What Might Yoruba Land and West Africa Have Become Without British Colonial Rule?

What might have happened in Yorubaland and West Africa if British colonial rule had never occurred? This historical counterfactual begins with the decline of the old Oyo Empire, the rise of Ibadan, and the conflicts that reshaped Yoruba political power in the nineteenth century. After the fall of Old Oyo and the execution of Alaafin Oluewu during the Ilorin campaign, populations dispersed to places including Ibadan, Oyo Atiba, Ogbomosho, Iwo and Ilorin. Ibadan then grew into a major military power. It led several campaigns, subdued sections of Ijesaland, defeated Ilorin forces at Osogbo, and later emerged strongly from conflicts such as the Jalumi War. The argument is that, without British intervention during the Kiriji War, the Ekiti and Ijesa-led rebellion against Ibadan may eventually have collapsed through negotiation or military defeat. Ibadan could then have turned its attention to Ilorin, while strengthening allied towns in Ekiti and other parts of Yorubaland. In this view, a later confrontation between an Ibadan-led Yoruba alliance, supported by Borgu cavalry and other states, and the Sokoto Caliphate could have produced a large regional power. The eventual winner might have controlled a territory and resources not very different from those of present-day Nigeria.

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.