THE LEGENDARY FEMALE KING EBOLEJONU OF KWARARAFA KINGDOM
November 17, 2020 at 12:00 pm,
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By Okwoli Moses Elaigwu
Prior to the establishment of kwararafa kingdom at Gazargamu, the practice of a female running as a king was in place in Southern Sudan, their second settlement after departure from Arabian Peninsula. In the northern
Sudan kingdom for instance, the Nubian empire which control the entire Sudan down to Egypt a daughter of a king with a title of Kwandake (Kandake) of kuso (kush) may be crown to rule along with the father, or husband or even rule alone. This title qualify her to rule as a king instead of been address as queen and most time when ruling along with a seating king appear more power than the king who act more like a ceremonial prime minister.
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In kwararafa kingdom and its offshoot despite their experiences from Sudan culture for a woman to become a king it was seen strange. A clear example was seen in kwararafa invasion of kano, katsina and on returning decide to invade the Zazzau kingdom now called Zaira in Kaduna state with its capital at Kufena. On getting to Zazzau capital they discover that their leader was a woman called Queen Amina which sounds strange to then and therefore, their commander shouted Aku bani (meaning “there is no king”. He then order his army to pull out of the city of Kufena and went to encamp at the out sketch of the city in a place now called Tudun Jukun in Kaduna state in southern Kaduna.
In late 1489 – 1596 there was heavy tension resulting from war, political tousle, and illegal slave trade in the kingdom which led to gradual migration of many tribes from Kwararafa Empire. The campaign of Awudu (Abutu) Eje, the founder of Igala kingdom and his acolyte Idu of becoming the next Aku of kwararafa while Agbu kinju was still alive is another factor that led to the entire Akpoto clan leaving kwararafa kingdom. When the agitation became pronounce he began to gain ground, him long with their entire ruling as caste to establish his kingdom elsewhere which must be subject to tributes to the ancestral home. Awudu Eje left in anger along with Idu and they arrive at Etu (owetu) in Agatu upon settlement decided to go back to Wukari to reclaim their honor, Idu died in the war living Awudu Eje badly wounded and was return back to Etu were he died and was buried.
Unfortunately both of them could not make it to Ida, leaving their children, kinsmen, and followers to complete the journey.
As they arrive at Ida the need to choose another leader arised, instead of choosen from the ruling caste the daughter of Awudu Eje was crown king of Jukun Galla (meaning “Jukun that settlend around Galla hills) who they called Atta-Galla (meaning “the Father of Galla”).
How could this be possible for a woman to be given a seat of a man? In other to make this possible they apllied the ritual of Kwandake (Kandake) of Kuso (kush) of the Nubi (Nubian) kingdom in the present day Sudan where they once aboard by doing the ritual of transformation on Awudu Eje only child and daughter called Ebulejonu to qualify her the position of a man since the father had no son and his clan are not ready to agree to the arrangement of rotation the kingship among the ruling caste. She married from her father’s clan and other ruling caste, even go as far as marrying from Igbo land with this she continue with the line of her father. Her reign as a king experiences success and breakthrough, though most of the tribes in anger depart the city of Ida to establish their own kindom.
She invaded Benin kingdom, took off the mask of Benin king which the Igala kings now wore as part of their royal custom. The first Achadu (Omepa) who the Atta Ebulejonu married from Igalagba she handed over Nsuka land for him to govern. On this research we find out that some elders in Nsuka still speaks Igala as their native language. She extended her campaign and invaded part of Onitcha which include Aguleri, Nri and other communities in delta & Edo who some still recognize themselves as part of the old igala kingdom. Some of these people still come to formalize their royal title in Idah till date.
When Ebulejonu died, his son Onoja Oboni continued with the expansion of the territory. He was known for his mystical power and his undefiled war tactics. He went ahead to conquer the rest og Nsuka which are yet to be under igala control, after which he went to conquer Ontisha were he got married to a princess called Usse (uche) from whom he got a son named name Idoko. The son spent some time in Atta palace on going back to Onitcha makes chances to their culture, as described in Professor A.E Afigbo book: “The legend of Onoja Oboni”.
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