The Brief History of Ado-Ekiti
ADO-EKITI is an ancient city, founded in the year 1310. A.D by Ewi Awamaro the son of Biritikolu after the defeat of Elesun of Ilesun settlement. Ewi was not only a King, he was also the supreme military Chief of his army.
Awamaro (the restless one) and Ewi (the speaker) was said to have left Ile-Ife with his father Ewi Apa Biritikolu and his uncle Oranmiyan to both Ita Orogun and Benin respectively after staying briefly with Oloba in Oba-Ile, Akure.
Both Oranmiyan (Oba of Benin) and Biritikolu first settled in Benin forests before disputes among their people led them to separate and Biritikolu sought a new home westward at Utamodi (Oke Papa). Ewi Biritikolu and one of his son reigned there. It was Ewi Awamaro who migrated to Ilesun (Present day Ado-Ekiti) after staying briefly at Udoani (Ido Ani) and Agbado during the long migration. When Ewi Awamaro left Agbado, some elders remained behind to rest and gave the settlement the name Agba Ado (Elders’ Camp) – Agbado-Ekiti as the town is known today.
Ulesun people welcomed them warmly and neighbouring committees came together to assist their settlement (built homesteads for them) at Oke-Ibon in Odo Ijigbo. Eventually, Ewi and his people overthrew the existing political arrangements, conquered Ulesun community, displaced its ruler Elesun and established a new town. Awamaro’s spies encouraged him to attack Elesun with the support of Odolofin after he had settled down at Oke Ibon (now Odo Ijigbo) and with the conquest of Ulesun by Awamaro, the town of Ulesun changed its name to Ado or Ado-Ewi.
The Elesun (the King) who ruled over the town of Ulesun with its satellite towns i.e. Ukere (now Ikere), Isinla, Ulamoji, Agidimo, Ikewo existed in what is now known as Ado-Ekiti before the emergence of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti. The Elesun occupied the peak of a hierarchy where he had his subordinates as the Odolofin (Elesun second in command), Asao, Elegemo, Alamoji, Olisinla, Olulero, Olookori etc. Elesun was the head of the laity in the worship of Olota (god), the deity in charge of the security of Ulesun State. The Ulesun language was different from Yoruba (Ado-Ewi) language. Examples are Ideregbe (Ewure or Goat), Okeregba (Aja or Dog), Amomo (Alangba or Lizard), Usa (Ikoko or Pot), Ukere (Ago or Calabash Cup), Ogolomosi (Ibepe or Pawpaw), Oyeye (Epa or Groundnut). Some of the Elesun’s chiefs such as Odolofin and Asao were accepted into the Ewi’s system of chieftaincy after Awamaro’s conquest.
The Elegemo retained his post as Chief Priest and custodian of Iwemo Ogun. Ewi’s Warrior chiefs who provided military security for palace inhabitants were the Akogun at Irona, Oloja Ese at Oke Ese, Eleyinmi at Okeyinmi and Egbedi at Orereowu. Eventually, Ewi and his people overthrew the existing political arrangements after series of conflicts, conquered Ulesun community, displaced and killed its ruler Elesun, cut off his head and proceeded and established a new town, Awamaro named Ado, meaning ‘here we encamp’. Ewi Awamaro and his successors conquered villages and cottages in the neighbourhood, replaced their rulers with their own loyalists, stalwarts and scions of the royal family.
The important citizens of these conquered communities were relocated in Ado. Ewi supplanted Elesun as sovereign ruler of the aboriginal and settler population, many of Elesun’s Chiefs were confirmed in their offices but they swore oaths of allegiance to the Ewi. Many of the succeeding Ewi expanded the kingdom by force of arms, annexed territories and gave these territories to scions of the royal families, these assumed titles which became hereditary. The expansion and growth of Ado-Ekiti and the kingdom of Ado lasted over 400 years. In the course of this expansion, Ado became associated with certain traits.
Citizens of the kingdom in general and those of the mother town, Ado-Ekiti in particular were reputed for great attention to cleanliness. Traditions preserve numerous brave citizens of each Ado community, the best known were Ogbigbonihanran of Idolofin quarters, Ogunmonakan of Okelaja, Fasawo, a.k.a. Aduloju of Udemo quarters, and Eleyinmi Orogirigbona of Okeyinmi quarters – all of Ado-Ekiti and Ogunbulu, a.k.a. Ala l’oju Osoru of Aisegba. Folk, traditions are replete with fond references to Ewi’s relationship with some other Ekiti traditional rulers. Ewi’s antecedents are depicted as: Elempe Ekiti (mightiest man in Ekiti). Folk traditions of this nature vividly portray the towering position of Ado-Ekiti.
In the first place, Ado-Ekiti is situated at the heartland of Ekiti and is thus less exposed to cross-border attacks or non-Ekiti influences. Consequently, over many centuries, waves of immigrant groups seeking haven settled in Ado-Ekiti and several other Ado communities. Many of these immigrants were refugees, they left their old homelands in parts of Ekiti, Akoko, Owo etc. where their leaders lost out in chieftaincy contests.
Some were war captives, these were brought in droves by Aduloju and his lieutenants from their slave wars of the 1870s and 1880s in parts of Owo, Ose and Akoko. They were settled in Ado communities where they increased the local population, and enriched the culture with their lineage names and festivals in similar circumstances, citizens of Ado communities left their fatherland and settled in a few places in the neighbourhood up to Ijesaland.
Ibadan sacked many Ado communities in 1873 and made a huge haul of prisoners of war and other captives who eventually settled in Iwo, Ibadan and some Remo towns such as Iperu and Makun Sagamu. However, Ado communities especially the mother town offset part of their losses with a large number of slaves and prisoners of war from Owo, Ose and Akoko. Ado-Ekiti is one of the towns of the north eastern territory of Yoruba land and passed through a succession of military, political and cultural changes from the time of Ewi Awamaro (circa 1310 A.D) who migrated there to form what became Ado-Ekiti.
Ewi Awamaro subjugated Elesun’s neighbours and expanded his territory except Ukere (Ikere Ekiti) and his successors up to Yeyenirewu followed same steps that by 1550 A.D. Ado-Ewi had become a big power in the entire Ekiti country.
The Ewis that reigned at Ado from 1444 to 1552 were:
1. Ewi Ata (1444–1471)
2. Ewi Owakunrugbon (1471–1490)
3. Ewi Owamuaran (1490–1511)
4. Yeyenirewu – The regent (1511– 1552) Ewi’s military exploits during the period was to subjugate and annex his immediate territories extended to Ikere, Igbara Odo, Ogotun, Aramoko, Erio and Erijiyan among others.
5. Ewi Obakunrin (1552–1574)
6. Ewi Eleyo-Okun (1574–1599)
7. Ewi Afigbogbo Ara Soyi (1599-1630)
8. Ewi Gberubioya (1630-1696)
9. Ewi Idagunmodo (1696-1710)
10. Ewi Okinbaloye Aritawekun (1710-1722)
11. Ewi Amono Ola (1722-1762)
12. Ewi Afunbiowo (1762-1781)
13. Ewi Akulojuorun (1781-1808)
14. Ewi Aroloye (1808-1836)
15. Ewi Ali Atewogboye (1836-1885)
16. Ewi Ajimudaoro Aladesanmi I (1886-1910)
17. Ewi Adewumi Agunsoye (1910 – 1936)
18. Ewi Daniel Anirare Aladesanmi II (1937 – 1983),
19. Ewi Samuel Adeyemi George-Adelabu I (1984 – 1988)
20. Alayeluwa Ewi Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III (the current Ewi of Ado-Ekiti).
Ado-Ewi was peaceful as war was abandoned in place of diplomacy and mutual relations strategy. Ewi Gberubioya divided the Ewi dynasty into three ruling houses of Owaroloye (Aroloye), Atewogboye and Arutawekun. Ewi’s sons that ruled in neighbouring areas during the reign of Gberubioya included Okunbusi who became Onigede, Adubienimu who became Alawo, the Onijan, Opoakin (of Iwere), Olu Akitipa (of Odo), Aramude, Olokun, Olurasa, Onikewo and Olotin.
One of his sons, Amujoye founded Igbemo and took the title of Oba of Igbemo from its inception.
YorubaRenaissance
Akure “Obaship” Series
The institution of Oba monarchy in Akure was established by Asodeboyede also known as ‘Ajapada’ (Aja ti o pa eku eda). Ajapada was reported to be the son of Ekun. Ekun was also known to be one of the several sons of Oduduwa. Oduduwa was reported to have also named Asodeboyede ‘Omoremilekun’ after Ekun had died during the pregnancy of Asodeboyede. Before Asodeboyede came to Akure, there were scattered settlements like Upalefa, Igan, Ileru and Odopetu.
Ourokutu and Omoloju were the most prominent elders in these settlements with a strong clash for leadership. Asodeboyede who arrived Akure with ‘Olojoda’ became the compromise candidate to head the United settlements of Upalefa and Odopetu. Asodeboyede nickname was Ajapada (aja pa eku eda). Omoloju the head of Upalefa settlement reigned after the death of Asodeboyede in 1180. Deji Obagbeyi Adegite who reigned between 1313-1363 was from Oba-Ile and Akure with pure royal parentage.
He established Erekesan market. He also brought the “isibi” and “Airegbe” festival from Oba-Ile to Akure. Deji Arakale (1768-1818) was on the throne when Binis invaded Akure and took away Prince Osupa Arakale who later returned to Akure as Deji.
Deji of Akure
Deji Osupa Arakale (1834-1846) resettled the ‘Ado Akures’ at Igbeyin and Eyinke quarters. Deji Arosoye (1890-1897) was the first Akure king to have had contact with the whites. He died on the 8th of January, 1897.
Eyemoin, the 26th Deji of Akure(Female), reigned between 1705 – 1735. Eyemohin originated opa Ipinsa and the popular oja Oshodi. She died at a street called ogirio and at a certain place (ibi ko o le si), it is the present odo eran at Araromi. Ogirio is the present Araromi.
YorubaRenaissance
Yoruba Intervening History
Watch out for my new book titled “YORUBA INTERVENING HISTORY” to be released soon, you will be inspired and blessed.
founders of Ikire
Akinrere, the founder of Ikire, his son, Olaberinjo and grandson, Kujemilayo were elephant hunters
IFE/BENIN CONNECTION: THE RELEVANCE OF DATING AND THE BURDEN OF SMALLNESS
One has been following the debate on the Ife/Benin connection that ensued as a result of the confusion brought about by the controversial “assertion” by the Omon’Oba Erediauwa, that Oduduwa was a Benin prince named Ekaladerhan who escaped being sacrificed by his people. This generated confusion raised the need to confirm what one had known hitherto in concomitance with some further research. Though the research is still a continuous process, one could confidently put this out for the public consumption for passing the test of place, time and space.
a. Oduduwa did NOT migrate from the North or the East. He was a bonafide Yoruba prince who was politically astute and dexterous in the art of war. (Professor Banji Akintoye)
b. Before Oduduwa, Ife kingdom was a conglomeration of principalities ruled over by smaller kings without any supreme ruler.
c. Obatala was one of the rulers in one of these principalities around 700AD when the battle for supremacy first ensued. It went on and off for almost a century before Oduduwa, almost two generations younger to Obatala (though others think they are contemporaries), eventually emerged and started the “authentic unifying dynasty in Ile-Ife and later Yorubaland.”
d. Oduduwa did not migrate from the North East or Middle East as Samuel Johnson (an Oyo man, strong in Christian faith, who tried his “intellectual” best to link the origin of Yoruba to the Middle East, but contradicted by other sources) would want us to believe. In fact most scholars believe that his bias for his Christian faith and unmitigated fantasy for Middle East origination led him to come up with the name NIMROD, later translated to Lamurudu as predating Oduduwa at Ile-Ife. Neither did he (Oduduwa) come from heaven on a chain as mythologists would want us to believe. It was a myth created around him for transcendental, metaphysical and mystical endearment. It is the same kind of myth that surrounded Alaafin Sango because of his weird powers and was eventually turned into a god.
e. Oranmiyan was a grandson of Oduduwa but not a son of Oduduwa (Professor Jide Osuntokun) as Omon’Oba mischievously claimed in his book, reportedly.
f. Oduduwa only had one son, OKANBI
g. Okanbi had EIGHT children. SEVEN (Onipopo of Popo, Onisabe of Sabe, Alara of Ilara, Ajero of Ijero, Orangun of Oke-Ila, Owa Obokun Ajibogun of Ijesaland and Oranmiyan) by his “legal” wife, and one (OOni) by his slave turned wife, named ORUNTO.
h. The five of the seven children by the “legal” wife, went to found their own kingdoms. The sixth, Oranmiyan remained with their father who was very old and blind. He (Oranmiyan) was the de facto ruler carrying out war activities and defending Ile-Ife. Oranmiyan was a great warrior like his father and grand father. He soon became popular and legendary in Ife. Reports of his escapades became mythical. Lots of saying evolved about his awe inspiring prowess e.g. “eyi mo wi, Oranmiyan gbo, akin l’ogun.” The seventh son, AjIbogun, was away to the sea to fetch water to cure his father, Okanbi’s blindness.
i. Before Ajibogun’s arrival, the Ogiso’s had sent emissaries to Ile-Ife for help. Based on the report of these emissaries, Okanbi concluded that the troublesome and non-compliant Ogisos would need a very “strong hand.” Okanbi felt that this “strong hand” could be dealt by a warrior like Oranmiyan who has, before then, repeatedly proved his mettle. He believed that Oranmiyan would be able to do the assignment and put the fear of Orisha in the feuding Ogisos. So he sent Oranmiyan to Benin. And he did not disappoint.
j. The assignment in Benin took a while. Okanbi was getting too old. AjIbogun was presumed dead because he took long to return. Okanbi was concerned about a successor and had to inform the Ijoyes or chiefs to allow his child OOni begat by his favorite female slave, ORUNTO to ascend the throne if he died and Ajibogun never returned.
k. On arrival at Benin, Oranmiyan’s war like acts put the town in order. But as restless as he was, Oranmiyan was in Benin for close to three decades. But he never could stay for ever as his adventurous spirit took the better part of him. He installed his son Eweka and returned to Ife with the hope of becoming king.
l. On his return to Ife, Oranmiyan met his brother, Owa AjIbogun who had returned from the sea and eventually learnt, just like AjIbogun that he has a half brother, OOni.
m. Ooni was heir apparent until Ajibogun arrived and with Oranmiyan away to Benin.
n. Okanbi, so impressed with the efforts of Ajibogun to bring home the sea water now favored him for the throne. He Okanbi then called his chiefs to inform them that Ajibogun would take over the throne when he died.
o. It dawned on Oranmiyan that he could not ascend the throne with his father’s support for his brother, AjIbogun. He therefore left with his warriors towards North to found Oyo-Ajaka and became the first Alaafin.
p. After sometime Ajibogun declined to ascend the throne, saying he wanted to follow the footsteps of his six other brothers.
q. Okanbi decided that because he, AjIbogun made such a great sacrifice to cure his blindness, he must have more land than his brothers, If he chose not to have the throne. He (Okanbi) gave him (AjIbogun) the AJASE SWORD, which he (Okanbi) inherited from his father (Oduduwa) and told him (AjIbogun) that from the gate of Ife palace to as far as he could go would belong to him. This is why the front of Ife Palace is called “Enuwa” (“enu aala ile Owa” meaning “the boundary of Owa’s land”) till today.
r. Ooni was asked to tend the palace, but later became the ruler of the town after the demise of Okanbi.
s. Because Oranmiyan was a great, valiant warrior, the Yoruba people of his era used to describe him as “a true son of Oduduwa” after his grand father who was the first towering warrior in Yorubaland. This has always been the practice in Yoruba tradition before Oranmiyan and long after he had left the scene. This explains the reason why misguided Caucasian historians and untutored African/ Nigerian historians “assumed” he was “direct son” of Oduduwa. It is the same way many outside and inside Yorubaland refer to some eminent political leaders in Yorubaland today as “omo Awolowo.” But Awolowo never had more than five ‘real children” of his own. If sometime in the future, a grandson of Chief Oluwole Awolowo or Segun Awolowo (Jr) becomes a political heavyweight with heavy following, he would be referred to as “omo Awolowo” after his great grand father Obafemi Awolowo.
t. Now if Oranmiyan was second generation (with his father, Okanbi being the first) after Oduduwa, Professor Saburi Biobaku could not have been correct with the so-called “categorical historical date” of the “end of the 10th century” as quoted by C.O.O.Ugowe in his article Benin/Ife Connection: Relevance of Dating.
u. At the minimum, Oranmiyan was sent to Benin about 90 years after the peak of Oduduwa, gauging by his position among his father’s chldren (he was the youngest, because his half brother, Ooni was older than him) and the age of Okanbi at the time (which though, we do not have a certain number but could be inferred from his blindness caused by the aging process).
v. How could someone (Oduduwa) a bonafide Ife prince and king who was well beyond his peak approximately 60 to 70 years before the disappearance of Ekaladerhan, be that same Ekaladerhan? Does that make sense?
w. Ugowe wrote inter alia “If we add 40 years, the age when he (Oduduwa) arrived Ife to 34 years thereafter when he sent Oranmiyan to Benin, Oduduwa’s age stands at around 74 by the year 1029 AD.” Though, indications are that Oduduwa never arrived at Ile-Ife from anywhere, but let us, for the sake of discussion agree that he did. And at 40 years of age as Ugowe posited. Okanbi was Oduduwa’s son and we are assuming that he was born just five years on his “arrival” in Ife. Okanbi, we also assume married at the age of, say 25. Okanbi had 7 children by the same woman with and average of 3 to 4 years interval. Oranmiyan would not have been born until when Okanbi was between 46 and 53 years old. This means that Oduduwa’s age by now (if he was still alive) would be around 92 and 98 years old. Before Oranmiyan would have distinguished himself and be a respected and feared warrior, he ought to be at his peak too, which would be 40 years old, using Ugowe’s standard. At that age of Oranmiyan, Okanbi would be around 86 and 93 years old while Oduduwa (if he was still alive) would be around132 and 138 years old.
x. If according to Ugowe, Oranmiyan was sent to Benin 34 years after Ekaladerhan disappeared into the bush to escape his murderers, then Oduduwa at that time would be aged between 132-34=98 and 138-34=104 years. What Ugowe’s theory is suggesting then is that Ekaladerhan was between 98 and 104 years when he disappeared from Benin and took the arduous journey that led him to Ile-Ife to become Oduduwa, distinguish himself, marry and have a son in Oranmiyan! The fact is that this is not a scientifically tenable theory.
y. But to ensure that Omon’Oba does not look like he was hallucinating, they have to contend in all their “stories” that Oranmiyan was a direct son of Oduduwa when he was not.
z. What seem tenable from the variety of sources and actually confirmed by Ese Ifa or Ifa Divination is that ODUDUWA LIVED NOT VERY LONG AFTER OBATALA, IF NOT IN THE SAME ERA WITH HIM. BUT EVIDENTLY, ODUDUWA COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALIVE IN 1029 WHEN THE PRESENT DYNASTY IN BENIN BEGAN BECAUSE HIS SON OKANBI WHO WAS ON THE THRONE AT IFE AT THAT TIME WAS EVEN TOO OLD AND HAD GONE BLIND BEFORE HE SENT HIS OWN SON, ORANMIYAN TO BENIN. INDICATIONS ARE THAT ODUDUWA NEVER ARRIVED AT IFE FROM ANYWHERE. HE WAS BORN IN IFE, RAISED IN IFE AND ROSE TO PROMINENCE IN IFE BY CONTESTING FOR POWER AND SUCCEEDED IN ESTABLISHING THE MORNACHIES IN YORUBALAND. Oduduwa was never in position to send Oranmiyan to Benin. At the time the Ogisos were at each other’s throats, Okanbi who was Oranmiyan’s father was very old and Oduduwa was long.
aa. Professor Banji Akintoye figured that Oduduwa came to limelight roughly around (or between) 780AD and 820AD. Ife Before Oduduwa published by University of Ife Press also has a view on this. Late Prince Adewumi Olukitibi (1887-1971) of Olukitibi Royal House in Iwara, Osun State agreed more with Professor Akintoye than with Professor Saburi Biobaku. One of the official authorities on the History of Ijeshaland, Pa Olaniran Gureje-Asogbe, also has his dates around this time.
bb. To prove how generations of half baked historians have tried to muddle up Yoruba history, in 1850, one Briton named David May met one Mr. Esugbayibi in Iye, in the northern part of Ekitiland. He had just settled between Ishan and ItayI Ekiti after returning from Eba-Odan (Ibadan). He had retreated to Eba-Odan to escape the Northern aggressors from across the Niger. He called his settlement “Ibi Aye le mi de” later shortened to Ayede which eventually became Ayede-Ekiti. Mr. Esugbayibi later told David May that his ‘beaded crown” was directly from Oduduwa. The only reason for this was that the crown was sent from Ile-Ife. But does this mean it was “directly sent from Oduduwa?” Thus the fact that Oranmiyan was sent from Ile-Ife does not translate to “Oranmiyan was sent by Oduduwa” himself.
cc. Also during the era of Momoh Latoosa, a.k.a. “Asubiaro” who was the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Ibadanland from 1878 to 1886, he had sent a message to the Ooni of Ife reminding him that that throne in Ile-Ife could legitimately be occupied by any Oduduwa son. This message was prompted by the support of Ooni to the Ekitis and the Ijeshas during the early years of Kiriji War. Aare Latoosa wondered why the Ooni would be doing that when the art of wars being used by the Ibadan came from the archives of Ile-Ife. He was indirectly inferring that if and when the Ibadan defeated the Ekitis and the Ijeshas, he would depose Ooni for his own favorite Oduduwa son. But does this mean that Aare Latoosa or whoever he was going to install was “direct son” of Oduduwa? No. But as a descendant of Oduduwa? Yes.
So, yes, Oranmiyan was sent from Ile -Ife to Benin to put the fear of Orisha in the Ogisos. Yes, Oranmiyan was Oduduwa’s grandson sent by his father, Okanbi to help his weaker neighbors. But it was not Oduduwa who sent him and Oduduwa never came from anywhere. In Yorubaland, nephews call their uncles “Baba” or father. Grandsons or great grandsons call their grand father or great grand father “Baba.” It does not mean there is “IMMEDIATE AND/OR DIRECT” biological connection. It was the practice before Oduduwa. It has been the practice after him. It would continue to be the practice In Yorubaland. You can study and comprehend Yoruba history better, if you have an understanding of the nuances of their culture.
This explanation becomes important in view of the recent developments and efforts of some historians of the “Feel – Good – History” genre to sacrifice authentic history on the altar of psychological renaissance and political relevance. The so-called debate or “intellectual enquiry” as some apologists of Omon’Oba Erediauwa would like to characterize it, is fast turning into a canonized cacophony. Rather than an “intellectual enquiry,” it has become an ego trip for a people who otherwise have a great history but are disturbingly inflicted with deflated self esteem. They have chosen over and over to selectively use an incorrect premise to convince the rest of us that Oduduwa came from Benin and that Oranmiyan was his son! To lend the dignity and respect of one of the esteemed offices of Oduduwa descendants to this kind of inanity for unquantifiable and largely ephemeral political gain is to say the least, very unbecoming.
The manner and way his sentries have been going about trumpeting the fallacy of their so called “historical discovery” showed that they have been overwhelmed by their burden of latter day smallness. They convey an attitude evidential of a need to feel important and be reckoned with. They project attention-seeking and the longing to belong. They manifested a concerted but traumatic effort to fill the gaping hole in the psyche of some who, though are freeborn, but go around with “slave mentality.” It is an attestation to the fact that “slavery” is not limited to the physical alone; it can also be a thing of the mind. It renders true one’s long held belief that you can be in chains and still be free and you can be free and still be in chain because freedom, as well as slavery, is a thing of the mind.
One could perceive the need for self validation on the part of these protagonists of “feel-good-history.” This, to be civil, is very pathetic. It becomes even more pathetic when the self validation they seek keeps eluding them. Hence they employ all arguments, logical and illogical, reasonable and unreasonable but all essentially loathsome and odious to make a point that would not stand. Thus, they foreclosed the possibility of ever becoming satisfied, manifesting an emptiness that has become more consuming. As the cacophony continued, one could see a withering in their psyche as their need for self validation became more intense and self destructive. In the process, they have been gradually destroying the “brotherliness” that has existed for centuries, thereby unnecessarily amassing more enemies, and increasingly isolating themselves and exacerbating their own sense of smallness.
When you are small, there is always the insatiable desire to want to be big. And there is nothing wrong with such desire. When such efforts yield no positive result, there is always the room for morbidity, permeated with tendentious acts of pretext leading to inadvertent pathological egoism. For this reason and with all due respect, one could understand the predicament of OmoN’Oba Erediauwa and his intellectual sentries. If Omon’Oba is bothered by the perceived smallness of his kingdom and his influence, one would suggest that he ought not to worry too much about it. This is because it is not how big you are that really matters, it is how glorious you have been and can still be that really matters. More so, he and his advocates should take to heart the advise of the late American First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt that, “No one can make you inferior without your consent.”
The Yoruba people do not have the need to want to be big, because they are BIG already. They need not pretend that Oduduwa was one of their great ancestors, because he is. They need not a new validation, to be politically relevant in the scheme of things, because they are already RELEVANT. This is the truth known not only to every true son and proud daughter of Yoruba, but also known to their admirers and detractors alike.
IFE/BENIN CONNECTION: THE RELEVANCE OF DATING AND THE BURDEN OF SMALLNESS-Remi Oyeyemi, NIGERIAWORLD.COM, Monday, August 9, 2004
YorubaRenaissance
The new Attah Igala
Traditional rites for coronation of Attah-Igala commences http://t.co/MEDb4w135I
New Book
I recommend the biography of HRM Oba Adedoyin the Owa Ale of Ikareland. It is a 206-page book titled “Adimula Ti Ikare” it is quite revealing. Please grab a copy.
Oriki Ilorin
Ilorin Afoja, Ilu tobi ko l’eegun… Esin l’eegun won
Ogbeni Oja
Oriki Oyo
Ọyọ́ Aláàfin òjò pa ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀ ọmọ Àtìbà. Ẹ̀sọ̀ pẹ̀lẹ́ o.
Proverb
Oye ka ni fura bi aban sin ale eni lo
Oriki Ogun
OGUN LAKAIYE
ỌSIN IMỌLẸ
OGUN ALADA MÉJÌ
OFI OKAN SANKO
OFI OKAN YENA
ỌJỌ OGUN NTI ORI OKE NBỌ
AṢỌ INA LỌ MU BORA
ẸWU ẸJẸ LOWO OGUN
ONILE OWO
ỌLỌ NA ỌLA
OGUN ONILE
KONGUN KONGUN
ỌRUN
OPỌN OMI SI ILE
FI ẸJẸ WẸ
OGUN AWỌN LE IJU
EGBE LEHIN ỌMỌ KAN
OGUN MÈJÈ LOGUN MI
Ogbeni Oja
How Edos/Binis/Itshekiris Got To Awori Land.
The Edos/Binis/Itsekiris did not conquer Lagos. Neither did the Oba of Benin have a child there because he was drowned by the Ilajes and Mahins on his way back to Benin.
The Edos and Itsekiris went to Lagos together around the 1500s to hunt down Olague, who was chased from Warri by the Olu of Warri to Mahin, where he ruled as king and still became a problem to the Itsekiris and Benins.
Warri and Benin declared war on Mahin Kingdom. The Olu of Warri got to Mahin, including the Oba of Benin. The war was won by the two groups, and Olague jumped into a boat and ran towards Lagos. The Olu of Warri returned to the capital of Warri, and the Oba of Benin was given 3000 Itsekiri soldiers with fleets who followed him to hunt down Olague. On getting to Lagos, they met the Aworis, Ijebus, and other Ife groups in Lagos.
The oba was placed in an entry of the area by Awori’s and the itsekiri’s went to Epe because they found their people who spoke same language with them. The two entry points of the area was blocked by Benin in Eko and itsekiri’s in Epe. They did not found anywhere in Lagos but were settled by the people they met there.
The Edos and Itsekiris were given camps to stay while they continued their search for Olague. The Edos never fought one battle against the people they met. The Itsekiris and Benins went there to hunt someone, not to conquer. Edo doesn’t own Lagos; Itsekiris don’t own Lagos. They were accepted as warriors who came to hunt down a man and that is the true position of history.
This history is with itsekiri’s and ilajes/mahin. In Warri, they have an entire forest named after Olague as Olague Forest reserves and a creek was also named after him as Olague Creek.
Eko is not a bini word it is a yoruboid word. Eko means bush in itsekiri, Eko also means school in itsekiri depends on how you pronounce it. No place was named by Bini in Lagos. Oba’s of benin were also buried in ife until the British Invasion.
Eko was founded and established by Olofin Ogunfuminire, the progenitor of the Awori people. Olofin Ogunfuminire left Ile-Ife to settle at Isheri before migrating with his wife, Ajaiye, to present-day Iddo in the heart of Eko. It was at Iddo that Ajaiye was blessed with the fruits of the womb. Her offspring are the Idejo who are the actual traditional landowners of Eko.
The spatial region of the land owned by the Idejo spans from Lagos Mainland (Iddo) to Lagos Island and up to Eti-Osa which he allocated absolutely to his children and other descendants. He assigned Iru to the Oniru, Ikate to the Elegushi, Lagos Island to Aromire, Iganmu to Ojora, Otto, and mainland to the Oloto (up to Odo–Iya Alaro).
Isheri was the dispersal point where other Olofin Ogunfunminire descendants left to found other Awori towns. Akeredun left Isheri to establish Igbesa, Odoyi left Isheri to found Agboyi, Osolo and Eleidi Atalabi left Isheri to find Ota.
Sources:
1. Oral history from itsekiri’s and ilaje’s.
2. Great Benin: Its Customs, Art and Horrors (1903) by Henry Ling Roth
YorubaRenaissance 2023
The Brief History Of Odigbo
Orunja of Odigbo
The origin of Odigbo is Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba Race. Uja is the progenitor of Odigbo people. Uja was the only son of his parents. His father was Akintirin, while his mother was Usero, the eldest daughter of Oranmiyan, who was then the Ooni of Ile-Ife. Her only son was Uja Akintirin. Usero had a uterine sister whose names were Atiba and Olu. Atiba got married to a Benin indigene. She conceived and gave birth to twins. At that time, giving birth to twins was regarded as transgression that carried a death penalty for the mother and her twins.
Oranmiyan did not want his beautiful daughter and her children to suffer through cruel death. Oranmiyan’s solution to this dreadful problem was to arrange how to sneak Atiba and her twins out of Ile-Ife. Oranmiyan had to consult Ifa Oracle to decide who qualifies to lead the flight of Atiba and her twin children (Orere, male) and Pupupu (female) out of Ile-Ife. Ifa oracle predicted, among other things, that Uja was the hunter divinely appointed to lead the lives-saving-fight out of Ile-Ife. The oracle had predicted that Uja would kill an elephant in whose belly he would find treasures of tremendous value.
Oranmiyan settled all domestic issues with all involved. He pleaded with Usero to patiently tolerate the departure of Uja, his son, and Atiba, her sister. Uja cut some palm fronds and hewn them together into a hamper big enough to contain the twins: Orere, the male and first child, and Pupupu, the female and junior child. Uja’s mission was successful. All those who took part in the voyage also survived. However, before they set out on their journey, Oranmiyan handed over to Uja a beaded Crown to be held in trust for the twins. Orere disclosed to Uja his plan to seek for greener pastures elsewhere. Uja advised him to take Atiba, his mother along with him wherever he went. He also gave Orere the beaded crown which Oranmiyan gave Uja to hold in trust for the twins.
Orere departed for the unknown. His mother, Atiba, then more popularly known as Olu, accompanied Orere. She slept and never woke up and up till this day, is the place where Olu slept and died in her sleep, known as ILE-OLUJI. It was not long after Orere’s departure that Pupupu got married to a man of Benin origin. She accompanied her husband to Benin. Thereafter, she gave birth to her first male child named Aigho. Before long, Pupupu’s marriage hit the rock when the relatives of her husband accused her of some wrong doings. The allegations were neither investigated nor proven. Pupupu could not put up with what she called false accusations. She therefore packed her bags and baggage with Aigho, her only son, and she headed for “Idi-Edo” now known as Ondo.
In her luggage was the beaded crown she cunningly got from Orere. She had promised Orere she would return the crown as soon as she was done using it but she never did. Pupupu’s departure from Benin coincided with the desperate search in Ondo for someone who had a beaded crown in his or her possession. When Pupupu arrived at the searching point in Ondo, her luggage was scrupulously searched and a beaded crown was found therein. Pupupu was made a “king” but her administrative style was ineffective. Within a very short time, Pupupu was dethroned. The Ondo Community thus made a declaration that no woman in Ondo would ever be enthroned to reign as a King.
Uja found his way to Odigbo with his team. They got to “Igi-Meta” and found Aija stream. Uja got to Odigbo, and in the course of his hunting for games, he came face to face with an elephant and succeeded in killing the animal and found two beaded crowns in its belly. The occurrence prompted Uja to desire to go back to Ife to show the then Ooni his “mementos” that earned him the privilege of being ordained as a Prince in Ile-Ife after the honour bestowed on him, he was told that age-old Ile-Ife tradition forbids him to stay in Ile-Ife. At a little beyond middle age, Uja and Usero, his mother left Ile-Ife for Odigbo. Uja and his co-founders of Odigbo agreed on the rotation of the Ruling Houses among five families at Odigbo. The pact remained unchanged up till today. Uja regarded himself as a King. Oranmiyan himself ordained him at Ile-Ife.
Uja took a long time to settle down. He got married to a lady. The lady begat a male child who was named Orunja, the heir of Uja. Usero, the mother of Uja, named him Orunsero, meaning Usero’s heir. The two names: Orunja and Orunsero, belong to one and the same child. Uja, the father of Orunja, laid solid foundation for his only son, Orunja or Orunsero. All the territories founded by Uja were firmly ruled by Orunja, his son.
Odigbo (Odi-Igbo) meaning an impregnable forest in the wilderness. In those days, enemies plundered communities to take away resources and sometimes women and children. The plunderers’ attempts were always restricted or thwarted. They would kidnap women and children, and in their attempt to run away, they would encounter some stone walls. They would suddenly experience eclipse of the sun in broad daylight. When they were caught, they always narrated their stories of woe. This earned the town, the name
Agbabu remains the only River Port in Odigbo land. Uja, on one of his numerous exploits, got to the river bank one day and saw what appeared to him as a moving house on the river. Many hours of waiting brought the “moving house” to the shore. After exchanging compliments with one another, the captain of the ship fired three gun shots into the air. Uja shouted, Agbabu! Literally interpreted, it means the blast of a gun. That name Agbabu subsists to date. Uja and his co-hunters provided an everlasting link among Odigbo, Ondo, and Ile-Oluji.
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Reference:
“History of Odigbo” by High Chief EZEKIEL IBITAYO AKINFOLARIN, The Odunwo of Odigbo Kingdom.
The Brief History of Ijero.
The Ijero people have their root in Ile-Ife as they are descents from Oduduwa. According to Ijero oral tradition, the 16 kingdoms of Ekiti came from the royal house of Oduduwa and their relations in other parts of Yoruba land like Oyo, Ijesha, Ondo, Igbomina, Ijebu, Egba, Ikale, Ilaje, Akoko, Edo, Itshekiri and others came from this common ancestor.
Ajero was the 4th direct son of Oduduwa and it was Ajero who went to fetch water from the lagoon (Ajero ki mo Osa) while Owa Obokun (seawater fetcher) of Ijesa land went to the seaside for the hydrotherapy of their father’s illness (Oduduwa). Ajero lived with his kith and kins at Ita-Ijero quarters in Ile-Ife, where the historic exodus of Ijero people began and is the preparation ground of Ajoro meeting and philosophy of Ijeroism.
Ajero who left his father’s royal home in Ile-Ife after the historic council meeting (Ajoro) of the royal princess to establish their kingdom went Southwest ward to a lagoon side, precisely area inhabited by the present-day AWORIS and in Ijero, peesent Ebute-Meta of Lagos state.
This earns him the Oriki (native Cognormen) “Ajero Kimos” (Ajero that knows the lagoon). He left Eba osa lagoon area for further adventure and re-settlement. (It was told that some of his children and blood relations remained there). In years later they settled at area northeast of Ile-Ife called “Ijero Atowose” (Artificial Ijero) because they believed that Ita-Ijero in Ile-Ife was the original Ijero.
The monogenic Ijero people left Atowose because of the poor weather condition, adverse biological warfare caused by earthworm on their foods, and other diseases. They later settled at Oro (The present-day, Iloro-Ekiti), while they left some of their kith and kin at Oro.
HISTORY OF ILUKUNO-EKITI:
Ajero who was the founder of Ilukuno first settled in a place between Aramoko and Ijero called Atose, he stayed there for a while before he moved finally to his present site.
He got married to Ose, and gave birth to two sons called Apa and Ogbe. The two sons became kings one after the other.
When Ajero saw that where he settled had been full of people, he went to present Ijero settlement and left his first son Apa at Ilukuno to be the king. The meaning of Ilukuno run thus:- ILU-KUN-O i.e. “the town is full, let us have our own Oba”. Apa who was the first Oba was called Olulokun of Ilukuno. When Apa died Ogbe his younger brother became the second king. He was translated to Ijero to become the first Oba there. Their final settlement in the Ijero Kingdom was precisely in the year 1375AD.
It was Ajero who led Ijero people from Oro to Ilu Kuno (present days Ilukuno-Ekiti). He was a pragmatic and visionary leader who ensured that his town was wealthy, rich and prosperous in their undertakings. Hence Ilukuno means “A city that is full of riches and prosperity”. At Ilukuno, the people were very prosperous in their farming and trading activities at that time. The hilly and undulating nature of Ilukuno was the reason Ajero left for the present Ijero settlement.
Some followers of Ajero Ogbe left Ilukuno and settled in Omuo-Area. These people are Omuo –Ijero people in that part of Ekiti land. Before Ijero people settled at Oro, they had lived once upon a time at Ilede (An area along the present-day Ijero-Ekiti/Aramoko Road). It is very interesting to note that the aborigines of Oro (Iloro-Ekiti) and Ilukuno are Ijero monogenetic people from Ile-Ife.
Ajero Ogbe, the Onilukuno (Ilukuno monarch) was a farmer, hunter and adventurer who cultivated farms in the virgin land of the present-day Ijero-Ekiti and Ikoro-Ekiti. This earned them the Oriki “Ogbe ki gbe ikoro nigbe Ijero (Ogbe was the planter of Ikoro and Ijero Township). He was indeed a great pioneer.
Ijero oral tradition revealed that ALARA, AJERO and ORANGUN are uterine brothers. Alara is the paramount ruler of Aramoko, while Ajero the paramount ruler of Ijero, and the youngest Orangun, being the paramount ruler of Ila-Orangun and Igbomina land. The trio uterine brothers are legendary monarchs who are direct Princes of Oduduwa and are based crowned kings (Oba Alade). Till date all Ajeros are crowned at the “Para Oduduwa” shrine with the original and first crown that was brought from Ile-Ife.
Their mother’s name was Ademiregun who died and was buried in Ogbon Ilu (a town that was then consisted of 30 persons) the present day Ipoti-Ekiti. The monarchs’ mother Ademiregun was later called Iya O or Ya O (Oh! Mother in Ipoti) (Ogbonlu) legends. A stream was named after her in Ijero tradition known as maternity stream for nurturing children called “Iregun Lafere” stream.
The present-day site of Ijero was a farmstead of Ogbe, although the aborigines are Alapa of Okelapa quarters. Olorogun of Ale-Ekiti in Eyigbo quarters, who was then a blacksmith –makers of hoes and cutlass for farming activities, Obalogbon of Okelogbo and Salotun of Ale-Ekiti quarters. They are king folk of Ogbe who left Oro for farming activities in the virgin land of Ijero.
Ogbe consulted Ifa Oracles (oracles of palm kernel divination) who said he should make the farmstead a permanent site of his Kingdom. Ogbe was very versed in Ita-Ijero oral traditional, council (meeting and collectivism. He consulted his subjects at Ilukuno and kinsfolk at the farmstead that this place will be founded a new town where the spirit of Ajoro will continue to soar to greater heights.
He named it “Ijero” after the Ita-Ijero famous quarters in Ile-Ife where they took their root. Ogbe founded Ijero kingdom with mutual spirit, and symbolic opinion of the pioneers, with his pragmatic leadership, the culture of collective spirit, democratic tradition and humanistic service to one’s society began at this place called Ijero tri a npe ni Ajoro. Ogbe left his lieutenant “Eesalokuno” to supervise the administration of his people at Ilukuno while some of his town folks settled at the present site of Ijero with him.
When Ajero Ogbe died, his corpse was carried from Ijero back to main town Ilukuno, this is how the Ilukuno became the royal tomb of Ajero being the pre-eminent town of Ijero Monarch and people of Ijero consanguinity. Most of the kings and their royal lineages in Ijero kingdoms are off shoot and descendants of Ajero Ogbe.
When Ogbe moved his seat to Ijero, Ijero became stronger, livelier, and more progressive. It became the seat of traditional administration, culture, commerce, and government of Ijero kingdom. While the domain of Ajero reached other 14 towns beyond the imagination of the pioneers. Later captured the Heptapolis called “Ilejemeje” (7 main towns) during the reign of Ajero Obaleyakin (1795 – 1815).
Hence, Ijero kingdom, which consisted of 22 towns and their villages, reached its golden era before the Kiriji war in 1877-1893. Ajero Ogbe will forever be remembered in Ijero history as the founding monarch and legendary founder of Ijero kingdom. Ogbe founded Ijero with a symbolic spirit with other pioneers with their spirit of Ajoro and adventure, have done their very best in their own times. During Olojo festival in Ile-Ife, Ajero is one of the few Obas that can go with the Ooni to “Imogun” shrine. Once an Owa Ajero is installed and crowned, he is forever forbidden to set his eyes on his mother and he is also forbidden to see a new born baby in the palace because of the sacredness of human blood to the throne.
Available list of past Ajero and the number of years they reigned
1. Ogbe 1377-1388 (11yrs)
2. Eyekunrin-Afin 1388-1397 (9yrs)
3. Atakumosa 1397-1410 (13yrs)
4. Alaworo 1410-1425 (15yrs)
5. Apa 1425-1442 (17yrs)
6. Awon 1442-1462 (20yrs)
7. Agbagba 1462-1486 (24yrs)
8. Ikere 1486-1498 (12yrs)
9. Otipiri 1498-1525 (27yrs)
10. Ogbolu 1525-1544 (19yrs)
11. Alakeji 1544-1575 (31yrs)
12. Ajiboye 1575-1594 (19yrs)
13. Agunsoye I 1594-1612 (18yrs)
14. Owariberu 1612-1633 (21yrs)
15. Obatutu 1633-1651 (18yrs)
16. Okinbaloye 1651-1667 (16yrs)
17. Erukudede 1667-1690 (23yrs)
18. Otutubiosun 1690-1718 (28yrs)
19. Afesoye 1718-1738 (20yrs)
20. Onaowuro 1738-1749 (11yrs)
21. Oduju 1749-1766 (17yrs)
22. Afinbiokin 1766-1796 (30yrs)
23. Obaleyakin 1796-1816 (20yrs)
24. Agunsoye II 1816-1822 (6yrs)
25. Agbeleja 1822-1867 (45yrs)
26. Oyiyosoye 1867-1902 (35yrs)
27. Okeruku 1902-1916 (14yrs)
28. Arojojoye I 1916-1930 (15yrs)
29. Atobatele 1930-1938 (8yrs)
30. Eyeowa II 1938-1991 (53yrs)
31. Arojojoye II (1991 till date)
Source: ekitisummit.com/ogbe and the discovery of the ijero kingdom
YorubaRenaissance 2022
STORY OF OYUN RIVER, IN ILORIN (KWARA STATE)
Omorilewa is the name of the favourite daughter of Afonja, founder of Ilorin. Aare Ona Kakanfo Afonja loved Omorilewa so much that he pampered her to a fault. Omorilewa was conscious of his father’s love and enjoyed it to the fullest. History relates her to be a proud young lady while nothing can be done to satisfy her. For instance, at one time, they had amongst their hens a mother hen which used to lay and hatch eggs accordingly, but Omorilewa wasn’t satisfy. The hen was sold and duck was bought in hen’s stead.
The duck used to lay and hatch eggs accordingly, too, again Omorilewa wasn’t satisfy, the duck was sold and they bought guinea fowl in duck’s stead, guinea fowl laid six eggs, but forcefully hatched one. Even before it hatched, a new nest had to be set up. This angered Omorilewa so much that she asked that the guinea fowl be sold. Monkey was bought in guinea fowl’s stead; Omorilewa said the monkey used to scout too much, so she complained and a big dog was bought and the monkey was sold. Omorilewa also complained that the Dog that replaced the Monkey is a filthy animal because it always eating feaces. The dog was also sold.
After the dog, a female slave simply named Oyun was purchased. Oyun was a lazy one. Every effort was put into use to make her do house chores, but she wouldn’t work. To fetch water, pound yam, sweep the floor, etc. were all herculean tasks to her. This so frustrated Omorilewa that she started pouring vituperative words on Oyun almost on daily basis.
One day, Oyun was reportedly suffocated by the abusive language, she just couldn’t have it anymore. After a misdeed as usual, Omorilewa started her rounds of reeling out of vituperative words. Oyun reportedly walked away and turned to a river.
Oyun River is a property of Ilorin indigenes, because Oyun herself was a slave of Aare Ona Kakanfo Afonja. Today, this river flows beyond Ilorin. It flows as far as Ijagbo on an end and God-knowswhere at the other side.
by Jimoh Taofik Adekunle
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OBA ALEBIOSU OBADUA OJIJIGOGUN, AROSOYE l, DEJI OF AKURE.
The 40TH DEJI OF AKURE KINGDOM
Oba Alebiosu Obadua Ojijigogun Arosoye l, was born as Prince Alebiosu Obadua of the Asodeboyede dynasty. He became the Deji of Akure in 1890 and reigned for 7 years. He was the son of Oba Ojijigogun Arakale the Deji of Akure that reigned from 1852-1882. He had two half brothers: Prince Olofinlade Afunbiowo (later Adesida l ) and Prince Ifaturoti Adegoroye.
His father, Ojijigogun was the son of Oba Arakale, who was executed by the Benin Empire, while his uncle was Oba Osupa I. Several years before his birth, the Kingdom of Benin had invaded his father’s homeland and executed Oba Arakale, his paternal grandfather. The invaders spared his father’s family and they lived in Benin until the 1830s.
In 1882,When the Deji of Akure-his father Oba Ojijigogun Arakele died, this created a vacancy in the office and several eligible princes sought the throne including Prince Alebiosu Obadua two siblings, Afunbiowo and Ifaturoti and his first cousin, Odundun I. Oba Odundun was ultimately selected and was crowned shortly afterwards. Prince Alebiosu Obadua sought the throne again in 1890 when Odundun died and finally won. He reigned for a short time of seven years and died in 1897. After his death, his daughter Princess Aladerukube Aladejana became the Regent. His younger half brother, Oba Olofinlade Afunbiowo Adesida l later became the king and ruled thereafter for 60 years making him the longest reigning Deji in the history of Akure and ever since then, none of the descendants of Oba Arosoye has ever became the King.
Alaafin of Oyo is dead
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, is dead.
Iku baba yeye (The one that eschew death for life):
Alaafin of Oyo ti waja,
Iku Omo Iku ti lo,
Arun Omo Arun ti lo,
Alase ikeji orisa ti lo.
The Origin of Egungun/Masquerade in Yorubaland
Masquerades started in the olden days.
There was this particular woman whose husband had died in the thick forest where they both lived with their children. After the death and burial of the husband, the wife and children had to relocate to another settlement. Afterwards, life got horrific and horrible with the woman and her children.
They sought the advise of elders who in turn directed that they should consult with the oracle to show them the way out. The oracle after consultation directed that they should go back to the grave of their deceased father in the thick forest and bring his remains home. When they eventually got to their fathers grave, they dug up the grave and found his bone remains which is referred to as “eegun or egungun” in Yoruba language.
The oracle further directed that the “eegun or egungun” should be totally exhumed and wrapped in colourful clothes and be brought back to their new home with big fanfare. That dead man bones is called Egungun also referred to as masquerade while the dead man “ara orun kinkin” is also worshipped in accordance to the directive of the oracle till date. Egungun is part of the Yoruba pantheon of divinities.
In the tradition of Orisa and ancestor worship, the Egungun represents the “collective spirit” of the ancestors. Ancestor worship or reverence is everywhere in traditional Africa and Egungun is part of this worship.
Ancestors assure a place for the dead among the living. It is their responsibility to compel the living to uphold the ethical standards of past generations. Egungun is celebrated in festivals (Odun Egungun) and family ritual through the masquerade or custom. In family situations a family elder or Alagba presides over ancestral rites and may or may not be initiated into the local Egungun society.
But in community settings, Egungun priests and initiates that are trained in ancestral communication, ancestral elevation work and funeral rites are placed in charge of invoking and bringing out the ancestors. Elaborate costumes adorn the Egungun masqueraders (dancers) and through drumming and dance, these dancers become possessed with the spirits of the ancestors.
The Egungun then spiritually cleanse the community and through exaggerated acting/miming demonstrate both ethical and amoral behavior that occurred since their last visit, exposing the strengths and weaknesses of a community with hopes of encouraging behavior more befitting of their descendants.
Once this occurs, messages, warnings and blessings are doled out to spectators. Some important Egungun include Oloolu, Alapansanpa, both of Ibadan land, Alamudu and Aladoko in Akure, Egemurege in Ado Ekiti, Omormo in Akokoland, Gbegbe in Iragbiji, Elewe of the Ìgbómìnà Yoruba sub-ethnics, which is common in the towns of Òkè-Ìlá Òràngún, Ìlá Òràngún, and Arandun
YorubaRenaissance 2021.
CREDIT: Gbade TV
Brief History of Orosun
History of Orosun: Oral history records that Orosun travelled down to Ikori (in Akoko area) where she met and fell in love with Olofin Aremitan, the founder of Idanreland. Orosun was one of the many wives of Olofin Aremitan.
From Ikori, she went with Olofin to Utaja (in Idanre). Subsequently, Orosun went to Akoko to collect her belongings so that she could return to Idanre to settle down with Olofin as his spouse. However, before she returned, Olofin unfortunately passed away and the people had moved to Oke-Idanre. Orosun followed the Idanre people to Oke Idanre and eventually became espoused to Agboogun.
During the reign of Owa Baganju, Orosun, the beautiful lover of Olofin Aremitan returned to Ufe-Oke from Ikori her hometown to resume her relationship with Olofin Aremitan, only to find out that Olofin had passed away. Orosun remained in Ufe-Oke (which was later renamed Idanre) and eventually married Owa Baganju.
Orosun was generally loved by Idanre people owing to her love for children despite not having one herself (she had offered her only child as a human sacrifice whilst in Ile-Ife). She was known as a healer of sorts, often cooking herbs with her ‘Ikoko Aremo’ to cure children of their illnesses. At some point, perhaps as a result of political intrigue, Orosun became the target of communal hatred and she was eventually assassinated at the foot of the highest hill in Idanre.
After her death, the people consulted the Ifa Oracle who revealed that Orosun had being unjustly treated and the oracle mandated that Orosun be given a proper burial ceremony, be deified and sacrifices be offered to her annually. The highest mountain in Idanre, at the foot of which she reportedly died, is named after Orosun and the festivals continue to be held in her honour yearly.
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FOUNDERS OF NOTABLE CITIES IN YORUBALAND
(1) Ile-Ife was founded by Obatala
(2) Owo was founded by Ojugbelu.
(3) Oshogbo was founded by Queen Oso-Igbo
(4) Akure was founded by Omoremi Omoluabi
(5) Ondo was founded by Queen Pupupu
(6) Iwo was founded by prince Ogbaigbai.
(7) Oyo was founded by prince Oranmiyan
(8) Igede Ekiti was founded by Ake
(9) Abeokuta was founded by Shodeke
(10) Ilesha was founded by Owalushe Ajaka.
(11) Esie was founded by prince Baragbon
(12) Ijero Ekiti was founded by Prince Ogbe
(13) Sango-Otta was founded by Osolo and Eleidi Atalabi
(14) Igbesa was founded by Akeredun
(15) Iperu was founded by Akesan
(16) Ikire was founded by Akinere
(17) Ado Ekiti was founded by Awamaro
(18) Esa-Oke was founded by Omiran Adebolu.
(19) Ilorin was founded by Ojo Isekuse
(20) Ikorodu was founded by Oga.
(21) Ijebu-Ode founded by Olode
(22) Iree (Osun) was founded by three brothers: Larooye, Arolu and Oyekun.
(23) Ila-Orangun was founded by Fagbamila Ajagun-nla.
(24) Ikere-Ekiti was founded by Aladeshelu
(25) Ikole Ekiti was founded by Akinsale
(26) Ede was founded by Timi Agbale.
(27) Omu-Aran was founded by prince Olomu-Aperan
(28) Ode-Remo was founded by two hunters: Arapetu and Liworu.
(29) Ikirun was founded by Akinorun
(30) Saki was founded by Ogun
(31) Eruwa was founded by Obaseeku
(32) Iraye was founded by Odudu-Orunku
(33) Ogbomosho was founded by Ogunlola
(34) Offa was founded by Olalomi Olofa-gangan
(35) Inisa was founded by prince Ooku Eesun
(36) Ido Ani was founded by Oba Ozolua
(37) Ejigbo (Osun) was founded by Akinjole Ogiyan (Ogiriniyan)
(38) Okuku was founded by Oladile
(39) Efon Alaye-Ekiti was founded by Iji-Emigun
(40) Ijebu was founded by Obanta
(41) Isara-Remo was founded by prince Adeyemo
(42) Odeogbolu was founded by Eleshi Ekun Ogoji
(43) Ise-Ekiti was founded by Akinluaduse (Akinluse)
(44) Isara-Remo was founded by prince Adeyemo
(45) Itele-Ijebu was founded by Ojigi Amoyegeso
(46) Ijebu-Jesha was founded by Oba Agigiri Egboroganlada
(47) Ibokun (Ilemure) was founded by Obokun
(48) Ikoro-Ekiti (Eso -Obe) was founded by two hunters: Olushe and Olugona.
(49) Ilara Mokin was founded by Obalufon Modulua Olutipin.
(50) Igbara Oke was founded by Olowa Arajaka
(51)Epe was founded by Hu-Raka
(52) Malete (Iseyin) was founded by Adenle Atologuntele
(53) Igbo-Ifa(Kishi) was founded by Kilisi Yeruma
(54) Ijebu-Igbo was created by Ademakin Orimolusi.
(55) Ilobu was founded by Laarosin
(56) Gbongan was founded by Akinfenwa
(57) Ire-Ekiti was founded by Ogun
(58) Iwoye (Ayedun) was founded by Atabata.
(59) Igbajo was founded by prince Akeran
(60) Imesi-Ile was founded by Odunmorun and Eye.
(61) Orile-Owu was founded by Pawu.
(62)Otun-Ekiti was founded by Oore
(63) Igbo Asako( Igbo-Ora) was founded by Obe Alade.
(64) Idanre was founded by Olofin, a younger brother to Oduduwa. He came to Ufe after the demise of his senior brother.
(65) Iresi was founded by Ifadumila Olatimirin from Latale’s compound in Ile-Ife. He was a friend to Ebekun from Abewela’s compound in Ile-Ife. He was the maternal grandfather of Adebuba (Iresi acclaimed first king in the present Aworo Ebekun’s compound). His house which happened to be the first house in Iresi is situated in the present Saloro’s compound. Till date any dead king in Iresi is buried in his backyard. His descendants are called The ALANAS .
Culled from: Late Chief Farinde Owolabi Ajeigbe Joseph. Late Saloro of Iresi Town.
YorubaRenaissance 2021
Brief History of Oda
Umologbe the founder of Ogbe is said to be one of the sons of Oduduwa, the founder of lle-lfe, which according to Yoruba mythology was the centre of the universe. Umologbe was a prominent and brave hunter as well as a hard-working farmer. As a hunter, he had as part of his traveling kits, guns, a relic crown, amulets for all purposes, and deity known as “Eegun Ogbe”, which was said to be the origin of Masquerade in Oda till date. Annually Asodeboyede would send certain things including ram to be sacrificed to “Eegun Ogbe”. This shows that there had been an age-long relationship between Oda and Akure.
Masquerade of Oda
Umologbe was said to have had a brief spell alongside Asodeboyede at Oritagun in Akure, before he left and finally settled at Ogbe, a large expanse of land with few aboriginal settlers who lived in scattered huts. Asodeboyede had earlier moved southwards under the leadership of Olojada also known as Umologbe, a prominent and skilful hunter and they reached a point of about six kilometers away from the present location of Akure and settled there. On one of the hunting expeditions which they usually embarked on collectively, Asodeboyede also known as ‘Omo Ekun” shot and killed an elephant. He immediately remembered his Ifa Oracle’s prediction before leaving Igbo Oye. It was at this stage that Umologbe left Asodeboyede and founded Ogbe.
Masquerade of Oda
Ogbe was said to mean quarters or places for the princes. There were about sixteen aboriginal villages surrounding Ogbe which was then a centre of attraction in the region. So also, there were various tribes that engaged in war with the Akures and the Ogbe people. Such tribes include among others the Idanres, Owos, and the Binis. The town was intermittently ravaged owing to different wars such as Ipata wars. During the period, war was an inevitable phenomenon and as such, all the traditional rulers in Ogbe always put up a brave defense of the Ogbe territory.
Many of the wars were won and some were lost due to different factors. However, there was a very tough war that shook the Ogbe city and its territory during the reign of Oba Opamudasuan. This was called ‘Ogun a ja mose lo”, this was supposed to mean a war whereby the enemies are given a tough resistance or tough fight. The classification was meant to make the traditional heads get well prepared and protect the Ogbe city and give its territories sound protection. However, the Oba of Ogbe at the time, Opamudasuan had a contrary translation of the preparatory message, which was sent by Ooni of Ile-lfe.
He consulted with his Army generals and they resolved that since the war was to be fought with their legs on firm land, a heap of wet mud, that is, beaten earth that would take Ogbe warriors were stationed round the city with their legs inside the wet mud. Opamudasuan has not completed the preparations for the war when he got words that the Aburu warriors were already approaching Ogbe. All the warriors were armed with weapons and the traditional ruler together with his war generals‘ stucked their legs into the beaten earth and waited in that position for war.
When Aburu warriors from Benin got to Ogbe and met the warriors in a motionless position inside the mud, they were killed in their hundreds and defeated. If the preparation had not “cemented” the Ogbe fighters to a spot, they would have escaped, regrouped to reclaim the City. By this single mistake, Oba Opamudasuan lost his life and all the glories of the ancient city of Ogbe. Thereafter, Seven other Obas emerged after Opamudasuan with Oba Agbedere a female the last traditional head of Ogbe.
When Ogbe fell around 1764, young men who were not recruited for the war and who saw the destruction of their ancestral home, escaped to Oda with the surviving women and children. The people of Oda received the Ogbe people who were the inhabitants of their headquarters and were ready to be in peaceful co-existence with them. Oda was initially conceived as a refugee camp for the Ogbe people until their surviving men were strong enough to re-build their ancestral home. Some of Ogbe people who were outside the community at the time Aburu war was on chose to settle in the places they were, for instance, Akure at the time they heard the news.
During the movement of Ogbe people to Oda, the Moses of the exodus was Prince Ausi. While escaping from the invaders, he had a cap on his head known as “Fila Ojukoba” meaning invisible cap, and this made it impossible for anybody to see him and his entourage. Prince Ausi later became Olojoda the traditional ruler at Oda because of his status at Ogbe. He got married to a famous woman named Ekusolatan, who was famous because she was credited with importing the Alaojo festival to Oda from Eku, whose location remained unknown to the inhabitants of the town till date.
Prince Ausi bore children named Olumadeji, Adegboye, Olokunolu and Erumola. Olumadeji the eldest son was appointed by his father, Prince Ausi to oversee llekun as the Elekun of llekun (a vassal chieftaincy under the Olojada). His four children constitute the ruling houses in Oda till present. Ilekun – ‘Ile Ekun’ (land of tiger), was an outpost settlement of Oda. This settlement as at that time was under incessant attack by tigers and other dangerous wild beasts. The prowess of Prince Ausi in defending llekun was the reason why he was made Elekun.
There are three ruling houses in Oda, and they are:-
1. Olumadeji
2. Adegboye
3. Okunbadejo
The following are also the past Obas in Oda
The list of Olojoda of Oda.
Umologbe – 1400-1414 A.D
Onimona – Not Stated
Aparikan – Not Stated
Onaouro – Not Stated
Asinrin – Not Stated
Olitini (Female) – Not Stated
Orunmua – Not Stated
Umolumode – Not Stated
Orunmeio – Not Stated
Oalogbe – Not Stated
Oadonaru – Not Stated
Oalokorokoro – Not Stated
Oasodigo – Not Stated
Oaolosukatasu – Not Stated
Oalopo – Not Stated
Oalena – Not Stated
Oadigbo – Not Stated
Oasona – Not Stated
Oasojuorunmowo – Not Stated
Oajagun- Not Stated
Ogbemoyede – Not Stated
Awede (female) – Not Stated
Apele – Not Stated
Olounoro – Not Stated
Alademoyin – Not Stated
Alajaye – Not Stated
Ekunji – Not Stated
Odelua – Not Stated
Orudu – Not Stated
Ademilika – Not Stated
Okiji – Not Stated
Opayebo – Not Stated
Opamudasuan – Unknown – 1764 A.D.
Ajale – Not Stated
Omolona – Not Stated
Osunanlukedo – Not Stated
Agedo (Ibariba) – Not Stated
Sikosa (Alias Orijajogun) – Not Stated
Ajigi – Not Stated
Agbedere (Female) (Alias Aberinjalalo, alibaba o lude yeye o lopokiti baba) – Not Stated
Ausi – Not Stated
Olumadeji – Not Stated
Adegboye – Not Stated
Adegbemiro – Not Stated
Adegbemiro II – (1934 – Oct 12, 1976).
Akosile M.B. – March 22nd 1978 – Oct 2016.
Reference:
International Association of African Researchers and Reviewers(IAARR)
Article by Ige, O.A.
Department of Social Science Education, Faculty of Education, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria.
Email:olugbengaige@gmail.com
Mobile Line: +2348060588778
Awoleye B.A. memorandum presented on behalf of Oda community to Ondo-State Chieftaincy Review Commission in respect of Olojada Chieftaincy May, 1977
YorubaRenaissance 2021
The Most Powerful Women in The Palace Of Aláàfin of Oyo.
The old dynasty dates back to the old Oyo Empire which with Aláàfin as the emperor.
However, there are powerful women who controls the kingdom. They include among others:
1. Iyamode: Iyamode is the only person in the entire world the Aláàfin is permitted to kneel down before. He kneels before no one else except Iyamode. Iyamode occupies a role deeply respected that the king call her ‘Baba’ (father).
Whenever the Aláàfin goes on his knees before this powerful woman, she also returns the salutation by going down on her knees but never recline on her elbows while doing so as this is the custom of women in saluting their superiors. She resides outside of the palace and she is the superior of the celibates living in Bara (the royal mausoleum). Once a woman becomes Iyamode, she becomes celibate and stays away from sex for life. She is one of the most senior priestess inside the Aláàfin’s royal court.
2. Obagunte: She represents the Aláàfin in the Ogboni fraternity and enter Ogboni chamber on all occasion and at will.
3. Eni Oja: She is the head of all the Eshu worshippers in Oyo and she is in charge of the king’s market.
4. Iya Naso: The Aláàfin of Oyo is worshipped as the living incarnation of the Sango, the god of thunder. Inside the palace, the Aláàfin has a private place where he worships Sango. Iya Naso’s is in charge of this spiritual room. She has to do with Sango Worship generally and she’s the one responsible for everything linked to it. The worship and rituals.
5. Iya Kere: Iya Kere is the person who places the crown on the head of the king at the coronation. She is the only one in charge of the treasures and paraphernalia Of the Oyo kingdom, including the crowns. Iya Kere is also the mother of all illari (male and female eunuchs) who are kept in the palace with half their heads shaved off). Iya Kere exercises full power over the feudal heads like Aseyin, Oluwo and Soun of Ogbomoso. Once she assumes the office, she remains a celibate for life.
6. Iya Oba: Iya Oba is the official mother of the king. After the demise of the Queen mother, any other lady of the palace is then made the Iya Oba and she is one who plays the role of a biological mother to him. Iya Oba is the third person in the room when the Alaafin and Bashorun worship the Orun in the month of September every year. Iya Oba is the fedual head of the Bashorun.
7. Iya Monari: it is the role of Iya Monari to execute by strangling any Sango worshipper who has been condemned to death. Sango worshippers condemned to capital punishment cannot be killed by the sword. She is also the second-in-command and assistant to Iya Naso.
8. Iya-Fin-Iku: She is Alaafins devotee to the Sango mysteries. It’s the normal practice for all Sango worshippers to devote one of their children to the worship of Sango and that is the role Iya-Fin-Iku fulfills for the Aláàfin. She is also in charge of the Sango ram which is allowed to go everywhere and around the market without anyone molesting it and the ram can also eat with impunity anything it so desire from traders.
9. Iya Lagbo: She is the mother of the crown prince (Aremo) in a case where the mother of the crown prince (Aremo) is deceased, then another woman is promoted to that office and she becomes the mother of the crown prince (Aremo). Iyalagbon enjoys massive Influence and privileges and controls a portion of the kingdom. The Alaafin’s agunmu (medicinal powders) and agbo (concoctions) are placed in the care of Iya lagbo, the king’s private attendant who is in charge of his private pharmacy.
10. Aare Oriite: She is the Aláàfin’s personal attendant. It the Aare-Oriite who sees to it that the royal meals and royal bed is properly made. She also makes sure that the royal chambers are neatly arranged when an Aláàfin is enthroned, it is the Aare-Oriite who places the umbrella over his head as a canopy and she is constantly by the side of the Aláàfin to see to his needs.
These influential and powerful women communicate with the spiritual realm and guide every single step of the Aláàfin and they encourage and support him during periods of challenges and defend him from all forms of evil both physical and spiritual. They educate him on what he can eat and what is forbidden for him to touch. They are the ubiquitous brains behind the kingdom.
As only a mother can give birth to a son, only the great mothers can make a king.
Alaafin of Oyo
Oriki awon Iya:
Iba eyin iya awirere aboju sinsin,
Mo se iba Akoda Aye,
Mo se iba Olodumare,
Mo se iba eyin Iya mi Olokiki Oru anomo lai fowo kan,
Mo se iba ba yin o.
Iba eyin iya
References:
1. Bolanle Oni story tweet (2021)
2.https://www.legit.ng/1103967-the-8-powerful-women-alaafin-oyo-palace-photos.html
YorubaRenaissance 2021
Brief History Of Iwoye, Ayedun.
Oral tradition says that the town Iwoye in Ayedun traced her origin to the ancient city of Ile Ife, the cradle of the Yorubas.
However, there are many Iwoyes spread among Yoruba Communities. Uwoye near Ijebu-Jesha in Ori-Ade LGA, Osun State, Iwoye near Ede, Ago-Iwoye Ketu near Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State and Iwoye in Ayedun.
ORIGIN OF IWOYE KINGDOM
Iwoye in Ayedun according to history, is from Ijio Compound in Moore Quarters in Ile Ife. As a result of the inter tribal wars, the unity of the kingdom of Ile Ife was affected and it resulted in the creation of various hamlets or township with her own Obas.
Many princes and princesses left Ile Ife either directly or indirectly for other settlement as Obas. Oranyan and his army, as well as his brothers pushed on their conquests in every directions. The princes and the warlords stationed in various locations to hold the country and from them sprang up many provincial kings.
Atabata, the founder of Iwoye in Ayedun in Ekan-Meje District of Kwara State. During the early dispatch from Ile Ife, the people of Iwoye migrated to Ijebu-Jesha land and from there the Iwoye sub- ethnic group started to found many communities across Yoruba nation.
There, Iwoye formed Oke Ooye, Uwoye quarters near Ijebu-Jesha, Iwoye near Oyo Ile that produced the first and second Aare Onakankanfos of Yoruba Nation. The entire Iwoye Communities are of the same and bear striking features of Iwoye. In deference to Ifa oracle Atabata wanted to found a community of his own and he left Ijebu-Jesha.
Ajuan, one of his brothers settled there and became the ONIWOYE OF IWOYE in Ori Ade LGA. The Ifa gave Atabata some injunctions where he would settle and he would find a tunnel, a sweet and tasty spring, and abundant “Yunriyun” leaf. This long journey through thick and thin forests could only be at the dictates of the Oracle.
Atabata was a great hunter, farmer and herbalist. In continuation of his search for a place to settle, he passed through Obbo, met some people there and left, apparently because he met a king in Obbo who is called Owa Lobbo in Ekiti LGA, Kwara State.
However, one of his younger brothers settled down at Ilemisi. Ilemisi is one of the ruling houses in Obbo. Eventually, Atabata settled down at Ori-Agbon where he found a big tunnel, “Yunriun” leaf and a Spring that tastes very sweet which is called ISUN IRAN.
Atabata named where he settled down as ODO- IWOYE. His entourage to Odo Iwoye include among others Olukosi, Odoba, Aro (now Obaaro), adherent of Onifon the modern day prophets and Osun worshippers. A Shrine of Onifon and Osun deities respectively is still in Iwoye till today.
Time and circumstances combined to make Iwoye of yore recognize those at Isapa and after an exchange of visits together with the crown prince of Odo Owa at Ekan. The title OBAOYE (which means OBA OF IWOYE) as the traditional title for IWOYE was adopted.
At Ori Agbon historically called ORILE, the tunnel therein leads to Ile-Ife. People travelled through the tunnel and it leads to Ife and Igbo Epa. At Ori Agbon where Obaoye settled down, his brother, Ogobiro asked him whether he could come and join him.
Atabata told him to come because “IGBOKU”, meaning land still remains. Igboku became home to Iwoye much latter known as IMOSO (ONE MIND). This is the first place where IWOYE people settled before their eventual movement to the present location. Iwoye has boundaries with Ilale, Ekan, Ajure, Erinmope and Aran-Orin towns.
Odo Iwoye was the first settlement in the present day Iwoye and the first to produce Obaoye. As event unfolded, there are three Ruling houses (Odo-Iwoye, Ile-Agbe and Ile-Asaba) in Iwoye. Iwoye is today a federating towns which traditionally comprises of six villages:
1. Moso – three villages – from Ijio, Moore Quarters in Ile-Ife,
2. Odo Ede – from Oke-Ede, Ila-Orangun,
3. Isowu – two relations – from Ilawe-Ekiti and Ifon Ilobu.
4. Emu – from Omu-Aran
All these villages till today subsume under the traditional Head and authority of Obaoye of Iwoye. Obaoye of Iwoye land installs all the Chiefs in his domain.
THE LIST OF OBAOYE OF IWOYE ARE:
1. OBAOYE ATABATA EYE BI OKIN
2. OBAOYE ASISE SELE SEDE
3. OBAOYE OLODE AMUNDARO (The first Obaoye who relocated from Ori Agbon to the present location)
4. OBAOYE AJIFIN OKIN
5. OBAOYE AJOKO T’ONIFON
6. OBAOYE AROJO J’OYE
7. OBAOYE AGBEDE GBEYO
8. OBAOYE ORUBULOYE
9. OBAOYE ABEGBE IROKO S’OOGUN
10. OBAOYE OGBODO SOLA OYIBO 1889 – 1903
11. OBAOYE OYIYO 1903 -1936
12. OBAOYE FALASE AULODO BI OSUPA 1936 – 1952
13. OBAOYE IPE AFARIDU J’OYE 1952 – 1975
14. OBAOYE FAYE FALASE, ALENI LOYE, 1975 – 2002
15. OBAOYE ARINDE OBAYOMI 2008 – 2012
16. OBAOYE MATTHEW ADEYEMI TUNDE-AKOSEWA OLODE AMUDARO II, 2011-2012
17. OBAOYE MICHAEL SUNDAY AYANTOLA, JP AROJOJOYE II OGBAGBA GBA OTE WOLE, 2014 – TO DATE.
YorubaRenaissance.
Ogboni Society.
Historical Background
It is not known when the Ogboni society was created. it was an age long assembly of elders that created a cult based on the cosmology of Yorubas. Ogboni performed religious, political and judicial functions.
Ogboni considered themselves as the privileged intermediaries between the living and the ancestors and they venerate mother Earth or goddess Earth.
Ogbonis acted as the check and balance against the power of the king to the point of having the authority to remove him if necessary. Even though the Ogbonis had judicial functions, their primary role was the preservation of the Ifa oracle. The high priests of the Ogboni society are often called on to consult the oracle to determine a number of sensitive issues, such as ancestral support for the King. In fact, members of the Ogboni society are guardians and protectors of the divine oracle and laws. During the pre-colonial era, the Ogboni society was the highest court in Yorubaland, with the power to judge powerful individuals that did not face justice in the open judicial system. However, during the colonial era and after Nigeria’s independence, the Ogboni had no formal role to play in the society.
Current Status: Since the common people no longer had any use for them as their protectors, they now protect any of the self-centered interests of their members by blackmail, intimidation, and murder. The Ogboni society, in most Yoruba parts of Nigeria, have no real power whatsoever. The only Yoruba parts of Nigeria where they still have some real influence on the traditional administration of the cities are in the Egba, Egbado and Abeokuta parts of Nigeria. These would correspond roughly to pockets of areas in Ogun State and Lagos State. Also, in some rural villages and small towns along in the borders of Ogun State with Oyo, Osun and Ondo States where they are still able to intimidate pockets of people.
Structure: In old Oyo, all Ogbonis are under the authority of the political leader, referred to as the Alaafin, who has the authority to convoke the priests into spiritual sessions. The structure of the Ogboni society is a secret that only an Ogboni member is answerable to.
Membership: Membership is open to Yorubas and other ethnicities, and men and women are eligible for initiation within the society, although the predominance of male elders is undeniable. If ones parent was a member of the Ogboni Society, and that person had been exposed to their activities (e.g. meetings held at his or her parents’ house while the child was present so that over the years the child grew up knowing the identities of the Ogboni; or, the parent deliberately pledged that his or her child would become a member) that child would be expected to join.
Ogboni society was re-created in Bahia, Brazil, during the early 19th Century when the Yorubas became a major cultural group in that region.
Brief History of Ita-Ogbolu
Oba Ogbolu took over the throne from Kabiesi Alakure after he joined his ancestors. Ogbolu is a son of Ajapada Asodeboyede whose mother’s name is Ajisebiolori. He reigned between year 1200 – 1225.
According to historians, this man called Ogbolu was a farmer since the lifetime of his father Kabiesi Asodeboyede. He was also a hunter. He farmed at a river brink called ‘omi ona’ in a deep forest. He grew series of vegetables and a particular plant which is called ‘gbodogi.’ This gbodogi leaves was being used as roofing sheets during that time. That time, only a brave and courageous person can live alone because of the activities of kidnappers who sell people to slave traders.
Ogbolu created a space for himself at the junction (Orita) that led to his farm where he sells his farm produce and hunted animals. People always patronise him with the believe that they will find whatever needs they want to buy. So it became their common saying whenever they are going there to say, ‘mo nlo si ita Ogbolu or orita ogbolu’ – (I’m going to Ogbolu’s junction). This was how the settlement became Ita-Ogbolu. Where he planted the gbodogi leaves then, is now a street in Ita-Ogbolu called ‘Ilewe’ up till today. It means ‘Ile-ewe’ i.e the land of leaf.
After he became a King in Akure, he entrusted the administration of this settlement into the hands of two Chiefs, Elewe and Odofin. No wonder they call Ita-Ogbolu people elewe till date. According to oral history, Odofin got married to a beautiful woman called Bewaji. Ogbolu was the first king who created ‘Ajo Akure’ where chiefs do meet every nine days. He was also the one who provided what was called ‘Agede’ use by the Chiefs. Its use was solely for the Chiefs. It’s either called Agede Ogbolu or Agede Odoro because Odoro also made his own.
It was Oba Ogbolu who ordered that Ajo Akure should be permanently moved to Chief Asamo’s palace base on certain reason, but it was Oba Odoro who implemented it. After the demise of Kabiesi Ogbolu, Odoro took over the throne. He reign between year 1225 – 1245. Odoro was Alakure’s son. Be reminded that kingship was being rotated between the Asodeboyedes and the Alakures.
According to Historians, Kabiesi Odoro’s reign was peaceful, and was also a coolheaded king that his reign can hardly been distinguished from that of Ogbolu. Thats the only reason why there is the saying that, ‘Ogbolu omiye Odoro’ (Ogbolu Odoro’s brother). Atimes Akure people do say this whenever they’re telling each other the condition or situation of one another, that ‘bo ti se Ogbolu li se Odoro’ – as its doing Ogbolu same as Odoro. After 20 years of peaceful reign, Odoro joined his ancestors.
The relationship between Ogbolu and Odoro was cordial. They’re not siblings but they followed the arrangement of rotating the stool between their families as laid down by their fathers, Asodeboyede and Omoloju (Alakure).
YorubaRenaissance
Brief History of Ogedengbe Agbogungboro
The late Chief Ogedengbe Agbogungboro, the Generalissimo of Ekiti Army during the Ekiti parapet war was born at Atorin, a village about twenty kilometres from Ilesha in the now Atakomosa East Local Government areas.
Atorin was his mother’s village, his father was a native of Oke-Orisa which is about the same distance from Ilesha and in the same Local Government area as Atorin. Before Ogedengbe was born, the Ifa oracle had predicted that he was going to be the saviour of Ijeshaland and his environs. The name given to Ogedengbe at birth was SARAIBI.
He was born as a normal child and he grew up at Atorin as a healthy industrous young man. From the early years of his life, it became clear that he was very strong and surpassed all his mates in acts of valour, whenever he engaged in wrestling with his mates, he always floored them, hence the name “OGEDENGBE”. In adulthood, Ogedengbe engaged in several campaigns against the Ibadan people who were oppressing and attacking the Ijesha people. During one of such campaigns, he was captured and taken to Ibadan.
It was on this occassion the Ibadan people put tribal marks on his face before releasing him. He fought in the Ibadan army until he became a senior military commander and then returned to fight and lead the Ijesha forces. After this, he gathered a large army of Ijesha young men and engaged in several bitter fightings against the Ibadan people.
Ogedengbe exploits also took him to Ekiti and Akoko areas where he sold a lot of them into slavery. This was why he was often referred to as “O soko Ekiti soko Akoko”. He also went as far as the present day Edo state. The Oba of Benin had to appeace him before he desisted from waging war against his domain. He gave Ogedengbe presents of beads, slaves and other valuable articles.
After this exploit, Ogedengbe returned to Igbara-Oke intending to settle down there. This was the time when the Ibadan people engaged the Ijeshas and the Ekitis in a fierce war at Oke-Imesi. The leaders of the Ijeshas and the Ekitis had to persuade Ogedengbe to come and lead them as his unrivalled exploits had become legendary in the whole of Yoruba land. He agreed and went to the battle field to check the inordinate ambition of the Ibadan people.
The fighting went on for about nine years . It was Captain Bower, the then resident commissioner at Ibadan who finally settled the war by a treaty in 1886 (23rd September, 1886) after he had won the war.
It was due to all these attributes which he possessed that made him a celebrated hero in his town. Ogedengbe subsequently became one of the most important men in the history of Yorubaland. Hence, the name ‘OGEDENGBE AGBOGUNGBORO’ meaning ‘OGEDENGBE THE WARRIOR’
It began in the 19th century, a century of revolution in Yorubaland, after the fall of the old Oyo Empire due to political crisis. Ibadan, a new city founded in the 1820s wanted to dominate and rule the rest of the Yorubaland and as result, there were wars among the kingdoms of the Yorubas.In particular the Kiriji war (also known as the sixteen years war) which started in 1877, it involved the struggle for power, influence and survival.
The Ibadan on declared ‘a war to end all wars’ on the Egba on Monday, 30th July 1877, the Kiriji war officially begun. The Ijebu joined and it began to spread. In 1878, it spread to the east, the Ekiti and Ijesa countries became united and formed an alliance known as Ekiti-parapo (the combined forces of the Ijesa and Ekiti) which was led by Ogedengbe of Ilesha . The Ife and Ilorin later joined. Ibadan now had a string of foes that were ready to fight for their independence and also to free themselves from Ibadan imperialism.
YorubaRenaissance.
Brief History of Igede and the link with Osun goddess.
Ake, a hunter and herbalist of great prowess founded Igede many centuries ago. Erindo his wife and Awota, his servant all migrated from Ile-Ife. They settled on arrival at Okesu. Ake and Erindo were blessed with sixteen children, eight boys and eight girls. Prominent among the children were Osun, Elemi, Orunro, Ogbese, Elerinwo and Okunsusi among others.
Immediately after the death of Ake, struggle for leadership and power tussle erupted among the children. That led to intra-family crisis and was with display of high degree of metaphysical powers through the use of incantations called “ogede” in Yorubaland. The name IGEDE was a derivative of the term OGEDE (incantation) meaning a town founded where war was fought with lots of incantation.
Okunsusi, a younger, courageous, painstaking and highly intelligent member of the family eventually took over the mantle of leadership after most of the elderly ones had destroyed themselves. At the end of it all, they turned to different things, including rivers and ponds. Ibaja entered the ground, while Orunro, Elemi, Ogbese and Osun turned into water. While Okunsusi became the first king (Oba) of Igede at Okesu.
The available land space at Okesu became grossly inadequate for effective and peaceful co-existence due to ruggedness and population increase, hence the need to move down to a relatively plain land at Odogede hence the origin of the saying “ODO BABA IGEDE”. Oba Obirimoko was the first Onigede on settling at Odogede but led a reckless and horrific life with bad record. Hence, this got his reign and name outrightly expunged from the list of Obas that reigned in Igede-Ekiti and by any standard can never be described as Onigede.
Prior to the era of Christianity, Igede- Ekiti had been the ancestral home of the legendary Osun, Elemi pond and other historical spots that are relevant to the origin of the community. Osun goddess actually left Igede-Ekiti as a result of disagreement with her siblings in Igede and settled at Efon-Alaaye, Oyo and lastly in Osogbo, in the present Osun State.
Osun found her way to Osogbo after leaving Sango, her husband in Oyo. At Osogbo, she ran into a troubled community, who sought her help. Her intervention paid off as the calamity in the land subsided. After this, the people begged her to stay and she obliged. That is why till date, prayers are being made and answered at the Osun Osogbo groove and at her source in Igede, till date.
The core custodians of Osun Osogbo and the traditional institution in the city till date still eulogise Osun Osogbo as Onibu Ola Ere Igede. Elemi flows north and eastward towards Ogbese. All the rivers in Igede are not from anywhere but have their sources from the community. A stone in the mode of an armchair is still seated at Osun Igede spot. The core custodians of Osun Osogbo annually pay a visit to the source in Igede before the annual Osun Osogbo festival. There are three ruling houses in Igede-Ekiti. They are Onaowuro, Oborolada and Okiribiti.
YorubaRenaissance
The Brief History of Oore of Otun
Tradition has it that the Oore emerged from the Okun Moba (Moba Sea) in Lagos with a calabash containing water in his hand, beads around his neck and a beaded crown on his head. Oore also known as Omolokun had no known earthly father nor mother.
Oore, had settled in different places at different times, starting from Moba near Mushin in Lagos. Some of the places they passed through after Ile-lfe includes Akure, Oke Olodun and lpole before moving to the present site Odo Ira over 400 years ago. Oore/Omolokun at one time or the other was at IIe-Ife and had a very strong relationship with Oduduwa, the progenitor of Yorubas. The Oore was formally known and referred to as Omolokun. The Oore was also in existence during the itinerant periods when people migrated from one place to the other.
The relationship between Oore and Oduduwa was a very special one and at a time during his stay at IIe-Ife, Oduduwa mysteriously went blind and efforts to restore his sight proved abortive. Oore and Oduduwa lived at the same time in Ile-Ife. However, there was a period in time Oduduwa became blind, and all efforts to resuscitate his eyesight proved very difficult and abortive. It was Omolokun, now Oore, who consulted the Ifa Oracle on behalf of Oduduwa, and said that except they fetch water from the Ocean to prepare certain things, Oduduwas eyesight would not be restored.
Oduduwa called all his children and wanted to know, who will volunteer to go and fetch the water from the Ocean and as history will have it, one of Oduduwa’s youngest children, Ajibogun, volunteered to go and fetch the water. And when he went, it took an unusually long time for him to return. So, everybody, including Oduduwa thought Ajibogun had died.
At this point, when all the other children of Oduduwa realised that their father was getting old; they decided to have their own inheritance and migrated to form their own kingdoms. During these periods, Oore kept re-assuring Oduduwa, that Ajibogun will return safely. Before Ajibogun’s return to Ife, all the other children of Oduduwa had left the place, whenever these children left Ile-Ife, whenever they get to where they were to settle they will as expected send a message back home indicating where they had settled.
Oore was always with Oduduwa. So Oore knew, where every son of Oduduwa settled. And when Ajibogun came back with the water, it was the Oore who did all the rituals that were necessary, and Oduduwa regained his sight. Oore took part of the water brought from Okun Moba to wash the eyes of Oduduwa before his sight was restored. This feat performed by Oore endeared him to Oduduwa to the extent that he called him ”Oloore mi” (meaning my benefactor). This was how Oore derived his name.
It was at this point, that Oduduwa started to call Oore my benefactor (Oloremi). Oloremi is the full name of Oore. That was the level of closeness between Oore and Oduduwa in the time of old. It was after Oduduwa had regained his sight that Oore decided to leave him with Oduduwa demanding a promise from Oore that anytime he Oduduwa needed Oore, Oore must find the time to come to him. Oore was the last person to leave Ile-Ife.
Since then, Oore is the only rightful person allowed by tradition to announce the passage of any Ooni of Ife. So, when Oduduwa passed on, Oore was the first person they sent for and Oore had to go back to Ile-Ife and informed all Oduduwa children about the passage of their father. That was the situation and that was where the history was established that anytime an Ooni in Ile-Ife passed on, it is the Oore that has the right to know about such death before any other person. Furthermore, before a new Ooni can be installed, certain traditional rites must be performed to invoke the spirit of four (4) very ancient Obas in Yorubaland. The Oore is one of them.
YorubaRenaissance
Brief History of Oye-Ekiti
The origin of Oye-Ekiti which is also known as Obalatan land is associated with the founder of the town, Oloyemoyin was born in Imore district of Ile Ife. The name Oye was coined from his name ‘Oloyemoyin’ a name put together because of the circumstances surrounding the birth of the founder of Oye who was said to have been born during a terrible and ‘hostile’ harmattam.
To preserve his life, he was kept in a dark room with a female deity called ‘Obalatan’ for an unspecified period of time. Oloyemoyin was observed as a wonderful prince whose birth had been accompanied by a horrible harmattan while traditional lamps were lit and arranged in the room both day and night to keep the room warm. His mother’s breast was so dry that she could not breast feed him and rather he was fed with honey in place of breast milk.
This is why he was named Oloyemoyin, meaning a harbinger of harmattan who fed on honey and this is why he is morally praised till date as; Omo Oloye, Omo ora ufe ketaana Osan gangan, meaning that Oloye is an aboriginal son of Ile-Ife who always put on light during the day. According to available oral evidence, Oloyemoyin left Ile-Ife in company of his brother Ogunlire, the acclaimed founder of Ire-Ekiti, with a remarkable entourage, equipped with large armies, crude weaponry, commanders, seers, oracles, priests and subtle counselors.
The entourage on their way from Ile-Ife first settled at Ule Oye Ora. At Oye Odo Ora, the aborigines were not happy with such intrusion and as a result fought and scattered them. They therefore, moved to a new settlement and called it Oye Ekiti, while Ogunlire migrated and settled in Ire-Ekiti. Some settled in Egosi, and others conquered Eshetta and Arigidi while, Oye-Ekiti became the head of these towns and Oloye was recognized by them as their leader being the eldest son of their mother, Yeye Aiye.
Our history: Oranmiyan
Elemo Obameri of Ile-lfe
Yoruba Traditional & Cultural Renaissance 
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