In the 1830s, Ibadan and Ijaye emerged as two major towns from the smoky ruins of the old Oyo empire. Both towns were founded by military leaders who retreated south to Egba country to build new settlements for people seeking refuge from the invading northern army.

A thread

Ibadan and Ijaye had a similar history, culture, prominence and potentials. Both pay allegiance to the Alaafin, and fought alongside each other when necessary, but with a strong rivalry that led to open war against each other.

Ibadan reluctantly declared war on Ijaye in 1860, after the latter broke rank to rebel against the new Alaafin of Oyo. New alliances were formed, old ones were broken. Battles were bitterly fought for two years.

This was not an easy war to fight, for they were of equal importance, equal in bravery, courage and skill with vast family and trade connections between each other.

Ijaye fell in 1862, after several months of siege. The Ibadan army led by Ogunmola sacked the town, and it remained in ruins till today. Its surviving soldiers fled and took refuge in Abeokuta and were given portions of land to pitch their tent, in a place called Ago Ijaye.

The fall of Ijaye is a big lesson on why it is better to build institutions around robust processes rather than around a charismatic leader.

Either by design or for pragmatic reasons, the founders of Ibadan decided on a system of government based on merit and plurality of leadership rather than hereditary dynasty.

The Mogaji of any household can rise to become Balogun or Baale of Ibadan based on his valour, seniority and recommendations of his peers.

Ibadan created a reliable system with in-built checks and balances. More importantly, the city attracted a lot of ambitious men across the empire, knowing they have the chance of rising to the top - The Ibadan Dream.

Ijaye, on the other hand, was built around the charisma and strength of Kurunmi, its founder and paramount ruler. At the time, he was the most powerful Yoruba man alive, being the Aare Ona Kakanfo, the Commander-in-Chief of the joint Yoruba forces.

However, Aare Kurunmi was a despotic and insecure ruler who killed anyone he deemed to be a challenge to his reign in Ijaye, thereby eliminating strong lieutenants who could've succeeded him. He had built a system that depended on him.

Though the Ibadan-Ijaye war lasted for several months by the sheer strength of Aare Kurunmi, Ijaye was no match to the collective ambition and strength of the Ibadan dreamers.

There were many tactical reasons -including betrayals and weak allies - that led to the fall of Ijaye, but it was almost inevitable that the war was settled the way it did. Ibadan had stronger and more motivated soldiers.

I remember Ijaye whenever I am tempted to prioritise charisma over institutional leadership in business.

I share this as an intro to a new podcast series my bro, @tundeleye and I will be starting soon where we'll be discussing Yoruba historical figures and events of the 18th/19th century and drawing critical lessons for today.

We hope to start this asap if we get the right mix of people encouraging and embarrassing us to stop procrastinating and get on the mic.