Efunsetan Aniwura was one of the most powerful women in 19th-century

Efunsetan Aniwura was one of the most powerful women in 19th-century

Yorubaland, remembered for her exceptional wealth, political influence, and uncompromising leadership. 
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Originally from Abeokuta, she later settled in Ibadan, where she built a vast economic network that included large agricultural estates, extensive production of commodities such as tobacco, and a substantial labour force made up of enslaved people and dependents. Her commercial success elevated her social standing and led to her installation as the Iyalode of Ibadan, the highest title for women in the city and one that placed her among the senior chiefs who shaped Ibadan’s political life.

Her authority was well recognised, and in many cases, her influence matched that of the major male chiefs. However, the same assertiveness that made her a formidable leader also created political friction within Ibadan’s power structure. Her strictness, especially in managing her estate and dependents, has been highlighted in both oral traditions and historical accounts—though some of these depictions are debated by modern historians who argue that later narratives exaggerated her harshness to justify the political actions taken against her.

Tensions eventually escalated between Efunsetan and the ruling council, particularly with the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Ibadan, Latoosa (commonly called Aare Latoosa). The conflict was rooted not only in personal disagreements but also in broader struggles over authority, governance, and the fear among male chiefs of an Iyalode whose influence had grown unusually strong for the era. In 1874, these disputes culminated in her removal and subsequent execution under Latoosa’s orders.

Efunsetan Aniwura’s story reflects both the remarkable heights women could reach within Yoruba political and economic systems and the patriarchal resistance that sometimes confronted such female authority. She remains a complex historical figure—a symbol of power, enterprise, and the turbulent politics of 19th-century Ibadan

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