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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Ilorin-Lagos Relations in the Nineteenth Century: A Study of British Imperial Struggle in Yorubaland |
Author: | Apata, Z.O. |
Year: | 1991 |
Periodical: | Transafrican Journal of History (ISSN 0251-0391) |
Volume: | 20 |
Pages: | 145-160 |
Language: | English |
Notes: | biblio. refs. |
Geographic terms: | Nigeria Great Britain West Africa |
Subjects: | colonial conquest multinational enterprises Ilorin polity history traditional polities History and Exploration Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) colonialism Urbanization and Migration Imperialism, Colonialism imperialism Colonial countries Yoruba (African people) |
External link: | https://www.jstor.org/stable/24520307 |
Abstract: | This paper discusses an aspect of imperial struggle in Yorubaland (Nigeria) in the late 19th century. This struggle stemmed from the strained relationship between Ilorin and Lagos on the one hand, and the Royal Niger Company on the other. The Lagos government wanted to incorporate Ilorin into Lagos colony for three reasons: 1) Ilorin was geographically contiguous and thus would be relatively easily administered from Lagos; 2) Since Ilorin was predominantly Yoruba, it was felt that Ilorin should be merged with Lagos colony, which was also thickly populated by Yoruba people; 3) There was a need to check the expansionist policy of Ilorin which was injurious to the trading and commercial interests of Lagos. While the Lagos government wanted to control Ilorin, the Royal Niger Company considered the Ilorin Emirate as falling under its sphere of influence by virtue of the 1885 treaty signed with Gwandu and Sokoto, and resisted every move made by the Lagos government to incorporate Ilorin. The Lagos government and the Royal Niger Company had the backing of the Colonial Office and Foreign Office respectively. This study therefore presents a peculiar situation whereby two representatives of the British imperial government were engaged in competitive struggle in Yorubaland. It was only when Ilorin was defeated by the Royal Niger Company on 16 February 1897 that British control was effectively established in the region. Bibliogr., notes. |