HOW FUNMILAYO RANSOME-KUTI (FELA'S MOTHER) “SACKED” THE ALAKE OF EGBALAND IN 1949
On January 3, 1949, Oba Samuel Ladapo Ademola (1872-1962) the 7th Alake of Egbaland (1920-1962), abdicated the throne due to a strife with Egba women, led by Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (1900-1978) and her sister-in-law, Eniola Soyinka, mother of Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka (b. 1934) , on the issue of tax. The women were made to pay heavy taxes and were also maltreated. After days, months and years of protest, the Alake, who was regarded as a stooge of the colonial master, was removed and forced out of office and had to move to Ogbomoso (other records say Oshogbo) where he stayed till December 1950 before things came back to normal. The Lioness of Lisabi Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was born Francis Abigail Olufunmilayo Thomas to Daniel Olumeyuwa Thomas and Lucretia Phyllis Omoyeni Adeosolu, on October 25, 1900. She was a teacher, political campaigner, women’s rights activist and traditional aristocrat. She served with distinction as one of the most promine...