SHANGO, FOURTH ALAFIN OF OYO

A PERSON NAME ORANYANS WAS THE SECOND ALAFIN (KING) OF OYO , UPON HIS DEATH HIS OLDEST SON NAME AJAKA BECAME KING, THEREFORE THE THIRD ALAFIN, KING AJAKA IT HAS BEEN SAID WAS TOO MILD AND GENTLE IN HIS RULER SHIP. HE SURRENDERED TOO MUCH TO HIS WARLOADS AND ALIES WHO CONSIDERED HIM AS WEAK AND CONTINUALLY INTIMIDATED AND DEMANDED CONCESSIONS. BECEAUSE OF THIS, THE OYO COUNCIL OF CHIEFS DETHRONED HIM AND EXILED HIM TO RETIREMENT. THIS GIVED WAY FOR HIS YOUNGER BROTHER SHANGO TO BE INSTALLED AS THE FOURTH ALAFIN OF THE OYO EMPIRE. THIS SHANGO WAS THE SON OF ORANYAN AND A NUPE PRINCESS WHOSE NAME WAS TOROSI. HER FATHER WAS KING ELEMPE, KING OF THE NUPES, A VERY STRONG AND WARLIKE NATION TO THE EAST OF OYO. AT THE TIME OF KING SHANGO REIGN THERE WAS AN OLOWU ( A PERSON EQUIVALENT TO A PRIME MINISTER) WHO HADGAINED A GREAT DEAL OF POWER FROM MAKING MAJOR DECISIONS IN LIEU OF THE FORMER WEAK ALAFIN (KING) AJAKA. THIS OLOWU DEMANDED THAT SHANGO SHOULD PAY TRIBUTE TO HIM, WHICH SHANGO BLUNTLY REFUSED TO DO. THE OLOWU ATTEMPTED TO THREATEN SHONGO TO DEPRIVE HIM OF LIVING QUARTERS FOR HIS WIVES AND CHILDREN BUT SHANGO STILL DID NOT BUDGE. THE OLOWU THEN GARTHERED HIS FAVOURITE WARLORDS AND THREATENED SHANGO WITH CIVIL WAR BUT THAT STILL DID NOT MOVED KING SHANGO, INSTEAD SHANGO WITH STRENGTH HIS OFFICE, HE OVERRODE THE OLOWU AND FOURGTH HIM TOOTH AND NAIL. THE CAPITAL WAS BESEIGED. IT WAS HERE THAT SHANGO FIRST DISPLAYED HIS WONTED BRAVERY WHICH TERRIFIED THE OLOWU AND HIS ARMY AND PUT THEM BOTH TO FLIGHT. SHANGO DID NOT ACCEPT A SIMPLE VICTORY, HE PURSUSED AND CAUGHT THE OLOWU AND HIS ARMY. WHEN THE RENEGADES WERE PRESENTED BEFORE HIM HE PERSONALLY EXECUTED THE OLOWU AND FORTY SIX MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF. IT IS SAID THAT BEFORE THE EXECUTION SHANGO EXPLAINED THAT HE WOULD NOT NEGOTIATE WITH MUTINEERS OR TRAITOTRS. SHANGO DID NOT GIVE QUARTER, NOR DID HE TAKE PRISONERS! Note: Oyo is a state in Nigeria It is composed of people of the Yoruba Tribe. Nigeria is a country in Africa.