Abeokuta is an historically important town in Africa. It is located in the South West of Nigeria.
It was founded around 1830 by the Yorubas who left the hinterland as a result of the Owu war of 1821-1827.
Majority of those who first settled there were the Egbas and other groups like the Owus followed them although at first in small numbers until around 1834, when Sodeke, the head of the town heared that the Owu's are heading toward Whydah to resettle. He met the Owu's whom were the lead characters in the Owu wars to settle down in Abeokuta with them.
The Owu leader responded to Sodeke that the IFA oracle instructed them to settle down near a river. And excitingly, Sodeke reminded them of the Ogun river in Abeokuta. They settled down there but some members of the group did not stayed but rather continued their journey to Whydah, hence today just as there are Owu Abeokuta, Owu Kuta, Orile Owu, etc. There is Owu Whydah in today's Republic of Benin.
The Owus settled in Abeokuta because of the request by Sodeke in order to boost the new settlements defence and the Ogun river, but unknown to the Owus that, that was the route of the Ibadan warriors and later the Dahomean slave raiders who were terrorizing the town from the west while the Ijebus were doing similar from the east side of Abeokuta.
In 1832, Owiwi war was fought between the Ijebu Remo who provoked the Egbas, the new settlers.
As soon as the Owu's settled, the Ibadan warriors invaded Abeokuta in 1834 but were heavily defeated by the Owu settlers. The war was called Arakanga war.
The Owus fought the Ota people in 1842 in order to ensure free movements to Lagos for fire arms.
In 1844, the Owu warriors attacked Ado, under the Owu war general Gbalefa for assisting Ota two years earlier.
In 1844, the Dahomey Army led by King Ghezo invaded Abeokuta through the route near Ogun river but were repulsed by the Owu warriors.
Abeokuta attacked Ibarapa in 1849 for waylaying the Egbas in their territory.
In 1851 the Dahomey army invaded Abeokuta again with their female "Amazon" warriors but suffered a devastating defeat by the Owus who pursued them to the outskirt of their town in Abomey.
Also in 1851, while the Owus were fighting the Dahomey Amazon warriors, the Egbas were fighting the Ere war known as Ijebu-Ere war.
Between 1860 to 1862, the Ijaiye war was fought. And from 1862 to 1864, the Makun war persisted.
The founding of Abeokuta was eventually sealed after many wars with their neighbours who resisted them from eacefuly settling down after escaping from the devastation going on in the hinterland that was also motivated by slave trading.
Abeokuta survived many invasions, attacks and eventually became one of the most important Yoruba towns in West Africa.
Abeokuta is an historically important town in Africa. It is located in the South West of Nigeria.
It was founded around 1830 by the Yorubas who left the hinterland as a result of the Owu war of 1821-1827.
Majority of those who first settled there were the Egbas and other groups like the Owus followed them although at first in small numbers until around 1834, when Sodeke, the head of the town heared that the Owu's are heading toward Whydah to resettle. He met the Owu's whom were the lead characters in the Owu wars to settle down in Abeokuta with them.
The Owu leader responded to Sodeke that the IFA oracle instructed them to settle down near a river. And excitingly, Sodeke reminded them of the Ogun river in Abeokuta. They settled down there but some members of the group did not stayed but rather continued their journey to Whydah, hence today just as there are Owu Abeokuta, Owu Kuta, Orile Owu, etc. There is Owu Whydah in today's Republic of Benin.
The Owus settled in Abeokuta because of the request by Sodeke in order to boost the new settlements defence and the Ogun river, but unknown to the Owus that, that was the route of the Ibadan warriors and later the Dahomean slave raiders who were terrorizing the town from the west while the Ijebus were doing similar from the east side of Abeokuta.
In 1832, Owiwi war was fought between the Ijebu Remo who provoked the Egbas, the new settlers.
As soon as the Owu's settled, the Ibadan warriors invaded Abeokuta in 1834 but were heavily defeated by the Owu settlers. The war was called Arakanga war.
The Owus fought the Ota people in 1842 in order to ensure free movements to Lagos for fire arms.
In 1844, the Owu warriors attacked Ado, under the Owu war general Gbalefa for assisting Ota two years earlier.
In 1844, the Dahomey Army led by King Ghezo invaded Abeokuta through the route near Ogun river but were repulsed by the Owu warriors.
Abeokuta attacked Ibarapa in 1849 for waylaying the Egbas in their territory.
In 1851 the Dahomey army invaded Abeokuta again with their female "Amazon" warriors but suffered a devastating defeat by the Owus who pursued them to the outskirt of their town in Abomey.
Also in 1851, while the Owus were fighting the Dahomey Amazon warriors, the Egbas were fighting the Ere war known as Ijebu-Ere war.
Between 1860 to 1862, the Ijaiye war was fought. And from 1862 to 1864, the Makun war persisted.
The founding of Abeokuta was eventually sealed after many wars with their neighbours who resisted them from eacefuly settling down after escaping from the devastation going on in the hinterland that was also motivated by slave trading.
Abeokuta survived many invasions, attacks and eventually became one of the most important Yoruba towns in West Africa.