Queen Moremi

Africa’s lady liberty; Queen Moremi was a folk heroine reputed to have sacrificed everything to save her people. The clever tactics of this queen enabled her to devise a strategy that was instrumental in the successful liberation of the Yoruba people from their neighboring enemy Kingdom. Her illustrious legacy will live on in perpetuity in the Yoruba kingdom, and it is because of her selfless and courageous character that the people of Ile-Ife continue to hold her in such high regard today.

Early Life

Moremi Ajasoro lived in the 12th century and was born a princess who later became queen of the Yoruba tribe, which is one of the most famous and influential black tribes in all history. She hailed from Offa and was the wife of Oranmiyan; the heir to the King of Ife and Founding Father of the Yoruba tribe, Oduduwa.

The Ìgbò Raiders

During a period in the ancient Yoruba land, the people of Ile-Ife were enslaved (due to numerous wars and defeats) by a neighboring tribe called the Ìgbò people (also referred to as the Forest people).

These Ìgbò’s have no relation with the contemporary Igbo’s of Modern-day Nigeria. During Moremi’s reign as queen, they faced the prolonged issue of Ìgbò raiders dressed completely in raffia leaves, disrupting and looting markets in Ife, and selling the people of the Kingdom into slavery.
The Ìgbò were perceived as an unbeatable enemy as they were not only seen as spirits but were thought to have carried a supernatural source of power which put them at an inequitable advantage. They were even referred to as demigods by some due to their frequent raids on the people of Ife. As a result, the Ife people attempted to defeat their adversary by appealing to their ancestors through sacrificial offerings, but their efforts were futile.

Moremi The Spy

Moremi was a patriot and couldn’t bear to see how unhappy her people and her husband, the king, were and so devised a plan to resolve their pending issue. She visited the Spirit of the river, Esimirin, and due to her abundant riches, she hastily vowed to make the greatest sacrifice possible if she could discover the strength of the Forest people and save her kingdom. As advised by the goddess Esimirin, the Queen selflessly and willingly offered to be captured as a slave by the raiders, which she accomplished successfully the following day by posing as a trader in the market.

Not only was Moremi fearlessly brave, but she was also a stunning woman, which enabled her not just to entice her adversaries, but also to unravel the mystery surrounding their strength. Her beauty drew the attention of the Ìgbò leader, who made her one of his wives. She remained there for an extended period of time, spying on her adversaries and learning their ways of life, with a particular interest in their raffia-clad masquerades.

Over time, she earned the King's and the people's trust and affection, and as a result, she discovered an army tactic that proved instrumental in overthrowing her adversaries. Moremi was able to coerce the king into revealing to her that their raffia-dressed masquerades were not, in fact, spirits, but rather ordinary human beings disguised in that manner to instill fear in the people of Ile Ife during their raids. Additionally, he revealed that the raffia leaves covering them were flammable and would not survive even the slightest contact with fire. With this information, she was able to safely plan her return to Ile-Ife.

The defeat of the forest raiders and Moremi’s sacrifice

When Moremi returned after escaping she disclosed the secrets and tactics she discovered to her Yoruba army. She told them that all they had to do to defeat their enemy was to pass through them with a torch. The Yoruba people used the information given to them by Moremi and victoriously subdued the Ìgbò people in battle. Moremi then returned to the Esimirin River to make her offerings, at which point the goddess demanded she sacrifice her only son, Oluorogbo. She was distraught and pleaded with the goddess for mercy and a less heinous offering, but she had to uphold her end of the bargain, and thus sacrificed her only son. The entire Ife Kingdom mourned alongside her and made a promise to console her that they would be her eternal children - a promise that is still kept to this day.

Historical Mark and Cultural Legacy

The valiant legend has been immortalized in a variety of ways: her epic story has been passed down through generations, taught in schools, retold in books and poetry, and showcased in songs, productions, and musicals. Her story is folkloric, and despite the fact that her life has received scant scholarly attention, she is today honored with the tallest statue in Nigeria. His royal majesty the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi erected a statue of her which is the 4th tallest in Africa. There is an Edi Festival which commemorates the sacrifice Queen Moremi made for her Yoruba people. There are public places named after her, such as Moremi High School and the female residences at the University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University.