Covered on Akwilani so far
So far at Akwilani, I have covered 2 series: The history of Sokoto and that of Lagos. Both have several themes which brought these stories to life. Today, I thought we might explore the top personal vendettas in the history covered till date.
And why not, if you know anything about Nigerians, we love the concept of enmity. It cannot be avoided, some of us laugh out loud from our sleep whilst having dreams of throttling our bosses’ necks, and If you’ve ever driven in Lagos, every vehicle on the road has a potential archenemy behind the wheel. In fact, there’s at least one enemy responsible for every problem and some need daily casting and binding.
These historical personal vendettas ran quite deep. The hatred was raw and intense, it stung my eyes as I read through them, and the pages of the reference books were scorched and covered in soot (ok that’s a lie but you get the general picture). Funny enough, at the core of these rivalries are simple concepts everyone can relate to today.
Note of warning, if you haven’t watched the videos on the Akwilani channel (on the history of Sokoto caliphate and the history of Lagos), this post is going to be riddled with spoilers.
Kosoko Vs Eletu circa 1840s
(Woman palaver is ageless!)
For a bit of context, the kingdom of Eko (Lagos) had dramatically expanded and became a regional superpower in West Africa. Lagos was ruled by a dynasty that derived from the Kings of Bini since 1603 and their ascension and power was guaranteed by power chief of whom the Eletu was the most senior.
Kosoko was one of the younger princes of Lagos was due to succeed his recently deceased brother, but the Eletu stepped in at a crucial step to prevent this and had Kosoko’s uncle in exile installed as king instead. The enmity between them was not out of the blue , Kosoko had bedded a young damsel betrothed to the Eletu years before and to say the Eletu was pained is a bit of an understatement .
It didn’t end there though, the Eletu further rubbed salt in Kosoko’s wound by accusing his sister of witchcraft and having her drowned and for a final flourish , after Kosoko was banished to Ouida, the Eletu dug up Kosoko’s mother’s remains and cast the disinterred bone into the Lagos Lagoon. Savage.
Kosoko would have the last laugh. In the wars that broke out, the Eletu would be captured by Kosoko’s men. He would be bound in an empty palm oil barrel which was set on fire and the eventually thrown into the Lagos Lagoon.
I think It’s safe to say these guys loathed one another very much. Love is wicked.
Uthman Dan Fodio Vs Yunfa Circa 1803
(That one Teacher you hate)
The Sokoto Caliphate was one of the largest empires ever to exist in Sub Saharan Africa. Its founder and most revered leader, the first Sultan of Sokoto was none other than the erudite Uthman Dan Fodio. Long before the Caliphate came into being, the area now known as northern Nigeria was made up of Hausa City states ruled by Sarkins. There was widescale suffering from over taxation and endless wars.
So, Uthman born 1754 began preaching against the pervasive injustices in his 20s and before long came into the service of one of the powerful Sarkins. Uthman became the tutor for the Sarkin’s heir – Yunfa. Now, I’m not sure how the lessons went but when Yunfa came of age and became a Sarkin himself, there was serious tension between him and Uthman.
Perhaps Uthman’s amassing thousands of followers who began to stockpile arms had something to do with it. Anyways, Yunfa attacked Uthman’s allies and tried to sell them into slavery and of course Uthman’s men intervened militarily to set hem free. Therefore, Yunfa did the only thing a right-thinking monarch would do, he invited Uthman for a ‘’meeting’’ and shot at him point blank with a pistol – the gun misfired, and he received mixed thickness burns to his hands for his efforts. Uthman fled, not just the scene but the kingdom with all his men.
This of course touched off a civil war (I mean the man shot at his teacher!) which quickly escalated into a region-wide conflict which Uthman won and Yunfa was killed in the epic final battle. Schooled!
Adele Vs Oshinloku and Idewu Ojulari Circa 1820s to 1830s
(Intergenerational Beef)
From the late 18th century, Lagos had enriched itself on the trade in enslaved people and there was an ongoing tussle in the royal family for the control of this wealth.
Adele and Oshinloku were half brothers and royal princes. Upon the death of their father Ologun, Adele, the younger son bribed his way to the throne and was installed as king. Oshinloku as a typical first-born wasn’t going to stand idle while Adele ate the bigger piece of chicken so – war. Oshinloku lost (gbas) but he regrouped and was able to defeat Adele in the rematch (gbos).
Adele fled to Badagry, set up shop there and became a threat (gbas). Oshinloku did not like this, so he left his house to finish him off once and for all. The battle in Badagry lasted 3 days bit Adele won with the help of his general Bombanee (gbos). So, a stalemate ensues…
But stalemates are boring, so Oshinloku caught a small case of death, and his son Idewu Ojulari became king in his stead. Smelling blood, Adele went on the offensive and dragged his army from Badagry all the way to Lagos only to be handed the beating of his life by the young king Idewu. (Gbas). It was completely humiliating. For some context, Adele’s general Bombanee was captured, and his fate was grim. His right hand was pulled from his body, like a twig and his left hand nailed to his head. He was marched around like this before being beheaded. Overkill!
Akitoye Vs Kosoko circa 1845 -1853
(You can’t always be too nice)
King Idewu Ojulari, who had just taught his uncle Adele a lesson in war was flush with victory but was forced to commit suicide soon after (watch the video to find out more). Anyways, Kosoko was set to succeed his brother, but the Eletu as seen above intervened.
Adele was made king and after him, his son Oluwole and after him, Akitoye – Kosoko’s uncle was made king. So, he had been side-lined 3 times for a throne that traditionally should have been his so you might understand why he was a little bit frustrated. Add to the fact that the prime minister the Eletu was severely antagonising him even whilst he was in exile in Ouida.
So, Akitoye felt a bit sorry for his nephew and invited him back to Lagos (bad idea) . Kosoko soon built up a massive following and tensions rose quite quickly. It degenerated to an insult slinging fest sung through the city by their respective town criers and thereafter war.
The conflict was really bitter. Half of Lagos burned, and thousands were killed. Akitoye lost ground very quickly and retreated to the palace where he and his men ran out of supplies and fresh water and had to drink the brackish water of the Lagoon. They were spared certain death only due to the leniency of Kosoko’s general Oshodi Tapa.
Akitoye would eventually take his throne back but only with British help and a massive artillery battle along the shore of Lagos which lasted 3 days.
Got to stay guarded always. Ijaw a, Ija osi , always guiding.
Honourable mentions
Uthman Danfodio Vs Elkanemi Circa early 1800s
This was more of an intellectual rivalry than anything else. Both were scholars and leaders of Muslim states, like same team, right? Well wrong.
. Uthman’s Sokoto Caliphate was expanding at astonishing speed and overshadowed the pale and moribund Borno empire, led by El Kanemi. Uthman’s aims were for complete conquest but Elkanemi was able to rally and resist. The two men exchanged letters where Elkanemi attacked the legitimacy of Uthman’s jihad into Borno being a fellow Muslim state and all. Uthman’s response was along the lines of you guys aren’t really Muslims as your practices are tainted. Maybe it was about more than just religion?
Sultan Attahiru I Vs Lord Lugard Circa 1903
Not that personal but they certainly didn’t like each other. Lugard in carrying out the British mandate in the Niger area, deposed some of the Sultans Emirs for slave trading and replaced them without consent. He thereafter sent a message with a thinly veiled threat to the Sultan (he wanted co-operation, but Britain has overcome similar empires to his all over the world)
The Sultan Attahiru was livid, his reply: Tell the infidel that we did not invite him to interfere with our problems. He has his religion and we have ours, the only relationship that can exist between a believer and an infidel is…war
. There’s loads more, between Madam Tinubu and British Consul Campbell and so on
Enemies everywhere, can you really say you’ve made it in life if you haven’t acquired a few good enemies along the way?
Thanks for reading my piece and I hope to see you more often on this blog and on YouTube as well, and as friends too, not enemies.
Akwilani History 