Country Nigeria | State Ogun State | |
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Yekini y k ajadi and his apala group
Egba Alake is one of the five sections of Egbaland, the others being Oke-Ona, Gbagura the Owu and Ibara (historically, Ibara is part of Yewa and not Egba although it is located in the present day Abeokuta geographically) and is a traditional state which joins with its bordering sections to form something of a high kingship. The Alake of Abeokuta or Alake of Egbaland is the traditional ruler of the Egba clan of Yoruba in the city of Abeokuta in southwestern Nigeria.
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History
Abeokuta was founded around 1830 by Egba people after the collapse of the Oyo Empire and the Yoruba people's subsequent descent into internecine warfare. The city was founded because of its strong defensive physical position by refugees trying to protect themselves against slave raiders from Dahomey, who were trying to benefit from the war.
In 1832, Abeokuta was involved in war with the people of Ijebu Remo, and in 1834 with the Ibadan people. Sporadic fighting continued with the people of Ota (1842), Ado (1844), Ibarapa (1849), Dahomey (1851), Ijebu-Ere (1851), Ijaye (1860–1862) and the Makun War of 1862–1864.
On 18 January 1893, a treaty was signed with the governor and commander-in-chief of the British Lagos Colony for the purpose of trade; the British recognized Egbaland as an independent state. In 1898, the Egba United Government was formed.
In 1904, an agreement was made where the British assumed jurisdiction in certain legal cases, and in the same year, the Alake Gbadebo paid a state visit to England. Over the following years, the British steadily assumed more responsibility for administration while continuing to formally recognize the Egba state. In 1914, the kingdom was incorporated into the newly amalgamated British Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.
In 1949, as a result of agitation by the women's rights leader Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, the Alake Ladipo Ademola was forced to abdicate. He later returned.
Rulers
Rulers of the Egba in Abeokuta, who took the title "Alake" in 1854, were: