HAUSA-YORUBA RELATIONS IN AKINYELE TOWN, IBADAN: CONSOLIDATIONS AND TRANSFORMATIONS OF AKINYELE TOWN, 1900-1960

Abstract

The early nineteenth century saw the growth of rail lines and ports, which substantially aided many existing towns and cities, such as Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, and Kano. These amenities were partly responsible for the emergence of new communities. Indeed, railway construction was a watershed moment in Nigeria’s urban development. In the following decades, the population of emergent towns grew dramatically as developing metropolitan centers capitalized on this and other factors that aided their growth and development. Similarly, Yoruba towns and cities were more diverse in terms of ethnic and sub-ethnic composition, religious affiliation, and vocational specialization during this period. This research set out to historically examine Hausa-Yoruba relations in Akinyele between 1900 and 1960 and, in the course of interrogating the historical events that characterized the relations, the study traced the historical trajectory of Akinyele and its metamorphosis from village to town; identified the development of the Hausa settlers’ community in Akinyele town; and analyzed the nature and patterns of migration of the Hausa people to Akinyele town. Relevant data were collected through a multidisciplinary approach, while information was collected from primary and secondary sources. Oral interviews were conducted to gather historical facts from the oral traditions and testimonies, while pertinent archival resources were also used as primary sources. In addition, government reports, unpublished theses and dissertations, textbooks, journal articles, newspapers, magazines, and online sources were used as secondary sources of information. Akinyele town was found to have witnessed an influx of Hausa migrants from northern Nigeria for business. Some of these Hausas became settlers in the host community after being allocated land. Also, the congestion of Sabo in Ibadan coupled with the recommendation from the then British Residential officer that the Hausa could seek accommodation elsewhere among their host communities in Ibadan equally gave impetus for the migration of some sets of Hausa people to Akinyele town in the mid-20th century.