THE MAN, OGEDENGBE, A GREAT YORUBA WARRIOR AND THE CAUSE OF THE KIRIJI WAR!

PREAMBLE: IJESALAND BEFORE OGEDENGBE'S BIRTH

It was a known fact that before Chief Ogedengbe was born, Ilesa and the entire Ijesaland was under the total control of the Alaafin of Oyo, who doubled to be the eldest son of Olofin Ajaye popularly called the Oduduwa of Yoruba hegemony.

There had been several attacks and assaults on Ilesa by the Oyos in order to make Ilesa, the headquarters of Ijesaland, a tributary territory for the Oyo Empire. All efforts to conquer the Ijesas were not successful because of their strength, fortitude and winning spirit. It was during these periods of war, turbulence and communal disturbances that a Saviour and redeemer, a conqueror and a champion of his time would come.

Before Chief Ogedengbe was born, the Owa Obokun of Ilesa was virtually disturbed and perplexed on the continuous ravaging wars from the Oyos. The Owa Obokun then invited his Ifa Oracle consultants to find ways of quelling these incessant problems from the Oyos. These consultants consulted their ifa oracle and there was a revelation that a ‘great son’ of Ijesa was about to be born who would salvage his people from the whims and caprices of the Oyos. In order to actualize the birth of this boy, a black cow and other herbs far and near were to be concocted. The Ifa Oracle then decided where the ‘golden boy’ was to be born. It fell on ‘Atorin’ a little village very close to Ifewara in Atakunmosa West Local Government (present Osun State).

OGEDENGBE’S BIRTH:- A pregnant woman by name, FALUPO woke up in her village at Atorin, only to be told to show up at the Town Hall where verification exercise on whom to bear the ‘golden boy’ was to be identified. Lady Falupo amongst other sixteen (16) pregnant women were identified to bear the child. All rituals were performed at Atorin near Ifewara and deposits were taken to a site close to the present Hope Grammar School Bolorunduro, Ilesa for sedimentation.

After twenty-one days of the rituals, the areas where the rituals were placed started to spring-up water, later stream and eventually developing to a river. The Slogan, “Nya woo oo” ‘come and see’ now river ‘Ayao’ , which is a popular river in Ilesa metropolis.

No one can say exactly the date Chief Ogedengbe was born. Speculations were rife but one would boldly say he was born in the early 19th Century between 1805 – 1815 A.D. This could be decided by his strength and prowess during the last series of battles he fought at kiriji battle front at the Kiriji Battle front. Relying on the records of Captain B. W. Bower, the Resident of the British Government at Oyo, he rated him to be old and averse in war experience and he would be about eighty years of age Captain B. W. Bower wrote this in his records in 1885

His mother’s town was Atorin while his father's was OLORISA. He did not grow up in Olorisa because the mother had relocated to Atorin because of predictions and matrimonial problems from the bubbling husband whose personal physique and rotundity attracted several women to his household. His name is Apasan Forijiwa.

The little Ogedengbe grew up at Atorin until he shot a pregnant woman at Atorin. He could not go to school because schooling and formal education was unknown to Ijesaland then. He ran to IIesa to avoid being humiliated and assaulted or even punished. He was at Ifofin, in his Uncle’s house as an abode.

As a bachelor, he befriended a lady who had been bethrothed to one high Chief in Ilesa called Odole Ariyasunle. The Chief was not happy, he ordered his arrest, he was chained and detained at Idi – Ito ( Ijebu Jesa Junction of Ilesa). His peers and friends forcibly released him and he had to escape to Ibadan.

HIS FIRST TRAVAIL AT IBADAN: -

On getting to Ibadan, he could not settle peacefully. He had to enroll into the Ibadan upper Army Unit meant for outstanding soldiers. Aare Latosa gave him the necessary trainings and equipments to make him up. He was at Ibadan when he learnt that the Ibadan’s were waging war with the Ijesas and Igbajo (a district of Ijesas). He hurriedly left Ibadan to assist the Ijesas and Igbajo forces. On the battlefront, he was caught and brought back to Ibadan to face the case of sedition. He was given severe punishments and attempts were made to terminate his life. He was able to escape all the threats to his life.

HIS ESCAPE FROM IBADAN

After several attempts to his life failed. The Ibadan Army under Aare Latosa said he should be stoned to death. At this time a woman, OLOKUNLARO came to his rescue and he was able to escape. He fought his way back to Ilesa with great difficulties. Several security men were killed but Ogedengbe was not hurt.

On his arrival at Ilesha, Ogedengbe warned the Ijesas about the imminent wars already planned by the Ibadans against Ijesas. To the contrary, Odole Ariyasunle who was never happy raised opposing views and advised Ogedengbe to leave Ilesa. Ogedengbe left Ilesa for Igbara Oke where he turned to his headquarters instead of Ilesa.

As predicted by Ogedengbe that the Ibadans would attack Ilesa, they came and pounced on the Ijesa heavily. The Ibadans surrounded Ilesa but could not enter into the town. This was because Ilesa was protected by traditional walls which were seven (7) in number. The height of each wall was over forty (40 feet). Though there were seven outlets into Ilesa then, they were highly fortified by Ijesa forces. The Ibadans could not penetrate despite their might and strength. These walls were called ‘ODI’.

Ogedengbe heard about the onslaught of the Ibadans on his kinsmen, he was disturbed and he started to nurse an idea of revenge against the Ibadans if GOD permits. He settled permanently at Igbara Oke where he extended his authorities over several Ekiti, Akoko and Edo counties. He fought and commanded his soldiers to capture several towns in the present Ekiti, Ondo, Edo and Kwara states under the banner and respect for the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland. Throughout his expansionist battles, he did not touch any of the beaded Obas of Oduduwa. He did not fight in Ijero because of the Ajero of Ijero, equally Aramoko because of the Deji and Owo Because of the Olowo. He was even invited to Benin Kingdom and honored by the Oba of Benin for his efforts in regaining the lost glory of Oduduwa. Towns like Ise-Ekiti, Emure, Somorika, Iyayu, Ituwo, Epinmin, Iboropa, Oka Akoko and tens of other could not forget Ogedengbe in their histories. These prowesses led to a slogan “O soko Ekiti soko Akoko, Eniti Akoko ndi esin sin lori oke."

THE KIRIJI WAR AND OGEDENGBE’S INVOLVEMENT

Ogedengbe was at Igbara Oke when the Kiriji war of 1876 started. The causes of the war were numerous and each group involved as parties believed they were right. But to the Ijesas, we believed that the excesses of the Ajele (District Overseers) from Ibadan were too much for the Ijesas and Ekitis to bear. Rumour has it that one FABUMMI a great Ijesaman from Oke Imeji made the history factual. It was true that his wife (FABUMMI) prepared his lunch and was heading to his farm to give him, when the servants of Ibadan Ajele, attacked her and forced her to be molested openly by the Ajele. These actions of the Ibadan apart from being barbaric and rough were alien and taboos to the Ijesas, hence the beginning of the ugly war.

The Ijesas invited their people in Ekiti land like Aduloju Dodondawa, Falowo from Ekiti and host of other war lords. It was then they realized that without Ogedengbe the battle would not be won. The Ijesas contacted their Ifa oracle severally and it revealed on each occasions that it was only Ogedengbe who could conquer the Ibadans. Attempts were made to placate Ogedengbe to come back to Ilesa and help them fight the Ibadans. Ogedengbe did not take the emissaries serious because of the disappointments he had received from the powerful Ijesa High Chiefs. At long last, several rituals were prepared and sent to Igbara-Oke where Ogedengbe eventually conceded to head the Ekiti Parapo Arm. The man who took a white horse fully loaded with charms to Ogedengbe at Igbara-Oke was called Opiliki (aka) Asodedero.

It was when Ogedengbe arrived that the whole Ekiti believed that the Ijesas were actually serious to route out the Ibadans from their vicinity. Immediately Ogedengbe got to Imesi-Ile, he was appointed the “SERIKI MEYAKI” meaning the Commander-in-Chief or Generallissimo of the Ijesa / Ekiti Parapo forces or Army.

Ogedengbe announced the commencement of the battle. It was a fierce one, but after seven (7) weeks of fighting, the Ibadans became weary; and Ogedengbe advised them to send to Ibadan and fetch their war lord popularly called ‘Are Latosa’.

Are Latosa arrived for the Kiriji war and settled at Ikirun. He even boasted before leaving Ibadan that he would use only three (3) days to overrun the Ijesas on getting to the battle front, he invited Ogedengbe and reminded him of his (Ogedengbe) oath at Ibadan immediately after the Igbajo war. Ogedengbe rebuffed him saying he was fighting Ijesa National war.

It was then known that the Ekiti Parapo forces were fully prepared to capture alive the Are Latosa.The battle was time consuming, starting from the dawn to dusk.

When the Ibadans could no longer cope they started to hammer a slogan as thus: ‘Ilu Kereje a ta ni lofa, a ta ni lofa ara a ro ni koro’ meaning ‘Small towns with dangerous weapons to kill their opponents.

During the battle, the Ijesas whose enormous influence in West Germany had brought rifles and other sophisticated weapons from Itebu in Lagos to assist the forces. Notable amongst them were the Haastrups, Thompson Gureje and Turtons. Initially two (2) rifles were sent, but when they performed very well more rifles were brought; at the end of the war not less than eight hundred (800) rifles were used. The prices of these weapons were too enormous, that his slaves were sent to Lagos to liquidate the debts.

By 1884, the Ibadan troops were fidgeting, so from their Igbajo base, Are Latosa sent to Alaafin of Oyo to contact the residents of the colonial British Government, and find means of settlement because the Ijesas in alliance with the Ekitis generally are super difficult to succumb to the Oyos wishes. He said if care was not urgently taken, the Ijesas would ruin and destroy the Oyos powerful army.

Alaafin of Oyo, contacted the governor in Lagos who directed his resident at Oyo to wade into the communal conflict for immediate settlement. Captain Bower invited Ogedengbe and Are Latosa for a truce to the ugly war. Ogedengbe did not immediately agreed for settlement but after several pressures and persuasion from captain Bower he agreed for settlement.

Captain Bower then mentioned the emergency codes for the two (2) warring parties:-

1. No more fighting;
2. No more ritual killing or cannibalism
3. No more slave trade in Yorubaland

On the same date, Igbajo camp was destroyed and burnt, and eventually returned to Ibadan. No one could say if Aare Latosa returned to Ibadan because any war lost by the Aare of Ibadan would be the last outing for him in or outside Ibadan.

During the war, Ogedengbe Kept the Owa Obokun at Esa Oke while the Ekiti Obas requested Owa Obokun too to come to the battle front, but Ogedengbe technically told them to find another leader for the Ekiti parapo forces then his Owa would appear. They reasoned with him that the son could not be stronger than his father. It settled there.

OGEDENGBE IN HIS LATE YEARS

Ogedengbe finally returned to Ilesa after the Kiriji War. He settled peacefully but his forces popular called the Ipayes became pugilistics, unruly, uncontrollable and causing several threats to the Ijesas. Reports were made orally and openly to Ogedengbe but he could not control them, believing that they were the fingers that fed him during his travails. Efforts were made attempting to terminate his life but all end in failures. Then, the Ijesas reported him to the Resident at Oyo. It was during the reign of Owa Obokun Elere. The Owa Obokun hesitated in signing his petition to the Resident at Oyo, because he was the one who appointed and installed him when Ogedengbe refused to be installed as the Owa Obokun. Captain Bower came to Ilesa with twenty-one soldiers to arrest Ogedengbe. On the day he was arrested, there was a mild drama. Arimoro, one of the Ogedengbes lieutenants wanted to prevent Captain Bower to take Ogedengbe away. Captain Bower immediately drew the bayonet of his gun to strike him, immediately the bayonet broke into seven (7) pieces.

Ogedengbe then appealed to the Ijesas not to fight for him because the British Government would destroy Ilesa Town if only one of her citizen was killed.

The second drama on the same day was when they got to Osunjela, a boundary between Osogbo and Ilesa. It was very difficult to cross the river Osun, but surprisingly, Ogedengbe had crossed the river without any boat or helper with his white horse waging this tail to him. It was here that captain Bower realized the prowess of Ogedengbe as a great man.

On where Ogedengbe should be exiled he told them that the preferred any town in Yorubaland but not Ibadan but instead he preferred Iwo. Tolls were paid to see him because of their past conjunction with some Ijesas like Gureje Thompson have invade his ANAYE house and removed all the rifles he used at the war front and other valuables. When Ogedengbe heard this, he wept for the first (1st) time in his life, saying Ijesas were very difficult to curtail. There were even rumour that he cursed the progressives in Ijesaland.

Before his arrival, Owa Obokun Elere had died. Efforts were geared to select him for the second time to become the Owa Obokun, he equally refused.

HIS DEATH

Ogedengbe died in Ilesa in 1910 as the Obanla of Ijesaland. During his period his influence and affluence extended to Akoko in Ondo State; Ekiti land in Ekiti State; and towns like Owena, Ikeji-Ile, Arakeji, Ira, Ipetu Ijesa, Erin Oke and Erin Odo, Efon Alaye, Ido Ajinnare, Aramoko, Oke Mesi, Imese-Ile, Igbajo and Iresi to mention a few.

Seeing the support and cooperation of these numerous towns, he prayed that Ilesa and Ijesa would never witness any war AGAIN.

Before he died, two days to his demise, thunderstorms sounded three (3) times in the sky signaling the home-call of a great man. Owa Atayero invited him to appease the gods and goddesses of Ijesaland to avert the impeding problem but Ogedengbe told him that he was prepared to REST with his fore-fathers. He died peacefully with his children, Kith and Kin after advising them to be loyal, peaceful and law-abiding to all the rules and regulations of their fatherland. He appealed to them not to interfere with other Chieftaincies in Ijesaland and beyond except the Obanla of Ijesaland and if they followed their advice, love, prosperity and peace would dominate their lives.

source : http://www.egyptsearch.com/forums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=15;t=003554

What a great warrior:

Ògèdèngbé Agbógungbórò Okùrin kúkúrú bi ikú, Eni ikú ń rán pani je.

Some aspects of the narratives are accurate many others were twisted to suit your objectives.

BRB

Great piece of History
Very crucial to note what our forefathers passed through to liberate us then
Ogedengbe has an Oriki, which I cant vividly remember now.
Makes the history incomplete.
All the same, OP, well done

Ogedengbe the warrior! This is the person Igboho wanted to emulate, but unfortunately he's not as strong as he was.

See as im dey narrate the story like say im dey there

Distorted history. People should please disregard this piece of junk. It was twisted heavily in favour of Ogedengbe especially the cause of the EKITIPARAPO WAR.

This is a very biased, inaccurate and Ijeshacentric account that is far from what truly transpired.

seunmsg:
Distorted history. People should please disregard this piece of junk. It was twisted heavily in favour of Ogedengbe especially the cause of the EKITIPARAPO WAR.

This is a very biased, inaccurate and Ijeshacentric account that is far from what truly transpired.

A lot of Bendel families bear this name, can you give a translation?

"Ogede(n)gbe"

Efewestern:


A lot of Bendel families bear this name, can you give a translation?

"Ogede(n)gbe"

And most of them are royalty. Trash thread. Unfortunately I can't correct this thread for reasons best known to me.

Efewestern:


A lot of Bendel families bear this name, can you give a translation?

"Ogede(n)gbe"

The full meaning is Ologedetikingbe

Meaning, whatever Ologede says will happen, will happen
Meaning, Ologede Dont mix words,

Ologede here is African civet.

Most Yoruba surnames are shorten.
E.g Tinubu, Fayose

Cc: seunsmg

The rifles did wonders in the olden days. But OP IBADAN was fighting war on five sides not only Ekiti and Ijesha. Ife, ijebu and even ilorin were on Ekiti and Ijesha side.

kayusely70:
Some aspects of the narratives are accurate many others were twisted to suit your objectives.

But why not present your own side of the story.
We should realize that all historians will narrate history with some biasness to their ethnic/tribal affiliations. Rev. Johnson narrated the history of the Yorubas very well but of course with plenty of biasness towards the Ibadan and the Oyo sides which he belongs!

Omoluabi1stborn:


The full meaning is Ologedetikingbe

Meaning, whatever Ologede says will happen, will happen
Meaning, Ologede Dont mix words,

Ologede here is African civet.

Thanks. from your breakdown, it looks like the name has two different meaning in Edoid and Yoruboid.

No such word as Ologe in Edo lexicon, closest we have is Ologbo which means cat. Ogedegbe is a popular name down here and I've been struggling to give it a translation.

kayusely70:
Some aspects of the narratives are accurate many others were twisted to suit your objectives.

History is a record of things that didn't happen told by people weren't eyewitnesses believed by fools - anonymous

The OP mentioned that Ogedengbe/Ijesha got riffles from Europeans and had to pay with human slaves.
This is another confirmation that the Europeans fueled that war so that they could have continued supply of slaves.

They decided to side with the weaker side (ijesha) in order to prolong the war which served their purpose!

Efewestern:


Thanks. from your breakdown, it looks like the name has two different meaning in Edoid and Yoruboid.

No such word as Ologe in Edo lexicon, closest we have is Ologbo which means cat. Ogedegbe is a popular name down here and I've been struggling to give it a translation.

Oh, Yeah.
Ologbo is also Cat here.

It might also have it full name in Edo that's why you've not been able to translate it.

Even without writing it in full, I don't think any Yoruba man will be able to translate it.

Omoluabi1stborn:


Oh, Yeah.
Ologbo is also Cat here.

It might also have it full name in Edo that's why you've not been able to translate it.

Even without writing it in full, I don't think any Yoruba man will be able to translate it.

You're correct o! I am an Ijesha-man but I sincerely do not know that Ogedengbe means "Ologede ti kii gbe"

sinkhole:
You're correct o! I am an Ijesha-man but I sincerely do not know that Ogedengbe means "Ologede ti kii gbe"

We learn everyday

nasirope:
The OP mentioned that Ogedengbe/Ijesha got riffles from Europeans and had to pay with human slaves.
This is another confirmation that the Europeans fueled that war so that they could have continued supply of slaves.

They decided to side with the weaker side (ijesha) in order to prolong the war which served their purpose!

Are you really sure of this your deduction?
The Ijeshas were already having their sons leaving in Europe and in Lagos as business men at that time, those people facilitated the purchase of "modern" ammunition for the Kiriji war.

Yorubas were not united then and were fighting each other plus nupe and fulani, yet some fools are screaming yoruba Nation

sinkhole:
Are you really sure of this your deduction?
The Ijeshas were already having their sons leaving in Europe and in Lagos as business men at that time, those people facilitated the purchase of "modern" ammunition for the Kiriji war.

You are totally wrong. When did yorubas start moving to Europe . check the date /year of kiriji war. It was way before any group start moving enmass to Europe or UK

I missed this type of historical threads and their intellectual arguments. Thank you tomakint and welcome back

Nisiw365:

You are totally wrong. When did yorubas start moving to Europe . check the date /year of kiriji war. It was way before any group start moving enmass to Europe or UK

This is what I was able to get from an article by Akin Adejuwon (Obafemi Awolowo University
akin@akinadejuwon.com). Published in "Revista Universitaria de Historia Militar",
Volumen 8, número 17, Año 2019, pp. 174-202
ISSN: 2254-6111

Ekiti Parapo/ Kiriji war saw the replacement of the old weapons «through a
boost to the morale of the confederates …from the coast». This was achieved primarily through the reactivation of the community development efforts by Yoruba
traditional towns’ groups or society meetings, notable of which is the Ekitiparapo Society of Lagos. This group made up of eminent returnees from Brazil and other such
Yoruba Diaspora rallied against the possible disgrace of their homeland by sending
military aid in the form of arms and ammunition. «Prominent among their members
was Labinjo, a successful Lagos merchant and Gureje. Others were Haastrup, and
Doherty». These are till today prominent names in Ijesa land. In fact, the Kirijii war
was so named due to the resounding echoes of gunfire during the war. The Snider guns
were more effective than the Dane guns and gave the Ekitiparapo coalition a lot of
edge over the Ibadan. Effectively, the snider guns could fire rapidly at longer ranges
and with better accuracy compared to the Dane guns.

Omoluabi1stborn:


Oh, Yeah.
Ologbo is also Cat here.

It might also have it full name in Edo that's why you've not been able to translate it.

Even without writing it in full, I don't think any Yoruba man will be able to translate it.

SAME IN IGBO LANGUAGE NWAOBIRI OR NWAOLOGBO

OBALOLA55:
SAME IN IGBO LANGUAGE NWAOBIRI OR NWAOLOGBO

Wow..
Southerners have more in common than those stupid up North!

I love reading stories of Legends. But my only complaint and remorse is to Ifa. If Ifa could prophecy the birth of Ogedengbe, the Kiriji war and all that, was the great oracle blind not to prophecy the coming of the colonial masters?

Second, it's obvious that during the Kiriji war, the marauding Sokoto caliphate have already established their presence in Ilorin. What is it with naming Ogedengbe "Seriki Meyaki". I know it's an Hausa word, but was there no other title to name a Yoruba generalissimo?

Eastlink:
I love reading stories of Legends. But my only complaint and remorse is to Ifa. If Ifa could prophecy the birth of Ogedengbe, the Kiriji war and all that, was the great oracle blind not to prophecy the coming of the colonial masters?

Second, it's obvious that during the Kiriji war, the marauding Sokoto caliphate have already established their presence in Ilorin. What is it with naming Ogedengbe "Seriki Meyaki". I know it's an Hausa word, but was there no other title to name a Yoruba generalissimo?

The Ekitiparapos already aligned with the Sokoto caliphate through the Ilorins and they were heavily influenced by the Ilorin/Islamic culture at that time!
It is really sad but the Oyos and the Ibadans were not really trying to bring all Yorubas together just for the brotherhood purpose but they were simply thinking of subjugating all other Yorubas to be under them and from the little we read the heavy handedness of the Oyos and Ibadans was obvious, such as raping and seizing people's wifes and daughters at will, killings for no reason, etc, all these contributed to the rebellious act of other Yoruba groups.
The very same scenario is playing out today. The Fulanis want to subjugate all other ethnic group in Nigeria but that attempt will only lead to disunity and eventual rebellious act which may lead to distruction of Nigeria! People really need to learn from history.

ednut1:
Yorubas were not united then and were fighting each other plus nupe and fulani, yet some fools are screaming yoruba Nation

How does that relate to the discuss
Are they still fighting war today ? Nonsense and head-nut

sinkhole:
The Ekitiparapos already aligned with the Sokoto caliphate through the Ilorins and they were heavily influenced by the Ilorin/Islamic culture at that time!
It is really sad but the Oyos and the Ibadans were not really trying to bring all Yorubas together just for the brotherhood purpose but they were simply thinking of subjugating all other Yorubas to be under them and from the little we read the heavy handedness of the Oyos and Ibadans was obvious, such as raping and seizing people's wifes and daughters at will, killings for no reason, etc, all these contributed to the rebellious act of other Yoruba groups.

Yeah...
The Oyo represented by Ibadan were fighting on multiple fronts .
The Oyo Empire was at it's weakest then .
The Ibadan were probably trying to re establish their empire.


That said , the other Yoruba sub groups should rather be grateful to the Ibadan warriors. It was these people that stood and sent back the Jihadists .