Battle of Pamo
| Battle of Pamo | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Abdulsalami, Alami Fulani | Solagberu, Yoruba Allies. | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
The Battle of Pamo took place in Nigeria in the 1830's, when the Fulani under Solagberu defeated the Yoruba.
Background
Alimi, the Fulani Muslim Imam who led the foreigners in Ilorin, passed away after the last war. His son Abudusalami succeeded him, becoming the first king or Emir of Ilorin. This marked the definitive rule of the Fulanis in Ilorin, providing a home for the Gambaris (Hausas) recruited from the Jamas.[1]
Initially, Alimi, a highly respected figure in Ilorin, had no intention of settling there or engaging in conquest. [1] When Afonja and the Jamas engaged in excesses, Alimi considered returning to his homeland due in disgust. However, the Yoruba elders urged him to stay and act as a check on Afonja. Eventually, Ilorin prevailed upon him to make it his home.[2]
Alimi, a pure Fulani, and his Fulani wife initially faced childlessness. Seeking a solution, the wife consulted a Muslim priest, who advised her to give a slave as alms to a distinguished Muslim priest. She chose her husband, leading to the birth of Abudusalami and Shitta. Alimi later took a third wife, having another son. At his death, he left four sons, but no advantage in governance favored the son of the real wife over the slave wife's sons, leading to black rulers in Ilorin by the third generation.[2]
The Fulanis, aiming to subvert the entire Yoruba country, took advantage of internal conflicts among Yoruba war-chiefs. The power of the Fulanis grew, leading to expeditions, devastation, and depopulation. Despite warnings, Yoruba families failed to unite against the common enemy, engaging in internal wars that weakened the country.[3]
Battle
Disputes among Yoruba chiefs, such as Toyeje and Adegun, further divided the country. The Kakanfo formed alliances and besieged the Onikoyi, involving Solagberu of Ilorin. Wise measures saved the city, and Ilorin's Emir aimed to lift the siege, eventually defeating the Kakanfo's army. Civil war erupted between Solagberu and the Emir, leading to the fall of Oke Suna and Solagberu's demise.[1]
Aftermath
With no rivals left, Abudusalami sought to control the Yoruba kingdom, aided by the oppressive Jamas. The remaining Yoruba towns were placed under tribute, solidifying the Fulanis' control over Ilorin.
This battle was narrated, and written down by the accredited Yoruba historian, Samuel Johnson in The History of the Yorubas.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Johnson, Samuel (1966). The History of the Yorubas: From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the British Protectorate. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-02099-2.
- ^ a b Law, R. C. C. (1970). "The Chronology of the Yoruba Wars of the Early Nineteenth Century: A Reconsideration". Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria. 5 (2): 211–222. ISSN 0018-2540. JSTOR 41856842.
- ^ rev. samuel johnson (1921). history of the yorubas. Internet Archive.
- ^ Johnson, Samuel (1966). The History of the Yorubas: From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the British Protectorate. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-02099-2.