Jalumi War of 1878: A river of blood and betrayal
Imagine a battle so fierce that it echoed through the heart of a nation, where alliances were forged and shattered in the blink of an eye. Welcome to the Jalumi War of 1878, a conflict that would change the course of Yoruba history forever. On November 1, 1878, the town of Ikirun became the stage for a brutal clash as Ibadan allied with Ikirun against the formidable forces of Ilorin, Ila, Ekiti, and Ijesha.
This was no ordinary battle; it was a desperate fight for survival, a struggle against overwhelming odds. As the rains fell heavily, swollen rivers became treacherous barriers, claiming the lives of countless Ibadan soldiers who drowned while attempting to reach their beleaguered allies. With time running out, Balogun Ajayi Ogboriefon led his weary troops into the fray, but fate had other plans.
Just as victory seemed within grasp, tragedy struck. Ikirun’s valiant defender, Osi Ilori, was captured by the advancing Ijesha forces, and news of his demise would soon send shockwaves through the ranks. Yet, amidst the chaos, Ogboriefon rallied his remaining soldiers for a counterattack, turning the tide against the Ilorin forces. The air thick with tension, he drove them back toward the Otin River, a site of impending doom.
What happened next was nothing short of astonishing: the retreating Fulanis were trapped, forced into the very river that had witnessed so much bloodshed. As panic ensued, they were swept away by the current, drowning en masse. This horrific scene gave birth to the war’s name, Jalumi, which literally means “drown in the river.”
The war not only left a scar on the landscape of Yoruba history but also sowed the seeds of a new order in the region. In its aftermath, Ibadan’s troops remained in Ikirun, culminating in the poignant saying, “Kí ogun ó tó kúrò ní Ìkìrun, ọ̀rọ̀ ló tẹ́lẹ̀” — a reminder of the agreements that followed the chaos.
To this day, a water cannon monument stands as a solemn tribute on the banks of the Odo Otin River in Inisa, marking the end of this brutal chapter. The Jalumi War serves as a haunting reminder of the sacrifices made and the alliances forged in a time when survival was paramount. Prepare to be drawn into the depths of history, where the currents of fate intertwine with the relentless march of war.
