When we look through Nigeria’s history, the spotlight often falls on the men—celebrating their roles in shaping the nation’s legacy—while the remarkable contributions of its women are largely overlooked. Despite their significant contributions to shaping the nation, women’s experiences and achievements are frequently relegated to the background, leaving a glaring gap in our understanding of the past.
One such woman is Chief Efunsetan Aniwura, the second Iyalode of Ibadan and one of the pre-eminent slave traders in 19th-century Ibadan, much like Efunroye, whose story caused quite a stir recently.
Efunsetan’s rise to power
Born in Ikija-Egba in the early 1820s, Aniwura’s family moved to Ibadan after the fall of the town in the 1820s. Her father, Chief Ogunrin, was a warlord from Ikija, while her mother was an industrious petty trader from Ile-Ife.
Aniwura is believed to have developed her entrepreneurial drive at a young age from her mother. She became a successful farmer and producer of food crops in Ibadan and was also involved in trading arms and ammunition with Europeans.
At a certain stage in her life, she rose to wealth and fame and was ranked among the social, economic, and political elite in Ibadan, becoming a powerful matriarch.
Marriage and loss
Aniwura was reportedly married multiple times and had a child, whom she lost at birth in 1860. This traumatic event is believed to have been a catalyst for the psychological struggles that she would face later in life.
The ruthless enslaver
Following the death of her daughter during birth, she is said to have had a terrible sense of loss for not having an heir to inherit her legacies. While questioning God for her tragedy, Aniwura became cruel towards the people around her.
Aniwura allegedly ordered her slaves to beat a palm dresser, Ogunjinmi, to death for supposedly infringing on her property. She killed her pregnant slaves after enforcing the rule that no one was allowed to conceive or impregnate anyone under her care.
She also tied some of the male slaves to stakes as punishment for tardiness at work, and terrorised slaves through verbal abuse, threats of death, corporal punishment, and even cold-blooded murder.
Going against the patriarchy
Despite her highhandedness, she became the second Iyalode of Ibadan in the 1860s and also the patron of the Anglican Church of Ibadan for her involvement in strengthening Christianity in the region.
As chief, Aniwura became a formidable force in the old Ibadan province. She was a woman of immense power and influence—her name commanded respect and fear. Bold, wealthy, audacious, and fiercely determined, Aniwura stood in defiance of several policies enacted by the ruler of Ibadan at the time, Aare Ona Kakanfo Latoosa, challenging authority with courage and conviction.
Her political troubles began during her involvement in the war, where she became a vocal spokesperson for the anti-war faction in Ibadan. She passionately opposed the expansionist policies of Aare Latoosa, which sought to bring numerous towns under Ibadan’s control.
However, this did not go well with Aare Latoosa, who saw her actions as insubordination and political confrontation and pitched her against the ruler’s tent.
On May 1, 1874, the Aare deposed her as Iyalode of Ibadan for politically motivated allegations. She was fined, and Aniwura paid all the fines levied against her. The ruler was still not pleased with her because the high chiefs and the community held her in high esteem.
Her death
Aniwura was killed in her sleep by two of her slaves in 1874 under the instructions of her adopted son, Kumuyilo, who was bribed by Aare Latoosa, who felt threatened by her wealth and disobedience towards him.
When the Egba chiefs heard of Aniwura’s death, they demanded an inquiry. When investigations were concluded, the two slaves involved were killed, while Kumuyilo was removed as the head of Aniwura’s family.
Efunsetan Aniwura’s legacy
Chief Aniwura gained mainstream attention after being depicted in a play by Professor Akinwunmi Isola in 1970. She was also the subject of a full film production titled “Efunsetan Aniwura” in 2005.
Her statue was once placed at the centre of Challenge roundabout, a major point within the modern city of Ibadan. It was removed following complaints from residents about her history as a cruel woman.
Aniwura is remembered as a successful merchant and trader, whose impact encompassed the political, military, economic and religious spheres of Ibadan. She is arguably the most powerful and one of the wealthiest Yoruba women that ever lived.
