In this era, you are probably used to the alien tales of Margaret Thatcher, the first female Prime Minister of England, Joan of Arc(Jeane ‘D Arc) a lady who led the French armies to great victories during the 100 years of war in France or the Greek Amazons so beautiful but cut half of their breasts to facilitate archery. The Greek Amazons were trained to use virtually all weapons; they were honourable, courageous and brave. They resided in their female dominated kingdom Amazonomachies in Athens defended themselves and defeated large armies. Infact, the tales of their valour spread wide to a large extent that the Amazon River in South America was named after them. Courageous ladies do not only reside in Europe, history has recorded a lots of them Africa without excluding the Ibadan Amazons.

Ibadan is a land of rich war history, as it begun as a home for refugees and displaced individuals. It is a city that have housed countless warriors. Warriors like of Ogunmola, Oluyole, Aare latosa and Ibikulne who were instrumental in curtailing the expansion of the Fulani Jihad at Ikirun after the then Oyo capital Ilorin was seized were from Ibadan. There was a time in history when Lagelu, a great warrior from Ife settled in the area and due to his influence he became the Leader. After a short while the settlement began to witness advancement in terms of prosperity and progress and it was said that Lagelu prayed to the Yoruba god (Olodumare) before settling and requested for long life, good health, and good husbands for his children as they are all females and blessing upon the traders. Due to his growing influence he was decorated the Aare Ona KanKanfo of the Yoruba army. With his position he hosted an Egungun festival that year and a taboo happened during the festival, the costume of a masquerade fell with children and women present, thus desecrated the sanctity of the Yoruba ancestry. As it is believed that the masquerades represent the Yoruba ancestors.

Alafin Sango, the Alafin of Oyo at that time infuriated at the slip and its consequent effect on the citizens, called for an allied war and declared Ibadan a warzone to be obliterated from history as a punishment for the abomination. Lagelu, a war general prepared for war, however owing to the massive army of allied forces gathered by the Alafin, he had to strategize by moving with some of his followers and relatives to the hills of Ibadan(Oke Ibadan and fought a strategic battle from there. Soldiers of Lagelu attacked from the top of the hills and afflicted countless losses on the allied forces. Lagelu however was already old but his daughters groomed in the thickest of battles, with the toughest of men and the aura of a lord took the lea......http://www.horizonia.net/what-women-do-tales-of-ibadan-amazons/