IBA OLUYOLE

IBA OLUYOLE!

Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State in earlier times, was renowned as a camp of distinguished warlords primarily from Egba, Ife, Oyo, and various other regions of Yorubaland.

One of these warlords, whose name is essential whenever the founding and endurance of the city are discussed, is Ibasorun Oluyole. After Lagelu’s initial and subsequent settlements of Eba Odan, as it was then known, were abandoned due to rampant wars across Yorubaland in the 16th century, Iba Oluyole governed the land now known as Ibadan. He was highly respected among warlords of that era. Born into a warrior family—his ancestor, Yamba Bi Ekun, was the Basorun in Oyo during the reign of Alaafin Ojigi—his father was Olukuoye Ajala.

His mother, Agbonrin, was the daughter of Alaafin Abiodun I. Although Oluyole’s exact age is uncertain, he is believed to have been born around 1740-1750 A.D. Initially, Oluyole learned the trade of blacksmithing and later specialized in crafting weapons of war. He eventually became a formidable warrior. Likely due to his heritage as the grandson of a Basorun, Oluyole was said to possess extensive knowledge of charms. The source or rationale behind his mystical powers remained unknown.

It is also recorded that Oluyole, alongside Alaafin Atiba, Kunrunmi, and other warriors, fought valiantly to defend Oyo and the Yoruba kingdom from being conquered by the Fulani in what was termed the Eleduwe war.

Following this war, Aladeleye Atiba installed the Alaafin in Ago Market, making Oluyole his deputy (Basorun) and Kunrunmi the Aare Ona Kakanfo.

During the Ota war, Oluyole fought on the coast where he encountered the Eleko of Eko and a Portuguese who admired his combat skills and later gifted him a brass rod that he always carried.

Oluyole was later installed as the first Baale of Ibadan land after the death of Aare Oluyedun, who ruled for less than a year. As Baale, Oluyole’s influence was extraordinary; he lived like the great war commander he was. He was said to have married over 30 wives, with 25 of them bearing him children.