Have you ever enter this lorry before?

Have you ever enter this lorry before?

You are a legend if you ever enter this lorry before.

What do you think?

Should we go back to this lorry or we should just move on with life 

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EGBA AND DAHOMEY WAR (1843 TO 1851)

 

EGBA AND DAHOMEY WAR (1843 TO 1851)

Background to the War

The Egba-Dahomey War was a series of conflicts between the Egba people of present-day southwestern Nigeria and the Dahomey Kingdom of the present-day Benin Republic. The war lasted from 1843 to 1851 and was one of the major conflicts in West Africa during the 19th century.

The Egba people were part of the Yoruba ethnic group. They had settled in the Abeokuta area of present-day Nigeria in the early 19th century. On the other hand, the Dahomey Kingdom was a powerful West African state that had emerged in the 17th century and had become a major regional power by the 19th century.

Throughout the 1820s and 1830s, the Old Oyo Empire was in disarray, with the rising influence of the Fulani Empire being a major factor. The Fulani Empire was founded by the Fulani people in the early 19th century. The Fulani Empire was expanding rapidly and encroaching on Oyo territory, which led to conflict between the two empires. In addition to the threat posed by the Fulani Empire, the Old Oyo Empire faced internal challenges. The political climate of the Empire was fraught with infighting between various groups. A collapse in commerce and agriculture, the Empire’s traditional sources of riches, worsen the economic problems.

The Dahomey kingdom, which was a part of the Oyo Empire, capitalised on the infighting in the Empire to declare itself independent. Immediately after declaring independence, the new Dahomey Kingdom was plagued by poor economic fortunes caused by infertile land in its north and the declining slave trade. The Kingdom saw the possibility of fertile land in Ajase-Ipo and Egbado; both communities were in Egba land.

The Egba-Dahomey war was the third of three ruinous wars that led to the final fall of the Oyo Empire. The first two wars are the Owu-Ife war (1821-1828) and the Osogbo war (1840). These three internal wars led to political instability and the demise of the Oyo Empire.

The Causes of the War

The causes of the Egba-Dahomey War were rooted in the Dahomey Kingdom’s expansionist policies and the Egba people’s resistance to their territorial expansion. Several factors contributed to the conflict, including:

Territorial Ambitions: The Dahomey Kingdom, under the leadership of King Gezo, had territorial ambitions to expand its influence and control over neighbouring states, including the Egba people.

Slavery: The Dahomey Kingdom was heavily involved in the slave trade and captured and sold many slaves from neighbouring states, including the Egba people. This created tension and resentment among the Egba towards the Dahomey.

Religious and Cultural Differences: The Egba people practised a different religion and had a different culture from the Dahomey Kingdom. This created friction between the two groups, and the Dahomey saw the Egba as a threat to their cultural and religious beliefs.

Personal Animosity: There were also personal animosities between some of the leaders of the Dahomey and Egba. For example, King Gezo of Dahomey had a personal grudge against the Egba and was determined to defeat them.

These factors combined to create a volatile situation that eventually led to the outbreak of war between the Egba and Dahomey.

The Main Occurrences

The conflict between the Egba and Dahomey started when the Dahomey Kingdom began expanding its territory into the Abeokuta area. The Egba people resisted the Dahomey expansion and managed to repel several Dahomey attacks. However, the Dahomey army was well-trained and equipped with firearms, which gave them an advantage over the Egba warriors, who mainly used traditional weapons.

The conflict escalated when the Dahomey army captured some Egba towns and took prisoners, some of whom were later sacrificed in Dahomey’s traditional religious ceremonies. This sparked outrage among the Egba people, who decided to fight back and defend their territory.

The Egba formed an alliance with the British colonial authorities, who were expanding their influence in the region. The British provided the Egba with weapons and ammunition, which gave them an advantage over the Dahomey army. In 1851, the Egba forces, led by their commander-in-chief, Sodeke, defeated the Dahomey army in a decisive battle.

The war had far-reaching consequences for the region. The defeat of the Dahomey Kingdom by the Egba people marked the beginning of the decline of the Dahomey Kingdom, which was eventually absorbed into the French colonial Empire in the late 19th century. The Egba people, on the other hand, became an important regional power and played a significant role in the politics of southwestern Nigeria.

Major Battles

The Egba-Dahomey War was characterised by a series of battles fought between the Egba and the Dahomey Kingdom. Here are some of the major battles that took place during the conflict:

Battle of Oke-Adan (1844): This was the first major battle of the war, fought between the Egba and Dahomey armies. The Egba army, led by their war chief, Oshodi, were able to repel the Dahomey army and prevent them from advancing further into Egba territory.

Battle of Imoshe (1849): This battle was fought between the Egba army and a Dahomey army led by King Gezo himself. The Egba army, led by Oshodi, defeated the Dahomey army and captured some of their weapons and ammunition.

Battle of Owu (1850): This battle was fought between the Egba army and the Owu kingdom, which had allied with the Dahomey Kingdom. The Egba army, with the support of British-trained soldiers, was able to defeat the Owu army and capture their leader, who was later executed.

Battle of Abeokuta (July 1851): This was the most significant battle of the war, fought between the Egba and Dahomey armies. The Dahomey army had launched a major assault on Abeokuta, the capital of the Egba kingdom. The Egba army, led by their commander-in-chief, Sodeke, and with the support of British-trained soldiers, were able to repel the attack and force the Dahomey army to retreat.

These battles, along with several others, were fought over the course of several years and contributed to the eventual defeat of the Dahomey Kingdom by the Egba people.

Major Actors and Their Participation

The Egba-Dahomey War involved several major actors, each with their own role to play in the conflict. Here are some of the major actors and their participation in the war:

Egba Kingdom: The Egba people were the main protagonists in the war. They were fighting to protect their territory and resist the territorial ambitions of the Dahomey Kingdom. The Egba army was led by commanders such as Sodeke, Oshodi, and later, Shodeke, and they received support from the British colonial authorities.

Dahomey Kingdom: The Dahomey Kingdom, under the leadership of King Gezo, was the primary aggressor in the conflict. They were seeking to expand their influence and control over neighbouring states, including the Egba people. The Dahomey army was well-trained and well-equipped, with access to firearms and other weapons.

British Colonial Authorities: The British colonial authorities had an interest in the region and saw the Egba people as potential allies against the expansionist policies of Dahomey. The British provided the Egba people with weapons and ammunition, which gave them an advantage over the Dahomey army.

Yoruba City-States: The Yoruba city-states, including Ibadan and Oyo, also played a role in the conflict. They provided support to the Egba people, and some of their soldiers fought alongside the Egba army in battles such as the Battle of Abeokuta.

Slave Traders: The slave trade was a major factor in the conflict, and slave traders from Europe and America played a role in arming and financing the Dahomey Kingdom. The Dahomey Kingdom was heavily involved in the slave trade and captured and sold many slaves from neighbouring states, including the Egba people.

The Egba and Dahomey War-top warriors

The Egba-Dahomey War featured several notable warriors who played significant roles in the conflict. Here are some of the top warriors:

Sodeke: Sodeke was the commander-in-chief of the Egba army and led the defence of Abeokuta during the Battle of Abeokuta. He is credited with organising the Egba resistance and mobilising the people to fight against the Dahomey Kingdom.

Oshodi: Oshodi was a war chief and one of the key Egba commanders during the war. He led the Egba army in several battles, including the Battle of Oke-Adan and the Battle of Imoshe.

Shodeke: Shodeke was the son of Sodeke and took over as the Egba commander-in-chief after his father’s death. He led the Egba army in the war’s final battle, the Battle of Ikirun.

King Gezo: King Gezo was the ruler of the Dahomey Kingdom and led the Dahomey army in several battles, including the Battle of Imoshe. He was known for his military prowess and was responsible for expanding the Dahomey Kingdom’s influence in the region.

Madam Tinubu: Madam Tinubu was a Yoruba trader and warrior who played a significant role in the conflict. She provided financial support to the Egba people and was instrumental in securing British support for their cause.

Effects of The War  

The Egba-Dahomey War had several significant effects on the people and societies involved, and several memorable events occurred during the conflict. Here are some of the effects and memorable events:

Territorial control: The war led to a shift in territorial control, with the Egba people successfully defending their territory and resisting the territorial ambitions of the Dahomey Kingdom.

Abolition of the slave trade: The war led to increased British involvement in the region, and the British authorities used their influence to pressure the Dahomey Kingdom to abandon the slave trade. The slave trade was eventually abolished in Dahomey in 1851.

Loss of life and displacement: The war led to significant loss of life on both sides, and many people were displaced from their homes and communities due to the conflict.

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History of Fasting and their religious Mentor across the Globe

History of Fasting and their religious Mentor across the Globe

Some of you have not heard about Himalaya before .

The hidden secrets of that place still remain a secret for the shallow minds who always look for proof but would not see because they are blind to see the truth and only believe in what their eyes can see.

Why are you practicing a religion and have faith if you can't believe a fellow man that was blessed with knowledge? It is just a sign that you are a fool.

You are just a follower following the blind and with no purpose .

Beego is a traditional Chinese tradition where you have to fast by drinking only water

There’s a reason that religions such as Taoism, Sikhism, Jainism, Islam, Hinduism, Lutheranism, Catholicism, and Buddhism all fast.

Tell me if anyone of this religion is not in china or Korea.???

Fasting began with the Ancient Greeks, especially Hippocrates and Pythagoras. Later, fasting caught on with Muhammed, Buddha, and Jesus Christ.

Without Pythagoras, we wouldn’t have Aristotle or Plato’s knowledge, as he inspired both of them and their personal philosophies. These philosophies would give way to Western philosophy, which formed and shaped the Western world.

Pythagoras would go on fasts of 40 days at a time for better creativity and mental perception. When he did eat, it was a vegetarian diet, as was the case for his followers, known as the Pythagoreans.

Hippocrates was another notable figure in Ancient Greek fasting. Born 460 BC and died 370 BC.

Hippocrates is said to have stated that “fasting is the greatest remedy – the physician within.” 

Buddha or Siddhartha Gautama, an Ancient Indian religious leader, spiritual teacher, mediator, mendicant, and philosopher was another major figure in fasting. Born around 480 BCE and died in 400 BCE, Buddha fasted quite often, typically taking his fasts beyond a reasonably healthy limit. At one point, Buddha fasted for so long that he became emaciated, which is not something we’d recommend today or ever, really.

Buddhist fasting allowed you to eat in the morning, but once the clock struck noon, you could not eat for the rest of the day. 

It was a serious offense if someone following Buddhism happened to break this fasting rule.

The other school of thought was pindapata, where monks would beg all day for food, as they were only able to consume what they collected in their bowls when the day was over. On bad days when the monks weren’t given much or anything at all, they fasted.

In Seon Buddhism in Korea, fasting and meditation go hand in hand, especially during geumchok training.

Shingon and Tendai, two sects of Japanese Buddhism, follow weeklong fasts known as danjiki to become a master teacher or acharya. In. Tendai school especially, these fasts sometimes go on even longer than a week, such as nine days at a time.

Chinese Buddhists believe in the eight-fold fast or baguan zhai. When on a fast of this nature, the eating window ends at noon. Fasts might last for three or six days. During eating windows, fish has to be avoided.

Another major religious figure outside of Buddha who fasted was Jesus Christ, born 4 BC and died around 30 or 33 AD.

Unlike the followers of other religious figures, Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast. Jesus was even asked about this one day, but he noted how his disciples would begin fasting after he died.

On a final note, this single article cut across china and Korea .

No fool, I repeat only fool would say they don't fast in china and Korea simply because you are a follower of a fool and a greater fool.

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The brief history of ADO AWAYE and the highlight features that makes AWAYE a wonderful town

The brief history of ADO AWAYE and the highlight features that makes AWAYE a wonderful town

Ado Awaye was founded in 1500 AD. The Alaafin of Oyo’s crown prince, Koyi, who was supposed to become the Alaafin was denied and his younger brother, Onigbogi, took over.

 In anger, he left Oyo with one of his father’s crowns and decided to go and settle in Otta, his mother’s town.

 However, he went through plain grounds until he got foot of the Ado Hill, where he saw a smoke. 

He climbed the mountain and there, he met some escapees from the Dahomey war. Having agreed and discussed with them, they decided to make him King of Ado.

The Alaafin of Oyo’s crown prince, Koyi, who was supposed to become the Alaafin was denied and his younger brother, Onigbogi, took over.

 In anger, he left Oyo with one of his father’s crowns and decided to go and settle in Otta, his mother’s town. 

However, he went through plain grounds until he got foot of the Ado Hill, where he saw a smoke. 

He climbed the mountain and there, he met some escapees from the Dahomey war. Having agreed and discussed with them, they decided to make him King of Ado.

Highlight of features that makes Ado-Awaye a wonderful and exciting town.

The highlight of features that makes Ado-Awaye a wonderful and exciting town.

1. Iyake Lake.

Iyake Lake is the only recognized suspended/hanging lake in Africa – one of the only two in the world after the Hanging Lake in Colorado.

 It has been named as one of the fascinating sites to visit in Nigeria as well as one of the seven wonders of Nigeria. It is said to be bottomless and have swallowed those who have tried to measure its depth.

 Till today, whoever enters the lake never comes out of it. It is said to be the main god of fertility of the Mountain.

 The villagers believe that beneath the lake exists another world that looks like the earth, and whoever transits into that world by diving into the lake will never return.

2. Agbómofúnyàké.

Agbómofúnyàké literally means “collects child and gives to iyake”. This little hole is located just beside the iyake lake. It is believed that, whenever the hole has water in it, whoever puts his leg into it gets dragged to the bottom of iyake lake.

3. Ìyá-Aláró Lake.

It is also one of the numerous lakes on the mountain. The lake was named after an old woman in the Ado-Awaye village, who specializes in dying of clothes. 

It is said that the old woman, known as “Iya Alaro”, worships the lakes and sacrifices to it at specific times during the year.

 The lake is characterized by a gloomy depth which underscores its association with Iya Alaro and its surface and surrounding is bedecked with a lush overgrowth of colourful vegetation.

4. Oke Ishage (Ishage Rock).

Ishage Rock is the bringer of rain for the Ado-Awaye people. It is a large elongated boulder of rock, balanced and standing upright on one of its small edges.

 The fact that this boulder has not fallen off the steep mountain side on which it rests remains a mystery to all. 

Whenever it doesn’t rain and rain is needed, the chief priest goes to the rock, covers the “waist” of the rock with a white cloth, then rain falls for 3-4 days straight.

5. Esè àwon Àgbà.

Esè àwon Àgbà translates to “the footprint of the elders”. It is a cluster of large “footprints” found all over the mountain. It is believed that the gods once walked over the mountain to protect the locals during the time the locals stayed up the mountain.

6. The Elephant Tree.

This is composed of the tangled trunk or root of a fallen tree which dramatically takes the form of the head and trunk of an elephant. The eyes of the elephant are also well represented on the formation. Hikers on the mountain are often tempted to climb the formation and sit on the ‘elephant’s head’ while posing for photos.

7. Esè kan Aiyé Esè kan Òrun.

This is a wide and deep chasm on the mountain which separates one part of the mountain from the other part which hosts the peak of the mountain. Only brave mountain climbers dare cross this valley as the rock slopes steeply along the valley walls.

 Only a narrow, very steep and slippery path across the valley, links the two parts of the mountain.

It is said to be bottomless and have swallowed those who have trie d to measure its depth. Till today, whoever enters the lake never comes out of it. It is said to be the main god of fertility of the Mountain. 

The villagers believe that beneath the lake exists another world that looks like the earth, and whoever transits into that world by diving into the lake will never return to our own world again.

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Jalumi War of 1878

The Jalumi war, also known as Ogun Jalumi or Battle of Ikirun was a bloody war fought by Ibadan on the side of Ikirun against the allied forces of Ilorin, Ila, Ekiti and Ijesha on November 1, 1878 in the northeastern part of modern day Osun State.

The Jalumi war was among the devastating civil wars that plagued the Yoruba nation in the 19th century. 

Others are, Osogbo war, Ekiti parapo/Kiriji war, Ibadan-Ijaye war e.t.c. In June 1878, Ikirun, a town in modern day Osun State, called for the help of Ibadan to join her in fighting the armies of Ekiti, Ijesha, Ila and the Fulanis of Ilorin who had laid siege on Ikirun.

 Ibadan was unable to send her armies immediately because they went on an expedition to Meko, a town in modern day Ogun State.

When the armies returned on October 14, 1878, they were instantly dispatched to Ikirun under the command of Balogun Ajayi Ogboriefon who was ordered to reach Ikirun within five days.

Ibadan armies marched to Ikirun but had a tough time crossing the Oba and Osun rivers because it was rainy season and the rivers were full. 

Many Ibadan soldiers drowned while crossing the two rivers. 

The allied forces of Ekiti and Ijesha, (ekiti parapo) Ila-Orangun and Ilorin had chased the Ikirun armies to their town walls and were gradually winning the war.

On the 31st of October, 1878, Balogun Ogboriefon eventually arrived Ikirun with his soldiers. 

He saw the condition of Ikirun and immediately began planning and working. He shared command with a co-warrior named Osi Ilori.

 The rebel forces attacked Ikirun in three groups.

 The Ilorins under Ajia attacked from the northeast; Ogunmodede and Ayimoro led the Ijesha armies and attacked from the east and camped in the town of Iba, while the Ekitis under Fabunmi Okemesi and the Ilas under Prince Adeyala lurked nearby.

The battle began on November 1st, 1878. The rebelling forces advanced on Ikirun.

 Osi Ilori took his army towards the east to fight the advancing Ijeshas while Balogun Ogboriefon fought the Ilorins, Ilas and Ekitis.

 The Ijeshas defeated Osi Ilori and his soldiers and captured him alive. The survivors retreated to the walls of Ikirun and reported their defeat to Balogun Obgoriefon who quickly attacked and tactically defeated the Ijesha force. 

He then returned to his previous position fighting the Ilorins.

 Ogboriefon successfully defeated the Ilorins and drove them out of their camp, but he was too late, Osi Ilori had already been killed.

He completed the victory by defeating the Ilas and Ekitis. 

Ibadan soldiers chased the Ilorin survivors to Inisa, a town between Ofa and Ikirun.

 When news reached the people of Ofa that the Ilorins were retreating towards Inisa, they cut the bridge across the Otin River in the rear and left the retreating Fulanis of Ilorin devastated. 

The Fulanis were pushed into the river by the Ibadans and drowned en masse; thus the war was named Jalumi which literally means “drown in the river“.

Hence the 1878 Battle of Ikirun was also called Battle of waterloo

.After the war, Ibadan armies stationed in Ikirun but left after an agreement between Ikirun and Ibadan. 

This birthed the statement “Kí ogun ó tó kúrò ní Ìkìrun, ọ̀rọ̀ ló tẹ́lẹ̀” which means “Before warriors left Ikirun, there were some discussions/agreement”.

A water cannon monument marking the end of the Jalumi war is located at Odo Otin River bank in Inisa till today.

References-

* Johnson, Samuel; The History of the Yorubas: From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the British Protectorate [Accessed 2017-07-19]

* Omipidan, Teslim; OldNaija; Historical wars in Yorubaland []

* Smith, Sydney, Robert; “Kingdoms of the Yoruba”; 3rd ed.; 1987; University of Wisconsin Press [Accessed 2017-07-18]

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