Ethnic Multiplicity, Diverse Facial Tribal Marking and Sustainability of Ilorin Fulani Emirate in the 19th Century
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Date
2025-12-15
Journal Title
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Publisher
Stichproben. Wiener Zeitschrift für kritische Afrikastudien / Vienna Journal of African Studies
Abstract
The 19th century Yoruba historical quagmire transformed Ilorin from scattered micro
settlements to a Fulani Emirate, a centralized polity and a cultural melting point.
Establishment and consolidation of the Fulani Emirate hegemonic rule in a Yoruba
geographical domain, culminated to the solid foundation of Ilorin’s political and
economic prominence. Ilorin became a conqueror and a safer haven for the oppressed.
It turned out to be a scent of attraction for migrant settlers from Yorubaland, Nupe
land, Hausa-Fulani, Borno, Sudan, Mali, several other parts of Western Africa and
Sudan. Facial markings and other diverse cultural features of these people excessively
complicated her heterogeneity and turned the tribal ownership of Ilorin Emirate into an
unending controversial academic debate. The paper explores readings from extant
literature and oral testimonies to juxtapose the extent through which facial tribal
markings demonstrated tribal and cultural diversity of a united sovereign entity of the
Ilorin Emirate. The study claims that despite the prevalence of diverse facial tribal
markings, political and administrative structuring and restructuring which allocated
rightful places to major and signi#cant minor ethnic groupings, vested in them a sense
of belonging and identity. Ilorin Emirate became one of the most formidable political
and economic heavy weights of the 19th century West African history.
Description
Keywords
Tribal Marks, Heterogeneous, INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS::Ethnicity, Ilorin Emirate, Wards, Yorubaland