As the Iyalode of Ibadan, Efunsetan Aniwura was a woman of utmost power, wealth, and influence in 19th-century in Yoruba land.
Born into a family of noble heritage, she was raised in a world where trade was the cornerstone of power and influence, and she became proficient in the art of trade.
As a young woman, she moved to Ibadan, and established a huge trading empire, dealing in tobacco, firearms, and slaves. Her assets grew substantially and she was known to be one of the richest figures in Ibadan, possessing large farmlands, countless slaves, and a trading network that extended beyond Yoruba kingdoms. Her power earned her the title of Iyalode of Ibadan, making her the most influential woman in the city.
Despite how successful she was, Efunsetan was known to be very disciplined, she ruled her household and her business empire with absolute authority. Although she was strict to the core, she was also good to her employees and slaves, but then the kind gesture stopped when her only daughter died. Suddenly, she became the opposite of what she used to be.
The death of her daughter turned everything around, she became merciless and brutal. Among her most feared decrees was the law that no female slave in her household should bear a child. If any of her slave women became pregnant, they were either executed or brutally punished. Her household lived under a reign of terror, and whispers of her cruelty circulated far and wide.
Read Also: Queen Amina of Zaria – The Warrior Queen
Despite her strict governance, Efunsetan remained a dominant force in Ibadan’s political affairs. She made an immense contribution to the economy of the land and she was greatly regarded in the ruling council. However, as her power grew, so did resentment amongst Ibadan’s male leaders. They believed that a woman, no matter how wealthy or powerful, should not hold such authority in their city. With time, the tensions grew into bitter animosity.
Her downfall was plotted by political rivals who sought to eliminate her. The leadership of Ibadan, under the command of the Are Ona Kakanfo, schemes to bring her down, depicting her as a power-hungry oppressor whose reign was disastrous for the city. They claimed she had grown too powerful, too ruthless, and too unwilling to submit to male authority. The plan was simply to dethrone her permanently.
One fateful night, the conspiracy was set in motion. A group of assassins, including some of her trusted servants, entered her home in the dead of the night. Her guards, either bribed or too fearful to intervene, did nothing to stop them. Surrounded and betrayed, Efunsetan realized there was no escape.
Some reports believe that she resisted, others suggest that she, realizing her demise was unavoidable, took her own life rather than allow her enemies the satisfaction of killing her. Either way, by morning, Efunsetan, the most powerful woman in Ibadan, was found dead.
The news of her death spread like wildfire, leaving the city in shock. Some celebrated, believing her era had come to an end. Others mourned the loss of a woman who had defied tradition. Her name lived on, not just as a figure of fear, but as a symbol of strength, and ambition.
Did you think Efusetan deserved to die? Please, share your thoughts in the comments section.