Segun Atanda/
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, and Archbishop Emeritus Ayo Ladigbolu, Chairman of the Oyo Metropolitan Development Association, have jointly called for compensation and the repatriation of Oyo artefacts looted by British colonial forces during the 1895 invasion of Oyo, historically remembered as Ogun Pepe.
The call was made at a press conference in Oyo Town by the organising committee for the forthcoming 130th anniversary memorial of the invasion.
The press briefing marked the first public demand by the Oyo traditional leadership for restitution and return of the artefacts, which were taken away after the attack led by Captain Robert Lister Bower.
Historical records indicate that the November 12, 1895 assault followed Alaafin Adeyemi Alowolodu I’s refusal to surrender two palace attendants, Bakare and Kudeefu, to the British.
In retaliation, British troops stormed the ancient city, their rifles firing in rapid bursts that locals described as “pepe, pepe, pepe,” giving the conflict its name.
The Alaafin was shot and wounded in the leg during the invasion before retreating briefly to Oke-Owinni, returning later after a negotiated truce.
The invasion left parts of Oyo in ruins, many residents displaced, and priceless cultural items, including royal regalia, crowns, beads, bronzes and sacred objects, seized and transported to Britain.
Speaking at Atiba Hall, Oyo, Dr James Adesokan Ojebode, chairman of the Ogun Pepe Memorialisation Committee and founder of Atiba University, said the committee’s mission was to honour the resilience of Oyo’s ancestors while demanding justice for the losses inflicted by colonial forces.
“This commemoration is not merely about history; it is about justice, pride and continuity. We are saying to the world that Oyo’s heritage must be restored,” he said.
Ladigbolu, who is also a respected historian and cultural advocate, said the call for repatriation was long overdue.
“All our artefacts taken away should be returned. It is our collective duty to preserve our sovereignty and cultural dignity,” he said, describing the 1895 event as a painful reminder of how colonial aggression attempted to erase Oyo’s identity.
The committee announced that the 130th anniversary memorial would begin on November 12, featuring lectures, cultural exhibitions, stage dramas, intergenerational dialogues and thanksgiving services to honour Alaafin Alowolodu’s defiance and moral courage.
Other members of the committee include Prof Sunday Olawale Okeniyi, Princess Folasade Adeyemi, Segun Oke and Hon Wale Ogunsola.
The committee revealed plans to publish a book on the invasion for use in schools and to establish a museum within the Alaafin’s palace to preserve recovered artefacts and educate future generations.
Segun Oke disclosed that representatives in London, South Africa and other countries were already identifying the stolen artefacts in museum collections and initiating talks to secure their return.
For many in Oyo, the shooting and wounding of Alaafin Alowolodu I during the invasion stands as a symbol of resistance and sacrifice. His injury is remembered not just as a personal ordeal but as a mark of Oyo’s defiance against colonial domination.
As the city prepares for the 130th anniversary of Ogun Pepe, the combined voices of Alaafin Owoade and Ladigbolu have given new urgency to a long-silenced demand for the treasures and dignity stripped from Oyo in 1895 to be finally be restored.
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