Info For You Lot Owu People: Ancient Warriors In Addition To Yoruba Sub-Ethnic Group
Owu people (Orile-Owu or Owu-Ipole) are agriculturalist, ancient warriors as well as Yoruboid-speaking people that forms a sub-set of the larger Yoruba ethnic grouping of West Africa, especially Nigeria. Owu people are especially residents of Abeokuta inward Ogun state.
Historically, Owu percentage inward the Federal Republic of Nigeria is bounded inward the S yesteryear Ijebu-Igbo inward Ogun State; inward the E yesteryear Ife South Local Government Area; inward the due north yesteryear Gbongan – 1 of the prominent towns inward Osun State as well as inward the W yesteryear Irewole/Isokan Local Government Area. Ago-Owu inward Abeokuta is where the Owus are generally concentrated, all the same large Owu settlements are found throughout the Yoruba kingdom. The Yoruba kingdom extends beyond the boundaries of Nigeria into the Republic of Benin.
Orile-Owu inward the yesteryear was an ancient wood kingdom which is believed to live the foremost settlement exterior Ile-Ife, the popularly acclaimed traditional homeland of the Yoruba people. Several notions virtually this ancient kingdom regarding its status equally the cradle of all other Owu communities have got led to some generated heated controversies.
Among the diverse Yoruba sub-ethnic groups such as Oyo, Egba, Ife, Ijebu, Ijesha, Awori, Remo, Igbomina, Ondo, Ekiti as well as others, Owu people are rattling pop especially when 1 count the state of war years of the larger Oyo Kingdom. Within the said percentage of old Oyo, Owu was rattling prominent as well as fifty-fifty ruled the waves. Owu collected tribute from the Bariba, the Borgu as well as had ruled over old Oyo until the reign of Sango. All this happened because they (Owu) also settled inside that rattling region. (See Johnson’s “History of the Yorubas” p.149). Their presence inward that percentage was indisputably powerful. Owu fought side yesteryear side with Egba inward the Makun as well as other wars against Ado Odo as well as Dahomey inward 1842-45. Owu contingents fought as well as routed Awori at Itori, Yobo, Ifo, Atan, Ota as well as also occupied those places till today. In his address to Owu people during the eighth Owu Day celebrations inward 2007, the Olowu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu maintained that "Owu people had fought wars, won battles as well as settled inward rattling many places betwixt the Niger river as well as the body of body of water (Owus inward Lagos State; Epe, etc.), yet their main flow had settled with the Egbas inward Abeokuta BUT, THEY ARE NOT EGBAS, neither are they lJEBUS. (See Johnson’s “History of the Yorubas, p.18). Owu settlements inward Ijebu as well as Abeokuta were non equally a resultant of direct battles or victory over them, but generally on friendly terms."
One of the distinctive socio-political divergence betwixt Owus as well as other Yoruba sub-tribes is that the Owus do non have got an Oluwo (Ogboni Head Chief) as well as do non concur Ogboni assemblies. On the contrary, the Owu palace has its ain civilization of opened upwardly deliberation where whatsoever Owu somebody tin participate. That is why people refer to the Owus equally “Owu a gbooro gbimo” pregnant "Owu the deliberative group".
Owu settlements are found throughout the Yoruba Kingdom, all of which have got historical as well as cultural affinity to the homeland – that is Orile-Owu. In the Yoruba language, “Orile” agency an ancestral habitation or settlement spell the give-and-take “Owu” is derived from a cotton wool flora belonging to the genus Gossypium. This flora is called owu yesteryear the Yoruba. Therefore, “Orile-Owu” agency the original settlement or site of the Owu people. The early on settlers of this kingdom planted as well as traded inward cotton. Hence, this identify was called “Igbo Owu” i.e Cotton Forest.
Mathew Arema Okikiola Olusegun Obasanjo, Owu tribe homo and Retired Army General who hails from the Olusanmi chemical compound inward Sokori, Owu Abeokuta is the solely 3 term as well as longest inward role Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He revamped the Owu National Movement at nowadays called RUOP which was originally founded yesteryear Balogun Akin Olugbade, his predecessor inward the role of Balogun Owu Abeokuta. H5N1 1 fourth dimension leader of the Eminent Personalities grouping as well as challenger for the send service of Secretary General of the United Nations. He is the electrical flow Balogun Owu.
There are a lot of abandoned historical as well as cultural heritage resources inward Orile-Owu. This attests to the heritage of the Owu people equally a bang-up kingdom inward the past. Moreover, for several years that the ancient town has been inward existence, settlement features such equally ditches as well as embankments, reject mounds, historic buildings, as well as pottery scatters inside the ancient town (site) are yet to live fully understood especially inside the context of how they reverberate the antiquity of the settlement on 1 hand, as well as how they stand upwardly a goodness remove chances to investigating the connection betwixt the homeland as well as outlier Owu settlements inward the Yoruba region, on the other hand.
Owu people of Abeokuta
Geography as well as Climate
Owu is inside latitude 7°10’ as well as 7°15’N as well as longitude 4°25’E. This percentage is bounded inward the S yesteryear Ijebu-Igbo inward Ogun State; inward the E yesteryear Ife South Local Government Area; inward the due north yesteryear Gbongan – 1 of the prominent towns inward Osun State as well as inward the W yesteryear Irewole/Isokan Local Government Area. The study expanse is situated inward the tropics, where the Sun is overhead almost every hateful solar daytime of the year. The annual temperature is virtually 28°C. Rainfall is heavy, averaging 1300mm per annum reaching its peak betwixt Apr as well as belatedly September. Orile-Owu is sunny throughout the year. The relative humidity coincides with months with depression rainfall – Dec to March (Adejobi 1997; Adejuwon 1974, Ogundele as well as Ebonine, 2010).In price of accessibility, Orile-Owu is virtually 46km from Ibadan. There is a well- tarred motorable route from Ibadan to Orile-Owu as well as inside the town are brusk footpaths, which brand Orile-Owu rattling accessible.
Abeokuta
The vegetation type inward this expanse is a secondary forest. The vegetation has been greatly impacted yesteryear growth inward human population as well as activities. Orile-Owu was an ancient wood kingdom with varieties of flora species. The predominant plants that be inward this locality comprise of tree species such equally fossil oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), iroko (Milicia excela), mahogany (Entadrophragma cylindricum), arere (Triplocyton scleroxylon), as well as teak (Tectona grandis). The expanse is good drained yesteryear rivers as well as streams including the Obalufon, Omu, Ope, Oranran, Osun as well as Shasha rivers. The availability of these rivers as well as streams has some positive impact on local agriculture as well as other livelihood including palm fossil oil production (Ogundele as well as Ebonine, 2010). The soil is fertile thereby allowing the tillage of diverse cash as well as subsistence crops. The availability of the essential natural resources at the site made it a suitable identify for the ancient population to settle.
Language
Owu people talk North-West Yoruba (NWY) dialect of Yoruboid languages which belongs to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication phylum. Apart from Owu people, the other areas that talk North-West Yoruba dialects include Abẹokuta, Ibadan, Ọyọ, Ogun as well as Lagos (Eko) areas.
Ogogo kulodo masquerade from Ota Awori inward Ogun State
History
According to written sources, the institution or founding of Owu Ipole (as Orile-Owu was formerly referred to) was shortly after the settlement of Oduduwa inward Ile – Ife, hence they said “Owu Lakoda” pregnant Owu was the foremost to live founded after Ile – Ife is a pop saying with the Yoruba (Mabogunje,1997). It is believed from oral tradition that the Owu occupied an expanse straight along as well as below Niger River inward the acquaint solid reason of Nigeria. Orile-Owu subsequently expanded as well as became a rattling pop as well as powerful Yoruba settlement, which eventually attained the status of a kingdom of bang-up repute. It became a forcefulness to live reckoned with inside Yoruba land, especially betwixt the belatedly 18th as well as early on 19th centuries.
By the minute decade of the 19th century, Orile-Owu began to wane downwardly equally a resultant of nutrient shortage, war, as well as consequently, insecurity of lives as well as properties resulting from slave raiding. Thus the settlers had to become inward search of improve economical opportunities, equally this was of import inward ensuring their survival. The Owus hence abandoned their heavily fortified urban center as well as escaped southwest inward groups for security inward the human face upwardly of heavy external aggression (Chief Olalere per comm., 2011).The devastation of the heavily fortified urban center was caused yesteryear the belatedly 19th century intra-sub-ethnic wars. This devastation had its consequences on the people as well as it is believed to live the argue behind their broad dispersal all over the country. Owu settlements are found today inward most Yoruba communities including Abeokuta as well as Lagos, as well as equally far afield equally Igbomina solid reason inward Kwara State of Nigeria. The collapse of Old Oyo (in the northern component of Yoruba land), a powerful working capital missive of the alphabet of the Oyo empire inward the early on 19th century, coupled with the finally can of Orile-Owu inward 1825 was instrumental to the demographic changes inward southern Yoruba solid reason (Ogundele as well as Babalola, 2007:60; Ogundele as well as Ebonine: 2010).
Ijebu as well as Ife state of war against Owu
In 1821–26, the armies of both Ijebu as well as the Ife attacked as well as devastated Owu Ipole. The Owus abandoned their heavily fortified urban center as well as escaped southwestward inward groups toward Ibadan inward virtually 1826. From these outskirts, they marched on as well as across Ogun River as well as finally arrived at Oke Ata close Abeokuta where Sodeke, an Egba authoritative leader, persuaded the gallant Owus to settle inward Abeokuta virtually 1834. It is of import to province that the acquaint Orile Owu is the same identify equally Owu Ipole where the Owus from Iwo as well as other places resettled inward the early on 20th century. The people of Erunmu (founded yesteryear the older blood brother of an before Olowu from the Amororo Ruling House) were ever loyal to the course of study of Owu Kingdom. During the Owu war, the Olowu was carried on his dorsum (to disguise his escape) from Orile Owu (Owu Ipole) to Orile Erunmu, guarded yesteryear a combined squad of his purplish guards as well as Oba Erunmu's purplish guards. After Orile Owu was devastated, the remaining Owu the world forces retreated to defend Orile Erunmu against the allied the world forces of Ijebu as well as Ife.
Ota as well as Ado-Odo
Owu was a major element inward the 1842-45 state of war against Ota as well as Ado Odo. It is interesting to banking company complaint that halfway through the war, Sodeke devised a way for the Egba contingent led yesteryear Ayikondu to desert the warfront (see Ajisafe, Iwe Itan Abeokuta, p.73), employing the services of his friend (the enemy), Gezo, the Dahonean state of war leader. As an Awori Ota King, declared inward 1935, the determination of the state of war of Otal Ado Odo was led yesteryear Gbalefa, the Owu General as well as his Owu contingents as well as that is how Owu people non solely conquered but occupy the at nowadays Gbalefa Peninsular.
Safeguarding the Crown
Before Orile Erunmu was also devastated as well as razed to the ground, The Olowu as well as The Oluroko of Erunmu devised strategies to ensure that the purplish lineages as well as the Crown inherited from Oduduwa was preserved. The Olowu entrusted the Owu Crown to a warrior, exactly referred to equally Akogun (Owu's foremost documented Akogun warrior. Akogun is a championship similar to an the world forces Defense Chief), Ijaola as well as a few of the king's closest aides. When the siege on Erunmu began, Akogun was assigned to the warfront with the promise that he could plough the tides of state of war spell Ijaola was sent on a mandatory purplish assignment to Ibadan with a message for Maye, an Ibadan warlord. Before these 2 Crown trustees left to ship out their respective orders, they had to entrust Oni (a skilled as well as specialized trader as well as farmer, as well as also the older stepbrother of Ijaola) with safeguarding of the Crown. Oni as well as other men entrusted with the Crown mingled with the refugees that eventually settled inward Abeokuta. These men had strict instructions non to discover the whereabout of the Crown inward the absence of the Akogun as well as Ijaola, unless they received intelligence of their death.
The Administration of Abeokuta
It is to live understood foremost as well as foremost that the Administration of Abeokuta is based on strict historical factors which clearly spells out areas of authorisation of each of the foremost 4 kings inward Abeokuta, viz, Olowu,Agura, Osile as well as Alake. The largest component of the solid reason of Ibadan through Bakatari, Odeda, Osiele to the eastern component of the old Igbo Egba is occupied generally yesteryear Gbagura. Some of the Gbagura solid reason which voluntarily declared their allegiance to the Alafin included Awe, Kojoku, Agerige, Aran, Fiditi, Abena, Akinmorin, Doba as well as Oroko. If today all these were to live added, Gbagura would live the largest Egba land. Agura is the primal manly somebody monarch over these traditionally Gbagura land.
Egba Oke Ona owns the solid reason that spreads due north of Ona River as well as ran along the E fringes of Remoland as well as through Siun/Owode to Abeokuta.
The Egba wood which spreads from the southern component of Oyo through component of Oke Ogun downwardly to the acquaint Abeokuta ends at Oko Adagba as well as includes such independent towns equally Ake, Ijeun, Oba, Igbein, Ijemo, Itoku, Imo, Emere, Kemta, Iro, Igbo, Erunwon, Itesi, Ikopa, Iporo as well as many other towns. Most all of them as well as their villages have got zeroed-in inward Abeokuta. The foremost Alake was installed inward Abeokuta inward August 1854. Today, in that location are x of them: -
(1) Okukenu 1854- 1862
(2) Ademola I 1869 -1877
(3) Oyekan 1879 -1881
(4) Luwaji 1885 -1888
(5) Sokalu 1891 -1898
(6) Gbadebo I 1898 -1920
(7) Ademola II 1920 -1962
(8) Gbadebo II 1963 -1971
(9) Lipede 1971- 2005
(10) Okukenu (IV) 2005
OWU ADMINISTRATION IN ABEOKUTA
(1) Pawu Apr 1855 -1867
(2) Adefowote 1867 -1872
(3) Aderinoye 1873 -1890
(4) Adepegba 1893 -1905
(5) Owokokade 1906 -1918
(6) DosunmuI 1918 -1924
(7) Adesina 1924 -1936
(8) Gbogboade 1938 -1946
(9) Ajibola 1949 -1972
(10) Oyegbade 1975 -1980
(11) Oyelekan 1987 -1987
(12) Odeleye 1993 -2003
(13) DosunmuII 2005
Paramount Ruler of OwuKingdom, HRM. Oba Dr. Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu. His palace is situated inward the pump of the stone urban center of Abeokuta, Ogun State, as well as indeed the Olowu of Owu, (HRM) Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu, Amororo 2, Akobi Odua is a foremost shape monarch as well as the Paramount Ruler of Owu Kingdom all over the world.
Olowu Council
seven groups constitute the Cabinet of the Olowu who is the paramount Ruler of Owu Kingdom. Listed below with the Olowu equally Chairman constitute The Supreme Cabinet of the Olowu of Owu, which is at nowadays known equally “OLOWU-IN-COUNCIL :" The trace of authorisation 1. Balogun 2. Olori Igbimo 3. Olori Omo-Oba 4. Olori Parakoyi 5. Oluroko of Erunmu 6. Balogun Apomu 7. Iyalode."
Owu is ruled yesteryear Princes selected from half dozen ruling houses: Amororo, Otileta, Ayoloye, Akinjobi, Akinoso as well as Lagbedu. These kings are assisted yesteryear a meat of chiefs known equally Ogboni as well as Ologun. This meat of chiefs is headed yesteryear the Balogun who has nether him Otun, Osi, Seriki, Aare Ago as well as Jagunna. Ogboni has equally their head, the Akogun, Obamaja, Orunto, Oyega, Osupori as well as Omolasin. Olosi is the Ifa priest of the Olowu. Originally, Owu has 3 townships namely Owu, Erunmu as well as Apomu."
In the reign of Oba Odeleye (1993-2003) the publish of Owu townships expanded to 22 as well as this eased the direction for Owu tremendously. By tradition, Olowus were selected yesteryear half dozen kingmakers, but 2 to a greater extent than chieftaincies were added inward 1964 including Balogun as well as Olosi.
Alakosos who at nowadays help the Oba in
Interregnum
In 1855, the Owus crowned OBA Pawu equally the foremost manly somebody monarch Olowu of Owu of the Owus at Oke Ago-Owu, Abeokuta. Notably, in that location was a 21 twelvemonth interregnum betwixt the settlement of the Owu sojourners inward Abeokuta as well as the crowning of Pawu equally the foremost Olowu inward Abeokuta. See yesteryear as well as acquaint Olowu of Owu inward Abeokuta. He reigned for 12 years.
The argue for the interregnum may live attributed to the deterioration of the socio-cultural bond that became evident during the journeying betwixt Orile Owu as well as Abeokuta. Hardship had made these Owu families insensitive to each other's welfare. The worst affected were the people of Erunmu because they were fewer. As a resultant of their minority status they were marginalized yesteryear other Owu indigenes. Oni the keeper of the Crown was convinced that if he revealed the Crown to a people who had grown insensitive to the needs of their brothers, he would allow despotic dominion to concur sway over the townships of Owu, Erunmu as well as Apomu (the Owu kingdom inward Abeokuta). Over the years, Akogun (the highly ranked soldier) arrived inward Abeokuta, but he could neither locate Ijaola nor Ijaola's stepbrother, Oni. Also, unknown to the Olowu as well as Oluroko, Ijaola returned to Erunmu but had to shroud on a farm settlement to escape capture. He subsequently settled inward Iwo town where in that location was a community of Owu refugees as well as began to merchandise inward commodities as well as prisoners of wars. It was inward the course of study of this merchandise that he re-connected with his stepbrother through some other itinerant Owu merchant who was based inward Abeokuta. Eventually, all arrangements were made for Ijaola to migrate to Abeokuta where he re-settled the people of Erunmu inward Ita Erunmu (now called Totoro, after a tree). After Ijaola, Akogun as well as Oni consulted with each other, revealed the crown of Oduduwa 21 years after the Owu people foremost settled inward Abeokuta.
Owu tribe man, Dr. Wale Babalakin (Born Bolanle Olawale Babalakin) is a Nigerian homo of affairs as well as a Lawyer. He is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) as well as a recipient of the Nigerian national accolade of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR)[2] inward 2007.
Owu Tribal Mark
The larger Yoruba ethnic grouping are historically known to have got used as well as soundless usage facial tribal marks to distinguish 1 fellow member of 1 sub-Yoruba tribe from other. It is said that Owus used a unique traditional facial score called "Keke Olowu" to distinguish them from other tribal groups, especially when on state of war expeditions. The Keke or Gombo consists of 4 or 5 perpendicular as well as horizontal lines placed angularly on each cheek ; they occupy the whole infinite betwixt the auricle as well as the cheek os ; 3 little perpendiculars are also placed on the horizontal lines on both cheeks The Keke-Olowu, an Owu variation of these is similar the Keke or Gombo with the lines discrete or interrupted as well as links each ear with the side of the cheeks. It was mutual prior to the subsequently adoption of the agbaja-olowu.
Abaja Olowu: The Abaja are sets of 3 or 4 parallel as well as horizontal lines on each cheek ; they may live unmarried or double, each trace existence from half-an-inch to 1 inch long. The Abaja-Olowu inward distinction from other abajas has 3 perpendicular etchings plumbing equipment neatly higher upwardly 3 horizontal ones as well as are rattling sparse as well as narrow inward contradistinction from the rattling bold ones worn yesteryear other tribes. This is farther accentuated with an additional 3 little horizontal etchings on the brow called ‘keeta’.
Furthermore, members of the purplish families would have got an additional 6 markings on the forearm with a farther 3 below the navel.
HRH Olowu of Owu as well as Jimi Agbaje
Owu Day Festival (Odun Omo Olowu)
The original run of celebrating Omo Olowu festival is to give thank y'all to Olodumare (Almighty God) for supplying all needs. The annual Owu Day festival tradition started inward 1999 as well as has attracted participation yesteryear several Owu indigenes as well as people from all over the world. On Oct 9, 2010, the Olowu of Owu Oba Dosunmu publicly declared the minute weekend of the calendar month of Oct equally Owu's world celebration of the goodness of the Almighty God. This proclamation was made to usher inward the novel Omo Olowu festival which is to henceforth supercede the previous Owu Day Festival which incidentally had its tenth as well as finally outing finally twelvemonth on the tenth hateful solar daytime of the tenth month! The debuting Omo Olowu festival (reported inward owulakoda.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/omo-olowu-festival-kicks-off) also incorporated the ancient traditional New Yam Festival which was dramatically staged yesteryear the Olowu himself, much to the delight, admiration as well as applause of the attendant crowd as well as dignitaries! The 2010 festival was attended yesteryear Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse II, onetime President of Nigeria, Balogun of Owu Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiedome, onetime Governor as well as Field Commander of ECOMOG, Rtd General Tunji Olurin.
Balogun Akin-Olugbade – Owu political as well as industrial prototype who was the principal whip of Action Group, & succeeded Awolowo equally the leader of the opposition inward Nigeria’s foremost Parliament. He built a infirmary & social centre for the people of Abeokuta as well as was the Aare-Ona Kakanfo before his elevation to Balogun of Owu.
Source:http://www.anistor.gr/english/enback/2013_3s_Anistoriton.pdf
http://owulakoda.me/history-and-migrations/
The Owu War
The kingdom existence at nowadays inward a disorganized status each tribal unit constituted itself an independent state. The Ifes inward the east, and the Ijebus inward the S formed an alliance against the Owus to the south-west of the onetime as well as due north W of the latter.
The Owus (although at nowadays domiciled with the Egbas) are a identify unit of measurement quite distinct from. Egbas or Oyos. Hardihood, stubbornness, immorality, as well as haughtiness are marked traits inward their character, so much so that it has passed into a saying " H5N1 bi omg I'owu, o ni ako tabi abo ni, ewo ni jdo se omg nibe ? " (a fry is born at Owu, as well as y'all inquire manly somebody or woman somebody : which volition live a proper fry ?) Either gender activity when roused yesteryear passion would sooner pop off than non have got dire revenge. Their manners were totally dissimilar from those of the Oyos, but from the days of Sango they have got been rattling loyal to the Alafin of Oyo.
As warriors, the Owus were hardy, brave, as well as courageous, they had no guns, their weapons consisting of the Agedengbe (a long heavy cutlass) with bows as well as arrows. Coming to unopen quarters with cutlass inward manus was the mode of fighting characteristic of these brave people.
The sweat of the state of war betwixt these 3 families was this : —
We have got already stated higher upwardly that during the reign of King Abiodun, limited orders were sent from Oyo to the Ooni of Ife, as well as the Olowu to forestall Oyos existence kidnapped as well as sold at Apomu, the bang-up marketplace seat town where the interior as well as the coast people met for trade. Now, since the get-go of the revolution, as well as the disorganized province of the kingdom, the do was revived. The rebellion has rendered the Central Authority powerless, but in that location were soundless some men of considerable powerfulness as well as influence inward the land, such equally Adegun the Onikoyi who was the premier provincial king, Toyejg theBal§ of Ogbomoso the Kakanfo, as well as Edun of Gbogun.
H5N1 message similar to that sent yesteryear King Abiodun was at nowadays sent yesteryear the Onikoyi as well as the Kakanfo conjointly to the Olowu, as well as he inward carrying out his orders had to chastise several towns ; hence Ikoyi Igbo, Apomu, Ikire, Irkn, He Olup^mi, Itahakun, Iseyin Odo, Iwata, Akinboto, Gbkngan, Isope, Iwara, as well as Jagun, were
destroyed yesteryear war, all inward Ife territory.
The Ooni of Ife was highly incensed at this as well as declared state of war against Owu. The ascendancy of the state of war was entrusted into the hands of his commander-in-chief Singunsin. Other war-chiefs associated with him were : — Okansk, Gbogbo Olu, Wasin, Alodeloko, etc. Their foremost encampment was at a identify called Dariagbon a farm hamlet of 1 O1upona, adjacent at Sifirin at the confluence of the Osun as well as Ohk rivers.
The Ifes idea they would brand an slow conquest of Owu for they themselves are a brave people, as well as hence this state of war vocal inward their peculiar dialect : —
E maha ja (a) gba, Let us cutting ropes,
Igbekun la mu a di Our captives to bind.
If a Olowu The Olowu's If a (god of palm nut)
Ewa la mu a se With our corn we'll cook.
The Owns received the intelligence that state of war was declared against them with bang-up indignation. They considered themselves the powerfulness inward these southern regions, as well as what infatuation has led the Ifes to this presumption ? With 1 consent they at in 1 trial marched out to encounter them at this bang-up distance. The appointment was a
manus to manus fighting inward which the Ifes were completely routed ; their the world forces was all but totally annihilated, solely virtually 200 escaped to tell the tale of their dire misfortune !
The King of Iwo, inward whose territory this disaster took identify did non acknowledge the survivors into his town for fearfulness of incurring the displeasure of his formidable neighbours the Owus, whom he dreaded ar;d of whom he was jealous, but he so far sympathized with them that he advised that they should non undergo the humiliation of returning home, as well as he allowed them to rendezvous inward a identify called Adunbieiye for the run of recruiting their the world forces as well as to sweat some other chance, secretly hoping that fortune may favour them adjacent time, as well as existence sick at ease with such a formidable neighbor equally the Owus.
This little the world forces remained inward this identify for virtually 5 years, unable to homecoming habitation from shame, as well as yet could non obtain re-inforcement adequate for the bang-up enterprise.
Just equally this crisis the Owus as well as the Ijebu traders had a serious complication at the Apomu market. The dispute arose from the sale of alligator pepper, as well as it resulted inward the rash expedition against Apomu yesteryear the haughty Owus ; the town was destroyed, as well as many Ijebu traders as well as residents lost their lives or their all.
Historically, Owu percentage inward the Federal Republic of Nigeria is bounded inward the S yesteryear Ijebu-Igbo inward Ogun State; inward the E yesteryear Ife South Local Government Area; inward the due north yesteryear Gbongan – 1 of the prominent towns inward Osun State as well as inward the W yesteryear Irewole/Isokan Local Government Area. Ago-Owu inward Abeokuta is where the Owus are generally concentrated, all the same large Owu settlements are found throughout the Yoruba kingdom. The Yoruba kingdom extends beyond the boundaries of Nigeria into the Republic of Benin.
Orile-Owu inward the yesteryear was an ancient wood kingdom which is believed to live the foremost settlement exterior Ile-Ife, the popularly acclaimed traditional homeland of the Yoruba people. Several notions virtually this ancient kingdom regarding its status equally the cradle of all other Owu communities have got led to some generated heated controversies.
Among the diverse Yoruba sub-ethnic groups such as Oyo, Egba, Ife, Ijebu, Ijesha, Awori, Remo, Igbomina, Ondo, Ekiti as well as others, Owu people are rattling pop especially when 1 count the state of war years of the larger Oyo Kingdom. Within the said percentage of old Oyo, Owu was rattling prominent as well as fifty-fifty ruled the waves. Owu collected tribute from the Bariba, the Borgu as well as had ruled over old Oyo until the reign of Sango. All this happened because they (Owu) also settled inside that rattling region. (See Johnson’s “History of the Yorubas” p.149). Their presence inward that percentage was indisputably powerful. Owu fought side yesteryear side with Egba inward the Makun as well as other wars against Ado Odo as well as Dahomey inward 1842-45. Owu contingents fought as well as routed Awori at Itori, Yobo, Ifo, Atan, Ota as well as also occupied those places till today. In his address to Owu people during the eighth Owu Day celebrations inward 2007, the Olowu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu maintained that "Owu people had fought wars, won battles as well as settled inward rattling many places betwixt the Niger river as well as the body of body of water (Owus inward Lagos State; Epe, etc.), yet their main flow had settled with the Egbas inward Abeokuta BUT, THEY ARE NOT EGBAS, neither are they lJEBUS. (See Johnson’s “History of the Yorubas, p.18). Owu settlements inward Ijebu as well as Abeokuta were non equally a resultant of direct battles or victory over them, but generally on friendly terms."
One of the distinctive socio-political divergence betwixt Owus as well as other Yoruba sub-tribes is that the Owus do non have got an Oluwo (Ogboni Head Chief) as well as do non concur Ogboni assemblies. On the contrary, the Owu palace has its ain civilization of opened upwardly deliberation where whatsoever Owu somebody tin participate. That is why people refer to the Owus equally “Owu a gbooro gbimo” pregnant "Owu the deliberative group".
Owu settlements are found throughout the Yoruba Kingdom, all of which have got historical as well as cultural affinity to the homeland – that is Orile-Owu. In the Yoruba language, “Orile” agency an ancestral habitation or settlement spell the give-and-take “Owu” is derived from a cotton wool flora belonging to the genus Gossypium. This flora is called owu yesteryear the Yoruba. Therefore, “Orile-Owu” agency the original settlement or site of the Owu people. The early on settlers of this kingdom planted as well as traded inward cotton. Hence, this identify was called “Igbo Owu” i.e Cotton Forest.
Mathew Arema Okikiola Olusegun Obasanjo, Owu tribe homo and Retired Army General who hails from the Olusanmi chemical compound inward Sokori, Owu Abeokuta is the solely 3 term as well as longest inward role Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He revamped the Owu National Movement at nowadays called RUOP which was originally founded yesteryear Balogun Akin Olugbade, his predecessor inward the role of Balogun Owu Abeokuta. H5N1 1 fourth dimension leader of the Eminent Personalities grouping as well as challenger for the send service of Secretary General of the United Nations. He is the electrical flow Balogun Owu.
There are a lot of abandoned historical as well as cultural heritage resources inward Orile-Owu. This attests to the heritage of the Owu people equally a bang-up kingdom inward the past. Moreover, for several years that the ancient town has been inward existence, settlement features such equally ditches as well as embankments, reject mounds, historic buildings, as well as pottery scatters inside the ancient town (site) are yet to live fully understood especially inside the context of how they reverberate the antiquity of the settlement on 1 hand, as well as how they stand upwardly a goodness remove chances to investigating the connection betwixt the homeland as well as outlier Owu settlements inward the Yoruba region, on the other hand.
Owu people of Abeokuta
Geography as well as Climate
Owu is inside latitude 7°10’ as well as 7°15’N as well as longitude 4°25’E. This percentage is bounded inward the S yesteryear Ijebu-Igbo inward Ogun State; inward the E yesteryear Ife South Local Government Area; inward the due north yesteryear Gbongan – 1 of the prominent towns inward Osun State as well as inward the W yesteryear Irewole/Isokan Local Government Area. The study expanse is situated inward the tropics, where the Sun is overhead almost every hateful solar daytime of the year. The annual temperature is virtually 28°C. Rainfall is heavy, averaging 1300mm per annum reaching its peak betwixt Apr as well as belatedly September. Orile-Owu is sunny throughout the year. The relative humidity coincides with months with depression rainfall – Dec to March (Adejobi 1997; Adejuwon 1974, Ogundele as well as Ebonine, 2010).In price of accessibility, Orile-Owu is virtually 46km from Ibadan. There is a well- tarred motorable route from Ibadan to Orile-Owu as well as inside the town are brusk footpaths, which brand Orile-Owu rattling accessible.
Abeokuta
The vegetation type inward this expanse is a secondary forest. The vegetation has been greatly impacted yesteryear growth inward human population as well as activities. Orile-Owu was an ancient wood kingdom with varieties of flora species. The predominant plants that be inward this locality comprise of tree species such equally fossil oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), iroko (Milicia excela), mahogany (Entadrophragma cylindricum), arere (Triplocyton scleroxylon), as well as teak (Tectona grandis). The expanse is good drained yesteryear rivers as well as streams including the Obalufon, Omu, Ope, Oranran, Osun as well as Shasha rivers. The availability of these rivers as well as streams has some positive impact on local agriculture as well as other livelihood including palm fossil oil production (Ogundele as well as Ebonine, 2010). The soil is fertile thereby allowing the tillage of diverse cash as well as subsistence crops. The availability of the essential natural resources at the site made it a suitable identify for the ancient population to settle.
Chief Gbenga Daniel, Ota tribe homo and Former Governor of Ogun State as well as Aare Ajibosin of Owu Kingdom with his wife. His woman parent was Owu from Omu Ijebu.
Language
Owu people talk North-West Yoruba (NWY) dialect of Yoruboid languages which belongs to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication phylum. Apart from Owu people, the other areas that talk North-West Yoruba dialects include Abẹokuta, Ibadan, Ọyọ, Ogun as well as Lagos (Eko) areas.
Ogogo kulodo masquerade from Ota Awori inward Ogun State
History
According to written sources, the institution or founding of Owu Ipole (as Orile-Owu was formerly referred to) was shortly after the settlement of Oduduwa inward Ile – Ife, hence they said “Owu Lakoda” pregnant Owu was the foremost to live founded after Ile – Ife is a pop saying with the Yoruba (Mabogunje,1997). It is believed from oral tradition that the Owu occupied an expanse straight along as well as below Niger River inward the acquaint solid reason of Nigeria. Orile-Owu subsequently expanded as well as became a rattling pop as well as powerful Yoruba settlement, which eventually attained the status of a kingdom of bang-up repute. It became a forcefulness to live reckoned with inside Yoruba land, especially betwixt the belatedly 18th as well as early on 19th centuries.
By the minute decade of the 19th century, Orile-Owu began to wane downwardly equally a resultant of nutrient shortage, war, as well as consequently, insecurity of lives as well as properties resulting from slave raiding. Thus the settlers had to become inward search of improve economical opportunities, equally this was of import inward ensuring their survival. The Owus hence abandoned their heavily fortified urban center as well as escaped southwest inward groups for security inward the human face upwardly of heavy external aggression (Chief Olalere per comm., 2011).The devastation of the heavily fortified urban center was caused yesteryear the belatedly 19th century intra-sub-ethnic wars. This devastation had its consequences on the people as well as it is believed to live the argue behind their broad dispersal all over the country. Owu settlements are found today inward most Yoruba communities including Abeokuta as well as Lagos, as well as equally far afield equally Igbomina solid reason inward Kwara State of Nigeria. The collapse of Old Oyo (in the northern component of Yoruba land), a powerful working capital missive of the alphabet of the Oyo empire inward the early on 19th century, coupled with the finally can of Orile-Owu inward 1825 was instrumental to the demographic changes inward southern Yoruba solid reason (Ogundele as well as Babalola, 2007:60; Ogundele as well as Ebonine: 2010).
Pa Taiwo Michael Akinkunmi, Owu tribe homo as well as designer of Nigeria`s National Flag
Ijebu as well as Ife state of war against Owu
In 1821–26, the armies of both Ijebu as well as the Ife attacked as well as devastated Owu Ipole. The Owus abandoned their heavily fortified urban center as well as escaped southwestward inward groups toward Ibadan inward virtually 1826. From these outskirts, they marched on as well as across Ogun River as well as finally arrived at Oke Ata close Abeokuta where Sodeke, an Egba authoritative leader, persuaded the gallant Owus to settle inward Abeokuta virtually 1834. It is of import to province that the acquaint Orile Owu is the same identify equally Owu Ipole where the Owus from Iwo as well as other places resettled inward the early on 20th century. The people of Erunmu (founded yesteryear the older blood brother of an before Olowu from the Amororo Ruling House) were ever loyal to the course of study of Owu Kingdom. During the Owu war, the Olowu was carried on his dorsum (to disguise his escape) from Orile Owu (Owu Ipole) to Orile Erunmu, guarded yesteryear a combined squad of his purplish guards as well as Oba Erunmu's purplish guards. After Orile Owu was devastated, the remaining Owu the world forces retreated to defend Orile Erunmu against the allied the world forces of Ijebu as well as Ife.
Ota as well as Ado-Odo
Owu was a major element inward the 1842-45 state of war against Ota as well as Ado Odo. It is interesting to banking company complaint that halfway through the war, Sodeke devised a way for the Egba contingent led yesteryear Ayikondu to desert the warfront (see Ajisafe, Iwe Itan Abeokuta, p.73), employing the services of his friend (the enemy), Gezo, the Dahonean state of war leader. As an Awori Ota King, declared inward 1935, the determination of the state of war of Otal Ado Odo was led yesteryear Gbalefa, the Owu General as well as his Owu contingents as well as that is how Owu people non solely conquered but occupy the at nowadays Gbalefa Peninsular.
Safeguarding the Crown
Before Orile Erunmu was also devastated as well as razed to the ground, The Olowu as well as The Oluroko of Erunmu devised strategies to ensure that the purplish lineages as well as the Crown inherited from Oduduwa was preserved. The Olowu entrusted the Owu Crown to a warrior, exactly referred to equally Akogun (Owu's foremost documented Akogun warrior. Akogun is a championship similar to an the world forces Defense Chief), Ijaola as well as a few of the king's closest aides. When the siege on Erunmu began, Akogun was assigned to the warfront with the promise that he could plough the tides of state of war spell Ijaola was sent on a mandatory purplish assignment to Ibadan with a message for Maye, an Ibadan warlord. Before these 2 Crown trustees left to ship out their respective orders, they had to entrust Oni (a skilled as well as specialized trader as well as farmer, as well as also the older stepbrother of Ijaola) with safeguarding of the Crown. Oni as well as other men entrusted with the Crown mingled with the refugees that eventually settled inward Abeokuta. These men had strict instructions non to discover the whereabout of the Crown inward the absence of the Akogun as well as Ijaola, unless they received intelligence of their death.
The Administration of Abeokuta
It is to live understood foremost as well as foremost that the Administration of Abeokuta is based on strict historical factors which clearly spells out areas of authorisation of each of the foremost 4 kings inward Abeokuta, viz, Olowu,Agura, Osile as well as Alake. The largest component of the solid reason of Ibadan through Bakatari, Odeda, Osiele to the eastern component of the old Igbo Egba is occupied generally yesteryear Gbagura. Some of the Gbagura solid reason which voluntarily declared their allegiance to the Alafin included Awe, Kojoku, Agerige, Aran, Fiditi, Abena, Akinmorin, Doba as well as Oroko. If today all these were to live added, Gbagura would live the largest Egba land. Agura is the primal manly somebody monarch over these traditionally Gbagura land.
Egba Oke Ona owns the solid reason that spreads due north of Ona River as well as ran along the E fringes of Remoland as well as through Siun/Owode to Abeokuta.
The Egba wood which spreads from the southern component of Oyo through component of Oke Ogun downwardly to the acquaint Abeokuta ends at Oko Adagba as well as includes such independent towns equally Ake, Ijeun, Oba, Igbein, Ijemo, Itoku, Imo, Emere, Kemta, Iro, Igbo, Erunwon, Itesi, Ikopa, Iporo as well as many other towns. Most all of them as well as their villages have got zeroed-in inward Abeokuta. The foremost Alake was installed inward Abeokuta inward August 1854. Today, in that location are x of them: -
(1) Okukenu 1854- 1862
(2) Ademola I 1869 -1877
(3) Oyekan 1879 -1881
(4) Luwaji 1885 -1888
(5) Sokalu 1891 -1898
(6) Gbadebo I 1898 -1920
(7) Ademola II 1920 -1962
(8) Gbadebo II 1963 -1971
(9) Lipede 1971- 2005
(10) Okukenu (IV) 2005
OWU ADMINISTRATION IN ABEOKUTA
(1) Pawu Apr 1855 -1867
(2) Adefowote 1867 -1872
(3) Aderinoye 1873 -1890
(4) Adepegba 1893 -1905
(5) Owokokade 1906 -1918
(6) DosunmuI 1918 -1924
(7) Adesina 1924 -1936
(8) Gbogboade 1938 -1946
(9) Ajibola 1949 -1972
(10) Oyegbade 1975 -1980
(11) Oyelekan 1987 -1987
(12) Odeleye 1993 -2003
(13) DosunmuII 2005
Paramount Ruler of OwuKingdom, HRM. Oba Dr. Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu. His palace is situated inward the pump of the stone urban center of Abeokuta, Ogun State, as well as indeed the Olowu of Owu, (HRM) Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu, Amororo 2, Akobi Odua is a foremost shape monarch as well as the Paramount Ruler of Owu Kingdom all over the world.
Olowu Council
seven groups constitute the Cabinet of the Olowu who is the paramount Ruler of Owu Kingdom. Listed below with the Olowu equally Chairman constitute The Supreme Cabinet of the Olowu of Owu, which is at nowadays known equally “OLOWU-IN-COUNCIL :" The trace of authorisation 1. Balogun 2. Olori Igbimo 3. Olori Omo-Oba 4. Olori Parakoyi 5. Oluroko of Erunmu 6. Balogun Apomu 7. Iyalode."
Owu is ruled yesteryear Princes selected from half dozen ruling houses: Amororo, Otileta, Ayoloye, Akinjobi, Akinoso as well as Lagbedu. These kings are assisted yesteryear a meat of chiefs known equally Ogboni as well as Ologun. This meat of chiefs is headed yesteryear the Balogun who has nether him Otun, Osi, Seriki, Aare Ago as well as Jagunna. Ogboni has equally their head, the Akogun, Obamaja, Orunto, Oyega, Osupori as well as Omolasin. Olosi is the Ifa priest of the Olowu. Originally, Owu has 3 townships namely Owu, Erunmu as well as Apomu."
In the reign of Oba Odeleye (1993-2003) the publish of Owu townships expanded to 22 as well as this eased the direction for Owu tremendously. By tradition, Olowus were selected yesteryear half dozen kingmakers, but 2 to a greater extent than chieftaincies were added inward 1964 including Balogun as well as Olosi.
Alakosos who at nowadays help the Oba in
Interregnum
In 1855, the Owus crowned OBA Pawu equally the foremost manly somebody monarch Olowu of Owu of the Owus at Oke Ago-Owu, Abeokuta. Notably, in that location was a 21 twelvemonth interregnum betwixt the settlement of the Owu sojourners inward Abeokuta as well as the crowning of Pawu equally the foremost Olowu inward Abeokuta. See yesteryear as well as acquaint Olowu of Owu inward Abeokuta. He reigned for 12 years.
The argue for the interregnum may live attributed to the deterioration of the socio-cultural bond that became evident during the journeying betwixt Orile Owu as well as Abeokuta. Hardship had made these Owu families insensitive to each other's welfare. The worst affected were the people of Erunmu because they were fewer. As a resultant of their minority status they were marginalized yesteryear other Owu indigenes. Oni the keeper of the Crown was convinced that if he revealed the Crown to a people who had grown insensitive to the needs of their brothers, he would allow despotic dominion to concur sway over the townships of Owu, Erunmu as well as Apomu (the Owu kingdom inward Abeokuta). Over the years, Akogun (the highly ranked soldier) arrived inward Abeokuta, but he could neither locate Ijaola nor Ijaola's stepbrother, Oni. Also, unknown to the Olowu as well as Oluroko, Ijaola returned to Erunmu but had to shroud on a farm settlement to escape capture. He subsequently settled inward Iwo town where in that location was a community of Owu refugees as well as began to merchandise inward commodities as well as prisoners of wars. It was inward the course of study of this merchandise that he re-connected with his stepbrother through some other itinerant Owu merchant who was based inward Abeokuta. Eventually, all arrangements were made for Ijaola to migrate to Abeokuta where he re-settled the people of Erunmu inward Ita Erunmu (now called Totoro, after a tree). After Ijaola, Akogun as well as Oni consulted with each other, revealed the crown of Oduduwa 21 years after the Owu people foremost settled inward Abeokuta.
Owu tribe man, Dr. Wale Babalakin (Born Bolanle Olawale Babalakin) is a Nigerian homo of affairs as well as a Lawyer. He is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) as well as a recipient of the Nigerian national accolade of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR)[2] inward 2007.
Owu Tribal Mark
The larger Yoruba ethnic grouping are historically known to have got used as well as soundless usage facial tribal marks to distinguish 1 fellow member of 1 sub-Yoruba tribe from other. It is said that Owus used a unique traditional facial score called "Keke Olowu" to distinguish them from other tribal groups, especially when on state of war expeditions. The Keke or Gombo consists of 4 or 5 perpendicular as well as horizontal lines placed angularly on each cheek ; they occupy the whole infinite betwixt the auricle as well as the cheek os ; 3 little perpendiculars are also placed on the horizontal lines on both cheeks The Keke-Olowu, an Owu variation of these is similar the Keke or Gombo with the lines discrete or interrupted as well as links each ear with the side of the cheeks. It was mutual prior to the subsequently adoption of the agbaja-olowu.
Abaja Olowu: The Abaja are sets of 3 or 4 parallel as well as horizontal lines on each cheek ; they may live unmarried or double, each trace existence from half-an-inch to 1 inch long. The Abaja-Olowu inward distinction from other abajas has 3 perpendicular etchings plumbing equipment neatly higher upwardly 3 horizontal ones as well as are rattling sparse as well as narrow inward contradistinction from the rattling bold ones worn yesteryear other tribes. This is farther accentuated with an additional 3 little horizontal etchings on the brow called ‘keeta’.
Furthermore, members of the purplish families would have got an additional 6 markings on the forearm with a farther 3 below the navel.
HRH Olowu of Owu as well as Jimi Agbaje
Owu Day Festival (Odun Omo Olowu)
The original run of celebrating Omo Olowu festival is to give thank y'all to Olodumare (Almighty God) for supplying all needs. The annual Owu Day festival tradition started inward 1999 as well as has attracted participation yesteryear several Owu indigenes as well as people from all over the world. On Oct 9, 2010, the Olowu of Owu Oba Dosunmu publicly declared the minute weekend of the calendar month of Oct equally Owu's world celebration of the goodness of the Almighty God. This proclamation was made to usher inward the novel Omo Olowu festival which is to henceforth supercede the previous Owu Day Festival which incidentally had its tenth as well as finally outing finally twelvemonth on the tenth hateful solar daytime of the tenth month! The debuting Omo Olowu festival (reported inward owulakoda.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/omo-olowu-festival-kicks-off) also incorporated the ancient traditional New Yam Festival which was dramatically staged yesteryear the Olowu himself, much to the delight, admiration as well as applause of the attendant crowd as well as dignitaries! The 2010 festival was attended yesteryear Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse II, onetime President of Nigeria, Balogun of Owu Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiedome, onetime Governor as well as Field Commander of ECOMOG, Rtd General Tunji Olurin.
Source:http://www.anistor.gr/english/enback/2013_3s_Anistoriton.pdf
http://owulakoda.me/history-and-migrations/
The Owu War
The kingdom existence at nowadays inward a disorganized status each tribal unit constituted itself an independent state. The Ifes inward the east, and the Ijebus inward the S formed an alliance against the Owus to the south-west of the onetime as well as due north W of the latter.
The Owus (although at nowadays domiciled with the Egbas) are a identify unit of measurement quite distinct from. Egbas or Oyos. Hardihood, stubbornness, immorality, as well as haughtiness are marked traits inward their character, so much so that it has passed into a saying " H5N1 bi omg I'owu, o ni ako tabi abo ni, ewo ni jdo se omg nibe ? " (a fry is born at Owu, as well as y'all inquire manly somebody or woman somebody : which volition live a proper fry ?) Either gender activity when roused yesteryear passion would sooner pop off than non have got dire revenge. Their manners were totally dissimilar from those of the Oyos, but from the days of Sango they have got been rattling loyal to the Alafin of Oyo.
As warriors, the Owus were hardy, brave, as well as courageous, they had no guns, their weapons consisting of the Agedengbe (a long heavy cutlass) with bows as well as arrows. Coming to unopen quarters with cutlass inward manus was the mode of fighting characteristic of these brave people.
The sweat of the state of war betwixt these 3 families was this : —
We have got already stated higher upwardly that during the reign of King Abiodun, limited orders were sent from Oyo to the Ooni of Ife, as well as the Olowu to forestall Oyos existence kidnapped as well as sold at Apomu, the bang-up marketplace seat town where the interior as well as the coast people met for trade. Now, since the get-go of the revolution, as well as the disorganized province of the kingdom, the do was revived. The rebellion has rendered the Central Authority powerless, but in that location were soundless some men of considerable powerfulness as well as influence inward the land, such equally Adegun the Onikoyi who was the premier provincial king, Toyejg theBal§ of Ogbomoso the Kakanfo, as well as Edun of Gbogun.
H5N1 message similar to that sent yesteryear King Abiodun was at nowadays sent yesteryear the Onikoyi as well as the Kakanfo conjointly to the Olowu, as well as he inward carrying out his orders had to chastise several towns ; hence Ikoyi Igbo, Apomu, Ikire, Irkn, He Olup^mi, Itahakun, Iseyin Odo, Iwata, Akinboto, Gbkngan, Isope, Iwara, as well as Jagun, were
destroyed yesteryear war, all inward Ife territory.
The Ooni of Ife was highly incensed at this as well as declared state of war against Owu. The ascendancy of the state of war was entrusted into the hands of his commander-in-chief Singunsin. Other war-chiefs associated with him were : — Okansk, Gbogbo Olu, Wasin, Alodeloko, etc. Their foremost encampment was at a identify called Dariagbon a farm hamlet of 1 O1upona, adjacent at Sifirin at the confluence of the Osun as well as Ohk rivers.
The Ifes idea they would brand an slow conquest of Owu for they themselves are a brave people, as well as hence this state of war vocal inward their peculiar dialect : —
E maha ja (a) gba, Let us cutting ropes,
Igbekun la mu a di Our captives to bind.
If a Olowu The Olowu's If a (god of palm nut)
Ewa la mu a se With our corn we'll cook.
The Owns received the intelligence that state of war was declared against them with bang-up indignation. They considered themselves the powerfulness inward these southern regions, as well as what infatuation has led the Ifes to this presumption ? With 1 consent they at in 1 trial marched out to encounter them at this bang-up distance. The appointment was a
manus to manus fighting inward which the Ifes were completely routed ; their the world forces was all but totally annihilated, solely virtually 200 escaped to tell the tale of their dire misfortune !
The King of Iwo, inward whose territory this disaster took identify did non acknowledge the survivors into his town for fearfulness of incurring the displeasure of his formidable neighbours the Owus, whom he dreaded ar;d of whom he was jealous, but he so far sympathized with them that he advised that they should non undergo the humiliation of returning home, as well as he allowed them to rendezvous inward a identify called Adunbieiye for the run of recruiting their the world forces as well as to sweat some other chance, secretly hoping that fortune may favour them adjacent time, as well as existence sick at ease with such a formidable neighbor equally the Owus.
This little the world forces remained inward this identify for virtually 5 years, unable to homecoming habitation from shame, as well as yet could non obtain re-inforcement adequate for the bang-up enterprise.
Just equally this crisis the Owus as well as the Ijebu traders had a serious complication at the Apomu market. The dispute arose from the sale of alligator pepper, as well as it resulted inward the rash expedition against Apomu yesteryear the haughty Owus ; the town was destroyed, as well as many Ijebu traders as well as residents lost their lives or their all.
The manly somebody monarch of Iwo thereupon advised the Ifes to shape an alliance with the Ijebus, who, similar them, have got at nowadays a grievance against Owu. When this was done, the lies at habitation were at nowadays willing to re-inforce their wrecked the world forces for a conjoint onset upon Owu. The Ijebus at nowadays declared state of war against Owu, as well as crossing the Osun river, encamped at the farm of 1 Oso.
The Ijebus were improve armed than either their allies or their foes, as well as indeed, than whatsoever of the interior tribes, for, existence nearest to the coast, they had the payoff of obtaining guns as well as gun- pulverization from Europeans inward central for slaves. They were remarkable marksmen. The older men with their cloths tied circular their waists, as well as the ends left flowing behind, constituted the regular fighting column : existence too old pr too heavy to run away, they were obliged to live courageous.
The Owns were mad with rage at the receipt of the intelligence that anyone, such equally the Ijebus, had presumed to declare state of war against them who (as they considered themselves) were the foremost powerfulness inward these parts (southern Yoruba). They rushed out to cheque the progress of the Ijebus equally they did that of the Ifes, as well as attacked them furiously cutlass inward hand. But they were compelled to autumn dorsum from the steady burn of the Ijebus which did bang-up havoc with them. Summoning courage, the Owns offered some other obstinate battle, but they were in 1 trial to a greater extent than repulsed with a heavy slaughter, having lost inward the foremost as well as minute engagements virtually xl of their leaders. This was the foremost cheque to their pride.
They rallied, however, as well as retreated to a brusk distance, as well as so in 1 trial to a greater extent than ventured upon some other attack, the Ijebus advancing equally they were retreating : they finally met, as well as in 1 trial to a greater extent than fortune was against the Owus, as well as they fled precipitately to fortify their urban center against the expected siege.
The Ijebus with their allies the Ifes encamped to the W of the urban center of Owu, nether a large tree called the Ogilngun, E of the town of Oje. We may hither remark that although the Egba towns of Of a as well as Oje were virtually a mile as well as 2 miles respectively from Owu, yet so bitter was the animosity betwixt them that non solely did these towns reject their assistance to Owu, but rather rejoiced at its misfortunes !
The Owus fought with their accustomed bravery, as well as inward 1 furious assault, routed the allies, as well as pursued them to Oje, Ofa, as well as Ibadan. The foremost 2 places were deserted inward the full general confusion as well as panic, as well as all sought refuge at Ibadan. Here the allies received reinforcements from the Egbas, as well as from the Oyo refugees from the due north whose homes had been devastated yesteryear the Fulanis as well as who were at nowadays scattered virtually the provinces homeless, as well as without occupation. Glad to detect some trouble inward arms, these refugees flocked to the criterion of the allies inward numbers ; as well as thus strengthened, the state of war was renewed. The siege lasted virtually 5 years (usually reckoned equally 7). The urban center was obstinately defended yesteryear the brave inhabitants from the walls, as well as from the forts built on the walls of the city. One Skkulk was an practiced sudden shooter who was never known to immature adult woman his aim ; he contributed much to the defence forcefulness of the town. But he was at the same fourth dimension a good-natured man, sort as well as merciful to his enemies. Whenever he saw a fellow hazarding his life too unopen to the forts inward companionship to demo valour, pitying his youth, he used to hail at him from the fort, as well as warn him equally follows : — " I give y'all your life for to-day, but do non venture hither to-morrow or y'all shall die." And he was alw^ays equally goodness equally his word. Thus Sakulk defended the urban center heroically as well as killed many a valiant warrior.
At last, the allies held a council of war, as well as were determined to larn rid of S^kulk on the adjacent day. The Ijebus, who had guns were the foremost, as well as the whole the world forces directed their burn as well as showers of darts at the fort where S^kiila was fighting, all kept shooting at that 1 spot, until they saw Skkiilk fall, suspending
from the fort !
Owu was at nowadays deprived of her bravest defender, as well as famine also began its fatal piece of work inside its walls. It was at this fourth dimension the Owns began for the foremost fourth dimension to consume those large beans called popondo (or awuje) hitherto considered unfit for nutrient ; hence the taunting songs of the allies : —
Popondo I'ara Owu nje. The Owus at nowadays alive on propondo,
Aje f'ajaga bo 'run. That done, their necks for the yoke.
Unto this day, whoever would hum this ditty inside the hearing of an Owu man, must expression out for an accident to his ain person. For all the famine within, the besiegers could neither scale the walls, nor forcefulness the gates open, until Akinjobi the Olowu opened a gate, as well as escaped to Erunmu, 1 of the principal towns inward his
territory. The principal of this identify was 1 Oluroko who was nearly related to the Ow6ni of Ife. Oluroko protected his over- lord. The allies pursued the Olowu to this place, but Oluroko when called upon to answer for his conduct, submitted himself, as well as asked for pardon, showing that he could non have got acted
otherwise as well as live blameless. ^ The allies saw with him, as well as pardon was accordingly granted him.
Ikija was the solely Egba town which befriended the urban center of Owu inward her straits hence after the autumn of the latter town, the combined armies went to punish her for supplying Owu with provisions during the siege. Being a much smaller town, they presently made brusk piece of work of it. After the devastation of Ikija,^ the allies returned to their onetime campsite at Idi Ogungun (under the Ogiingun tree) .
"Owu was thenceforth placed nether an interdict, never to live rebuilt ; as well as it was resolved that inward future, all the same bang-up powerfulness live the population of Oje — the nearest town to it — the town walls should non extend equally far equally the Ogungun tree, where the campsite was pitched. Consequently to this day, although the solid reason may live cultivated yet no 1 is allowed to construct a business solid on it.
[In the twelvemonth 1873 Akinyemi 1 of the sons of 1 Bolade of Ibadan happened to construct a substantial farm business solid at Owu. Latosisk so the Kakanfo at Ibadan ordered it to live pulled downwardly immediately, as well as Akinyemi was fined besides].
After the autumn of Owu as well as Ikija, the the world forces was non disbanded, but the commanders of the Ife as well as of the Ijebu armies returned habitation to give an concern human relationship of the state of war to their respective masters, but the remnants soundless inward the campsite were continually swelled yesteryear recruits from Oyo refugees whom the Fulanis had rendered homeless.
After a fourth dimension the Ijebus inward the campsite invited the allies habitation to their solid reason equally friends ; so they broke upwardly the campsite at " Idi Ogungun " as well as withdrew to Ipara inward the south.
It should live noted that the Owu state of war marked a definite menses inward Yoruba history. It was hither for the foremost fourth dimension gunpowder was used inward state of war inward this country, as well as it was followed yesteryear the devastation of the Egba townships as well as the foundation of modern Abeokuta as well as Ibadan, to live related inward due course.
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