Balogun Ibikunle: Family, historians relive fond exploits of renowned Ibadan warrior

In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, notable among warriors whose names are synonymous with the rise of the town is Balogun Ibikunle. His appreciative family including the Oyo State government recently rolled out the drum to remember the man who won the respect they enjoy today. TUNDE BUSARI reports the relevance of the event.

 

After an epic-movie titled Balogun Ibikunle was shot about two years ago, featuring established actors and up-and-coming ones  in the Yoruba film industry, nothing was heard about efforts to document the history of the late Balogun of Ibadan who was reputed for his many war exploits.

Recently, however, the descendants of the Ibikunle family converged on Ayeye compound of the lineage in a demonstration of unity in immortalising their ancestor.

At the gathering which had every touch of culture, a short drama performance by an Ibadan-based theatre group known as Alagbala Ogun, earned a response which adjudged the playlet as  true representation of the life and times of Balogun Ibikunle.

The ancient town of Ibadan founded by war-like personalities from different Yoruba towns and communities, owes its size and expansion to the bravery of people like Balogun Ibikunle, who originally had his root in Ijado, a community near Ogbomoso in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State.

In the live performance, the spectacle of a man in war attire on a horse depicted a theatre of one of many wars to which the name of Balogun Ibikunle is inscribed.

Famously known as Kiniun Onibudo, Ibikunle rose to the seat of Balogun of Ibadan on account of his prowess and expertise in wars and defending Ibadan.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that during his reign as Balogun from 1851 to 1864, Ibadan had so many tributary communities conquered by Ibikunle and his team and they planted their reign in all the communities. He also featured prominently in the Ara war, the Ibadan-Ijaiye war, the Egba war and many others and in most cases he returned home not only as a conqueror, but with a lot of slaves and wealth.

On Sunday, August 18, 2019, thousands of Ibikunle’s descendants from all walks of life led by the Jagun Balogun of Ibadanland and Mogaji of Ibikunle’s family  Chief  Abdulateef Adetokunbo Ademola,  converged on Agbala Ibikunle in Ayeye area of Ibadanland for the grand finale of  a three-day event tagged  “Ibikunle Day.”

The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatubosun who was honoured at the event commended the organisers for initiating and sustaining the cultural event and disclosed that the state was poised to use culture and tourism to develop the economy and create employment for the young and old in the state.

“Apart from the fact that Oyo State is blessed with a lot of tourism potential, there are some cultural events just like what we are celebrating today that will be promoted and supported because they will attract local and foreign tourists into the state and boost the name of Oyo State among attractive sites, not only in Nigeria but also beyond,” he said.

Olatubosun promised that very soon the Seyi Makinde unity government would start work on tourism sites and expose them to the general public.

“Tourists can visit; we will make information available online and produce documentaries about heroes and warriors that are relevant in Ibadan and Oyo State’s history. Oyo State is a paragon of tourism; we are blessed with a lot of tourism potential; we will work to ensure that some of our sites are enlisted by UNESCO.

“And I can assure you that we will utilise this to create wealth and employment as well as boost the economy of the state, we will always have events in that sector and when we do that local and foreign tourists will come, spend their money and our people will benefit.

“I am saying it here that the Oyo State government will take active interest in how our artifacts are preserved and maintained to achieve our objectives for expansion of the tourism sector. We have realised the fact that non-oil products like tourism can also be a goldmine through which we can drive the economy.

“It is our determination to tap into these areas to reduce pressure on our expectations on oil revenue. The Balogun Ibikunle family has shown their preparedness to keep their historical heritage intact and we are going to do all within our resources to encourage them achieve their aims,” he remarked.

Oba Ahmed Omolegbe, the Onijado of Ijado, the ancestral lineage of Ibikunle’s father was also in attendance with some of his chiefs to be part of the celebration. Oba Omolegbe stressed that the history of Ibadan and indeed of the entire Yoruba race is the history of migration of people from one town and community to another before their final settlement to where they are known in the contemporary world.

“If you are familiar with Ibadanland, you will be not be surprised by my presence at the remembrance of Balogun Ibikunle in Ibadan. I think I should even say that the history of the whole Yoruba race is the history of movement of people from their original homes to new places where they made contributions to the growth and development of those places. They became part and parcel of those places. And this is one of the bases of the unity we enjoy among Yoruba towns and communities today.

“We are so connected and share a lot of things in common. This explanation should answer that question of my presence at this event. I came with my chiefs to identify with our people who made a mark in the history and development of Ibadan and it is a memorable event watching those activities which they featured,” he said.

Delightedly, he said that the Oyo State government’s representation at the occasion showed that the Ibikunle family’s tireless work to immortalise the name of the warrior was commendable, saying he was happy to lead his chiefs to the occasion, and also happy for the reception which they accorded them.

Aside Alagbala Ogun Theatre Group, which excited the audience with a short play, one Alhaji Obadara and his Dundun and Sekere group, also based in Ibadan, sang and drummed to the delight of the appreciative crowd.

The elated secretary general of the Ibikunle family, Dr Abass Gbolahan Ibikunle explained that the event was organised periodically to remember and celebrate the hero of the family, clarifying that if Ibikunle were a bad person during his lifetime, the family would not have been proud to promote his name, let alone organising a remembrance.

“If he did not leave a good name behind, we won’t be here today but his virtues, bravery, courage and disdain for injustice and unfair treatment make us proud as his descendants. Part of the reason why we are celebrating him is to foster unity, preserve our cultural heritage and implant the virtues which we are noted for into the younger generation.

“Past administrations have enlisted the family compound situated on a large expanse of land at Ayeye as a heritage site for tourism in the state but they have not really done anything serious. We believe the present administration will do something about it. On our own we will not relent in our efforts to promote our cultural heritage but if the government can collaborate in promoting this, I believe it would be better. Balogun Ibikunle lived a unique life as a warrior who loved his extended family, hence the unity reigning among us today,” he said.