A little bit of Yoruba history...

Lady Betty, Rev R.H.Stone and the Ijaye-Ibadan war.

Did you know that the great grand-daughter of the first Baptist Missionary to Nigeria lives in Alabama? It is a little known fact that may be of relevance only to the yoruba descendants in Alabama like us. Read on.

By Prof Lekan Ayanwale.

The woman is by the name of Mrs Betty Finklea Florey. She lives in Tuscaloosa and teaches at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Her great grandfather and the missionary's name is Rev. R.H. Stone, who in 1858 (by foot from Lagos port) arrived in Ijaye Orile, a suburb of Ibadan where my own great grand parents originated from, to be specific.

More about Ijaiye town of old and new.

 Ijaye of old is in Akinyele local government area of Oyo State.  Rev. R.H. Stone's book about the Ijaye war entitled "In Africa's Forest and Jungle" was first published in 1899. It was recently edited and re-written by this remarkable descendant of his, lady Betty as she would like to be called.

 Rev Stone's diary was the only authentic and eye-witness accounts of the Ijaye vs Ibadan war.

  

Are Kunrunmi of Ijaye led the Ijaiye people while Ogunmola of Ibadan led the people of Ibadan. The Ibadan people (like our President Yinka & co) trashed my people in the war. Those who survived migrated to other parts of Oyo State while others moved to Ogun and Lagos States. My own people migrated to Abeokuta, Ogun State and later to Lagos. That is why we have (where they settled) Ijaye Ojokoro near Ifo, Ijaiye Agege / Ifako and Ago Ijaye (Methodist Church at Ebute meta) areas of Lagos State today. 

*From the editor: There is more to this story from Prof. Ayanwale in part 2.

Edited for publishing by Funke Abolade.