The Baba Isale "Coup" and Its Aftermath: A Historical Analysis of an Intrigue in the Struggle for Supremacy in Colonial Ilorin
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Date
2011-07
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Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies, Bayero University Kano
Abstract
The 1936 Baba Isale “Coup” and Aftermath: A Historical Analysis of
An Intrigue in the Struggle for Supremacy in Colonial Ilorin
By
Salihu Ismail Otukoko
Department of History
University of Ilorin
“The past history of Ilorin is a record of
internal jealousy and intrigue”.
(Annual Report, Ilorin Province, 1936, page 22)
Introduction
Pre-colonial and colonial history of Ilorin was punctuated by various crises and conflicts that have been described as incidents in the struggle for power—political and economic—and supremacy. During the 19th c., there were struggles and contestations between the first Emir Abdul-Salami (c.1823-c.1836) and other group leaders like Afonja, Sholagberu and the Sarkin Gambari Bako. From the 1860s to 1890s, struggles continued between successive Emirs and their Baloguns (ward\war chiefs) led by the “Balogun Agba” (the most senior Balogun and the de facto Commander-in-Chief of the Ilorin army) such as Baloguns Fulani Hina Konu, Gambari Karara and Alanamu Ali Inakoju. Although colonialism put an end to some of the main causes of conflicts, it did not, however, put a final stop to them. Rather, colonial rule introduced new impetus and conditions for both continuity and change in the struggle. Thus colonial Ilorin recorded, among others, such crises as the 1907 “hunters revolts” in and around Ilorin town and this is believed to have been instigated by the Balogun Ajikobi Biala, Magaji Gari Salihu and one Ajai or Ajia Ogidilolu; the 1913 anti-tax riots staged largely by the Oke Imale (“Yoruba”) quarters, the Baba Isale crisis of 1936 and the Ilorin Talaka Parapo phenomenon of the 1950s. The 1936 Baba Isale crisis provides an important incident reflecting continuity and change in the struggle for power, prestige or influence and supremacy in the 20th c. Ilorin. It also represents the last major incident in the contest for Ilorin among members of the traditional ruling aristocracy during the colonial rule.
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Salihu, O. I., "The Baba Isale Coup" and Its Aftermath: A Historical Analysis of an Intrigue in the Struggle for Supremacy in Colonial Ilorin," FAIS Journal of the Humanities, 5(2), 2011, 49-72