Ode and Babanloma were under the Nupe authority, places like Oro, Igbaja, Omu- Aran, among others, were under Ilorin. The influence and impact of these authorities over the Igbomina speaking people are indeed, lasting. While the dressing of some of the traditional title holder has been seriously told , religion and custom has not been bombarded.

 

The summation of this situation has naturally been generating questions that this exploration study tend to give answers to.

 

Objects Of The Study

 

The main ideal of this work is to critically examine how Igbomina indigenous political system survived till date despite that the polity experienced series of irruptions at different times in history.

 

Inversely important is the period of Ilorin emirate ascendance over the Igbomina people. The influence of Ilorin emirate has also been given serious treatment in this essay. It should be noted still, that within the establishment of Homeric presence through the planting of precincts and appointment of agents called “ AJELE ” to oversee colorful Igbomina community by Ilorin emirate, the impact of it was felt in the total of Igbominaland. In particular, the Igbomina groups that are in Kwara state. The part of British colonialists in sustaining the authority of Ilorin emirate over Igbomina is also good of appraisal.

 

Compass Of The Study

 

This study is to bandy the integration of Ilorin culture into Igbominaland. Especially the stock in Kwara state. The specific focus would be on how the Igbomina indigenous culture have survived under different subordinating authorities.

 

The study covers from between 1900-1999. This would be largely because the Ilorin emirate imperialism on Igbomina reached it zenith and decline in the 20th century. This study will also touch on colorful aspects of history on the irruption in Igbomina land. The relationship between Igbomina people and Ilorin before the exigency of emirate system in the medial 19thcentury. The situation would be treated along the executive structure of Igbomina indigenous political institutions and the structural changes recorded after the period of established authorities over the Igbomina peoples.

 

Methodology And Problem

 

Different styles were espoused in collecting data for this essay. principally, an annalist must start by critically assessing the being or related literatures on the area. This effect didn’t only enhance the understanding of the experimenter but it also open up his mind on the content of study. The library study is followed by visit to the Libraries and be concluded with the collection of oral data. This, complement confirm or correct the data attained from the other sources of history. By this, both primary and secondary sources were employed to address the exploration.

 

Naturally, no exploration trouble is accepted without its own problems. To gain applicable or literatures that were directly related with the chosen content, actually demanded a lot of time to be at the library. Since the work falls into the order of literal sweats that can be said to be new, carrying accoutrements were generally delicate.

 

The problem encountered during the visit to the Libraries at Kaduna is another good aspect of my problems. Indeed though the trip from Ilorin to Kaduna gave no problem, accommodation and operation at the National Libraries Kaduna is another aspect where I had to endure.

 

Despite some of these problems, collection of data for the exploration study was indeed, stimulating and challenging.

 

Literature Review

It should be noted that, much has been done on the literal reconstruction of Igbominaland in general, but attempt haven’t been made on the survival of Igbomina indigenous political structure under Ilorin emirate in the 20th century. thus, applicable accoutrements have to be derided for. Some of the literatures examined are as follow.

 

Samuel Johnson, in his book, The History of Yoruba, gives a general literal account of Yorubas. The book traces the origin of the Yorubas and how Alaafin Ojigi took interest on Igbomina people to have extended Oyo conglomerate authority to the area. The extension of Oyo Empire’s authority, where Laderin, the ancestor of Aare Afonja served as the first Ajele of Old Oyo Empire in Ilorin.

 

Akintoye, in his book, Revolution and Power politics in Yorubaland, 1840-1993, did a thorough job on the origin of Igbomina as a group that settled in Kwara state. He also goes on to bandy at length the impact of Ibadan soldiers on Igbomina.

 

serve to say, while Akintoye claimed that Oke – Ode and Ora were innovated by the Oyo emigrants, available sources have shown that the agreements were by Ife emigrants.

 

Fatai Afolabi’s Igbomina Land in the environment of Yoruba History, is a literature that gives details regard on migrational history of Igbomina origin, people and also how Igbomina people are set up in Kwara and Osun countries of present day political structure in Nigeria. The literature also analysis how the Igbomina people agitated for regrouping during the social period.

 

Indeed though the literature dealt more on Igbomina history, noway the less the vacuum of the survival of Igbomina indigenous political structure wasn’t filled.

 

Sources of Yoruba History byS.O. Biobaku, analysis different Yoruba indigenous political reality as well as structures without ruling out the social artistic settings of the Yoruba fiefdoms and chiefdoms. It also contributed in no small measures to the explanation of the relationship between different Yoruba fiefdoms, especially during the Yoruba civil war.

 

It’s good of note that, the literature dealt substantially on Yoruba civil war of 16 times. The literature didn’t extend to bandy the history of Igbomina people.

 

Smith in his book, fiefdoms of the Yoruba, a good account of Igbomina and other Yoruba fiefdoms although in a relative form. It didn’t cover the aspect on the survival of the Igbomina people.