12/06/2025
THE STORY BEHIND THE SAYING, "Ìgbà Wo
ni MAKU o ni ku?
Here Is a rich historical-fiction narrative inspired by real events and characters from Yoruba history, particularly the rise and fall of Afonja, the powerful military commander and Aare-Ona-Kakanfo of the Oyo Empire.
AFONJA: THE RISE AND RAGE OF THE AARE
In the heart of the mighty Oyo Empire, where drums once thundered like war gods and palaces shimmered with the weight of legacy, there lived a man whose name stirred both awe and fear—Afonja, the general of generals, the dreaded Aare-Ona-Kakanfo.
Afonja was not born with a crown, but with a sword. His loyalty was once unquestioned. He served under the Alaafin with valor, conquering lands, crushing rebellions, and extending the influence of Oyo deep into the savannahs. But power breeds ambition, and ambition knows no master.
The Fall of the Kings
Afonja had grown weary of bending the knee to kings he deemed weak. He began to act like a sovereign, raising an army of warriors and mercenaries—including the feared Fulani and Hausa fighters—around the city of Ilorin, which he had turned into his stronghold.
One by one, Alaafins who crossed him fell—either by his sword or by carefully orchestrated rebellion. His enemies in Oyo whispered of betrayal, but his followers sang his praise as a liberator. And so, kings died, and Afonja’s shadow loomed like an omen over Oyo.
But in 1812, the Oyo Mesi—the council of kingmakers—did something unexpected. They appointed a new Alaafin. His name was Maku.
The Insult of Maku
When word reached Ilorin that a new king had been crowned, Afonja sat in cold silence. He expected a messenger, a tribute, something—anything to acknowledge that even the throne of Oyo now existed under the long reach of his will.
But none came.
Days passed. Then weeks.
Maku, the newly crowned Alaafin, made no move to send gifts. No emissary to Ilorin. No homage. He ruled as though Afonja was merely a footnote in a distant province.
And that, Afonja could not bear.
He rose in a fury and shouted before his chiefs:
> "Igbàwo ni Maku ò ní kú?!"
“When will a man named ‘Maku’ (Do-not-die) ever die?!”
The room was silent. It was more than a question—it was a curse. Afonja had spoken with the voice of a god. His warriors nodded. They knew what would come next.
A Man Playing King
From that moment, Afonja began plotting Maku's downfall. He declared that the throne of Oyo no longer held divine authority, that Ilorin was now the seat of true power. The Oyo Empire was fractured—Alaafin Maku on one side, and Afonja, self-styled warlord, on the other.
But power is a fickle lover.
Afonja's reliance on foreign warriors, especially the Fulani Muslims, sowed seeds of betrayal. He had armed men who did not share his blood, his gods, or his loyalty. He gave them power, and they waited—for the right time.
That time came not long after. The same forces he used to conquer, turned on him.
The End of Afonja
In a fiery rebellion orchestrated by Mallam Alimi and his Fulani followers, Afonja was ambushed. His loyal warriors were overwhelmed. Betrayed in his own stronghold, Afonja fought valiantly—but he was consumed in flames, a warrior swallowed by the very fire he lit.
The curse he laid on Maku? It may have echoed through the land, but it was Afonja who died first.
