A Revolutionary Phenomenon in the Nineteenth Century Yoruba Politics

This text is primarily revisited for readers who may not have access to earlier works written on Yoruba nineteenth century politics by Yoruba history scholars. The text presents the rich history of Yoruba politics from 1830, a subject which received attention in the whole Yorubaland. The work deals with the origin of the Yoruba people, the emergence of governance in towns and villages, forms of central administration in Yoruba villages, towns, kingdoms and empire of Oyo ans finally, the revolution that took place from 1830 sequel to the collapse of Oyo empire and the series of civil wars that enveloped the major powers in Yorubaland to assume political powers in place of Oyo empire. Areas like Ibadan under the refugee soldiers that fled Oyo such as Oluyedun and Oluyole took the Oyo title of Bashorun, Oluyole laid the foundation of a republican military regime in which no chief was particularly strong to establish autocracy. In Abeokuta and Oke Odan, it was a federation in which aaa the constituent townships had representative, In Ijaye, Kurumi established autocracy after he successfully eliminated his rival Dado to become the de- facto ruler.