Ilorin

關於Ilorin

Ilorin is the capital city of Kwara State located in the Western region of Nigeria. Although Ilorin is classified under the North-Central geopolitical zone, the city is considered a Yoruba city by all historical and sociological standards. As of the 2006 census, it had a population of 777,667, making it the 7th largest city by population in Nigeria.

Ilorin was founded by the Yoruba, one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, in the late 18th century. It became a provincial military headquarters within the Oyo Empire until 1817, when the local Kakanfo (field marshal) named Afonja rebelled, supported by the Hausa Shehu Alimi, an itinerant Islamic preacher and teacher. Their alliance eventually broke down over the Muslims' increasing power and Afonja's refusal to convert, and he was eventually assassinated. Alimi's son Abd al-Salam pledged allegiance to the Sokoto Caliphate in 1823. The Oyo Empire and its Borgawa allies marched against Ilorin circa 1835, trying to reclaim its former glory, but were decisively defeated; this marked the end of Oyo. Abd al-Salam led the jihad toward the sea but was ultimately stopped at Oshogbo in 1840 by the army of Ibadan.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA. Photography via Wikimedia Commons.