Reigning from 1876 to 1905, Alaafin Adeyemi I played a pivotal role in one of the most important wars in Yoruba history. The Oyo Empire was a major player in the 16-year-long Kiriji War, which pitted different Yoruba tribes against one another in a deadly conflict. The war lasted from 1877 to 1893.
Numerous Yoruba states and factions, each striving for control and influence, were involved in the conflict, which was distinguished by its scope, intensity, and participation. Efforts to preserve the Oyo Empire’s independence and resistance to the British colonial forces’ growing influence were hallmarks of the Alaafin’s reign.
The British started to exert more and more pressure by 1888, and by 1896, Alaafin Adeyemi I’s freedom had all but been taken away as the British solidified their hold on the area. In addition to documenting a momentous historical event, this image represents the shifting balance of power in the late 19th century as African rulers, such as Alaafin Adeyemi I, dealt with internal strife and external colonial influences. The image’s inclusion of the Afro-Portuguese trader serves to emphasize the intricate network of diplomacy, trade, and cross-cultural interactions that prevailed at the time.
The Kiriji War continues to be a crucial moment in Yoruba history, and the Oyo Empire’s final autonomous king, Alaafin Adeyemi I Alowolodu, left behind a legacy of adaptability, perseverance, and significant change.
Image Info: A rare and historic photograph captures Alaafin Adeyemi I Alowolodu, the last independent ruler of the Oyo Empire, alongside an Afro-Portuguese merchant during the tumultuous period of the “Kiriji War,” also known as the Yoruba Civil War or the Ekiti Parapo War.