Efunsetan Aniwura, the great Iyalode of Ibadan ,
was a wealthy and powerful woman of unusual
boldness , strength and intelligence. She reigned as
the Iyalode of Ibadan for years, though no light
was shed about who her husband was, she had
only one child (girl), who died at a very young
age, between the age of 19 & 22yrs during Child
birth. Efunsetan’s glory was rare and could not be
compared with any other during her reign. she
was a business woman who traveled round the
country to buy products like bitter kola, kola-nut,
cocoa, etc, & was well-known among the Hausas’
and was among the first women that had
business transaction with the white men which
helped to civilize Ibadan people.
During her days, Efunsetan helped to improve the
economy of Ibadan through her business
transactions, had her own warriors and slaves
fight wars in favor of her people. She was also a
good employer of labour and was loved by all.
Although a very strict woman, she was also very
nice to her slaves and employees. She gave out
gift and money to them freely at times without
measure. She gave out her slaves in marriages
and even conducted naming ceremonies for them,
give money,food, clothing & pomade but all these
stopped after the death of her daughter.
After the death of her daughter, every thing took
a new turn. Efunsetan was no longer submissive
toeither God or the King, for according to her,
God has failed her. So, God should manage his
heaven while she managed her own earth. She
began killing her slaves at will for committing any
atrocity either by beheading, poisoning or even
drowning. She gave a sanction that no cry of a
child must be heard in her domain, neither must
conception, courtship nor marriage and decreed
that any female that conceived would either die
or have the pregnancy terminated by forceful
abortion depending on her choice while the man
responsible would die.
Efunsetan was feared because of her diabolic
powers which she uses to know all things
happening around her. One of her slaves
disobeyed her orders by getting pregnant,
Efunsetan beheaded her even though she found
out her brother was responsible for the
pregnancy. Her brother several plans in place to
save the life of the slave girl as E funsetan
refused all pleas from friends, slaves and family
members but she found out all their plans
through her powers and went ahead to kill the girl
by beheading, her right in the village square.
It was because of this and many other atrocities
committed by her that the king ordered her to be
brought to the palace either dead or alive, since
every effort to summon her to the palace proved
abortive. However, the king on second thought
decided to go himself with the guards robed in all
kinds of charms to capture Efunsetan. On getting
to her house, she was told why they came to her
house and she asked if she could be excused to
pick something. She went back into the room and
killed herself with Majele (poison) saying “kaka ki
ileku ile oya saa” – Meaning it is better to die
than to face the shame of being arrested,
ridiculed or punished.
After her death all her slaves were set free, some
returned to their villages while some remained in
Ibadan and Oyo.
Source..Orisun TV
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