By Yoruba Heartland
Afonja was a powerful Yoruba warrior who lived in the early 19th century. He was the Aare Ona Kakanfo (generalissimo) of the Oyo Empire, which was a dominant Yoruba kingdom
Afonja was known for his military prowess and leadership skills, and he was widely respected by the people of Oyo. However, his desire for power and his ambition to become the ruler of Oyo ultimately led him to betray his own people
In the early 1800s, Afonja became increasingly dissatisfied with the leadership of the Alaafin of Oyo, who was the traditional ruler of the kingdom. Afonja believed that the Alaafin was weak and ineffective, and he felt that he could do a better job of ruling the kingdom
Afonja began to plot against the Alaafin, and he formed an alliance with the Fulani people, who were Muslim pastoralists from the north. Afonja hoped that the Fulani would help him overthrow the Alaafin and establish a new Islamic state in Oyo
In 1817, Afonja and the Fulani launched a surprise attack on the Alaafin's palace, but they were ultimately defeated. Afonja fled to Ilorin, a town to the north of Oyo, where he sought refuge with the Fulani
With the help of the Fulani, Afonja established himself as the ruler of Ilorin, and he began to expand his territory by conquering neighboring towns and villages. However, in his quest for power, Afonja had made a fatal mistake: he had handed over control of Ilorin to the Fulani
The Fulani soon began to assert their dominance over Ilorin, and they imposed their own Islamic laws and customs on the people. Afonja realized too late that he had made a grave error in trusting the Fulani, and he attempted to rebel against them
In 1824, Afonja was betrayed by his own lieutenant, named Solagberu, who had been secretly working with the Fulani. Solagberu led a group of soldiers into Afonja's palace and killed him, ending his reign as the ruler of Ilorin
The betrayal of Afonja had a significant impact on the Yoruba people, as it paved the way for the Fulani to establish their own Islamic state in Ilorin
The Yoruba people were forced to adapt to the new Islamic laws and customs imposed on them by the Fulani, and the kingdom of Oyo began to decline in power and influence.