One hundred and thirty years after British imperial forces stormed the Alaafin’s palace in Oyo, the ancient city is preparing to commemorate the historic 1895 “Ogun Pepe” (Pepe War) — a defining episode of Yoruba resistance against colonial domination.
The week-long global commemoration, scheduled for November 2025, will honour the resilience, cultural heritage, and bravery of the Oyo people. It will also spotlight the defiant leadership of Alaafin Adeyemi Alowolodu I, whose refusal to yield to British interference on November 12, 1895, triggered the conflict.
Announcing the memorial, the current Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, said the event would celebrate the courage of Oyo’s ancestors while giving global recognition to one of the most significant anti-colonial struggles in Yoruba history.
According to the Alaafin, “The Pepe War was not just a local conflict; it was a statement of defiance against imperial aggression and an affirmation of our right to self-determination. We must continue to draw lessons from that moment of courage and resilience.”
Historical accounts show that the crisis began when Bakare, a royal messenger (Ilari) serving the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Adeyeri I, was accused of adultery with one of the king’s wives. The case was referred to the Alaafin, who ordered Bakare’s castration in accordance with royal custom.
Captain Robert Lister Bower, the British Resident Commissioner in Ibadan, viewed the punishment as an affront to British authority and demanded that Alaafin Adeyemi hand over both Bakare and the executioner, Kudeefu.
The Alaafin refused, ordering Bakare’s execution and safeguarding Kudeefu. This defiance prompted Bower to invade Oyo with a 60-man armed force.
The people of Oyo mounted fierce resistance. The sharp, crackling sound of British gunfire — “pepe! pepe! pepe!” — gave the war its enduring name: Ogun Pepe.
Though injured during the attack, the Alaafin escaped to Oke-Owinni, where he sought intervention from the Catholic Bishop of Oyo. After six days of intense fighting, a truce was reached, allowing him to return triumphantly to his palace.
Palace officials say the forthcoming “Ogun Pepe Memorial” will feature a dramatic reenactment of the war, cultural performances, exhibitions, academic symposia, and a heritage campaign aimed at recovering royal artifacts looted by British forces in 1895.
These artifacts — including crowns, beads, gold ornaments, and other royal regalia — form part of the heritage the Alaafin hopes to reclaim through diplomatic efforts.
Oba Owoade noted that the commemoration goes beyond remembering the past, adding that it is “about preserving our dignity, heritage, and the right to tell our own story — the Oyo story — with pride and truth.”
How Oyo Resisted Britain’s 1895 Invasion
In Yoruba and Nigerian history, 1895 stands as a landmark year of courage and confrontation. Oyo Town — the political and spiritual heart of the ancient Oyo Empire — faced a direct assault from British colonial forces, marking a turning point in the decline of Oyo’s centuries-old sovereignty.
Prior to the invasion, Oyo was a dominant empire — the cradle of Yoruba civilization, renowned for its political structure and influence across West Africa. The Alaafin of Oyo was not only a king but a supreme ruler whose authority was balanced by the Oyo Mesi (Council of Seven Chiefs) and respected throughout Yorubaland.
By the late 19th century, British interests had expanded from the Niger Coast and Lagos (annexed in 1861), pushing aggressively inland under the guise of maintaining “law and order.” Their actual objective was to control the economic and political core of Yorubaland.
Tensions worsened over disputes involving trade routes, taxation, and Oyo’s refusal to accept British supremacy. Captain Bower, the British Resident at Ibadan, sought to force treaties on Oyo that would effectively reduce the kingdom to a colonial vassal.
The Alaafin and his chiefs rejected such accords, viewing them as an attack on Oyo’s ancestral authority and sovereignty. When diplomacy failed, the British resorted to military force — a pattern similar to their actions in Ijebu and Benin.
In 1895, British troops armed with Maxim guns and modern rifles advanced on Oyo. The local defenders, though courageous, were outmatched by the superior weaponry. The attack led to significant destruction of the ancient city, the displacement of royal families, and a severe blow to the authority of the Alaafin.
Following the invasion, the British expanded their control across the Yoruba hinterland, establishing indirect rule and relegating traditional rulers to subordinate roles. The once-powerful Alaafin of Oyo became a figure within a colonial system governed from Lagos and London.
Yet the resistance of 1895 remains a testament to Oyo’s determination. It shows that the Yoruba did not surrender their autonomy without a fight and underscores their enduring commitment to cultural identity and independence.
About Major Sir Robert Lister Bower
Major Sir Robert Lister Bower (KBE, CMG, KPM) was a British military, colonial, and police officer known for his influential role in colonial West Africa and later service in the United Kingdom.
Born on 12 August 1860 into a prominent Yorkshire family, Bower was educated at Harrow School before joining the Kerry Militia and later transferring to the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in 1881. He served in major British campaigns, including the Anglo-Egyptian War and the Mahdist War, earning multiple mentions in dispatches.
His involvement in the Yoruba region began with the Jebu Expedition of 1892, after which he served as the Political Officer at Jebu-Ode. From 1893 to 1897, he was the British Resident in Ibadan, a role that brought him into direct conflict with the Alaafin of Oyo. During this period, he captured Yoruba warrior Ogedengbe of Ilesa and was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1897.
After returning to Britain in 1898, Bower became Chief Constable of the North Riding of Yorkshire, a position he held until his death in 1929, except for his World War I service (1914–1916) in Egypt as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General. He was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1920 and later knighted (KBE) in 1925.
He died on 13 June 1929 from heart failure caused by pneumonia.
