₦airaland Forum

Afonja L’aiya L’oko of Ilorin

The 6th Aare Ona Kakanfo of the Yoruba nation played a more devastating role in history which also contributed immensely to the decline of Oyo empire.This warrior open rebelled against his King the Alaafin Aole and the entire Yoruba nation and also demanded for the king’s head in 1817.Due to his insatiable quest for power,he declared war on the Oyo empire together with some Yoruba traitors.To enforce his power and dominance,he made himself king of Ilorin which hitherto was a military outpost on the outskirt of the Oyo empire.He also took in slaves from Nupe who had escaped or committed grievous offenses from the empire into his new illegitimate kingdom.This he did for a while in other to swell and increase the population of the inhabitants of Ilorin.

Perhaps,his greatest undoing was the invitation of the Fulani cleric Alimi into his fold and kingdom.He had thought that an alliance between him and the Islamic cleric would yield fruitful tidings,and for a while it did.With the help of Alimi and his soldiers Afonja was able to successfully repel and raid the Yoruba nation.But their alliance was short lived.Sooner than later,the real intent of Alimi started to unfold in remarkable ways that caught Ilorin and Afonja unaware.After the death of Alimi,his son Abdulsalam also rebelled against Afonja his father’s host and in the ensuing power tussle,a conflict broke out between them which eventually led to the assassination of the Generalissimo Afonja.Legend has it that he actually died on his feet with his body ridden with hundreds of arrows trained on him by the Fulani warriors of Abdulsalam.

Subsequently,Abdulsalam took the throne of Ilorin and pledged allegiance to the Sokoto Caliphate hence making him the first Emir of Ilorin.This was the beginning of the encroachment of the Jihadist into the Yoruba lands.Ultimately,the Fulani waged war against the empire,subjugated some of the Yoruba cities, and successfully sacked and destroyed the city that the Alaafin himself had to relocate from the Old Oyo-Ile(old Oyo).This made the Alaafin place a curse on the Yoruba race in the year 1835.Unfortunately,their conquest on the Yorubas was short lived as they were soundly defeated at Osogbo by the forces forces of the Ibadan garrison.

Till date,the treachery of Afonja against his countrymen is still legendary as it serves as a form of didactic lesson to would-be betrayals in Yorubalands.The emergence of Islam into the Yorubaland could be linked to this power-drunk generalissimo who bit more than he could chew.

Oyabi of Ajase
Another great warrior is Oyabi of Ajase,the third Aare Ona Kakanfo,a perfect example of a true hero and loyal soldier.During the reign of Alaafin Abiodun,the dreadful Basorun Gaha who was already in total control of the empire including the Oyomesi and the Ogboni was at his peak in terms of tyranny.Having disposed two previous Alaafins in a space of 2 years,he was becoming a great threat to the further existence to the throne and occupants.For fear of the continuity of his own life,Alaafin Abiodun decided to put an end to the madness of the Basorun for good.The king secretly left the palace for a town known as Akala in search of his friend and namesake, Adegbolu who was the Baale of the same town.

After a lengthy conversation,they discretely left for the Army outpost at Ajase which was the abode of the then supreme commander of the Yoruba forces whose name was Oyabi.It was from here that the decision to destroy the Basorun and his household revealed itself.Like a good and obedient soldier,Oyabi rose up to the clarion call of his king and ,together with his Calvary, stormed the capital where a great carnage was let lose on the household of the powerful king-maker Basorun Gaha and his allies.That incident marked the freedom of the people of Oyo from the mad king-maker and also exalted the office of the supreme commander of the armed forces.

Kokoro Gangan of Iwoye

First on this list is the pioneer recipient of the title.If we take a good look at our history books,we would agree that there is actually nothing special about the exploits of this warrior, yet again,it should be noted that before him, there was no such title.The title itself was a brainchild of the 16th ruler of Oyo,Alaafin Ajagbo who during his days as a prince had a close childhood friend in the person of Kokoro Gangan.On ascension to the throne of his forefathers,he inaugurated the title and made his bosom friend the first warrior to bear the title hence,making him the very first Aare Ona Kakanfo of the empire,a title which could be roughly interpreted as
“the fearless leader in battle”.

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Over the past centuries and millenniums,the world has played host to great armies of conquest.Armies who at the behest of their Kings and rulers,have gone into battle for the pride,preservation and,expansion of their motherland.At the helm of affairs,the strategies and brilliance of the theater commanders and Generals determines the success and failure of any military outfit.Just as exceptional soldiers both in the armies of the modern and ancient world have risen to great ranks,not all could attain the greatest and most prestigious of all ranks which is reserved only for the most powerful warrior of them all:- The rank of the Field Marshall.

Centuries ago,the Oyo empire in its Optimus Primus,created a title which was to be bestowed on the fiercest warrior in the entire Yoruba nation :-The title of the Aare Ona Kakanfo.The title and its beholder symbolized the dominance and supremacy of the Oyo empire.At the control of the Aare Ona Kakanfo is is the entire armed forces of the Yorubas, and he is laden with the task of leading the forces into battles,defending the empire from external threats and internal revolts and,the assembling and training of soldiers into formidable merchants of death.

Furthermore,the recipient of the title of the Aare Ona Kakanfo undergoes series of compulsory rituals.These includes the famous 201 incision on the occipital part of the head using 201 different lancets and 201 different vials of very mysterious and potent preparations which remains classified till this day to the public.Also,the recipient is made to take an oath of allegiance to the Alaafin of Oyo to always obey,never to betray and, never wage war on the empire.Further instructions concerning the art of warfare is handed over to him which includes;never to retreat from a battle,never to loose a war and,when faced with an obvious defeat in battle,he is mandated to kick the bucket and perish along with the battle.With this done,the lord of war is then handed an equally mysterious staff and sent out into a military outpost far away from the capital.This is done so as not to give room for any entertaining thoughts of an attack or invasion on the part of the Warlord.

Conversely,the Yoruba nation before now, has been able to produce 14 of this warlords with the inclusion of another one recently(Gani Adams of Akoko) which have risen the number to 15 with the later 3 been more of a ceremonial role rather than the actual regular combatants of old.Briefly,we shall look into the lives of some of these supreme commanders who, through villainy or heroism have earned an exceptional or spectacular spot amidst them.

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1.THE AWUJALE OF IJEBULAND
Shocked at the choice of number 1 on the list?Strange it is,but lets look at these damning facts about this people to have warranted its position as the most powerful throne in the entire Yorubaland.Lets have it in mind that they were neither conquered nor subjugated by an forces except from the Brits.

Firstly,we examine and trace their origins which is in contrast to that of the other Yoruba legends.While the Yorubas trace their origins to Oduduwa,who journeyed from Mecca down to the present day Ife,where he then set in motion, a new race of people.In contrast to this,the Ijebus traced their own origin to what is now known as South Sudan or ancient Kush with traceable traits between them.

Secondly,during the twilight years of Okanbi,he was sick and became blind.In other to regain eyesight,Okanbi consulted the Ifa priest Agbonmiregun for a possible cure to his eye-sight,he was directed by the Ifa priest to get sea water to cure the ailment.Owa Obokun the son son of Okanbi was then sent to get the sea water,which he wandered about for years in fruition until he finally stumbled upon the the king of the Ijebus Awujale Lewu Legusen.On hearing the plight of Owa Obokun,the Awujale aided him and sent a messenger along with him to the sea to get the water,and also gave to him on his return from the sea,some eye medications for his father which eventually healed him.The Awujale in question was the fifth Awujale which shows that there had been a form of organized civilization even before the coming of Oduduwa into the Jungles of west Africa.

Thirdly,according to legends,the Ijebus were a very secretive set of people,who shielded others from ever venturing into their land.In other words,Yoruba or not,no outside was ever welcomed,though,they traded with all forms of people outside their cities,but if anyone executed.This went on till the conquest of Imperialist Britain.

Fourthly,the remains of a great ancient ruins of a city and presence of pyramids which were said to be much larger than that of Giza in Egypt were found in the hearts of the Ijebu lands.These discovery greatly bewildered the Europeans coupled with the facts that this city had fortifications in forms of walls which was said to be a replica of the wall of China.The remains of this great walls was later dubbed the Eredo works which all points to the existence of a very ancient power house within Western Africa.Though,they could not pinpoint the actual age of this edifice,but from the study of some of these works and carbon dating,they were able to predict a period probably thousands of years before the coming of Oduduwa since pyramids and walls were always signs of an advanced civilization.This further gave credence to the fact they had migrated from Kush.

Another weird fact is that the Ijebus are probably the only people in South-Western Nigeria that has successfully remained in its exact location since its inception,while other ethnic groups within the Yorubalands have relocated once or twice.In other words,no war or upheavals in recorded history had moved them away from their lands at any particular time which attested to its might.

It gets more weird when we realize that the assumed final resting place of the legendary Queen of Sheba was traced down to Ijebu.To the Ijebus she was known as Bilikisu Sungbo whose burial place could still be seen today and is possibly used as a tourist site.It should be noted that this conspiracy was not not a brainchild or myth by the Yorubas or the Ijebus,it was the research carried out by renowned Europeans Historians and Archaeologists and even aired as a documentary by popular media houses included a featured BBC documentary exclusively on the topic of controversy.

Finally,it should also be noted that the Yoruba Civil War waged on for years,not only because the warring groups refused to dialogue.but because the Ijebus maintained and monopolized the trade route which saw to the influx of all sort of weapons needed to keep the war going.It was a win-win situation,which saw to the increase in wealth of the various Ijebu businessmen.Perhaps,this dexterity and deftness in business and trade eventually led to their Waterloo.Being the gateway to the hinterlands of the Yoruba Federation,the British powers pleaded with the Ijebus to remove the blockade leading to the hinterlands,still the Ijebus refused and chose war which later became known as the Magbon War;it was a war they eventually lost to Britain,thus ending the Ijebu monopoly on land and sea trade routes.With access to the Yorubalands,the Brits were eventually able to quell the conflicts by assuming and affirming their control on the warring city states hence,the defeat of the Ijebus ultimately led to the end of the Yoruba Civil war.

2.ALAAFIN OF OYO
The undisputed paramount ruler of Yorubaland who was also the most promising grandson of the great Oduduwa founded the greatest and only empire of Yoruba descent,which went on to rival the likes of the Songhai empire in terms of power,might and,wealth.

After the sojourn of Oranmiyan out of Ile-Ife,Yoruba legend has it that he was provided with a magical snake and was instructed to follow its trail till it eventually stopped and disappear into the ground at a certain location after seven days.Eventually,the serpent stopped at site in which came to be known as Ajaka.Here at Ajaka,he decided to lay the foundations of his new kingdom.

During this period,his newly found Kingdom was faced with many raids from a neighbouring power house known as the kingdom of Borgu whose king was attempting to subjugate the new kingdom of Oyo.It took the intervention of Oranmiyan’s elder brother the great Ifagbamila Ajagunla the Orangun of Ila,to quell and conquer the threats to his brothers kingdom thus,saving the the greatest Yoruba kingdom from an early destruction.


From there onward,it was a mass expansion and display of power and brute force.In its prime,the successive Alaafin’s took control of all Yoruba lands and kingdoms which stretched as far as the northern parts of Nigeria and present day Benin and Togo thus,becoming an empire.The Oyo Empire had a military system synonymous to that of the ancient Greeks and Romans.It was a highly centralized and disciplined force,who had at its head as commander,the most powerful and reputable warrior at the time known as Aare Ona Kakanfo,whom is usually handpicked by the Alaafin himself.Several of these Aare Ona Kakanfos would later go on to play various roles in the formation of the present Yoruba landscape.

Up until its total collapse,the Oyo Empire and the Alaafins remained a force to reckon with in Africa.

3. OONI OF IFE
On our number 3 is the ancient stool of Ile-Ife which also doubles as the spiritual headquarters and home to the 201 gods of the Yoruba race.More like the Vatican city with the Pope as its head,Ile-Ife today is a perfect replica with all forms of spiritual attachments and relevance across the Yoruba lands.Also,being the seat of power of the Progenitor himself Oduduwa,this gives it a three-in-one attribute;the spiritual centre,home of the throne of the progenitor and,the birth place of the Yoruba race.Nevertheless,the name and title “Ooni” came into existence after the death of the King Okanbi.So,how did this name and title surfaced coupled with the fact that as at time of death of Okanbi,all original seven sons had left to start their various Kingdoms.

According to Yoruba legends,Okanbi had 8 sons which included the “original 7” whose names were the Alaketou of Ketou,Onisabe of Sabe,Onipopo of Popo,Olowu of Owu,Ifagbamila Ajagunla the Orangun of Ila,Adimula Ajibogun the Owa Obokun of Ijesa and,the last of them all,Oranmiyan the Alaafin of Oyo.Later on,he also gave birth to another son kn own as Ooni,this time,not from his legal marriage,but from his favorite slave known as Orunto.So,how did this alleged bastard son ascend the throne of Oduduwa and initiated a dynasty that still rules even till today.

Furthermore,legend also has it that when Oranmiyan returned from Benin,he found out that his long lost brother Adimula the Owa Obokun,had return from the sea where he had gone to get the sea water which was needed to cure their ailing father’s blindness.Not only that,he also learnt that his father Okanbi had ceded the throne to Owa of Obokun as a compensation for his help towards his health.
This,Oranmiyan pondered on and saw no reason why he should continue his life in Ile-Ife since he was no longer a favorite for the throne,hence his second journey out of Ife,to establish his own kingdom.

Conversely,after the exit of Oranmiyan,Owa Obokun also grew tired and restless as he wanted to leave Ile-Ife to establish his own kingdom.This decision,he made known to his father Okanbi,who later granted his heart desire and gave unto him territories and land which stretch forth from the very gate of Ife palace to wherever Adimula pleased.

Now,all his legal sons had departed to establish their kingdoms,he was left with his son Ooni from his favorite slave Orunto.Having no legal son to succeed him,he had no choice than to name Ooni as his successor after his demise thus began the bloodline and dynasty of the Oonis of Ife.Just like Julius Caesar of Rome,Ooni’s name was adopted as the official title of the ancient stool.

Though,Ile-Ife may not have offered much in terms of military might and trade during the monarchical days of the Yorubas,yet it was the undisputed cradle of Yoruba civilization.

4.OBA OF BENIN
Critics might have a lot to say regarding the inclusion of the kingdom of Benin as part of an ancient Yoruba brainchild and establishment.Nevertheless,we cannot dispute the fact that it is actually a product of the Yoruba race,a controversy that has finally been supported by the newly enthroned Oba of Benin during his coronation ceremony.

Prior to the triumph of Oranmiyan in Benin,it should be noted that it already had a sort of leadership structure with the head and ruler known as the “Ogiso”.During the reign of Okanbi in Ile-Ife,emissaries were sent to Ile-Ife to solicit for help due to the internal rift between the warring factions of the Ogisos.Okanbi then decided to send down an equally capable son renowned in the art of war and anti-insurgency,hence the quick departure of Oranmiyan to the kingdom of Benin where he quelled all rebellion adroitly.

To further strengthen peace and unity within the Kingdom,Oranmiyan thought it wise to put an end to the existing dynasty and in other for a new one thus,he made himself “Oba” meaning ‘King’ in the Yoruba dialect.This was the beginning of the new Oba dynasty in Benin with Oranmiyan’s son Eweka I successor after he left Benin back to his homeland and Family in Ile-Ife.The dynasty still stands and rule today.

This marked Oranmiyan’s first major conquest and his bloodline line and dynasty went on to become of the greatest kingdoms in West Africa with various great excavated artifacts now in museums all across the world.Surely,it deserves a spot amongst the Yoruba greatest 10.

5. OLOWU OF OWU
Who would ever forget the great tales of the legendary kingdom of Owu which blossomed more than any of its contemporaries during its existential days.Known not only as one of the greatest commercial centers of the Yorubas,but it was also a jewel to behold.

Going by legends,the Olowu of Owu was also one of the original seven of Okanbi,and also followed the conquest path cleared by his siblings.Not only did he succeed in creating a kingdom for himself,he created what was more than kingdom,he created a paradise.

Furthermore,the Kingdom of Owu centuries ago was viewed in a manner in which the Greek city states such as Athens,Sparta,Mycenae and the rest had viewed the city of Troy;it was a city that had all the splendors,might,fortifications and,riches they could ever envisage,this had spurned jealousy and envy in the hearts of other kingdom,thus setting the stage for an imminent clash which the powerful Owu kingdom had been a major culprit.

Centuries ago,the Ife kingdom was seen as a very sacred land,due to the fact that it served as the bedrock and origin of further Yoruba civilizations,thus there was a unanimous decision that forbade any other Yoruba kingdom from ever attacking Ife.This decision might have fallen on the deaf ears of Olowu Amororo,the then Olowu of Owu who went on to carry out attacks on Ife towns coupled with the fact that an Alligator pepper incidence had led to the loss of lives of some Ijebu traders and properties.This set the stage for an inevitable war and alliances were formed to put an end to the menace of the arrogant Owu kingdom.Perhaps,the Owu Kingdom shared a lot of things in common with the ancient Trojans which included a ghastly fate.

Just as King Agamemnon of Mycenae,Menelaus of Sparta,Odysseus of Ithaca,Ajax,and Achilles went into alliance against Troy,same alliance was forged by the Ijebus,Ibadan and Ile-Ife,which saw to the routing and total destruction of Owu after a prolonged 5yr war with her remnants taken captives by the Ijebus and Ibadan forces.The few who managed to survive were scattered all round the Yoruba federation.

Today,the people of Owu are found in several parts of the South-Western part of Nigeria,with a large chunk of its people in Abeokuta,where they have managed to repopulate and preserve what is left of the history and legacy of its people.Even though they are down and relegated down the echelons of power,yet we cannot but gaze at its glorious past that has over the years inspired Thespians and dramatist to re-enact a theatrical experiences based on the legendary kingdom of Owu.

6. OWA OBOKUN OF IJESHALAND
In number 6 on our list of the greatest Yoruba thrones is the powerful Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland.Adimula Ajibogun,who was one of the legitimate sons of Okanbi and the first Owa of Obokun would go on to play vital roles in the early years of Yoruba history.

According to legends,Okanbi the king of Ile-Ife,and only son to Oduduwa fell victim to the ugly grip of age,as he became old and was struck with blindness.His son Adimula Ajibogun was then sent to the sea to fetch water to cure his ageing father off the ailment of his blindness.On return from his trip,it dawned on Ajibogun that he had been presumed dead due to the longevity of his journey.

Furthermore,a very impressed Okanbi quickly summoned his chiefs to inform them that his son Ajibogun should be crowned king of Ile-Ife after his demise.Nevertheless,Ajibogun also had a thirst for an epic adventure of his own which made him decline the offer of succeeding his father as King.

Displeased by this sudden change in decision by his heir apparent nevertheless,he greatly appreciated the efforts of Ajibogun regarding his eyesight and was forever indebted to him,hence he decided that Ajibogun was entitled to more lands than his other brothers,if he choose not to become king after him.

Conversely,Okanbi entrusted the Ajase Sword,which he inherited from his father Oduduwa and also told him that from the very gate of the of the Ife palace to as far as he could venture shall belong to him,hence the name “Enuwa”attached to the palace of the Ooni of Ife,which literally translate to “boundary of Owa”in English and still serves as its current name.

The might of Adimula Ajibogun was legendary as he and his descendants went on to create probably the largest kingdom in the present day Osun state.The Ijeshas are also reputed for their business acumen and warlike nature and, for centuries they have blossomed far beyond the reach of their kingdom.

7.OLUBADAN OF IBANDAN
Although,the stool of the Olubadan might have been a late comer into the Yoruba imperialist structure,but quickly prove its terrifying might,which was devastating to the rest of the Yoruba race.

Its grand entrance into the power race came during the fall of the Oyo empire when the then Alaafin gave power to the Ibadan garrison to defend and protect the Yorubas from the encroaching Fulanis and the Ilorin rebels.

Right from the time of Aare Ona Kakanfo Iyanda Latoosa,who also doubled as the Olubadan,the Ibadan forces had proved their onion,by consistently defeating the foreign invaders,hereby putting an end to the Fulani territorial quest into the Yorubalands.Immediately after,this,they then set their eyes on some of their fellow Yoruba brethren and kingdoms who had failed to surrender power to the new hegemonic Ibadan,thus kick-starting series of wars which became known as the 16yrs war or the Yoruba civil war in which Ibadan engaged 80 percent of the Yorubas in war.

Though,the stool of the Olubadan and the kingdom of Ibadan might not have been established by any of the original seven grandsons of Oduduwa nevertheless,it still remains ones of the greatest seats of powers in the entire Yorubaland.

8.ORANGUN ILA OF IGBOMINALAND
Occupying the number eight spot on our list is the Orangun of Ila,who is also the paramount ruler of Igbomina,situated in south western part of Nigeria.

As one of the legitimate seven sons of Okanbi,and grandson of Oduduwa,the progenitor of the race,Ifagbamila Ajagunla also set out to find himself a kingdom where he eventually founded the kingdom of Ila and settled down.He however,took upon himself the title of Orangun,meaning ‘king’ of Ila.

A legendary warrior King and conqueror,Ifagbamila Ajagunla played vital roles during the formative years of the Oyo empire.After Oranmiyan had left Ile-Ife to settle at the first site known as Oyo Ajaka,he was faced with series of battle with the Ibaribas and Nupes.Oranmiyan requested help from his brother Ifagbamila Ajagunla,who accepted to help Oranmiyan.Legend has it that he led the likes of Olugbon,Aresa,Onikoyi and,Olomu Aperan into series of successful wars against the Ibaribas and Nupes until they were eventually conquered,thus bringing the Nupes and Ibaribas under the the firm control of Oranmiyan,the first Alaafin of Oyo.

9.ALAKETOU OF KETOU
On the list of the Yoruba greats is also the ancient stool belonging to the Alaketou of Ketou.Also stuck with the likes of Popo and Sabe in Benin Republic due to the scramble and partition of Africa by the Europeans,the stool of the Alaketou has remained as important as it was during its early days of creation.

Furthermore,going by the Yoruba history,it was said that the Aleketou is actually the first child out of seven children from the legal marriage of Okanbi,son of Oduduwa and should naturally have succeeded the throne of his grandfather Oduduwa,but due to their expansionist and adventurous dreams,he also hit the road on an epic journey which resulted into the creation of the Ketou kingdom.

10.ONIPOPO OF POPO

The first on our list is the Olupopo of Popo whose throne and kingdom lies in the Republic of Benin due to the Berlin conference of 1895.Though,not as powerful and important as we all think,it should be noted that the throne and significance of the Onipopo can not be easily brushed aside.It is actually one of the most powerful kingdoms in the Benin Republic.

The throne of the Onipopo is actually one of the very first set of ancient thrones in the history of the Yoruba race,even older than the Oyo empire.Been one of the seven legal children of Okanbi,he along with his other siblings set out to create their very own separate kingdoms independent from Ile-Ife.

After several centuries of turmoils,wars and,subjugation by the Oyo empire,it still managed to survive and outlive many of its peers.Also,one cannot overemphasis its relevance economically.

The Mecca expedition of the 12th century into the jungles of West-Africa brought about an influx of a particular group of ancient men who,unable to operate any longer under the shadow of a new powerful religion Islam,sought solace in a new abode - Ile-Ife.It was a migration which brought about radical changes in the lives of the aboriginals who hitherto, had no structure.With their coming came a new culture and tradition, the introduction of the Old gods and a new form of religion,a new civilization and most importantly,a progenitor -- Oduduwa,the first King of Ife who birthed a new race now known as Yoruba.

Oduduwa not only set in motion, the train of a new civilization in Ile-Ife,also from his loins sprouted great kings and kingdoms across the Yorubalands even unto Dahomey and Togo.Rulers such as the Onipopos,Onisabes,Owa-Obokuns,the Obas in Benin and most importantly, the Alaafins,who through its founder Oranmiyan,later went on to establish the greatest empire in the history of West-Africa - the Oyo Empire.Therefore,over 40 million blossoming Yorubas owe a great deal of their existence to this progenitor and his expansionist descendants.It should be noted that Oduduwa never sat on any other throne or took upon himself another title except that of the King of Ile-Ife up till his demise.

Conversely,due to their historic role in shaping the current Yoruba geographical landscape over the centuries,Nubia Republic has been able to put together a list of ten of the greatest Kings of Yoruba lineage.Some of the major factors used in grading these thrones are their longevity,military might,economic importance and,relevance in relation to the Yoruba people.

Time is a river they say but,what most people don’t understand is that this river is circular.One man’s death opens a door way to the birth of another.We live through a gruesome yet,necessary cycle of evolution,which takes us through the process of life and death.


We were sired into this world as helpless toddlers,dependent on our mothers’ love and compassion to survive our early stages.Through this phase,we relied solely on her milk,warm embrace,compassion and,fierce protection just like any other animal would offer its offsprings.


Soon,we became teenagers,dependent on the protection of our Parents and guardians to navigate our early stages of life.This phase of life initiated our young mind thus,we became observant to the endless possibilities the world had to offer therein.


As time whistled by,we blossomed into the youthful age with only our wits and vibrancy to navigate through the roses and thorns of life.This phase marked the beginning of the end of our parental tutelage.We aspired,dreamed,labored,rose,fell and,learnt to pick ourselves up as we became independent and navigated solely as lone wolfs.


Eventually,we got to that stage in life where the knowledge garnered from the past years and experiences came to play as the necessary repertoire needed to paddle the boat through the murky waters of life.The experiences of our teenage and youthful years replaced our parents and became our tutor.At this point in time,the son became the father of the man.Our parents became old and frail,dependent on us for their own survival just as we were dependent on them at the early stages of life.We evolved from toddlers into men who sired toddlers of our own.Henceforth,we became masters of our fate.


We have finally come to a full cycle.The twilight and end days of our life.Through its thick and thin,sweetness and sourness,happiness and tragedy,we emerged scorched yet,toughened.We came into a mysterious world as toddlers,we saw the world as it was as youths and,conquered we did,as adults.As frail old men we have become,we reflect on life and take a tour down memory lane.Reminiscence of the past comes pouring down like rain upon the morning grass.We smile as we majestically watch life take its pound of flesh from our withering life.Time is a disease we cannot stop,for it is the laughter of death,meeting us in seconds.


As we lay helplessly at the mercy of the offsprings we sired,we await the lord of the hills to come ferry us into the winter cold deep of the neverlands.In our final minutes,attentively,we observe the offsprings of our offsprings;young,innocent and naive toddlers,who are yet to begin this gruesome evolutionary journey.Their lives have hardly begun while ours have ended.Indeed,time is a river;one man’s death opens the doorway to the birth of another.


Photo credit:ANEPICTURES

Source: http://www.nubiarepublic.com/2019/05/age-and-timethe-inevitable-journey-of.html

Read more on http://www.nubiarepublic.com/2019/05/6-most-deadliest-special-operations.html

1.THE US ARMY ‘COMBINED APPLICATION GROUP’(CAG)/DELTA FORCE
You do not get to know them because you do not get to see them.When you talk about secrecy and anonymousness,the Army’s ‘Combined Application Group’ otherwise known as the ‘Delta Force’ comes to mind.The Delta Force are definitely top notch at whatever they do which includes the combination of all sort of unimaginable and nebulous mediums of warfare you can find on Earth today.Now you know how the term‘combined application’ surfaced. You definitely do not see them coming when they are about to engage.

Also,the US Army Delta Force is the only black ops operational force that recruits mainly from the Army’s special operations forces which includes the Army Ranger and Green Beret.Ironically,it is also the only special ops unit able to recruit even the members of DEVGRU into its fold,that is if they scale through its nearly impossible tests and training.

Though,very secretive and clandestine,these shadow warriors have been able to carry out some of the World’s most memorable military engagements recorded in history with devastating accuracy.Some of these famous operations include the capture of Saddam Hussein from his tightly secured secret underground haven in Iraq and the successful assassination of various top ISIS leaders including Abu Sayyaf.

Furthermore,on completing the gruesome training process,the qualified candidates immediately ceases to exist technically.In other words,he assumes an unidentifiable identity.They are even not permitted to put on normal military fatigue uniforms like the other operation units so as not to be identified by anybody.

2.NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE DEVELOPMENT GROUP(DEVGRU)/SEAL TEAM 6

Perhaps,the most known covert operational assault force on Earth,the US ‘Naval Special Warfare Development Group’ comes on the second position on our list of elite special ops elements.Although,some see it as part of the SEALs,it is actually an independent operational unit outside of the command module of number SEALs and it stands on it own.Some actually call it “Rainbow” or “Color”SEALs to distinguish them from the the other SEAL team otherwise known as “number” SEALs,but its actual name is DEVGRU.

Under the watchful eyes of the ‘Joint Special Operations Command’(JSOC),DEVGRU has carried out numbers of operations so black and clandestine,some actually remain classified even after successful offensive campaigns.One of their greatest hit was the carefully planned and executed raid and eventual assassination of the most feared terrorist leader on Earth in 2011,Osama Bin-Ladin in Abbottabad,Pakistan.

Also,due to the nature of its operation,it fiercely remains in the shadows so as its soldiers who also stay off the grid for less attention from the public.It is considered the most elite Naval clandestine force and the second most powerful in the US special operations ladder.

3.US FORCE RECONNAISSANCE MARINES
Forget about the “recon” decoy attached to its name,as its operations are far beyond the realms of mere ‘behind-enemy-line’ reconnaissance.The force Recons are the Marine corps’ elite special operations unit with a very rich expertise in fields such as counter-terrorism,counter-insurgence,amphibious-warfare,conventional and unconventional forms of warfare,thus making it on par with the Navy SEALs.

Also,as a result of its unique nature,it falls under two sets of command,depending on current physical location.The ‘Marine Expedition Force’ Commander assumes command of the Force Recons on land,while the ‘Naval Strike Group’ takes charge if they are on sea aboard a ship.

4.US NAVY SEALS
The Navy SEALs are one of the most known clandestine special forces on Earth.They are probably,the most extensively trained special operations’ team in the United States with an exceptional combination of land,aerial and,naval warfare techniques which ironically is immersed in their name(SEa Air Land).

Majorly a clandestine unit,this Navy force specializes in the execution of black operations and operates around the world.With very impressive track records which includes successes in Afghanistan,Iraq and,post 9-11 crisis.

5.US ARMY GREEN BERETS
Officially named the “Green Berets” in 1961 by the late President John F. Kennedy,this Army unit has over the years,mastered the art of counter-insurgency and unconventional welfare.Also,the Green Berets are specifically tasked with 5 main objectives which are,special reconnaissance ,direct action,foreign internal defense,counter-terrorism and,unconventional warfare.

Furthermore,the Green Berets have engaged in a number of conflicts which includes World War II,the Korean War,the Cold War,the Vietnam War,the Gulf War and,operation Urgent Fury and,lots of other military engagements.

6. US ARMY RANGERS
Though,not really a clandestine unit tasked with black ops,the US Army Rangers is one of the elite forces within the US Army.With tough and rigorous training, makes them as equally capable as the other elite special forces.With their headquarters at Ft.Benning,GA, the Ranger unit is made up of 3 special operations battalion and also a single special troop battalion.

Also,the Army Ranger unit was very instrumental in capturing Normandy during World War 2 when they were eventually deployed to save the United States from a disastrous defeat at the hand of the Nazis.The Army Rangers can also be readily deployed to any conflict zone around the globe,within an 18 hour time frame.

Over countless centuries,the world has played host to different military outfits who have gone ahead to play major roles in shaping the

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contemporary military forces of our modern era.But have we ever wondered what or who the world’s most elite military forces are?.During the First and second World Wars,we saw Military outfits such as the likes of Britain,France,the United States,Canada,Russia and,Germany rise,while the likes of Prussia,Spain,Italy,Austria,Hungary,and,Japan have fallen into oblivion.

Conversely,there is actually more to the superb performances and exemplary execution of military campaigns from the elite armed forces.Within the confines of a military organization,there is a handful of carefully selected forces who have been specially trained,grilled,and forged into an elite fighting force specifically tasked with executing the dirty works and major operations,be it clandestine or otherwise which is way beyond the comprehension of the regular military officers.

Nevertheless,the focus of this article centers around the armed forces of the United States,which harbors probably the finest and deadliest of all special operation forces found on Earth.As many as they come,Nubia Republic has been able to select the deadliest and most reputable of them all.Here is a short list of the six most deadliest special operation forces in the US.

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1.Alexander The Great

Born in the capital city of Pella, to Philip II,ruler of Macedonia,Alexander through his adventurous exploits over the course of his short life, became the greatest conqueror of all time.At the time of his birth,Macedonia had assumed Hegemony over other Greek city states.

In 343 B.C,when Alexander clocked 13yrs of age,Philip II invited the great philosopher Aristotle to become the royal tutor of his son Alexander.Aristotle dutifully educated the young Alexander and friends thoroughly for three years from whence Alexander took very keen interest in Homer’s illiad.The tales of Achilles became his source of inspirations as he hoped to mimic the legendary life.

His greatness on the battlefield was soon discovered during his father’s campaign against Athens and Thebes at Chaeronaea.Legend has it that the Young Alexander who at just 18 years of age,led a cavalry charge against his enemies which surprisingly decided the fate of the war.The Macedonian victory of that war solidified Philip’s claim as the leader of all Greeks.The year was 338 B.C.

In the spring of 336,another opportunity came for Alexander when his father Philip II was murdered by his courtier during the wedding celebration of his daughter.Alexander was immediately chosen as the new leader of Macedonia and Greece.The Thebans,sensing they could capitalize on the current scenario,decided to rebel against the dictates of Macedonia.In reply to the rebellion,Alexander mustered up his forces and in 335 B.C,invaded Thebes and quelled the rebellion killing 6,000 people.He thereafter divided the lands of Thebes and enslaved the surviving citizen of the once rebellious land.

At the age of just 22,Alexander brought together an army of 5000 cavalry and 30,000 infantry and marched east for the ultimate quest;the invasion of Persia.This was in 334 B.C.The first of his epic battles was fought at the River Granicus east of Troy,where a Persian military contingent lay await for the Macedonian forces.In a spectacular display of leadership,Alexander himself led a cavalry charge across the water and routed the Persian forces killing most of them while the surviving ones were sent to Macedonian mines as slaves.

A year after this,Alexander soon recorded yet another victory,this time against Persian forces led by its emperor Darius III himself. The mother along with his wife and children were captured and held as captives of Alexander.

The final decisive battle between the Persians and Greeks took place in 331 B.C,at Gaugamela,where he confronted the entire might of the Persian military under the leadership of emperor Darius.An epic battle which he eventually won hereby, ending the reign of the dynasty of Persian emperors thus,becoming the new ruler and emperor of Persia.

Unfortunately,at 323 B.C,Alexander fell sick after a banquet at Babylon and dies shortly after.At age 32,he was the greatest conqueror.His embalmed body was hijacked by one of his Generals Ptolemy and taken to Egypt were he was placed in a gold coffin in the city of Alexandria named after him.

In his short and adventurous life time,Alexander the great had conquered and incorporated vast amounts of lands into his empire.From Greece,Anatolia,Babylon, Mesopotamia,Persia,India,Egypt and Northern Africa etc.The conquest of Alexander the great had a lasting effect on the world.It was responsible for the spread of the Greek culture.Before him,they were tribes and after him,there was unification which in the sense that he built across the world an empire not of lands and gold,but of the mind thus,opening the Hellenic civilization to all. This further strengthened his notion that the world could be ruled by a one true king.He was a demi-god to some.He would be forever remembered for his epic cavalry charge at Gaugamela against emperor Darius III,or at the mountains of the Hindu Kush,where he crossed a victorious 100,000 man army into India.Before and after him,there were mighty Warriors and strategist,but non was greater than Alexander The Great.



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2.Hannibal

Born to the great Hamilcar Barca in 247 B.C.E in North Africa,Hannibal was to assume the mythical status as the greatest military strategist the world has ever known.His famous exploits against Rome would leave a lasting impression throughout all generations.

According to ancient historical accounts,Hannibal was made to swear an oath of hatred against Rome by his father after Carthage was defeated in the first Punic War.After the death of his father in 229 B.C,Hannibal was enlisted as an officer in the Carthaginian army,under the watchful eyes of his brother-in-law Hasdrubal.In 221 B.C,Hasdrubal was assassinated, and the young Hannibal was choosing by the army to be the commander of Carthage’s empire in the Spanish lands.He was barely 26yrs of age.

With this new found power,Hannibal set out to fulfill his oath to his father;to unleash terror on Rome.He eventually set out on a journey to Rome with a massive army of 90,000 infantry,40 elephants and,12,000 cavalry.Due to the fact that much of their foreign conquered territories had been ceded to Rome as part of terms of surrender at the end of the first Punic war,he was forced to navigate the most difficult terrains all the way through the Pyrenees,across the Rhone River and, all the way up through the famous Alps before he found his way into central Italy.

In the course of the journey,a quarter of his men are dead including most of the horses and all but one of his Elephants due to the harsh Alpine weather.Nevertheless,the survivals marched on thus,the invasion of Italy and the second Punic war began.In response to this,the Roman Senate raised 6 new legions of over 30,000 men to confront the invading Carthaginians.Hannibal,being a skillful warrior and strategist,outmaneuvered and defeated the Romans on several battles despite been outnumbered and ill-equipped.Throughout his invasion on Italy and Rome,he never lost a single battle with his most memorable victory at the battle of Cannae,where Hannibal was surrounded by 16 Roman Legions of 80,000 soldiers;an army said to be twice that of Hannibal.In a classic battle of wits and strategy rather than numbers,Hannibal again tactically outsourced his enemies and eventually surrounded the Roman legions despite been greatly outnumbered and in a display of brute force he cut to pieces the the horrified Roman legions.50,000 Roman soldiers which was more than half of the entire Roman military,were slaughtered.It was the worst defeat Rome ever suffered.

At last,Rome saw Hannibal for who he truly was;a first true threat to their existence,and for 15 years,the war raged on with Hannibal conquering vast areas of lands in Italy.Unfortunately,Rome was heavily fortified and Hannibal,who had no proper siege equipment, found it very hard to invade it.It took the another ingenious leader in same caliber with an equally ingenious plan to put an end to his reign of torment in Italy.

During his lifetime,Hannibal was able to instill fear into the hearts of the Romans that they swore never to be tormented and humiliated again like Hannibal and the Carthaginians did to them.Hannibal earned the name “scourge of Rome”.Hannibal is greatly remembered for his famous battles and tactics over the course of his life especially his crossing of the Italian Alps and his battle at Cannae against the Romans.

3.Genghis Khan

Born as Temujin around 1162 to Yesukhei,leader of the Borjigin clan,Genghis Khan was to become probably,the deadliest military commander and leader ever to walk the surface of the Earth.Legend has it that he was was born into the world with a blood clot held tightly in his fist;it was a sign that he was to become a great ruler.

Before Temujin reached the age of 10,his father was poisoned by a rival clan.Also at a tender age of 13, Temujin killed his older half-brother,thus becoming the leader of his clan.Perhaps,one could say he developed a brute thirst for blood from the violence and upheavals within his region of birth.

Before long,young Temujin had proved himself to be a great military on battlefields hence earning himself a formidable reputation.A very stern leader,Temujin by 1205,had destroyed all enemies and rival clans,had their leaders executed and,incorporated their clan members into his hence,expanding his clan into a very large one.The following year,Temujin had gathered together all the representatives from every part of the territory for an epic meeting that would change the course of history forever.It was decided that a new nation had to be formed in the region now known as Mongolia.It was there that Temujin was proclaimed “Genghis Khan” meaning “Universal Ruler”.It was a name that would unleash terror on the world.

Soon after the new nation was formed with Genghis Khan as the indisputable ruler,he set them on a bloody path of world domination.With their bows,arrows,swords and horses,the mongols swept through lands after lands leaving a devastating scenario to behold.He had successfully struck terror within the hearts of his enemies.

It was said that Genghis Khan not only depopulated the Earth,but his blood-lust also affected the rotation of the Earth.Vast areas of lands filled with blossoming cultures and civilizations were quickly converted back into thick jungles and forest as they were no living inhabitants within them.Truly,his time on Earth was a terrifying prospect for his enemies and victims.

In the end,Genghis Khan and his Mongolian killing machines had control of much of Asia and Eastern Europe.He single-handedly brought the Eastern and Western civilization into contact.No leader in history was said to have conquered more than Genghis Khan as he was said to have conquered more than twice as much lands than any other person on Earth.

4.Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus

Born in 236 B.C.E,into a very prestigious family, Scipio was to become not only greatest military strategist Rome had ever seen,but was also the savior of Rome from an imminent extinction during the course of the second Punic War.His very deeds launched Rome into dominance on the world map.

After the fall of Macedonia,Rome started growing from a little farm village to a status of a super-power.Moreover,they were not the only one in terms of power and fame and in no time,they were bound to collide. Though,growing at a moderate pace,Rome had encountered enemies who had challenged its growing powers,but none had ever threatened its very existence as the case of Cartage.

During the first Punic War,Rome had managed to defeat its arch-rival Cartage who were then forced to sign a very humiliating terms of surrender which saw them loosing large part of their conquered territories to Rome.This did not go down well with them as some of these factors led to the second Punic war.

The second Punic War was to be a decisive war between two super-houses, whose ever expanding powers and fame were frequently engaged in a brutal collision.This time,it was meant to be a winner-takes-all type of war.One power house had to leave for the other.Thus,Carthaginians called on the great Hannibal to lead its armed forces into war.

Rome,in a quest for glory,had committed one of its greatest blunders.They had fielded political appointees as commanders,who hitherto had little or no battle experience against the Carthaginian Hannibal.Battle after Battle,the Roman Legions were soundly defeated and in the process lost nearly half of their entire military.Rome,who now saw their very existence in jeopardy,then called upon its greatest strategist in same league with Hannibal.After fifteen long years of continuous defeat they called upon Cornelius Scipio Africanus to save them from Hannibal.

Scipio,who had been a survival of one of the battles,was as cunning as the commander of the enemy forces.He closely studied the battlefield tactics and strategies of Hannibal and in 204 B.C.E,rather than confronting Hannibal and his forces situated outside the gate of Rome in Italy,he carried out an expedition across Italy and invaded the homeland of Hannibal; Carthage.Having almost all their forces situated at the doorsteps of Rome in Italy,Carthage had no option than to recall their greatest strategist back to home to defend them thus,ending Hannibal’s campaign on Italian soils.

Finally,both armies gathered at the ancient city of Zama where they were to fight the single decisive battle that would put an end to the War.In an epic battle of wits and strategies at Zama,victory came swiftly for Scipio which ultimately ended the second Punic war.His victory against the Carthaginians at Zama earned him the name Africanus.That particular victory cemented the dominance of Rome on the world map as they went on to reshape the history of countless cultures and civilizations for hundreds of years to come.