The Introduction of Firearms in YorubalandThe arrival of firearms in Yorubaland was a gradual process, with the musket being the first to make its mark.During the 16th and 17th centuries, Portuguese and Dutch traders introduced muskets to Benin City, from where they spread into Yorubaland through regional trade networks. These muzzle-loaded long guns became dominant weapons in 16th-century warfare and had a profound impact on the Yoruba civil wars of the 19th century.The Ijebu, strategically located along key trade routes leading to Lagos, were among the earliest Yoruba groups to adopt European firearms, a development that altered the course of warfare during the Owu War. The fall of Owu was largely attributed to its lack of European guns, highlighting the crucial role of firearms in battle.For much of the early 19th century, guns remained scarce in Yorubaland, with traditional weapons like swords, spears, and axes continuing to be the main tools of combat. However, gunpowder—introduced during the Owu War—quickly became a highly sought-after resource among Yoruba warriors.The significance of firearms in 19th-century Yoruba conflicts is evident in historical events such as the siege of Ijaye in 1862. During this conflict, the Ibadan army demanded 200 bags of cowries, 200 kegs of gunpowder, and 200 guns as ransom for a European captive. It was only through the intervention of the Alaafin of Oyo that the captive was eventually freed.Narration extracted from: Weapons of the 19th Century Yoruba Civil Wars by Akin AdejuwonPhoto: A man wearing a cap, shirt, and trousers, standing in front of a mud-walled, thatched-roof building in a village near Ibadan, holding a long rifle.Photograph by: E.H. Duckworth, 1930Source: mayowablades