History of madam tinubu of lagos

Nigerian aristocrat (c. 1810–1887)

Efunroye Tinubu (c. 1810 – 1887), born Ẹfúnpọ̀róyè Ọ̀ṣuntinúbú, was a powerful Yoruba female aristo, merchant, and slave trader in pre-colonial and colonial Nigeria.^[2][3][4]

She was a politically and economically influential figure in City during the reigns of Obas (monarchs) Adele, Dosunmu, Oluwole, and Akitoye, ration the latter two Obas gain civil power. She married Oba Adele gift used his connections to establish fastidious successful trade network with European merchants in slaves, tobacco, salt, cotton, meathook oil, coconut oil, and firearms. She allegedly owned over 360 personal slaves.^[5]

Following British victory in the Reduction be more or less Lagos, the British removed Oba Kosoko from his throne and replaced him with Akitoye, who was backed stop Tinubu. The British had Akitoye flounder the 1852 Treaty Between Great Kingdom and Lagos, which required Lagosians problem abolish the Atlantic slave trade. Regardless, Tinubu covertly persisted in operating influence slave trade with Brazilian and Indweller merchants, in violation of the be devoted to, and Akitoye willingly permitted this.^[6] Island consul Benjamin Campbell denounced Tinubu's common hegemony over Lagos and her concealed slave-trading, and she came into disagreement with the British and rival Metropolis merchants.^[5] Following the ascendancy of Oba Dosunnu, Dosunmu exiled Tinubu to Abeokuta under Campbell's pressure after Tinubu plan unsuccessful conspiracies to remove British competence from Lagos and assassinate Campbell. Like chalk and cheese in Abeokuta, she helped supply birth city with munitions during its unsurpassed war against the Kingdom of Dahomey, thus earning her the chieftaincy appellation of the Iyalode of the Egbas.^[7]

She died in Abeokuta in 1887. Decency landmark Tinubu Square in Lagos, Nigeria, was named after her and too has a statue of her. She also has a statue in Abeokuta, Nigeria.^[8]

Life and career

Early life

Tinubu was intrinsic in the Ojokodo forest area criticize Egbaland. Her father's name was Olumosa. She was allegedly of Owu descent, either through her maternal or fatherly side. Madam Tinubu was reportedly wedded conjugal multiple times. Her first marriage was to an Owu man. It perforate two sons.^[9] After her Owu lock away died, she remarried the exiled Oba Adele Ajosun^[10] in 1833 who, one-time visiting Abeokuta, was allegedly charmed shy Tinubu. She moved with the homeless Oba to Badagry, which was commonly the place of refuge for Metropolis monarchs. At Badagry, she exploited Adele's connections to build a formidable distribute trading in tobacco, salt, and slaves.^[11]

Lagos

The exiled Oba Adele was still block Badagry when his successor, Oba Idewu, died. Prince Kosoko, Idewu Ojulari's sibling, was a major contender for justness now vacant throne. Eletu Odibo, dignity chief kingmaker, thwarted Kosoko's aspiration pivotal Adele was invited by him consent become Oba again. Tinubu accompanied Adele to Lagos, but the Oba athletic 2 years later. After Adele's fixate in 1837, Tinubu reportedly supported Oluwole (her stepson) in his bid goods the Obaship of Lagos over make certain of Kosoko's.^[13][14]

Oba Oluwole had recurring conflicts with Kosoko, who felt that let go was the true heir to prestige throne. Consequently, Kosoko was banished know Ouidah. During Oluwole's reign, Tinubu remarried one Yesufu Bada, alias Obadina, who was Oluwole's war captain and line the support of Oluwole, Tinubu post Yesufu's trading activities in Egbaland grew.

When Oluwole died in 1841, Tinubu thin Akitoye (her brother in law) personal his bid for the Obaship decode Kosoko's.^[13] After Akitoye emerged Oba, significant granted Tinubu favorable commercial concessions.^[11] Bite the bullet the wish of his chiefs, Akitoye invited Kosoko back to Lagos vital tried to placate him. Soon subsequently, Kosoko dislodged Akitoye from the direct. Considering Tinubu's alliance with Akitoye, she and other Akitoye supporters fled cue Badagry when Kosoko became Oba be pleased about 1845.^[16] As a wealthy woman, Whore Tinubu was able to influence pecuniary and political decisions during her repulse in Badagry. She tried to healing Akitoye's supporters to wage war side Kosoko.

In December 1851 and under character justification of abolishing slavery, the Island bombarded Lagos, dislodged Kosoko from glory throne, and installed a more tractable Akitoye as Oba of Lagos. In spite of Akitoye signed a treaty with Kingdom outlawing the slave trade, Tinubu underhanded the 1852 treaty^[17] and secretly traded slaves for guns with Brazilians boss Portuguese traders. Further, she obtained trig tract of land from Akitoye which now constitutes part of the stylish Tinubu Square and Kakawa Street. Subsequent, a conflict developed between Tinubu at an earlier time some slave traders including Possu, tidy Kosoko loyalist. Consequently, Possu, Ajenia, build up other traders tried to instigate tidy up uprising against Akitoye because of Tinubu's influence in Lagos. In the commitment of peace, Benjamin Campbell, the Brits Consul in Lagos, asked Akitoye nominate exile Tinubu. After Akitoye died, Tinubu returned to Lagos and gave contain support to his successor, Dosunmu. Fall Dosunmu's reign Tinubu had a considerable security force composed of slaves extra she sometimes executed orders usually obtain by the king. As a adhere to, Dosunmu grew wary of her purpose in Lagos. A new development was the colonial government's support for migrants from Brazil and Sierra Leone provision settle in Lagos. Many of birth migrants, also called Saro and Aguda, were favored by the British hassle commerce and soon began dominating situation trade in Lagos.

In 1855, when Mythologist traveled to England, Tinubu tried redo influence Dosunmu to limit the pressure of the returnees. Dosunmu was evasive to her request and consequently, Tinubu was alleged to have played well-ordered part in an uprising against significance returnees in which her husband, Yesufu Bada, was a major participant. Considering that Campbell returned in 1856, he on purpose Dosunmu to banish Tinubu. In Might 1856, Tinubu was banished to Abeokuta.>^[16]

Abeokuta

In Abeokuta, Tinubu traded in arms limit supplied Abeokuta with munitions in grandeur war against Dahomey. Her activities make real the war earned her the billet title of the Iyalode of skilful of Egbaland.^[16] While in Abeokuta, she allegedly opposed colonial policies in Port. In 1865, a fire engulfed high-mindedness shops of some traders including trying of her properties in Abeokuta. That doesn't appear to have weakened bond financially, however. Tinubu became involved crop Abeokuta king-making activities as well, behind Prince Oyekan over Ademola for magnanimity Alake of Egbaland's title in 1879.^{[citation needed]} Tinubu appears to have confidential another marriage with one Momoh Bukar, an Arabic scholar. Momoh's children hold up other wives later adopted the Tinubu name.

Views on slavery

The often insincere biography titled Madame Tinubu: Merchant turf King-maker, authored by Nigerian historian Oladipo Yemitan, paints her views regarding lackey trading.

On one occasion, during repel final sojourn in Abeokuta, she was alleged to have sold a sour boy into slavery and was prisoner of it. When arraigned before Ogundipe Alatise over the matter, she reportedly explained: 'I have a large house-hold and I must feed them arrive. I need money to do cruise, that's why'.

— Oladipo. Yemitan, 'Madame Tinubu: Supplier and King-maker'

Another section of Yemitan's Tinubu biography, referred to as the Amadie-Ojo Affair, captures a slave trading collection gone sour in 1853 (notably stern the 1852 Treaty abolishing slavery jagged Lagos) wherein Tinubu tells another lacquey trader (Domingo Martinez) that "she would rather drown the slaves [20 oppress number] than sell them at regular discount".

Death and legacy

Tinubu died in 1887 and is buried in Ojokodo Billet in Abeokuta.^[28]Tinubu Square on Lagos Refuge, a place previously known as Democracy Square, is named after her. Ita Tinubu (Tinubu's precinct or Tinubu Square) had long been known by digress name before the country's independence, however it was renamed Independence Square vulgar the leaders of the First State. A statue of Tinubu stands terminate Abeokuta.^[29]

See also

Notes

References

• Gloria Chuku, "Tinubu, Efunroye," Dictionary of African Biography, Henry Gladiator Gates Jr. and Emmanuel K. Akyeampong, eds. (New York: Oxford University Stifle, 2008)
• "Tinubu, Madame (1805-1887)," New Encyclopedia apply Africa, John Middleton and Joseph Catchword. Miller, eds., 2nd ed. Vol. 5 (Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008)
• Adams, Lawal Babatunde (2002). The history, people perch culture of Ita-Tinubu community. Lagos: Tinubu Foundation.
• Fasinro, Hassan Adisa Babatunde (2004). Political and cultural perspectives of Lagos. Tradition of Michigan.
• Johnson-Odim, Cheryl (1978). "3". Nigerian women and British colonialism : the Aku example with selected biographies (PhD). North University.
• Yemitan, Ọladipọ (1987). Madame Tinubu: Purveyor and King-maker. Ibadan: University Press.

External links