Chat in Ijebu-Ife

Ijebu was a Yoruba kingdom in pre-colonial Nigeria, which was formed around the 15th century. According to legend, its dynasty was founded by Obanta of Ile-Ifé, who received the order of the Oba of Benin to establish the kingdom. Scholars today also identified the influence of the Benin Empire on the art of Ijebu's court and ritual. There is another theory that Obanta migrated from the Uadai, a part of present-day Sudan. The kingdom was one of the most developed kingdoms in the region, with a complex and highly organized government. The capital was Ijebu Ode, where the Awujale had its palace. Counterbalancing the Awujale was the Osugbo, a council of all freeborn men who served as kingdom courts.

The Osugbo was divided into six groups based on the classification, the largest being iwarefa, whose chief Oliwa was the second most powerful figure in the nation. Also powerful was the Olisa who could be described as the mayor of Ijebu Ode. Like many African societies, Ijebu was also divided into three hierarchies by age and these groups each had their own leaders. The Kingdom is composed of several cities that extends up to parts of the state of Lagos and borders the state of Ondo. These cities include Ijebu-Remo, Ijebu-Igbo, Ikorodu, Epe, Ijebu Waterside, Iwopin, Lekki in Lagos, Ijebu-Imushin, Ijebu-Ife, Odogbolu and Ago-Iwoye. The state rose in power in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, mainly due to its important position on the trade routes between Lagos and Ibadan. The kingdom imposed sharp limits on trade by insisting that all trade with the region be conducted by Ijebu traders.

The monopoly brought great wealth to the kingdom, but also angry Europeans. Despite its wealth the kingdom, fell into internal conflict in the late nineteenth century. The kingdom never had a strong army and had long been forced to depend on mercenaries. These foreigners further destabilized the nation. In 1892, the British attacked Ijebu in response to its barriers to trade. The British were successful and occupied the capital, burning the meeting place of the Osugbo. The British army employee Maxim arms, according to the adventurous soldier Frederick Lugard. In defending himself against charges of excessive mortality rates in Uganda from his own use of the weapon, he stated: "On the West Coast in the 'Jebu' war, conducted by the government, I was told" several thousand "were harvested by Maxim ".

For several years, the capital was occupied by British troops that the kingdom was annexed to the colony of South of Nigeria. Today, it is one of Nigeria's traditional states. The Ijebu kingdom was ruled by a king and his group of elders, who were generally men of a higher status and of great influence. The council ruled the region and had representatives from other decentralized councils that no longer have any power. Since the invasion of Lord Luggard these councils have continued to heed and advise Obanta, his power however, is largely ceremonial since the constitution of British rule in his protectorate. The elders have been known to represent their various villages and the will of the people and now they are not such an important part in the ceremonial process.

All the elders were given individual titles and the eldest was given the title of prince, though he will never inherit the throne except in special circumstances. The traditional belief was similar to the Chinese Mandate of Heaven.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ijebu_Kingdom