Ilorin Emirate
Encyclopedia
The Ilorin Emirate is a traditional state based on the city of Ilorin
in Kwara State
, Nigeria. It is considered to be one of the Banza Bakwai, or copy-cats of the Hausa Kingdoms.
At the start of the 19th century Ilorin was a border town in the northeast of the Oyo Empire
, with a mainly Yoruba
population but with many Hausa-Fulani
immigrants or slaves.
It was the headquarters of an Oyo General, Afonja, who rebelled against the empire and helped bring about its collapse with the assistance of the Fulani.
The rebellion was powered by Hausa
, Nupe
and Bornu
Moslem slaves.
Afonja had been assisted by Salih Janta, also called Shehu Alimi, a leader of the local Fulani.
In 1824 Afonja was assassinated and Alimi's son Abdusalami became Emir.
Ilorin became an emirate of the Sokoto Caliphate.
For some time Ilorin was a major center of the slave trade. In the past slaves had mainly been sent north across the Sahara, but now they were being sent south via the Yoruba lands to the coast to supply demand from the USA, the West Indies and Brazil
.
Slaves were taken from the Igbo
lands to the east and from conquered Yoruba towns, as well as from areas further to the north, and were traded for cloth and other goods.
Ilorin continued to expand southward until it was checked in the 1830s by the growing power of Ibadan
, an Oyo successor state. The Ilorin cavalry were ineffective in the jungle to the south, and by the 1850s Ibadan had access to guns from European traders on the coast.
Ilorin
Ilorin is one of the largest cities in Nigeria and is the capital of Kwara State. As of 2007 it had a population of 847,582.-History:Ilorin was founded by the Yoruba, one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, in 1450...
in Kwara State
Kwara State
Kwara State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Ilorin. The primary ethnic group of Kwara State is Yoruba, with significant Nupe, Bariba and Fulani minorities.- History :...
, Nigeria. It is considered to be one of the Banza Bakwai, or copy-cats of the Hausa Kingdoms.
At the start of the 19th century Ilorin was a border town in the northeast of the Oyo Empire
Oyo Empire
The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire of what is today southwestern Nigeria. The empire was established before the 14th century and grew to become one of the largest West African states encountered by European explorers. It rose to preeminence through its possession of a powerful cavalry and wealth...
, with a mainly Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
population but with many Hausa-Fulani
Hausa-Fulani
Hausa-Fulani is a term used to refer collectively to the Hausa and Fulani people of West Africa. The two are grouped together because since the Fulani War their histories have been largely intertwined...
immigrants or slaves.
It was the headquarters of an Oyo General, Afonja, who rebelled against the empire and helped bring about its collapse with the assistance of the Fulani.
The rebellion was powered by Hausa
Hausa people
The Hausa are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. They are a Sahelian people chiefly located in northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger, but having significant numbers living in regions of Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad and Sudan...
, Nupe
Nupe
The Nupe, traditionally called the Tapa by the neighbouring Yoruba, are an ethnic group located primarily in the Middle Belt and northern Nigeria, and are the dominant group in Niger and an important minority in Kwara State.-History:...
and Bornu
Bornu Empire
The Bornu Empire was an African state of Nigeria from 1396 to 1893. It was a continuation of the great Kanem Empire founded centuries earlier by the Sayfawa Dynasty...
Moslem slaves.
Afonja had been assisted by Salih Janta, also called Shehu Alimi, a leader of the local Fulani.
In 1824 Afonja was assassinated and Alimi's son Abdusalami became Emir.
Ilorin became an emirate of the Sokoto Caliphate.
For some time Ilorin was a major center of the slave trade. In the past slaves had mainly been sent north across the Sahara, but now they were being sent south via the Yoruba lands to the coast to supply demand from the USA, the West Indies and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Slaves were taken from the Igbo
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
lands to the east and from conquered Yoruba towns, as well as from areas further to the north, and were traded for cloth and other goods.
Ilorin continued to expand southward until it was checked in the 1830s by the growing power of Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
, an Oyo successor state. The Ilorin cavalry were ineffective in the jungle to the south, and by the 1850s Ibadan had access to guns from European traders on the coast.
Rulers
Rulers of the Ilorin Emirate:| Start | End | Ruler |
|---|---|---|
| 1817 | 1824 | Oba Afonja |
| 1824 | 1842 | Abdusalami dan Salih Alimi |
| 1842 | 1860 | Shita dan Salih Alimi |
| 1860 | 1868 | Zubayro dan Abdusalami |
| 1868 | 1891 | Shita Aliyu dan Shita |
| 1891 | 1896 | Moma dan Zubayru |
| 1896 | 14 January 1914 | Sulaymanu dan Aliyu |
| 1915 | November 1919 | Shuaybu Bawa dan Zubayru |
| 17 February 1920 | June 1959 | Abd al-Qadiri dan Shuaybu |
| 30 June 1959 | 1991 | Zulkarnayni Gambari dan Muhammadu Laofe "Aiyelabowo V" |
| 1992 | August 1994 | Malam dan Abd al-Qadiri |
| 1995 | Ibrahim Kolapo dan Gambari |