Setting The Records Straight: A Rejoinder On The True History Of The Aliagan Dynasty

…A Rejoinder by the Descendants of Magaji Aliagan Family, Ilorin

In a recent write-up shared on social media on the biography of one of the important scholars of Ilorin Emirate and current Sarkin Malamai, Shaykh Imam Ya’kub Ali-Agan, who is also the present Imam of Aliagan Mosque, Professor Abubakar Imam Ali-Agan, a son of the Imam, traces the position and contributions of the Imam to Islamic scholarship in the emirate.

In that write-up, Prof. Abubakar also presented an account of the history of the family of the Shaykh and the larger Aliagan family/dynasty, which traditionally was and is the custodial family for about twenty-two compounds that form the Ode Aliagan  although this was conspicuously not reflected in the said piece.

The 69-paragraph write-up makes references to a number of scholars and issues surrounding Islamic learning generally in the Ilorin emirate. We must commend this effort of Prof. Abubakar in documenting the biography of his father, as written records help in sustaining history and legacy of individuals and institutions.

However, of particular interest to us in the said write-up is the historical background of the Ali-Agan (Aliagan) family/dynasty narrated by Prof. Abubakar, in which he presented some accounts and claims on the Aliagan family/dynasty that require clarification.

The issues in the write-up that need clarification are, therefore, presented hereunder for the education of all and for posterity.

Origin, Jurisdiction and Authority of the Magaji Aliagan Dynasty: Claims and Fallacies

It should be stated at the onset that, as submitted by Prof. Abubakar in the said biography of his father, what is now known to the public as the ALI-AGAN family is composed of two segments — the Magaji Ali-Agan dynasty and the Imam of Ali-Agan Mosque’s family — not the Magaji Aliagan family/dynasty and the compounds around it, as we and others around us know it.

As also stated by the Professor, the progenitors of the two families were “jolly friends” who “became brothers as a result of deep love, intermarriage and mutual respect for each other.”

According to his claim, what the “two jolly friends” founded were, therefore, two families one being the Ali-Agan family and the other, that of the Imam of Ali-Agan Mosque.

This claim is not only untrue, but also tends to consign to obscurity or devalue several important compounds that constitute the Ode Aliagan historically.

It should also be observed that Prof. Abubakar’s reference to intermarriage between the two families, which he apparently advanced to justify his claim on the founding of the Aliagan family by the two “jolly friends” — and therefore, a division of the Aliagan family and compound into a “political arm” (a “Magaji lineage”) and a “spiritual arm” (an “Imam lineage”)  is a more recent phenomenon in history.

Indeed, the singular record of intermarriage between the two families (that of a niece of Imam Busayr, father of the current Imam, and a member of the Magaji Aliagan family) was only a development of the early 1960s.

That does not, in any way, equate the two families as the same or parallel arms. There has been only one Magaji Aliagan family and it has no parallel.

Arrival of the Progenitors of Aliagan Family from Oyo Ile

The submission by Prof. Abubakar that “the progenitors of Ali-Agan family came to Ilorin from old Oyo” requires clarification due to factual errors.

Contrary to the claim, documented history shows that the progenitor Mallam Aliyu, a migrant warrior-scholar, migrated from Ọyọ-Ile, the ancient capital of the Old Oyo Empire, to Ilorin prior to the collapse of the empire.

When Mallam Aliyu arrived, he first stayed with Magaji Agbadamu before relocating with his family to his present abode of Aliagan Quarters, which was then virtually a virgin territory.

By this time, some parts of the Ilorin city wall were broken down, with the permission of the first Emir of Ilorin, Shehu Abdul Salami bn Shaykh Alimi (reigned c.1823–c.1836), to enable Mallam Aliyu and his followers to establish a more expansive area beyond the wall.

It was after he had settled and established the Aliagan Quarters that Mallam Aliyu invited many of his friends and followers, including Mallam Abdullahi, a Qur’anic teacher, to join him.

On the Claim of Parallel Authority

The assertion by Prof. Abubakar that “the descendants of Magaji Abdulganiyu produce the political and traditional head of the family while the Imam Abdullahi lineage produces the spiritual head and Imam of their mosque” is historically incorrect.

The supposed division of the Aliagan family into “political” and “spiritual” arms has no foundation in Ilorin’s political and religious tradition.

The Magaji Aliagan family traces its origin to Mallam Aliyu, not to any “Magaji Abdulganiyu,” as claimed.

Establishment and Expansion of the Aliagan Mosque

The Aliagan Mosque was first built by Mallam Aliyu in front of his compound when he became too old to trek to the Agbaji Mosque.

It was later enlarged during the tenure of Magaji Aliagan Danialu (5th Magaji), who invited 13 families to form its congregation and appointed his brother Mallam Uthman as the first Imam of the rebuilt mosque.

After Uthman’s death, Mallam Umoru Ikapo of Ile Ikapo became the second Imam, followed by Imam Busayr, father of the current Imam, who was appointed and turbaned by Magaji Aliagan Danialu.

Thus, there has never been a “parallel” authority; the Magaji Aliagan remained the appointing authority for the Imam.

On the Etymology of ‘Ali-Agan’

The different traditions about the origin of the name “Ali-Agan” (or Aliagan) have been well documented.

While Prof. Abubakar’s account that it derived from Ali being barren (Agan) reflects one version, other interpretations exist such as the appellation “Ajagun bi Agan” (a warrior who fought like one without a child), or a corruption of “Ali Ga’ani”, a name common among Nupe/Tapa people.

Therefore, it remains an open subject of scholarly exploration  not a settled matter as presented in the Professor’s article.

On the Reference to ‘Ode Nla’

Prof. Abubakar’s claim that the original name of the place now called Ode Ali-Agan was “Ode Nla” is misleading.

The original name of the family is Ile Aliagan, while the compounds outside the main family compound formed Ode Aliagan.

“Ode Nla” or “Ile Nla” was a descriptive title denoting the might and prominence of the compound, known for its grandeur and respect.

On the Claim of Malian Origin

The claim that “Imam Abdullahi was a Malian Fulani” misquotes the late historian Alhaji Safi Jimba.

In his works, Safi Jimba attributed Malian origin to Aliagan, not to any “Abdullahi.”
This again shows a case of factual confusion in the Professor’s narrative.

Conclusion

In this rejoinder, we have responded to the several inaccuracies contained in the write-up by Prof. Abubakar, particularly those that touched on the Aliagan family and dynasty.

While we respect his right to document his father’s biography, we owe a duty to our lineage and to posterity to correct errors that may distort our shared history.

In summary:

The claim that the Aliagan dynasty was founded by “two jolly friends” is false.

The idea of dual authority (Magaji vs Imam lineage) has no historical basis.

The Aliagan Mosque was established under the authority of the Magaji Aliagan family.

Our response is to restore the true history of the Aliagan dynasty using verifiable historical evidence, established scholarship, and authentic oral tradition.

By setting the record straight, we honour both the genuine achievements of the Aliagan dynasty and preserve the integrity of Ilorin’s traditional political and religious history for generations to come.

For and on behalf of the Descendants of Magaji Aliagan Family:

Professor Taiye Shehu Aliagan

Alhaji Danialu Tunde Olokoba Aliagan

Mallam Uthman Taiye Kawu

Imam Muhammad La’aro Yakub Aliagan

Professor Isiaka Zubair Aliagan