One hundred and thirty years after British imperial forces invaded the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, sparking the fierce resistance known as “Ogun Pepe” (the “Pepe War”), the ancient city of Oyo is set to commemorate this defining moment in Yoruba history.
The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, together with the people of Oyo, will in November host a week-long global commemoration to honor the courage, tradition, and unyielding spirit of their forebears who resisted foreign domination. The event will feature cultural exhibitions, historical reenactments, and intellectual discourses highlighting the strength and legacy of the Oyo Empire.
The “Pepe War” of November 12, 1895, stands as a bold symbol of resistance led by Alaafin Adeyemi Alowolodu I, who defied British attempts to undermine Yoruba sovereignty. Considered by the British as too powerful, too independent, and too proud to submit, the Alaafin became a prime target after other Yoruba kingdoms—such as those ruled by Oba Kosoko of Lagos (following the bombardment of Lagos) and Awujale Ogbagba I of Ijebu (after the Danasungbo War)—had already been subdued.
The immediate cause of the conflict arose from a seemingly minor but culturally significant dispute. A royal messenger (Ilari), Bakare, in the court of the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Adeyeri I, was accused of committing adultery with one of the Oba’s wives. Following long-established Yoruba customs, the case was referred to Oyo for judgment, since Iseyin was under Oyo’s jurisdiction.
Upon hearing the case, Alaafin Adeyemi ordered Bakare’s castration—a punishment consistent with the ancient royal code. However, Captain Robert Lister Bower, the British Resident and Travelling Commissioner in Ibadan, perceived this as a challenge to imperial authority. Enraged, Bower demanded the custody of Bakare and Kudeefu, the royal messenger who carried out the punishment. The Alaafin refused, executing Bakare and protecting Kudeefu instead.
This open defiance triggered British retaliation. Bower mobilized a force of about sixty soldiers to invade Oyo with the intent to capture the Alaafin and assert colonial dominance. The people of Oyo, fiercely loyal to their monarch, rose in armed defense of their sovereignty.
As the battle escalated, Bower requested reinforcements from Ibadan, and with additional 200 troops equipped with superior firearms, the British overwhelmed the local defenders. The piercing sound of rapid gunfire—“pepe! pepe!! pepe!!!”—echoed through the city, giving the conflict its enduring name: Ogun Pepe.
During the fierce encounter, Alaafin Adeyemi sustained a leg injury but miraculously escaped to Oke-Owinni, where he sought the intervention of the Catholic Bishop of Oyo. After six days of relentless fighting, the Bishop successfully brokered peace, leading to a treaty that allowed the Alaafin to make a triumphant return to his palace. His people welcomed him with jubilation, celebrating his resilience and symbolic victory over imperial aggression.
The forthcoming commemoration, spearheaded by Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, seeks to reenact and immortalize the “Ogun Pepe”—not merely as a remembrance of struggle, but as a powerful lesson on cultural pride, unity, and resistance to oppression.
In addition to the reenactment, the Alaafin will also unveil a strategic repatriation initiative aimed at recovering historical artifacts looted during the British invasion. These include royal crowns, gold ornaments, sacred beads, and other treasures taken from the Oyo palace in 1895.
This year’s remembrance, 130 years on, serves as both a celebration of Yoruba resilience and a renewed call for cultural restitution, reminding the world that though the empire was tested, the spirit of Oyo—and the dignity of its throne—remains unbroken.
You can get every of our news as soon as they drop on WhatsApp ...To get all news updates, Join our WhatsApp Group (Click Here)
