Info For Yous Ekiti People: Culturally Homogeneous In Addition To Hilly Intellectual Yoruba Sub-Group From The Metropolis Of Rock
The Ekiti people are aboriginal, culturally homogeneous together with highly intellectual agriculturalist Yoruboid-speaking people that forms a sub-group of the larger Yoruba ethnic grouping of West Africa, specially inwards Nigeria together with some component division of Benin. Ekiti people who are well-known for their various together with lineament of traditional arts, music, verse together with witty sayings are reside predominantly inwards the Ekiti State inwards Western Nigeria. The Ekiti constitutes i of the largest Yoruba sub-group inwards Nigeria with the 2006 population census yesteryear the National Population Commission putting the population of Ekiti State at 2,384,212 people.
Ekiti State lies due south of Kwara together with Kogi State, East of Osun State together with bounded yesteryear Ondo State inwards the East together with inwards the south. It was declared a province on Oct 1, 1996 amongst 5 others yesteryear the armed forces nether the dictatorship of General Sani Abacha. The state, carved out of the territory of old Ondo State, covers the former twelve local authorities areas that made upwardly the Ekiti Zone of old Ondo State. On creation, it took off with xvi (16) Local Government Areas (LGAs), having had an additional 4 carved out of the old ones. Ekiti State is i of the thirty-six states (Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria)) that constitute Nigeria. The upper-case missive of the alphabet of Ekiti State is Ado-Ekiti. The people of Ekiti State alive mainly inwards towns, similar most Yoruba. There are non less than 120 towns inwards Ekiti state. One of import aspect of the Ekiti towns is the mutual suffix "Ekiti" attached to their names. Some of the towns include Ado, the province upper-case missive of the alphabet becomes Ado-Ekiti, Aramoko, Ayedun, Efon Alaaye, it Emure, Ido, lgede, lgogo, ljero, ljesalsu, Ikere, Ikole, Ikoro, llawe, llupeju, Ire, lse, lye, Ode, Omuo, Otun together with Oye.
Historically, the Ekitis are amongst the aboriginal elements of the Nigeria absorbed yesteryear the invaders from the East (Yoruba people from Ile Ife). "The term Ekiti denotes a "Mound", together with is derived from the rugged mountainous characteristic of the country. It is an extensive province together with good watered, including several tribes together with families correct on to the border of the Niger, eastward. They handgrip themselves quite distinct from the Ijesas, especially inwards political affairs." (Samuel Johnson, The History of the Yoruba, 1921). It is believed that the ancestors of Ekiti people who came to combine with the aboriginal people on the solid ground migrated from Ile Ife, the spiritual domicile of the Yoruba people. According to oral together with contemporary written sources of Yoruba history, Oduduwa, the ancestor of the Yoruba traveled to Ife [Ife Ooyelagbo] where he met people who were already settled there. Among the elders he met inwards the town were Agbonniregun [Stetillu], Obatala, Orelure, Obameri, Elesije, Obamirin, Obalejugbe exactly to call a few. It is known that descendants of Agbonniregun [Baba Ifa] settled inwards Ekiti, examples beingness the Alara together with Ajero who are sons of Ifa. Orunmila [Agbonniregun] himself spent a greater component division of his life at Ado. Due to this, nosotros have got the proverb ‘Ado ni ile Ifa’ [Ado is the domicile of Ifa]. The Ekiti have got ever since settled inwards their nowadays location.
The early on Ekiti solid ground is divided into 16 districts (and it has been maintained to this day), each with its ain Owa or King (Owa beingness a generic term amongst them) of which 4 are supreme, viz. : —
(1) The Owore of Otun, (2) The Ajero of Ijero, (3) The Elewi of Ado together with (4) The Elekole of Ikole.
The next are the pocket-size Ekiti kings : —
(5) Alara of Aramoko, (6) Alaye of Efon Ahaye, (7) Ajanpanda of Akure, (8) Alagotun of Ogotun, (9) Olojudo of Ido, (10) Ata of Aiyede, (11) Oloja Oke of Igbo Odo, (12) Oloye of Oye, (13) Olomuwo of Omuwo, (14) Onire of Ire, (15) Arinjale of Ise and (16) Onitaji of Itaji.
The Orangun of Ila is sometimes classed amongst them, but he is only Ekiti inwards sympathy, beingness of a unlike family.
Udiroko festival at Ekiti
The Ekiti are really intelligent together with have got a deep love of home- at that spot has been no large scale migration of Ekiti peoples to neighbouring countries, but Ekitis are inwards other parts of Yorubaland mostly inwards Ondo, Oshun together with Kwara states. Respect for historic flow together with superiors, ingrained politeness is component division together with parcel of their nature. Ekiti solid ground is reputed to have got produced the highest number of professors inwards Nigeria.
It is rather yesteryear heritage than yesteryear accident that the motto of the nowadays Ekiti province is “Fountain of Knowledge,” since Agbonniregun whose descendants are all over Ekitiland is praised every bit Akere-finu sogbon [the little adult man with a heed total of wisdom]. Several pioneers academics are from the state. Pioneers similar Profs Adegoke Olubummo (One of the 1st Nigerian Professors inwards the land of Mathematics), Adeyinka Adeyemi (1st Professor of Architecture inwards West Africa). Others include renowned academics similar Profs J.F. Ade-Ajayi, Niyi Osundare, Sam Aluko together with others likewise many to mention.
Geography together with Climate
Ekiti State is situated exclusively within the tropics. It is located betwixt longitudes 40°51′ together with 50°451′ East of the Greenwich meridian together with latitudes 70°151′ together with 80°51′ N of the Equator. It lies due south of Kwara together with Kogi State, East of Osun State together with bounded yesteryear Ondo State inwards the East together with inwards the south, with a total solid ground Area of 5887.890sq km. Ekiti State has 16 Local Government Councils.
By 1991 Census, the population of Ekiti State was 1,647,822 piece the estimated population upon its creation on Oct 1st 1996 was position at 1,750,000 with the upper-case missive of the alphabet located at Ado-Ekiti. The 2006 population census yesteryear the National Population Commission position the population of Ekiti State at 2,384,212 people.
Ekiti, the solid ground of rock
In general, Ekiti State is underlain yesteryear metamorphic rocks of the PreCambrian basement complex, the groovy bulk of which are really ancient inwards age. These basement complex rocks exhibit groovy variations inwards grain size together with inwards mineral composition. The rocks are quartz gneisses together with schists consisting essentially of quartz with little amounts of white micaceous minerals. In grain size together with structure, the rocks vary from really coarse grained pegmatite to mediumgrained gneisses. The rocks are strongly foliated together with they occur every bit outcrops especially inwards EfonAlaaye together with Ikere Ekiti areas (Smyth together with Montgomery, 1962).
Ekiti State has no coastal boundary, hence it has no coastal relief. Indeed, the term, Ekiti, denotes an interior or hinterland surface area every bit opposed to a maritime surface area (Oguntuyi, 1979). It also way mound. This call invariably implies that Ekiti State is mainly an upland area. In the main, the relief is rugged with undulating areas together with granitic outcrops inwards several places. The notable ones amongst the hills are IkereEkiti Hills inwards the southern component division of the state; EfonAlaaye Hills to the western boundary of the province together with the AdoEkiti Hills inwards the cardinal component division of the state.
Most of these hills are good over 250m higher upwardly sea level. The drainage scheme over the areas of base of operations ment complex rocks is usually marked with the proliferation of many little river channels. The chan nels of these smaller streams are dry out for many months, especially from Nov to May.
In Ekiti State, at that spot is no major river. However, the province serves every bit the watershed together with source part for 3 major rivers that flow into the Atlantic ocean. These are the Rivers Osun, Owena together with Ogbese. Other rivers are Ero, Ose together with Oni. Another impor tant aspect of the relief of Ekiti province is the preva lence of erosion gullies along loma slopes together with valleys.
The gullies are really mutual inwards Efon Alaaye together with inwards the northern component division of the state. Indeed, inwards EfonAlaaye, the gullies could live devastating
The Ekiti dialect, however, varies across locations, e.g. Otun people (in Moba land) speak a dialect closed to that of the Igbominas inwards Kwara together with Osun States; the Oke-Ako, Irele together with Omu-Oke people speak a dialect similar to that spoken yesteryear the Ijumus inwards Kogi State. The people of Efon Alaaye also speak a similar dialect to that of the Ijesas of Osun State. Although slight (and inwards really few locations, somewhat wide) variations be inwards the local dialects, the Ekiti people sympathise each other together with communicate pretty well.
History
Historically, the Ekitis are amongst the aboriginal elements of the Nigeria absorbed yesteryear the invaders from the East (Yoruba people from Ile Ife). "The term Ekiti denotes a "Mound", together with is derived from the rugged mountainous characteristic of the country. It is an extensive province together with good watered, including several tribes together with families correct on to the border of the Niger, eastward. They handgrip themselves quite distinct from the Ijesas, especially inwards political affairs." (Samuel Johnson, The History of the Yoruba, 1921). It is believed that the ancestors of Ekiti people who came to combine with the aboriginal people on the solid ground migrated from Ile Ife, the spiritual domicile of the Yoruba people. According to oral together with contemporary written sources of Yoruba history, the Ekitis are amongst the earliest settlers of Yorubaland. The Yoruba [Oyo Yoruba] are said to have got sprung from Lamurudu, i of the kings of Mecca whose offspring were Oduduwa (Crown Prince), the kings of Gogobiri (Gogir inwards Hausaland) together with Kukawa (Bornu).
Oduduwa, the ancestor of the Yoruba traveled to Ife [Ife Ooyelagbo] where he met people who were already settled there. Among the elders he met inwards the town were Agbonniregun [Stetillu], Obatala, Orelure, Obameri, Elesije, Obamirin, Obalejugbe exactly to call a few. It is known that descendants of Agbonniregun [Baba Ifa] settled inwards Ekiti, examples beingness the Alara together with Ajero who are sons of Ifa. Orunmila [Agbonniregun] himself spent a greater component division of his life at Ado. Due to this, nosotros have got the proverb ‘Ado ni ile Ifa’ [Ado is the domicile of Ifa]. The Ekiti have got ever since settled inwards their nowadays location.
Another oral tradition assert that The Olofin, i of the sons of the Oduduwa had xvi (16) children together with inwards the way of searching for the novel solid ground to develop, they all journeyed out of Ile-Ife every bit they walked through the Iwo - Eleru(crave) close Akure together with had halt over at a spot called Igbo-Aka(forest of termites) closer to Ile-Oluji. The Olofin, the xvi children together with some other honey people continued with their journey, but when they got to a particular lovely together with apartment land, the Owa-Obokun(the monachy of Ijesha land) together with Orangun of Ila decided to remain inwards the nowadays Ijesha together with Igomina solid ground of inwards Osun state. While the remaining 14 (14) children continued with the journeying together with after settled inwards the nowadays twenty-four hours Ekiti land. They discovered that at that spot were many hills inwards the spot together with they said inwards their mother's linguistic communication that this is 'Ile olokiti' the solid ground of hills. Therefore the Okiti after blended to EkitiI. So Ekiti derived her call through hills. These are straight children together with founder of Ekitiland, Igbominaland together with Ijeshaland:
Nobody tin can give accurate dates to these events due to the lack of written sources, but people have got lived inwards Ekiti for centuries. It is on tape that Ekiti Obas had prosperous reign inwards the 13th century. An instance was the reign of Ewi Ata od Ado inwards the 1400s. The Ekiti are intelligent together with have got a deep love of home. Respect for historic flow together with superiors, ingrained politeness is component division together with parcel of their nature.
Before Nigeria was amalgamated, the Ekiti tribe was nether the British Protectorate with the other Yoruba tribes. Ekiti became component division of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria which was divided to give the Ekitis their ain state.
There has been no large scale migration of Ekiti peoples to neighbouring countries, but Ekitis are inwards other parts of Yorubaland mostly inwards Ondo, Oshun together with Kwara states. The nowadays Ekiti province is smaller than the old Ekiti i due to inter-tribal wars together with subsequent redivisions. By virtue of Ekiti’s intelligence, at that spot are to a greater extent than Ekiti graduates today than inwards most states of Nigeria. It is rather yesteryear heritage than yesteryear accident that the motto of the nowadays Ekiti province is “Fountain of Knowledge,” since Agbonniregun whose descendants are all over Ekitiland is praised every bit Akere-finu sogbon [the little adult man with a heed total of wisdom].
The remarkable simplicity, though tough but unwarlike attribute of the Ekitis led the Oyos to wage state of war on them inwards the mid-1800. The Ekitis formed an alliance which they termed Ekiti Parapo (i.e. Ekiti Confederation). They raised a formidable regular army together with were determined non only to release themselves but also to overrun the Oyos correct to Ibadan farms at the River Oba. Prince Fabunmi of Oke Imesi headed the confederates with able warlords such every bit Fabaro of Ido, Famakinwa of Erin, Odole- Oloyombere, Oluborode of Ikogosi exactly to call a few. They were after joined yesteryear Ogedemgbe- Agbogun Gboror who after became the Commander-in-Chief of the Confederates.
Instead of tendering their submission every bit Are Latosisa thought, the Oyo regular army found the Ekiti-Parapos became the foremost to innovate long flintlock guns with large muzzles to state of war inwards Yorubaland. These guns when fully loaded together with fired, gave a study which reverberated from loma to loma all around. It sounded similar KI-RI-JI, KI-RI-JI, from which this state of war was named the Kiriji campaign. The state of war lasted until 1886 around when the Oyos pleaded for British intervention inwards the war. The British intervention led to a peace treaty betwixt the Oyos together with Ekitis. never to wage state of war against each other together with so with Oyo together with other Yoruba nations, thus making the Kiriji state of war the lastly major state of war of the Yoruba
Towns together with administrative divisions
The people of Ekiti State alive mainly inwards towns. These towns include: Ado, Awo Ekiti, Ayegbaju Ekiti, Efon-Alaaye, Aramoko Ekiti, Temidire-Ikole Local Govt, Igede Ekiti, Ikole, Ayede, Isan, Iye Ayede, Ikere, Ire, Ijero, Ayetoro, Ipoti, Igogo, Ise, Itapa, Otun, Usi Ekiti, Ido, Emure, Iyin, Igede, Ilawe, Ode, Oye, Omuo, Ilupeju, Ikoro,Iloro, Ikun, Iye, Ijesa-Isu, Ayedun, Aisegba, Osin, Okemesi, Iworoko, Ifaki, Osan, Erinmope, Asin-Ekiti, Orin, Ilogbo, Osi, Igbole, Ora, Aye, Ikogosi Erio, [Igbara-Odo](Ogotun), Erijiyan Ekiti Iludun, Ilemeso, Otun, Itapaji, Imojo, Ire Ekiti, Eda Oniyo, Gogo Ekiti, Odooro Ekiti, Ijan Ekiti, Epe Ekiti, Usi Ekiti.
Local Government Areas
L-R: Chairman, Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, Ekiti State, Chief Aderemi Ajayi; Alara of Aramoko Kingdom, Oba Adegoke Adeyemi; his wife, Adenike; ..
Ekiti State includes 16 of Nigeria's 774 Local Government Areas. They are:
Economy
Agriculture is the main line of the people of Ekiti, together with it is the major source of income for many inwards the state. Agriculture provides income together with work for to a greater extent than than 75% of the population of Ekiti State.
Some of Ekiti’s agricultural create are: Cash crops such every bit Cocoa, Oil Palm, Kolanut, Plantain, Bananas, Cashew, Citrus together with Timber; Arable /Food Crops such every bit Rice, Yam, Cassava, Maize together with cowpea. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 detailed listing of agricultural create is contained inwards the tables below.
Ojojolu Theatre grouping entertaining the audience with a Sango trip the lite fantastic at the 2013 Udiroko Festival inwards Ado-Ekiti.
Origin of Ekiti Towns
Ado-Ekiti
Ado Ekiti is a metropolis inwards southwest Nigeria, the province upper-case missive of the alphabet together with headquarters of the Ekiti. It is also known every bit Ado. The population inwards 2004 was 446,749. The people of Ado Ekiti are mainly of the Ekiti sub-ethnic grouping of the Yoruba. Ado Ekiti City has a State owned University - the University of Ado Ekiti at nowadays Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, a privately owned University - the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, a Polytechnic - the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, 2 local idiot box together with radio stations, - NTA Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State Television (BSES), Radio Ekiti, Progress FM Ado Ekiti. Various commercial enterprises operate inwards Ado Ekiti. The metropolis is the merchandise centre for a farming part where yams, cassava, grain, together with tobacco are grown. Cotton is also grown for weaving.
Where Ado-Ekiti is situated is a solid ground that has been continuously inhabited/occupied yesteryear human communities from fourth dimension immemorial. Available query shows that human societies of unknown antiquity occupied this neighbourhood virtually (11,000) years ago. These ancient inhabitants were in all probability the same or progenitors/ancestors of Igbon close Ogotun, Erijiyan, Ijero, Ulesun together with Asin (near Ikole) who were in all probability autochthones because available traditions shows that they had lived inwards together with close their abodes from fourth dimension immemorial. As a thing of fact, no i knows where, if any, they came from together with for how long they had lived inwards those ancient sites. Ulesun appears the best-known evidently on business organisation human relationship of its size, the number of its subordinate communities especially Aso, Ulero, Isinla, Ilamoji, Ukere together with Agbaun (near Igbemo), its well-organized traditional organized faith including its festivals etc. together with its location at the heartland of Ekitiland. These ancient people were the ancestors of Ekiti, they played hosts inwards the seventh together with eighth centuries, virtually 1,200 years ago, to waves of immigrants from the basins of the rivers Niger together with Benue; these settled amongst the ancient Ekiti, together with were fewer inwards number together with so, the hosts culturally absorbed them.
Ewi immigration
After many generations, a novel moving ridge of immigrant groups penetrated this homeland; their leader every bit Ewi, 2d successor of Prince Biritiokun, Son of Oduduwa, on business organisation human relationship of his wanderings all the way from the Republic of Benin forests, the leader was nicknamed Awamaro. Ulesun people welcomed them warmly together with neighbouring committees came together to assist their settlement (built homesteads for them) at Oke-Ibon inwards Odo Ijigbo. Eventually, Ewi together with his people overthrew the existing political arrangements, conquered Ulesun community, displaced its ruler Elesun together with established a novel town, Awamaro named Ado, pregnant 'here nosotros encamp'. Ewi Awamaro together with his successors conquered villages together with cottage inwards the neighbourhood, replaced their rulers with their ain loyalists, stalwarts together with scions of the royal family. The of import citizens of these conquered communities were relocated inwards Ado. Ewi supplanted Elesun every bit sovereign ruler of the aboriginal together with settler population, many of Elesun's Chiefs were confirmed inwards their offices but they swore oaths of allegiance to the Ewi. Many of the succeeding Ewi expanded the kingdom yesteryear forcefulness of arms, annexed territories together with gave these territories to scions of the royal families, these assumed titles which became hereditary. The expansion together with growth of Ado-Ekiti together with the kingdom of Ado lasted over 400 years. In the course of instruction of this expansion, Ado became associated with surely traits. Citizens of the kingdom inwards full general together with those of the woman parent town, Ado-Ekiti inwards particular were reputed for groovy attending to cleanliness. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 pop lyrical description of Ado citizenry depicts:
Ira Ule Ado m'etipise fifin seree (Ado citizens with their usually create clean heels). Ado people were, yesteryear local standard, tough together with brave warriors. Traditions save 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, together with Eleyinmi Orogirigbona of Okeyinmi quarters - all of Ado-Ekiti together with Ogunbulu, a.k.a. Ala l'oju Osoru of Aisegba. The exploits of Ado tough inwards many parts of Ekiti formed the footing of the pop orature: Ikara s'eji s'inu agbagba t'emi ukoko (Of 2 balls of cake inwards the frying-pan, he insists his percentage is one)
Folk, traditions are replete with fond references to Ewi's human relationship with some other Ekiti traditional rulers. Ewi's antecedents are depicted as: Elempe Ekiti (mightiest adult man inwards Ekiti) On k'emu 'kan o mu meji Oloju k'enu 'kan gba kete re (He is entitled to one, he took 2 he has a disposition to take everything) Ewi i pe mi udiroko Onitaji i pe mi esunsu...... (Ewi invites me for his udiroko festival Onitaji invites me for his esunsu festival)
Folk traditions of this nature vividly portray the towering spot of Ado-Ekiti. In the foremost place, Ado-Ekiti is situated at the heartland of Ekiti together with is thus less exposed to cross-border attacks or non-Ekiti influences. Consequently, over many centuries, waves of immigrant groups seeking haven settled inwards Ado-Ekiti together with several other Ado communities. Many of these immigrants were refugees, they left their old homelands inwards parts of Ekiti, Akoko, Owo etc. where their leaders lost out inwards chieftaincy contests. Some were state of war captives, these were brought inwards droves yesteryear Aduloju together with his lieutenants from their slave wars of the 1870s together with 1880s inwards parts of Owo, Ose together with Akoko. They were settled inwards Ado communities where they increased the local population, together with enriched the civilization with their lineage names together with festivals inwards similar circumstances, citizens of Ado communities left their fatherland together with settled inwards a few places inwards the neighbourhood upwardly to Ijesaland. Ibadan sacked many Ado communities inwards 1873 together with made a huge haul of prisoners of state of war together with other captives who eventually settled inwards Iwo, Ibadan together with some Remo towns such every bit Iperu together with Makun Sagamu. However, Ado communities especially the woman parent town offset component division of their losses with a large number of slaves together with prisoners of state of war from Owo, Ose together with Akoko.
Ado-Ekiti is i of the towns of the northeastern territory of Yoruba solid ground together with passed through a succession of military, political together with cultural changes from the fourth dimension of Ewi Awamaro (circa 1310 A.D) who migrated at that spot to shape what became Ado-Ekiti.
Jadesola Babatola (2008) noted that the large component division of the 13th century, legend had it that many princes left Ile Ife to what after became several Yoruba kingdoms along the due west coast of Nigeria. Among the princes were 2 born to Oduduwa yesteryear the same mother, the Oba of Republic of Benin together with the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti. Both foremost settled inwards Republic of Benin forests earlier disputes amongst their people led them to separate together with the Ewi sought a novel domicile westward at Utamodi (Oke Papa). Ewi Biritiokun together with his boy reigned there. It was Ewi Awamaro who migrated to Ilesun (Present twenty-four hours Ado-Ekiti) after staying briefly at Udoani (Ido Ani) together with Agbado during the long trek. When Ewi Awamaro left Agbado, the elders remained behind to repose together with gave the settlement the call Agba Ado (Elders’ Camp) – Agbado-Ekiti every bit the town is known today. Awamaro’s spies encouraged him to assault Elesun with the back upwardly of Odolofin after he had settled downwards at Oke Ibon (now Odo Ijigbo) together with with the conquest of Ulesun yesteryear Awamaro, the town of Ulesun changed its call 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 inwards what is at nowadays known every bit Ado-Ekiti earlier the emergence of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti. The Elesun occupied the peak of a hierarchy where he had his subordinates every bit the Odolofin (Elesun 2d inwards command), Asao, Elegemo, Alamoji, Olisinla, Olulero, Olookori etc. Elesun was the caput of the laity inwards the worship of Olota (god), the deity inwards accuse of the safety of Ulesun State. The Ulesun linguistic communication was unlike 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 every bit Odolofin together with Asao were accepted into the Ewi’s scheme of chieftaincy after Awamaro’s conquest. The Elegemo retained his post every bit Chief Priest together with custodian of Iwemo Ogun. Ewi’s Warrior chiefs who provided armed forces safety for palace inhabitants were the Akogun at Irona, Oloja Ese at Oke Ese, Eleyinmi at Okeyinmi together with Egbedi at Orereowu. Ewi Awamaro subjugated Elesun’s neighbours together with expanded his territory except Ukere (Ikere Ekiti) together with his successors upwardly to Yeyenirewu followed same steps that yesteryear 1550 A.D. Ado-Ewi had go a large powerfulness inwards the entire Ekiti country.
The Ewis that reigned at Ado from 1444 to 1552 were: Ewi Ata (1444–1471), Ewi Owakunrugbon (1471–1490), Ewi Owamuaran (1490–1511), Yeyenirewu - The regent (1511– 1552). Ewi’s armed forces exploits during the flow was to subjugate together with annex his immediate territories extended to Ikere, Igbara Odo, Ogotun, Aramoko, Erio together with Erijiyan amongst others. It was a long fourth dimension systematic armed forces crusade during the reigns of Ewi Obakunrin (1552–1574), Ewi Eleyo-Okun (1574–1599) together with Ewi Afigbogbo Ara Soyi (1599-1630). During the reign of Ewi Gberubioya (1630-1696), Ado-Ewi was peaceful every bit state of war was abandoned inwards spot of diplomacy together with mutual relations strategy. Ewi Gberubioya divided the Ewi dynasty into 3 ruling houses of Owaroloye (Aroloye), Atewogboye together with Arutawekun. Ewi’s sons that ruled inwards 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 together with Olotin. One of his sons, Amujoye founded Igbemo together with took the championship of Oba of Igbemo from its inception. Gberubioya linked the Ewi’s dynasty to both Ikole together with Ijero because i of his wives who were betrothed to Elekole was surrendered to Ewi every bit a peace bargain together with her children for the Elekole, Ewi together with Ajero who took her into custody after Ewi’s demise after ascended every bit Ewi, Elekole together with Ajero respectively. Ido Faboro (Ido-Ekiti) took her electrical flow call from Ado every bit a outcome of settlement with Ewi to remain independent of Ado during Gberubioya’s reign. Other Ewis that reigned after Gberubioya were Ewi Idagunmodo (1696-1710), Ewi Okinbaloye Aritawekun (1710-1722), Ewi Amono Ola (1722-1762), Ewi Afunbiowo (1762-1781), Ewi Akulojuorun (1781-1808), Ewi Aroloye (1808-1836), Ewi Ali Atewogboye (1836-1885), Ewi Ajimudaoro Aladesanmi I (1886-1910), Ewi Adewumi Agunsoye (1910 - 1936), Ewi Daniel Anirare Aladesanmi II (1937 - 1983), HRM Ewi Samuel Adeyemi George-Adelabu I (1984 - 1988) together with HRM Alayeluwa Ewi Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III (the electrical flow Ewi of Ado-Ekiti).
British occupation
From the 1880s, agents of the British, especially Christian missionaries penetrated the Yoruba interior inwards an endeavour to cease the wars, inwards particular, the wars of liberation Ekitiparapo communities waged against Ibadan since October, 1879. In June, 1886, political-cum-military officers got the belligerent parties to sign a truce together with inwards March, 1893, Governor Carter of Lagos visited Ibadan together with Ekitiparapo camps of Igbajo together with Imesi-Ile together with terminated the war, got the leaders to sign treaties which prohibited slavery together with slave trade, human sacrifices together with the usage of weapons to settle conflicts. The British management inwards Lagos (which had authorization over Yoruba hinterland from 1893) proclaimed a full general emancipation for slaves together with ordered slaves who so wished to homecoming to their former homelands. As a result, numerous citizens of Ekiti inwards full general together with Ado inwards particular returned from captivity forth with. The British established its colonial dominion on vast territories together with inwards 1900, a number of districts became Nigeria. Eventually, farther reorganizations led to the creation inwards January, 1913 of Ekiti District, with headquarters inwards Ado-Ekiti. That was a landmark from where to get the give-and-take of today, modern times, a flow characterized yesteryear the emergence of novel things, phenomenal growth together with evolution of old kingdom together with its Chief city, Ado-Ekiti.
Ado-Ekiti Layout every bit a Yoruba Settlement inwards 1800s
Jadesola Babatola (2013) noted that the characteristics of average human settlements across the Yoruba land upwardly to 19th century have got been identified every bit a formation of 2 basic settlement patterns – the main town together with the subordinate towns. In quoting P.C. Llyod (1962:54-57) he presented that the metropolitan (main) town is sometimes larger than the subordinate towns piece its rulership together with kinship are based on patrilinear succession within the agnatic lineage. The traditional layout organisation was usually based on geographic location, population size, demand for expansion, merchandise opportunities, settlers’ vocation together with armed forces vulnerability of major towns over subordinate towns inwards addressing their strategic merchandise together with armed forces advantage. Across Yorubaland, it was observed that variations together with modification inwards the location together with access to King’s palace inwards particular amongst the settings for the King’s marketplace together with coming together places inwards designated areas were determined yesteryear the town’s topography, civilization together with politics together with the extent of command over the people together with the local economy.
The full general Yoruba traditional chemical compound described yesteryear T.J. Bowen inwards his Adventures together with Missionary labours inwards the Interior of Africa from 1849-1856, together with the Revd. R.H. Stone’s inwards Afric’s Forest together with Jungle, was farther described inwards yesteryear PC Llyod’s Comparative Study of the Political Institutions inwards Some Yoruba Towns, an unpublished B.Sc thesis (1952). For avoidance of doubt, the Intelligence Report produced yesteryear N.A.C. Weir (1933) reported a full general framework of township organisation inwards Ado-Ekiti inwards the early on British colonial rule, which is similar to what existed during the pre-colonial era. Weir (1933) noted that the household unit of measurement (Ebi) every bit the smallest unit of measurement which is grouped into Village (Ileto) or Sub-Quarter (Ogbon) or Quarter (Adugbo) inwards a town (Ilu). However Weir made an fault of assertion when he claimed that ‘the wars or slave raids of the 19th century were the greatest factors inwards the creation of the larger towns.’
Weir’s fault was based on his lack of agreement of the traditional layout pattern inwards Yoruba solid ground together with his misconception of the facts behind the growth of major towns which he attributed purely to illegitimate together with legitimate trade. The existing traditional organisation ever recognized some socio-economic together with political factors necessary for the formation together with setting of townships inwards Yoruba land. Recounting the assertions of E. Kraff Askaris, I. Olomola (2013) observed that the Palace of a paramount ruler is the centre of political together with economical activities such that both the palace together with cardinal (Oba’s) marketplace lay at the centre of the town together with all route to together with from the outer. Communities converged on it similar spokes of wheel. Both Palace together with Market were sacred places every bit good every bit centres of ritual sacrifices together with worship of tutelary deities.
The panoramic sentiment of Ado-Ekiti inwards the 19th century was a characteristic of average Yoruba settlement. Llyod (1962) noted that the traditional layout existing across settlements inwards Yoruba solid ground inwards the pre-colonial era formed component division of the physical features of Ado-Ekiti. He described how Ado-Ekiti was traditionally arranged amongst settlers. See diagram of source inwards P.C. Llyod (1962:56) Yoruba Land Law. Using the foregoing parameters, i tin can depict the nature together with pattern of settlements of Ado-Ekiti inwards the pre-colonial era yesteryear pinpointing existing organisation inwards Ado-Ekiti every bit it reflects on the growth of the metropolis or main town (Ilu-Nla) together with the subordinate towns (Ilu-Kekere) inwards the peripheries (Agbegbe) or subordinate areas. Furthermore, the sketch devised yesteryear Llyod (1962:56) showed the construction of Ado-Ekiti settlement every bit a metropolitan town surrounded yesteryear subordinate towns together with communities with Ado-Ekiti layout coordinated together with co-existing with the layout of the subordinate towns surrounding the municipality inwards similar ways.
Ewi’s Suzerainty inwards Ado-Ekiti Traditional Layout together with 1800s Settlements: Ado-Ekiti together with all other Ado communities consisted of a ‘large number of traditional rectangular compounds grouped into the quarters of the town’. Within the Ado-Ekiti township layout, the Ewi’s Palace lay inwards the middle, though it was foremost built at Oke-Ibon together with and so moved to Chief Arowa’s Palace strands beside the Erekesin (King’s Market) earlier it was moved into the vintage dot of Oke Ewi where it has finally settled over 200 years ago. The sitting of Ewi’s Palace within Ado’s topography is discussed inwards the piece of work of G.J.A. Ojo (1966:76) who noted that Yoruba palaces (aafin) are the residence of King (Oba) together with sacred places that houses shrines together with temples to all deities worshipped inwards the kingdom, together with a number of places reserved for ritual activities, oath taking etc. Llyod (1962:192) inwards similar style justified the status of the Ewi every bit a scared ruler inwards the typical Yoruba fashion. Oral tradition farther hinged the sacredness of Ewi together with the location of Ewi’s Palace at the centre of the main metropolis (Ado-Ekiti) on the grade of his human relationship together with the latitude which his High Chiefs, Military Chiefs, Palace Chiefs together with Royal Princes who acted every bit patron chiefs over hamlets together with surrounding villages enjoy.
The traditional layout of Ado-Ewi appeared to have got taken definite shape from the fourth dimension of Ewi Awamaro every bit a thing of strategic repositioning for Kingdom edifice together with political ascendency of the rural together with conquered communities. The traditional layout pattern of Ado-Ekiti relocated most of the early on settlers exterior the vicinity of Ewi’s Palace. It was an organisation that also left the Ado community together with the subordinate towns to revolve around Ewi inwards a preferred order. The enlargement of the Ewi’s Kingdom during the reign of Ewi Gberubioya (1630-1696) inwards the 17th century together with other successive Ewis upward into slow 19th century which covers the flow nether review with the expansion of the main town’s layout indicates that they did non alter the traditions for town settings which is similar to what is obtained inwards many other of Yoruba major towns.
Wife of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Eyesorun Bosede Adejugbe; Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; together with Wife of the Governor of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, when the governor's married adult woman visited the palace,
In the most component division of 1800 (19th Century) together with early on 20th century, Ado people were adherents inwards African traditional organized faith with fervent worship of the supernatural, ancestral together with embodied spirits of varying categories, which revolve circular Ewi’s Palace institution. The mode of worship together with observance of traditional rites revolved around alaponmi, Oitado together with alafonyos, Ogun festival together with Iwe Mo Ogun, Egungun festivals - Ade, Aeregbe, Orude, Epa, Odede festivals together with the most important, beingness Udiroko which is the traditional Ado Day, the foremost twenty-four hours inwards the traditional calendar. Traditional shrines were created for Orisa Ojido, Uba Lota, Ayoba, Oke Egbe (now Ayunbo), Odudu, Osun, Ose, Ogbese, Ajilosun, Isewese, Atan – All of them fertility deities.
The role of Ado-Ekiti inwards the growth of Yoruba organized faith together with politics intertwined together with influenced the survival of Ewi’s realm piece co-habiting together with co-existing with her subordinate together with satellite towns together with other neighbouring communities. The tenancy embedded inwards the spiritual organisation of the Ado-Ekiti layout inwards that era suffices. Narratives together with archival materials embedded inwards the works of Chief J.E. Babatola (1976) written inwards concert with 31 Ado Chiefs every bit a rejoinder to a reconstruction of Ado history yesteryear Chief J.A. Fashubaa, the Oisa tallied with the historical approaches. It also highlighted the traditional panoramic sentiment of Ado-Ekiti inwards 1800s together with the nature of her municipality together with the grouping intersections of her 3 notable traditional sectors inwards a unique organisation that farther conceptualized the traditional components of the Ewi’s cabinet. The layout pattern was shown inwards a sketch that depicted the traditional layout of Ado landscape inwards the pre-colonial era (1800s) every bit reproduced yesteryear Chief J.E. Babatola on the re-arrangement of Ado landscape together with Chieftaincies kickoff from the reign of Ewi Awamaro Source: 31 Ado Chiefs Rejoinder to Chief Oisa Fasuba’s Memo 1975/76
Ewi’s Realm –Territoriality together with Politics of Division inwards Ewi’s Kingdom: At the superlative of Ado-Ekiti influence inwards Ekiti solid ground inwards the 18th together with 19th centuries, legend has it that Ado kingdom consisted of 150 (ewadojo) communities together with that the metropolis of the kingdom was Ado-Ekiti Township where the Ewi every bit Sovereign superintended over the realm every bit the sovereign head. The Oluyin, the Alare, the Alaworoko, the Elesure, the Eleyio together with the Onigbemo are really of import rulers of subordinate towns within the immediate precinct of the Ewi’s municipality. Within the Ewi’s Kingdom, heads of subordinate towns oftentimes performed specific political together with spiritual roles together with responsibilities inwards the service of the Kingdom inwards monastic tell to retain together with sustain their human relationship with the powerful King piece supporting the layers of interrelations amongst towns inwards the realm. Legend has it that it was a tradition inwards Ado-Ekiti for influential members of the royal household (Omo Oba or Omo Owa) to live sent to subordinate Ado-Ekiti community to found novel dynasties on established settlements inwards buffer zones together with borderland areas.
Rulers of subordinate towns similar Iyin-Ekiti (Uyin Alelagba) together with Are-Ekiti were brothers together with relations of the Ewi who co-existed together with led their respective townships every bit co-ordinate lesser cities of Ado-Ekiti. They ruled inwards those towns with a sentiment to creating stability for the Ewi who was a ruler of higher importance inwards the main city, Ado-Ekiti, piece his brothers are rulers over lesser Ado towns where they maintained required importance together with role to save the Ewi’s realm together with accomplish an equation of heart together with stability against Ewi’s potential regional neighbours. The existence of these chieftains assist to save Ewi’s involvement together with to protect Ado-Ekiti from straight invasion yesteryear whatsoever ambitious adventurer since the chiefs stand upwardly for Ewi’s involvement inwards those subordinate together with neighbouring towns, farm settlements, hamlets together with subordinate towns. The headship of most of these towns was selected from the ruling lineage that was created yesteryear the senior chiefs, dependent to the ratification of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti.
J.O. Olubobokun inwards his works – Itan Iyin (1980) every bit corroborated yesteryear A.O. Oguntuyi (1986:9) asserted that Iyin is i of the subordinate towns of Ado-Ekiti founded yesteryear Oluyin Agbogbomaje, e.g. the sword bearer (Oluda) who accompanied Ewi Awamaro to settle inwards Ado earlier he was allocated solid ground to the West of Ado town together with settled inwards a spot called Uro where he was after joined yesteryear people of Ibedoyin, Oketoro together with Okelawe inwards forming a total of 16 quarters which after truncated into i town. The essence hither is that Iyin people were component division of Ado Kingdom that gained royal autonomy to co-exist every bit separate community nether the realm of the Ewi without severing traditional ties together with blood relations with Ewi together with Ado people. The deep traditional human relationship that existed betwixt the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti together with the Onigbemo of Igbemo-Ekiti for instance requiring those rulers of the subordinate towns around Ado-Ekiti to participate inwards specific rites at the decease or installation of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti tends to highlight the role of covenant renewal inwards the community for the continuity of Ewi’s ‘imperial’ or hegemonic status together with influence inwards the subordinate Towns.
It is worth noting that, the rulers of these subordinate towns held rights of sovereignty similar to those wielded yesteryear the Ewi of Ado inwards making rules together with that Llyod (1962:221) asserted that ‘the Ewi, nonetheless holds surely sovereign rights over the entire Kingdom’. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 major characteristic is that each of the subordinate towns also has its separate rulers together with chiefs, with a mensurate of importance together with honor fifty-fifty when they handgrip lesser status or rank inwards relation to the Ewi who takes preeminence over them due to his prominence, influence, traditional rights, armed forces might, population together with size of the realm.
In Ado-Ekiti, the championship of Ewi every bit a metropolitan sovereign is hereditary together with alternatively contested yesteryear members of the 2 prominent ruling houses that had gained traditional preeminence within the royal household during flow nether review, whenever the stool of Ewi became vacant. Heads of subordinate towns inwards old Ado-Ekiti Kingdom may non live regarded every bit Baale (High Chiefs) every bit commonly seen inwards Yoruba communities of the Ibadan together with Oyo country. Rather they were Traditional Rulers (Oba Ilu), though of lower status to the King-Emperor (Oba Alayeluwa or Oba lori Agbegbe) who resides inwards the main town, a spot occupied yesteryear the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti inwards the 19th century. In the circumstances where subjected towns together with their rebellion-prone rulers were faraway or close but troublesome yesteryear striving for autonomy or independence from Ewi’s influence every bit identified inwards instance of the Alawe, the Olosi, the Olode, the Onijan together with the Onimesi; rulers of other subordinate towns together with Ewi’s chieftains were constantly on paw to cheque them against crisis that could create chaos or attract unusual invasions.
There is no doubtfulness that the festering political human relationship betwixt dominant Ado together with its old subordinate Ikere town played into the hands of Republic of Benin inwards 1815 every bit asserted thus: ‘…the rapid expansion of Ado brought it into conflict with Benin, some other powerfulness with imperialistic designs inwards Ekiti. Responding to the invitation yesteryear Ado’s neighbouring states who had go unduly alarmed yesteryear the consolidation together with excesses of the Ewi’s power, Republic of Benin regular army invaded together with subjugated Ado inwards add-on to overrunning most of the other Ekiti states some of whose ruling dynasties, every bit inwards Ikere, were replaced…’ G.O. Ogunremi together with A. Adediran (eds) (1998:17)
The oral tradition of that fourth dimension depicted the irony of the rivalries together with adversities attracted to the Ado Township together with the Ewi when describing her call for for expansion inwards Ekiti every bit popularly recounted thus: ‘Ogun yeye, b’Ewi ja, Ajase I loo Ewi’ Meaning ‘Many are the adversity of the King of Ado-Ekiti (Ewi), but the powerfulness of triumph lies inwards his hands.’ The continuous opposition to Ewi’s paramountcy yesteryear a large number of Ekiti royalties across the solid ground is a pointer to the fearfulness inherent inwards Ewi’s notable regal ambitions from 17th to 19th century, which became threats on the status together with economic scheme of other notable towns, who were also aiming at prominence together with equality within the regional powerfulness sharing construction of Ekiti country. No doubt, the characteristics of town formation inwards Ado-Ekiti surface area distinguish the woman parent town (the metropolis) where the most of import chiefs reside from the subordinate towns where other rulers existed.
Ado-Ekiti Society together with Chief’s Status inwards the Towns inwards 1800s: There are the 2 major grades of chieftaincy titles inwards Ado-Ekiti every bit the ihare together with ijoye. For instance, the ihare grade inwards Oke Ewi (one of the 3 Ado Quarters) is divided into 2 – The Senior chiefs known every bit Olori Marun together with the junior chiefs consisting of 5 Elesi together with 10 Ijegbe. High Chiefs (Baale) inwards Ado-Ekiti similar several others inwards unlike parts of Ekiti solid ground were the senior ranking cabinet members of the King-Emperor’s courtroom within the realm. They emerged every bit most senior chiefs representing recognized leading lineages together with chemical compound (agbo ile), chieftaincy families together with settlements inwards the 3 sectors together with quarters of the main town.
The sectors from where the High Chiefs existed also consisted of their immediate abode together with extended families, the existing lineages (idi) together with groups which Llyod (1962:191) described every bit (idile or ebi) – the main patrilineage corporate group. Others inwards the sector are the abode together with farm settlements of lesser chiefs together with their families which Llyod (1962:55) regarded every bit hamlets (abule or Ileto) piece describing typical settlement patterns inwards Ekiti inwards comparing with those from Ijebu together with Ondo country. By Ado traditions, descendants inwards the manlike mortal line have got exclusive rights to solid ground inwards perpetuity dependent to communal rights of hunting together with the Ewi’s correct every bit Sovereign ruler to surely trees together with game. Grant of solid ground to non-indigene requires permission of Ewi together with his Chiefs to forestall subtle arrival of unknown strangers who could cease upwardly every bit agents of hostile communities or invaders planning to assault the realm.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 reflection of this tradition embedded inwards the status of rulers of subordinate towns upwardly to the 19th century replayed itself during the settlement of a solid ground dispute betwixt the Oluyin together with Odofinyin inwards 1940. It was pronounced according to native law together with customs that the Oluyin could non arbitrarily impel himself on the traditional rights of his chiefs though he held an incontestable spot every bit the Head Chief (Ruler) of Uyin Ekiti (a subordinate town) of Ado-Ekiti. This determination was derived from the tradition that everyone inwards Ado Township has his paternal together with maternal solid ground over which the ruler has no ownership or straight control. The Ewi’s controls over solid ground yesteryear tradition were limited to areas designated every bit royal lands, world or opened upwardly solid ground where the attending of Ewi together with his chiefs should live sought. By tradition, Ado people would naturally challenge Ewi’s intrusion on household unit of measurement lands together with revolt against him if world solid ground had been tampered with, unless the consent of Ado chiefs together with the people were sought together with gotten. P.C. Llyod (1962:200) noted that the Ewi’s 1940 crisis could live traced to these traditions because he was alleged to have got breached same yesteryear alienating palace solid ground for opposite purposes.
In the 1800s, heads of most hamlets together with villages inwards Ado kingdom were Ewi’s chiefs or rulers of subordinate towns who dominion inwards the subordinate towns though lesser inwards rank together with status to Ewi. They are non servile but were subservient to Ado monarch. The import of the higher upwardly explanation is that the lesser Kings together with Chiefs whose towns surround the main town were autonomous together with allowed to operate the running of their local affairs together with economic scheme together with inwards taking decisions which did non conflict with the Ado scheme of governance, political tradition together with civilization nor attract the involvement of the King-Emperor to adjudicate upon.
The Ewi inwards Council together with organisation of Ado-Ekiti Chiefs from the 1800s: The Intelligence Report produced inwards November, 1933 yesteryear N.A.C. Weir could non essentially create adequate information on ancient organisation of Ado-Ekiti due to his inability to elicit required information from the local people. Rather he concluded from his observations that the information is non-existent. Yet he wrote thus: ’…In Ado at that spot is an aboriginal household unit of measurement inwards a number of towns or villages…It is so hard the to a greater extent than hard to describe their ancient organisation because they know goose egg of their history prior to their migration here. They came with their organisation consummate together with at that spot is goose egg of their history to exhibit how it was built up. Whole villages accompanied the Ewi to this component division of the Ekiti solid ground together with every bit a powerful settler, he parceled out what solid ground at that spot was. The aboriginals were so scattered or so weak that they could offering no resistance to his advance together with followed the only course of instruction left to them, that of securing the practiced volition of the fresh arrivals…’
From various accounts of Ado history, Ado-Ekiti with her farm settlements was the largest kingdom inwards the Ekiti Confederation, though Ado inwards itself is an amalgam of 3 constituent sectors largely brought together after the Ewi’s conquest of Ilesun every bit OKE EWI, ODO ADO, together with OGBON META (three coordinate together with equal settlements of Oke Ila, Odo Ora together with Oke Efon).
Llyod amongst others asserted that at that spot were no records of the ranking of chiefs earlier the 20th century because most lineages grew inwards size, yesteryear the absorption of Ado citizens of other lineages together with yesteryear increases due to possession of slaves piece the to a greater extent than regular pattern inwards the town consists of 5 or vi lineages, with each of constituting a quarter where at that spot be those who handgrip senior titles inwards relation to those with junior titles, whether or non hereditary. Many of Ewi’s chiefs together with town settlers within Ado-Ekiti autumn into i of the next 3 categories regardless of their emerging importance together with role inwards the activities together with authorities of Ewi’s Kingdom yesteryear 1800 viz. a. The Aboriginals together with Early Settlers b. The Ewi’s Royal Court together with companion settlers c. The adventurers together with immigrant settlers who the Ewi granted citizenship status
Among the aboriginal together with early on settlers are groups of Chiefs with higher or lesser status inwards the Ewi’s cabinet. Some of the Chiefs which Ewi met inwards Ado are: a. Odolofin inwards Odo Ado Sector b. Olora inwards Ogbon Meta Sector c. Asawa from Odo Ado Sector
Members of the Ewi royal courts together with accompanying Chieftains inwards the groups of Chiefs with higher or lesser status inwards the Ewi’s cabinet include: a. Aro inwards Odo Ado Sector b. Arowa inwards Oke Ewi Sector
Adventurers together with immigrant settlers of Ewi who became citizens together with chieftains inwards the groups of Chiefs with higher or lesser status inwards the Ewi’s cabinet include: a. Alarerin inwards Ogbon Meta Sector from Oke Ila via Ila Orangun b. Odofin inwards Odo Ado Sector from Oba (now Oba Ile) close Akure c. Ejigbo inwards Oke Ewi Sector from Imesi Lasigidi (Now Imesi-Ekiti) East of Ado d. The Esewa inwards Oke Ewi Sector who came from Esewa, Ido Ani e. The Ola inwards Eleyinmi, Oke Ewi Sector who came from Ode-Ekiti f. The Sasere inwards Oke Ewi Sector who came from Omuo at nowadays North East
The number of High Chiefs whose status qualify them every bit senior cabinet members (ihare) inwards the Ewi inwards Council inwards the 19th century were twelve inwards number together with their role was designed inwards the plough of that century, non necessarily yesteryear their seniority, but yesteryear their importance together with contributions to Ewi’s traditional authorization for the advancement of Ado’s political stability together with progress higher upwardly other traditional chiefs (ijoye) of the Ewi. The twelve senior chiefs were drawn from the 3 major traditional sectors of Ado-Ekiti classified below:
OKE EWI SECTOR Odogun (Sector Chairman, Ewi’s Interior Minister together with Head of Okeyinmi Quarters) Ejigbo (Ewi’s Traditional Chamberlain together with Head of Ijigbo Quarters) Baisaya (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Baisaya Quarters) Asa (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Asa Quarters) Sasere (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Sasere Quarters)
ODO ADO SECTOR Odofin (Sector Chairman, Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Idofin Quarters) Aro (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Ularo Quarters) Odolofin (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Udolofin Quarters) Edemo (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Udemo Quarters)
OGBON META SECTOR Alarerin (Sector Chairman, Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Oke Ila Quarters) Olora (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Odo Ora Quarters) Odunro (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Odo Uro Quarters)
Ado-Ekiti 1800s turbulence together with the advent of British Colonial Rule: Much of the flow betwixt the slow 1700 together with early on 1800s, were periods of dislocation together with resettlements for Ado-Ekiti Kingdom. According to A.O. Oguntuyi (1986:13-17): ‘The evolution of the Ado Kingdom was seriously affected yesteryear external invasion. These resulted inwards serial of demographic upheavals with settlements constantly moved from i site to another. The most serious of these external invasions were yesteryear the Edo of Benin. They attacked together with destroyed many settlements…in the Ado Kingdom…The Binis were invited yesteryear Ogoga, the tertiary fourth dimension the Binis were so invited to settle the quarrel betwixt Ado together with Ikere. The line of activity they resolved to adopt was to take all the villages nether the ewi to Ikere, settle them at that spot together with inwards this way Ikere would live equal or fifty-fifty bigger than Ado. Ado would together with so live afraid of Ikere. The Republic of Benin soldiers came…and sent words to the Ewi Aroloye…He refused to surrender. He did non inwards whatsoever way exhibit that he was non ready for fight. Every town or hamlet nether him except Ijan were prepared to fight…The Republic of Benin soldiers stormed Igbara-Odo together with Ilawe together with took them. At this time, Ado town had been vacated. Aroloye took the people to a spot called Oke Oko Axis betwixt Ifaki together with Iworoko. Most of the gods Ado worshipped on that side: Olua at Eyio, Obanifon at Esure together with Are, Ogbese together with Orisala at Iworoko. The soldiers pitched their camps close Uyin (Iyin)…Ogbesi Okun, the together with so Oluyin …was conquered together with killed. They proceeded to Igede, Awo together with Esure together with took them. The inhabitants of Igede together with so uder Okiribiti were driven inwards a north-easternly direction to a spot called Oke Asha…Edo troops together with so marched to Iworoko…The soldiers entered Are…The same fate befell Afao. They were all taken to Ikere. The soldiers moved to Igbemo …entered Igbo-Omoba (now Ilu-Omoba)…The soldiers left Aisegba for Agbado together with without delay took it together with evacuated the people. Agbado was the lastly spot nether the Ewi. With the conquest, of Agbado, the soldiers seemed to have got finished their job…’
Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Professor Modupe Adelabu together with the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe III during the 2013 Udiroko Cultural Festival
Isola Olomola (2005:8-12) dwell extensively on the panoramic sentiment of Ekiti inwards virtually 1800. He noted that the ravages of invaders together with slave raiders from Benin, Nupe-Fulani, Ilorin-Fulani together with Ibadan solid ground turned many medium sized towns together with large number of villages into turmoil, political together with social turbulence. Drawing on the characteristics together with legend of traditional settlements inwards Ekiti solid ground with reference to major Kingdoms of Ado, Ikole, Ijero together with Moba, Olomola (2005:9) asserted thus: ‘Each Kingdom consisted of a major (mother) town together with a few or numerous subordinate communities piece each city-state comprised a main town together with a yoke of villages together with cottages. Each Kingdom or metropolis province was, to all intent together with purposes, a territorial unit of measurement over which its Oba (ruler), for all practical purposes, was sovereign from its inception…The Oba of the woman parent town wore crowns together with lived a life governed yesteryear protocol, piece the heads of subordinate communities …wore crown lets (orikogbofo) together with caps...No component division of Ekiti was spared the agony of imperialist invasions…The rampaigning Republic of Benin armies sacked Ogotun, Aramoko, some subordinate communities of Ijero, Ado communities such every bit Are, Afao, Ugbo (now Ilu) Omoba together with Agbado together with settled a large per centum of the haul of captives therefrom inwards Ikere, their garrison post. The Nupe-Fulani…armies invaded Gbonyin district of Ado…Between 1845 together with 1846, these invaders sacked… (Ekiti) towns together with ravaged the countryside…Balogun Ibikunle led Ibadan armies to the rescue…and after inwards 1850 turned the intervention to punitive wars …Ibadan chiefs led their personal armies into Ekiti together with side yesteryear side communities…In Jan 1873, the Aare Momo (Mohammed) Latosisa launched a total scale invasion of cardinal together with northern Ekiti…sacked Ado together with many of its subordinate communities…’
During the flow of Ado-Ekiti dispersal together with relocation inwards slow 1700 together with after the homecoming of Ewi together with other settlers to their original abode inwards mid 1800, pocket-size modifications inwards the settlement organisation occurred inwards communities exterior Ado metropolis wall together with inwards the opened upwardly solid ground available occupied yesteryear royal household together with other settlers apart from areas taken over yesteryear larger chieftains after the dispersal of some Ado chieftains who resettled elsewhere when Ewi returned to Ado metropolis. Most communities which returned with the Ewi re-occupied their original quarters/ settlements to rebuild them except those who moved from their original settlements exterior the Ado township walls into the main town inwards monastic tell to trim down the straight impact of attacks yesteryear invaders on them whenever hostilities broke out. The modification that affected solid ground line together with re-allocation, border relations together with safety were aimed at reducing imminent threats to Ewi’s Kingdom. Hence, the traditional layout allowed for creation of novel quarters inwards the main town to maintain solidarity, armed forces back upwardly together with boost the farming economy.
Ewi Ajimudaoro Aladesanmi I (1886-1910) had a peaceful reign devoid of Ikere attacks. This was made possible yesteryear the fact that Ado wars with Ikere ended through the peace covenant initiated yesteryear a Prince - Oba Oyinbolaja (Oba Dadi). He was reported to have got convinced the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti together with the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti to have got colonial dominion of the white adult man together with to halt human sacrifices. When the Ewi accepted colonial rule, he sent emissaries to Captain R.L Bower (the Resident together with Travelling Commissioner of Interior Yoruba inwards 1894) through the assist of Ifamuboni (later Babamboni) together with and so Ado-Ekiti was regarded every bit a territory within the British Protectorate. It was recorded that Mr. Campbell was the foremost Briton to see Ado-Ekiti for province of affairs assessment together with study inwards honor of Kiriji Proclamations at the termination of the Yoruba wars.
In the business organisation human relationship of Ewi Anirare Aladesanmi II (1977:9) he noted that the Peace Treaty signed on i hand, betwixt the Ekitis together with their Ife together with Ijebu allies with Ibadan inwards 1886 made Ekitis (Ado-Ekiti inclusive) independent nether the British Government of Lagos, though no straight colonial management was witnessed until the setting upwardly of Ekiti Council for members of Ekiti Confederacy on 21 June 1900. The efforts of Evangelist Isaac Ifamuboni (later Babamuboni) together with a number of early on Christians from Lagos, Abeokuta together with Ibadan who introduced the tillage of cocoa, maize, chocolate-brown cocoyam together with made wage earning labourers to go from Ado-Ekiti to piece of work inwards Ondo, Ijebu together with Ife inwards monastic tell to boost the tillage of economical trees inwards the early on component division of 1900s were legend of the closing historic flow of that era. The contact of the Ewi together with Ado people with the British opened a novel chapter for Ado Kingdom inwards the 20th century. It was a chapter that eventually resulted inwards elevation of Ado-Ekiti every bit a District headquarters of Ekiti Native Authority inwards Ondo Province (of Northeastern Yoruba Territories) which formed component division of the Western Region inwards the Colony together with Protectorate of Nigeria (now the Federal Republic of Nigeria) together with is today, the upper-case missive of the alphabet of Ekiti State.
The gradual pause downwards together with trigger-happy apart of Ewi’s Kingdom after 19th century yesteryear the advent of British colonial dominion is made poignant with the grant of political together with territorial autonomy to various towns together with villages nether Ewi’s influence inwards the pre-colonial era. This is farther strengthened yesteryear the creation of modern local authorities scheme together with the composition of Council of Chiefs with the re-grading of the status of Chiefs together with granting of total autonomies to natural rulers inwards several communities.
Recent times
Chief J.E. Babatola (1995) noted that Ado Ekiti remains a geographical together with historic centre of Ekitiland, a nuclear setting amongst the old 16 Kingdoms together with the political administrative arrangements that succeeded them supported it. The originally 16 associated kingdoms that spanned the Ekiti solid ground had diplomatic ties which depended much for a proper functioning on the role that the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti together with the General of his Army played inwards sustaining harmony inwards the entire Ekiti territory. He asserted that the kingdoms of Egbe Oba (Ikole) together with Ijero gave Ado-Ekiti continual back upwardly inwards playing a leadership role. Hence, the traditional ties together with leadership role of Ado-Ekiti together with the cardinal spot of Ewi’s Kingdom amongst the 3 potential rulers of Ekitiland inwards its medieval flow of history suffice.
In the course of instruction of the history of Ekiti, only kingdoms exterior a straight centrifugal influence exerted from Ado-Ekiti were those of Otun, Ishan, Ayede together with Emure, 3 of them inwards the extreme N together with i on the extreme south. During the advent of colonial dominion inwards Ekiti, betwixt 1899 together with 1912, the British Colonial Government administered Ekitiland from Oke Imo together with from 1913 decided to select Ado-Ewi every bit a convenient centre for its Ekiti administration, piece changing the town’s call to Ado-Ekiti inwards recognition that Ado-Ekiti is the nervus centre of Ekiti people’s social together with economical activities. In the areas of religious harmony inwards Ekiti affairs, major religious activities designed for Ekiti specially for both the Anglican together with the Roman Catholic Churches, have got Ado-Ekiti every bit the Seat of their Bishops. In the academic field, Ado-Ekiti is the spot of the Federal Polytechnic together with the Ondo State University (now renamed Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti). The location of these institutions so bears witness to the central-ness of Ado Ekiti inwards the see of Ekitiland.
Chief J.E. Babatola also indicated that most of the organizations that made demands for the creation of an Ekiti State wanted Ado-Ekiti every bit its upper-case missive of the alphabet because Ado-Ekiti is uniquely a natural setting capable of resultant evolution of its landscape together with facilities inwards a way to assist the finance of the management of a novel State. Part of the summary of the presentation to Mbanefo’s Panel on State Creation for the selection of Ado-Ekiti every bit the State Capital inwards Chief Babatola’s submission was his presentation of the Ekiti Map where he referred to the population sizes of Ekitis together with showed that the percentages yielded yesteryear the population of Ekiti North (headquarters at Ikole), Ijero (headquarters at Ijero) together with Ero (headquarters at Ido Ekiti) are respectively 13.03, 0.93, together with 15.35, piece that of Ado stood at 28.43% of their entire population. He noted that inwards using a map of Ekiti produced earlier Akure opted out of the Ekiti confederacy inwards 1946, the centre of remainder geometrically inwards Ekitiland betwixt 1913 together with 1946 was Itaipe surface area (the picnic Earth at Ado-Ekiti). He highlighted the efforts of Ado-Ekiti people to brand the Ekiti Division of Ondo Province accomplish evolution inwards damage of route transportation, creation of solid ground banking company for business organisation together with official usage through existence of route infrastructures to link the town with the other Ekiti administrative divisions, extensive Government Reservation Areas to theatre authorities officials (i.e. District Officers, judges together with magistrates), the Ewi-in-Council 1975 augmentation of Government efforts yesteryear creation of solid ground banking company for evolution purposes, construction of several buildings yesteryear the Federal together with State Governments for the official usage of the administrative, judiciary, police clit together with prison theatre departments, existing communication facilities together with adequate provision for effective management of justice together with safety of lives inwards Ekitiland which is at its best inwards Ado-Ekiti. He noted that since Ekitis naturally come upwardly to Ado-Ekiti regularly together with settle at that spot inwards large numbers to do business organisation together with contribute enormously to the increased prosperity of Ekiti people, Ado-Ekiti is a befitting spot to site the capital. He concluded that ‘…Ado-Ekiti is already a fortunate property with no liability attached inwards setting upwardly the apparatus for a province capital…”
Ado-Ekiti eventually became the upper-case missive of the alphabet of Ekiti State when the province was created on 1 Oct 1996. The demand for equity amongst Ekiti people together with equality of Ekiti Kingdoms was brought to lite inwards the agitation for the location of the province upper-case missive of the alphabet inwards unlike communities; no component division of Ekiti would view itself every bit subordinate or less developed to the others. This is the politics of evolution inwards modern Ekiti State since 1999 together with i of the major challenges of political governance, leadership aspirations together with policy making.
Political violence sparked a protestation march inwards Ado-Ekiti inwards Jan 2009. Residents took to the streets demanding authorities activity next a spate of political violence involving reported murders, assassination attempts, together with at to the lowest degree i arson of a journalist's home.[2]
Demographics
Some 50 years ago, the metropolis began to grow/expand beyond its peripheries together with ancient gates together with ramparts. In 1963, the metropolis was the largest urban centre inwards nowadays Ondo together with Ekiti States together with its population of 158,000 at the census of that twelvemonth represented it every bit the most populous urban centre inwards Eastern Yorubaland. The 1991 population count confirmed the primacy of the city, at to the lowest degree inwards Ekiti. The creation of Ekiti State inwards Oct 1996 together with the establishment of province upper-case missive of the alphabet at Ado-Ekiti volition farther heighten the city's physical development.
The phenomenal growth together with evolution mentioned higher upwardly have got been due to many factors. Many of these are citizens of Ado urban, some are citizens of Ado rural, some are stranger elements, a yoke of them are fifty-fifty Europeans together with other expatriates. The citizenry warmly welcomed these development. For example, when the main route from the National Bank junction, through Erekesan together with Ereguru to Ojumose was tarred inwards 1952 together with the major route from Ajilosun through Ijigbo, Orereowu, Okesa together with Obada etc. a subdivision of Akure - Ilorin road, was tarred inwards 1956, the really welcome evolution was rendered inwards pop juju songs, i of which rang:
Baba wa te 'ri oda l'ado (Our fathers walked on tarred roads at Ado)
Ko o bi ko e e (what a delight, what a delight)
e e o (very good so)
Ko o bi ko e e (What a delight, what a delight)
The layout of Ado-Ewi drawn upwardly together with successfully implemented from the fourth dimension of Ewi Awamaro together with enlarged yesteryear Ewi Gberubioya were only slightly modified to address the issues of border relations, internal safety together with reduction of threats to the heartland of Ewi’s Kingdom after the turbulence together with wars of 19th century. Since the era of Ewi Awamaro, the pattern of Ado-Ewi Layout had been implemented inwards a style that left the foremost settlers relocated exterior the vicinity of the Ewi’s Palace inwards an organisation that left the community around Ewi inwards a preferred order. Ewi’s palace was foremost built where Chief Arowa at nowadays resides closed to Erekesan (King’s Market). The layout was component division of the physical features inwards the traditional settings together with layout of Ado-Ekiti, the panoramic sentiment every bit at the kickoff of 1800. Ewi Akulojuorun (1781-1808), Ewi Aroloye (1808-1836) who reigned at Ado but was attacked successively yesteryear Republic of Benin hordes.
Ado-Ekiti was a 3 sector traditional grouping with its unique organisation of its ingredient traditional entities inwards the Ewi’s traditional cabinet. The 3 major traditional political divisions of Ado-Ekiti with their unique graphic explanation of the Ewi’s traditional cabinet are every bit shown inwards the historical graph produced yesteryear Chief J.E. Babatola with 31 Ado Chiefs every bit a Rejoinder to Chief Oisa Fasuba’s Memo 1975/76 on the organisation of Ado landscape together with Chieftaincy kickoff from the reign of Ewi Awamaro. It shows that Ado-Ekiti consist of OKE EWI, ODO ADO together with OGBON META.
Religion
Among the most conspicuous of the groovy changes were the introduction together with expansion of Christianity together with Islam. Christian missions especially of the CMS, Roman Catholic, Baptist, African Church together with Methodist, after the Cherubum together with Seraphim together with Apostolic Church took root together with expanded during the 20th century. Each of these Christian communities established numerous churches such that yesteryear 1970, the CMS (Anglican) together with the Roman Catholic had grown so fast that they had go dioceses with their headquarters together with seats of bishops inwards Ado-Ekiti. The 2 missions had 3 grammer schools, the number increased to 5 inwards 1990. The growth of Christian communities was really rapid betwixt 1970 together with 2000; novel missions together with denominations Pentecostal, Charismatic, Evangelical together with Episcopal arose, swelling upwardly existing communions. Altogether over i hundred churches were recorded inwards the metropolis inwards the twelvemonth 2000.
The Muslim community did non lag behind, the faith spread. The cardinal mosque was built virtually 1930 together with thereafter, a number of mosques were built inwards Idemo, Umayo, Isato (Irona), Ogbonado, Okesa, Oke-Ila etc. The Ansar-Ud-Deen emerged inwards the early on 1940s. As a thing of fact, the number of mosques together with the number of Muslims who have got performed the Hajj tin can readily come upwardly to paw every bit indices of expansion. The number of mosques increased substantially with the growing number of well-to-do Muslim who build mosques every bit annexes to their individual homes; yesteryear the twelvemonth 2000, to a greater extent than than 40 mosques could live counted inwards the city. By 1960, only Alhaji Akorede had performed the Hajj but the number of Alhajs increased inwards the 1970s together with steadily increased inwards the 1980s together with 1990s.
Education
In contemporary times, western teaching had been the style throughout Ekiti. Ado-Ekiti took the Pb with the number of educational institutions.
In March 1896, Old Emmanuel School was established at Odo Aremu. In 1917, the Roman Catholic Mission established St. Patrick's Primary School. By the 1950s, the number of primary together with secondary modern schools had increased really substantially. By 1974, the CMS lone had 104 primary schools, 8 secondary schools, together with a teachers' college.
In the early on 1930s, the Venerable Archdeacon Henry. Dallimore superintendent of the CMS mission established Christ's School inwards 1933. It was raised yesteryear the priest to a Middle School together with finally towards the cease of the 1940s it became a full-fledged Grammar School. He was succeeded every bit Principal together with High Master yesteryear Canon LD Mason from 1948-1966. Chief RA Ogunlade was Principal from 1966 to 1972. Christs School, Ado-Ekiti has contributed greatly to the educational together with scientific advancement of Nigeria inwards full general together with Ondo-province inwards particular. Within a brusque bridge of fourth dimension Christs schoolhouse had produced i of the highest numbers of Professors inwards virtually all fields of learning together with especially the professions inwards Nigeria. Christ school, was indeed, i of the footing of the epithet that Ekiti is the "fountain of knowledge". Another possible explanation for the "fountain of knowledge" sobriquet for Ekiti inwards general, is the historical fact that Agboniregun the progenitor of Ifa corpus of knowledge inwards Yoruba cosmology, also had Ekiti roots. Christs schoolhouse Alumni are found inwards academia together with professions around the Earth today. In the early on 1950s, the Ekiti Progressive Union built a 2d grammer schoolhouse at Ido-Ekiti the Ekiti Parapo College, inwards celebration of the overthrow of the Ibadan overlordship next the Kiriji or Ekiti Parapo war. Soon after the CMS agreed to separate Christ's School into 2 (boys' subdivision together with Girls' Section)-as a outcome of the major road(Iworoko Road) which naturally divided the 2 sections into two) viz: Christ's School,Ado Ekiti together with Christ's Girls' School,Ado Ekiti.
Thence forth, communities took it inwards their strides to get upwardly funds together with found a number of community grammer schools. Ado-Ekiti established its ain inwards 1960 together with some other i towards the cease of the 1970s. The number of Grammar Schools kept increasing together with yesteryear the twelvemonth 2000, at that spot were twelve student grammer schools, individual grammer schools numbered six, a total of eighteen. The Federal Government established its polytechnic at Ikewo, Ado-Ekiti, the defunct Ondo State University established its University at Ilewu, Ado-Ekiti.
Within a flow of 50 years, much evolution inwards western teaching had taken spot inwards Ekiti inwards full general together with Ado-Ekiti inwards particular. Chief E. A. Babalola, a native of Oye-Ekiti was foremost University graduate inwards Ekiti. Chief Alex olu Ajayi was the foremost graduate from Ado-Ekiti graduating BA (HONS) from Fourah Bay College, inwards 1953, followed yesteryear a postgraduate diploma inwards Education from the University of London inwards 1954. Thereafter, Ado Ekiti has produced many illustrious sons together with daughters from Earth grade universities, many of whom are professors inwards many scientific, medical, social sciences, Engineering together with humanities disciplines within barely one-half a century. . Chief E Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Babalola from Oye-Ekiti was a high schoolhouse master copy inwards 1947 together with he took over the direction of Christ's High School, Ado-Ekiti when Archdeacon Dallimore retired together with left for Britain. Today, the Ekitis are found inwards large numbers inwards every academic together with professional person positions, Ado-Ekiti has a disproportionate impact inwards the academic Earth both inwards Nigeria together with globally.
Economy
Tremendous evolution took spot inwards the tillage of economical crops, tillage together with collection of wood products such every bit kolanut (cola acuminata, Obi abata together with cola nitida, gbanja) together with stone oil palm produce, commerce together with trade. Much of the impetus of all these came initially from Mr. Isaac Ifamuboni (later Babamuboni) together with a number of early on Christians from Lagos, Abeokuta together with Ibadan. These men introduced the tillage of cocoa, maize, chocolate-brown cocoyam etc. to Ekiti. Wage earning labourers from parts of Ekiti who went to piece of work inwards Ondo, Ijebu together with Ife boosted the tillage of these economical trees.
Ewi Aladesanmi II encouraged the tillage of cash crops together with establishment of trading together with commercial enterprises amongst Ado citizenry. The Urhobo came into Ado communities inwards the early on 1940s with their ain mode of palm stone oil extraction. The Ebira came inwards large numbers inwards the 1940s together with 1950s introducing the tillage of their ain specie of yams, cassava together with beans. In the early on 1950s, Igbemo, together with Ado community started the tillage of rice, the style spread to Iworoko inwards the 1960s together with presently inwards the 1970s to other Ekiti communities such every bit Erio etc. These nutrient crops boosted nutrient production together with contributed to the sustenance of the growing population of Ado communities, especially Ado-Ekiti, together with yesteryear extension, other Ekiti together with non-Ekiti communities.
The progress made inwards Western education, tillage of nutrient crop together with of economical trees, every bit good every bit the establishment of commercial ventures brought groovy turn a profit to Ado-Ekiti. In the early on 1940s large fourth dimension commercial firms (companies) such every bit U.A.C together with inwards after years John Holt, U.T.C, C.F.A.O, established factories inwards the city. The Post together with Telegraph at nowadays (NIPOST) established a station inwards this metropolis inwards 1947/48 causing posting together with collection of mails at the District Officer's business office at Ayoba to cease. In 1958, pipe-borne H2O facility was provided making Ado-Ekiti the foremost town inwards nowadays Ondo together with Ekiti States to bask the facility. Two years later, ECN (now NEPA) extended electricity to the city. These facilities enhanced/increased commercial activities together with brought immense socio-economic do goodness together with improved measure of life to the people. From the 1950s, commercial banks, at foremost the National Bank, the Union Bank, together with inwards the 1960s together with 1970s Co-operative Bank together with United Bank for West Africa, opened their branch offices inwards Ado-Ekiti.
In the early on 1970s, Brigadier RA Adebayo, the 2d armed forces Governor of Western Region partnered with Mr Soliman Nagarty to extablish a Textile factory at Ado-Ekiti ( Western Nigeria Textile Industry Corporation) or WESTEXINCO)
Sport
Ado Ekiti has a stadium with a capacity of 10,000 together with a tertiary sectionalization professional person football game league team.
Oye-Ekiti
Oye is i of the 16th kingdoms of Ekiti land. Oye-Ekiti people are a grouping of the south-western
Yoruba, inhabiting the administrative headquarters’ of the nowadays Oye Local Government surface area of Ekiti State. The Old Oye kingdom comprises of 5 villages namely Oye, Ire, Egosi, Eshetta, (Egosi together with Eshetta have got come upwardly together every bit Ilupeju) together with Arigidi Ekiti (now Ayegbaju) together with covers an surface area of virtually 64 foursquare miles (NationalArchive, Ibadan). The population of Oye-Ekiti according to the 1952 national census was 13,696, (National Archive, Ibadan), 57,196 inwards 1963 together with inwards 2006 the population was 168,251(National Population Commission 2006).
Oye-Ekiti is located at a full general height around 1500 feet with hills together with granite outcrops rising to virtually 200 feet. It is covered yesteryear thick wood with really little patches of high wood together with is surrounded yesteryear hills which supply her protection inwards times of war. In fact, the hills were a approving to the people especially during the Republic of Benin invasion inwards the 19th century (Akintoye 1921).
The root of Oye Ekiti which is also known every bit Obalatanland is associated with the founder
of the town, Oloyemoyin who was born inwards Imore district of Ile Ife (Owoyomi 1995). Thus, the
call Oye was coined from his call ‘Oloyemoyin’, a call supposedly position together because of the circumstances surrounding the nativity of the founder of Oye who was said to have got been born during a terrible together with ‘hostile’ harmattam which commonly blows from the Sahara desert over together with across N Africa countries together with to all parts of Nigeria. And to save his life, he was kept inwards a dark room with woman mortal deity called ‘Obalatan’ for an unspecified flow of time.
Thus, he was observed every bit a wonderful prince whose nativity had been accompanied yesteryear a horrible
harmattan, while, traditional lamps were lit together with arranged inwards the room both twenty-four hours together with dark to maintain the room warm, coupled with the harmattan was the attendant dryness of his mother’s thorax so much that she could non thorax feed him together with rather he was fed with honey inwards spot of thorax milk. This is why he was named Oloyemoyin, pregnant a harbinger of harmattan who fed on honey together with this is limited inwards the cognomen to the kid together with yesteryear extension all autochthons of Oye as; Omo Oloye, Omo ora ufe ketaana Osan gangan, pregnant that Oloye is an aboriginal boy of Ile-Ife who ever position on lite during the twenty-four hours (Oye Progressive Union 1994).
According to available oral evidence, the prince left Ile-Ife inwards society of his blood brother Ogunlire, the acclaimed founder of Ire-Ekiti, with a remarkable entourage, equipped with large armies, unsmooth weaponry, commanders, seers, oracles, priests together with subtle counselors. The entourage on their way from Ile-Ife foremost settled at Ule Oye Ora (National Archive Ibadan). At Oye Odo Ora, the aborigines were non happy with such intrusion together with every bit a outcome fought together with scattered them. They, therefore, moved to a novel settlement together with called it Oye Ekiti, piece Ogunlire migrated together with settled inwards Ire-Ekiti. Some settled inwards Egosi, together with others conquered Eshetta together with Arigidi while, Oye-Ekiti became the caput of these towns together with Oloye was recognized yesteryear them every bit their leader beingness the eldest boy of theirmother, Yeye Aiye (National Achive, District Officer Diary Ibadan). (click here: http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/T%20&%20T/T%20&%20T-09-0-000-11-Web/T%20&%20T-09-2-000-11-Abst-PDF/S-T&T-09-2-123-11-221-Onipede-K-J/S-T&T-09-2-123-11-221-Onipede-K-J-Tt.pdf)
Ikere-Ekiti
“The foremost Olukere came from Ile-Ife together with founded Ikere, much later, the foremost Ogoga, a hunter, left his base of operations inwards Republic of Benin together with came to Ikere on a hunting spree. Reaching Ikere, he went together with stayed with the Olukere at his palace. As fourth dimension passed by, the number of people bringing cases to the Olukere for settlement started increasing yesteryear the twenty-four hours until it reached a dot when he could non do everything alone. He together with so asked Ogoga to go together with remain at Iro to attend to the people on his behalf piece he, the Olukere would proceed with other traditional assignments. The Ogoga started carrying out the project assigned to him until he eventually attained the spot of authority.”
As ordained yesteryear tradition, Ogoga together with Olukere usually run into in i lawsuit a twelvemonth during the Olosunta festival. That day, Olukere wears his crown piece the Ogoga only wears a cap. Today, both Ogoga together with Olukere are, inwards the best involvement of the people, to a greater extent than oftentimes than non seen every bit the head. And both are on the authorities payroll.
Ogoga together with Olukere alive inwards 2 unlike worlds. The attainment of University Degree position Ogoga at the forefront piece Olukere a really intelligent together with i who fully understands the scientific discipline of powerfulness sharing continues every bit the traditional head. However, i thing they both have got inwards mutual is the science to sympathise the want of their subjects together with of winning their confidence. If anything, they seek non to subscribe to the thought of absolute monarch.
Ikere, inwards its uniqueness, remains a complex society, a picayune conglomerate inwards its ain right. History reveals that the resident of Ikere had their root from unlike towns together with cities inwards Yoruba land.
They are people whose existence defines unity together with their nickname, “Ekiti Parapo,” echoes it proudly. Welcome to the only metropolis ruled yesteryear 2 Kings. Ikere-Ekiti, “a wonderland wallowing inwards an admixture of profound civilization together with tenacious cultural learning “. Headline, a reputable Nigerian Newspaper which foremost ran this story described it every bit “an expansive metropolis lucky plenty to escape beingness choked yesteryear the mighty rocks that dots its western part”. Ladies together with gentlemen, this is the story of Ikere – a groovy metropolis located on the southern component division of Ekiti State inwards Nigeria.
Royalty is a rich literary together with artistic tradition, which has influenced the evolution of cultures around the world. This is peradventure i of the reasons people have got such a high regard for the establishment of royalty. Royalty, with its rich history is i within a geographical location such every bit a city, or a nation. One King together with i Queen inwards England, i King inwards Morocco, i inwards Norway, Argentina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia together with so on. But 2 Kings, otherwise known every bit “Obas” inwards Ikere-Ekiti! Oduduwa, the founding manlike mortal parent of the Yoruba solid ground established Ile-Ife, the traditional headquarters of the Yorubas. He never had a 2d or complementary King or Oba. There has never been 2 Oonis reigning simultaneously inwards Ile-Ife.
Battle-loving Aare Onakakanfo wielded tremendous influence inwards the old Oyo Empire, yet Oyo maintains i Alafin. Ibadan, the largest metropolis inwards West Africa had ever had powerful personalities. Among those inwards the kickoff was Efunsetan Aniwura. Yet, Ibadan had never introduced 2 Olubadan.
Ogedengbe, the intractable warrior inwards Ijesa land, was a personality to behold. Ilesa never introduced 2 Agunlejikas because of him. Osogbo together with Osun are almost synonymous. Ataoja, nontheless, is the only recognized Oba inwards Osogbo. There has ever been i Oba (each metropolis inwards Yoruba land), i Emir (Hausa land), together with i Obi (Ibo land).
Itapa
Itapa is i of the towns inwards Ekiti solid ground which sprang from odufuwa of life together with Owatapa is the head. Itapa is i of the goddess beingness worshipped at Ile-ife. Its festival is held for a flow of xxx days together with worshipped yesteryear Ooni together with his people till today. It is worshipped till today. The festival is called Utaale at Itapa.
Ifa devotees of Itapa
Amowa together with Elepe, sons of Oduduwa left Ile-ife with their mother, they also came with 2 friends known every bit Elemo together with Baaro. These people were hunters. At a phase Elepe took his acquire out together with settled at i of Itapa's farms called Osin, Another blood brother of Amowa settled inwards Itapa farm called Ijelu together with he after became Elejelu. Amowa was the foremost OLOSIN of Osin. There are other goods called Elutapa together with Orisa Itapa which are worshiped yesteryear Ooni till today.
Owa attends these gods through his elected priests called Ayaya every bit the priest of Elutapa together with Aworo Orisa Ilawe every bit the priest of Orisa Itapa or Ilawe. Elemo took his quarter together with go the caput of Remo piece Baaro became caput of Egetun. All of them were groovy hunters.
Many people came to settle with them together with they became prosperous. These heads of quarters regarded Owatapa every bit their caput together with the people approached Owatapa through their heads, together with Owatapa has the terminal say over all matters brought earlier him.
Here are the names of the Owatapa inwards monastic tell of Precedent.
The foremost Owatapa was Amowa;
The 2nd Owatapa was Muaro, Amowa's son;
The 3rd Owatapa was Jejeke;
The fourth Owatapa was Ponrokun, he removed his palace from Iloro Remo to where it is today. Chief Oisemo was asked to take accuse of the palace.
The fifth Owatapa was Yioye;
The sixth Owatapa was Abaradudu;
The seventh Owatapa was Awadieruasola;
The eighth Owatapa was Arawamokunrin during the reign of this Owa, his town Itapa was overcrowded together with many people went to settle at Egosi together with at a spot called Ila.
The ninth Owatapa was Agiriyoyo;
The tenth Owatapa was Akitipa- Obibo;
The 11th Owatapa was Ijimgbere Oke;
The twelfth Owatapa was Owa Edun Alaye;
The 13th Owatapa was Iboun;
The 14th Owatapa was Ajakobijagba;
The 15th Owatapa was Okekorokoro ni kin ma gun on;
The 16th Owatapa was Agodisoro;
The 17th Owatapa was Owa Okogirigiri ni ki nwon ma di on;
The 18th Owatapa was Owa Ogogu;
This Owa wanted to recall his people from Egosi but the people at Egosi at nowadays called Ilupeju refused to release them together with this after resulted into war. This state of war was called 'Ogun yinmomo' -i.e give me child. The people of Egosi were assisted yesteryear Ikole. When Itapas went to war, the Ikole came to Itapa together with carried away their children together with sold them. They were driven away.
During this war,another state of war from Ilorin led yesteryear Aliyu carried people from Itapa, Ikole together with Egosi away. They captured Prince Arowogbadamu at the historic flow of 7 years together with it was during this state of war that Owatapa thereby becoming the 19th Owatapa.
Owa Amerijoye made an alliance with Ata who also came from Iye inwards instance of whatsoever other assault or war. They both settled together at Aiyede. When Ibadan state of war broke out, Ata was captured together with sojourned inwards Lagos from where he was brought to go the 20th Oba.
The 21st Owatapa was Owa Ola I;
The 22nd Owatapa was Owa Ademiloye;
The 23rd Owatapa was Ali Sanni - the boy of Arowogbadamu, who was installed Owa inwards 1929.
The 24th Owatapa was Owa Ojo (Ola II);
The 25th Owatapa was Owa Amuda Adeyeye Ali ( Atabatele II), he was installed on the 17th Apr 1987, together with reigned for Twenty-Two (22) years to Dec 29, 2009.
The 26th Owatapa is HRM Oba (Dr) D. O Makanjoula Ajaja, who started his reign of transformation together with restoration on the 25th twenty-four hours of November, 2011 together with had his Official Coronation every bit the OWATAPA of ITAPA EKITI on the 31st twenty-four hours of March, 2012.
Ade a pe lori o. Kabiyesi... Ire o!!!
Igede-Ekiti
Like a typical Yoruba town, a lot of stories, legends, myths together with oral tales abound with honor to the root together with tradition of Igede-Ekiti.
Ake, a hunter together with herbalist founded Igede. Erindo, his married adult woman together with Awota, his retainer migrated from Ile-Ife. They settled at Okesu. Ake together with his married adult woman were blessed with xvi (16) children, 8 (8) boys together with 8 (8) girls. Among the children were Osun, Elemi, Orunro, Ogbese, Elerinmo together with Okunsusi.
Immediately after the decease of Ake, at that spot was a struggle for leadership amongst the children. This led to a civil state of war where a high grade of metaphysical mightiness through the usage of incantations was displayed. Eventually, the most elderly ones destroyed themselves together with thus, Okunusi, a younger but highly intelligent together with courageous fellow member of the household unit of measurement took over the drape of leadership. He became the foremost Rex of Igede at Okesu because his father, Ake was never appointed a king.
With increasing population, the number of settlers at Okesu outgrew the total solid ground infinite together with hence the demand to motion to a to a greater extent than relatively land surface area to settle at Odogede. This was the root of the proverb “Odo, Baba Igede”. Oba Obirimoko was the foremost Onigede to settle at Odogede. However, he lived a horrifying life together with left a bad tape together with hence, his reign was ruled out of monastic tell together with never to live listed every bit an Oba of Igede-Ekiti.
The call IGEDE was a derivative of the term “OGEDE” pregnant incantations. This call was given to the settlement when the civil state of war was fought with a lot of incantations. Incantations were a powerful weapon of state of war inwards those days every bit a display of metaphysical knowledge.
The other story that the immature lady of Alara of Aramoko-Ekiti who married the boy of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti gave nativity to a babe called Ige on her way to Ado-Ekiti at Odegede was non authenticated every bit the footing for deriving the call of the town – Igede (Signifying that Ige has arrived).
Igede-Ekiti lies within latitudes seventy 391 together with 7 0 411 North of the Equator together with Longitudes 50 71 together with 50 81 East of the Greenwish Meridian. It is the Headquarters of Irepodun / Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ondo State. It is bounded inwards the North yesteryear Awo-Ekiti, inwards the South yesteryear Ilawe-Ekiti, inwards the East yesteryear Iyin-Ekiti along Ado-Ekiti side, together with inwards the West yesteryear Aramoko-Ekiti. It is at a distance of 64 kilometers from Akure, the upper-case missive of the alphabet of Ondo State. It covered solid ground surface area of virtually 3.8 foursquare kilometres with a populatoin of 31,041 people (1966 census). Igede-Ekiti belongs to a grouping called ‘Ekiti’. The Ekitis settled inwards the Eastern component division of the old Western State of Nigeria at nowadays known every bit Oyo, Ogun together with Ondo State.
The people speak Ekiti dialect which is oftentimes mixed with measure Yoruba language. The civilization of the people with honor to mode of dressing, eating habits, housing, marriage, burial together with naming ceremonies follow the same pattern every bit practised inwards Yorubaland.
Igede is a nodal settlement. It is situated on a relatively high Earth with the highest dot at Esu hill, together with an out-crop at Okeaga inwards Odogede quarter. This topography makes Igede a watershed region. River Osun, otherwise worshipped together with adorned every bit “Osun Oshogbo” takes its source from Igede at a portion betwixt Igede together with Awo-Ekiti. There are other rivers together with streams such every bit Elemi, Ogbese, Inansi, Ogangan together with Ogburuu. Gully erosion has adversely affected parts of the town at Irona, Odo-Uri together with Ilamoye. Igede falls within the rainforest belt of southwestern Nigeria.Its vegetation is so evergreen rainforest type. This type of vegetation favours agricultural practices. More than 90% of the inhabitants are farmers.
The farm products include cocoa, accounting for to a greater extent than than 80% of the income of the farming population, kolanut (both Acumulata together with Nitida), stone oil palm, yam, cocoyam, maize cassava, vegetables together with to some extent, rice, Palm vino is Igede’s all the twelvemonth cash earner together with pop imbibe “OGORO IGEDE”. The location within the humid torrid zone makes the town together with its environs bask tropical hot together with moisture type of climate. There is a rainy flavor from Apr to Oct together with a dry out flavor from Nov to March. The rainfall regime is of the monastic tell onset, advance together with retreat. On the average, the rainfall is virtually 1,450mm/year. If non for recent conditions changes, Igede enjoys a brusque spell of picayune rainfall inwards the calendar month of August (August Break) together with harmattan inwards Dec to Jan months.
Awo-Ekiti
Awo-Ekiti is a little town inwards the newly created Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government surface area of Ondo State. Before the creation of the novel Local Government, the town was within the defunct Ekiti Central Local Government. It is virtually vi kilometers from Igede-Ekiti, the Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government headquarters, together with virtually 20 2 kilometers from Ado-Ekiti through Igede/Iyin road. The town is situated within longitude 15½0E of the Greenwich together with Latitude 6¾0 North of the Equator.
Awo-Ekiti is a centrally located town inwards Ekitiland. It is within the heartland of Ekitiland. The cardinal location of the town has non been appreciated simply because of the piteous roads which transcend through the town.Travellers prefer long but practiced roads to piteous but brusque roads. It is when the vi roads that converge on the town are developed that the modality of the town within Ekitiland would come upwardly into focus. The cardinal location of the town makes it shape the shortest route to all corners together with major towns inwards Ekitiland. For example, Ido-Ekiti via Osi through Awo/Igede-Ilawe to Igbara Odo is only 40 kilometers. Ado-Ekiti via old Iyin settlement through Awo/Ara to Ijero Ekiti is exactly 22km. Ifaki via Esure/Eyio through Awo to Aramoko inwards Ekiti West is only 28km. The major towns at the periphery of Ekitiland such every bit Otun, Efon Alaye, Ikere, Ikole are nearly equidistant to Awo Ekiti. With the evolution of the roads, the strategic location of the town would live a strong factor inwards its growth together with development.
The town is situated on a high elevation of virtually 1,800 inwards higher upwardly the sea level. It is on i of the high plains of Western Nigeria. The height gives the town some unique conditions conditions. Throughout the year, the conditions is moderately cool together with its H2O are usually mutual frigidity most especially during the dry out season. When a lot of people inwards the town prefer the naturally mutual frigidity H2O to fridged water. The solid ground likewise is good drained no H2O lodging together with flooding.
The Plateau on which the town situates forms a watershed for tributaries which flow into River Ogbese inwards the South together with River Osun inwards West. It is interesting to banking company annotation that these 2 of import rivers inwards Western Nigeria takes their sourcs exactly a few kilometers apart at the outskirt of the town. The 2 rivers are of import every bit they are beingness worshipped yesteryear a large community of people inwards Western Nigeria.
Very spectacular inwards the topography of the town inwards the Igori Rock which is exactly only i together with a one-half kilometres due east of the town. This loma an outcrop of granite, is reminisent of the beautiful rocky landscape of Idanre. This massive, stone but smoothen characteristic presents a fascinating tourist attraction which ought to live developed yesteryear the province government. The top of the loma is an ideal spot to build challets to boost the tourist manufacture inwards the state. Standing on this loma i has a panoramic sentiment of a rolling countryside whose distant hills together with horizon merge with the blueish sky.
History
The original inhabitants of Awo were believed to have got come upwardly from Ifè Oòdáyé. They were component division of the waves of Yorùbá who migrated from Ile-Ife to found settlements inwards the nowadays South-Western Nigeria. The foundation of Awo inwards its nowadays site was every bit a outcome of amalgamation of some villages which agreed to cooperate for defensive reasons, every bit a outcome of mutual threats from stronger – chiefdoms. This was virtually 1350 A.D.
The community which after became Awo had its nucleus inwards a little settlement at Ijoru. The little settlement inwards after fourth dimension became component division of Oke-Uba Quarter nether Osukoti of Awo Ekiti. At Ijoru was a marketplace called Olujoda which was held every ix other days yesteryear such nearby settlements at Uju together with Ile-Ona. The groovy importance of the marketplace of Odo settlement who engaged Ijoru, Uju, Ile-Ona together with other surrounding hamlets inwards warfare. The incessant attacks from Odo people forced the settlements to motion close. Their united efforts helped them to position a permanent halt to Odo attacks. This early on was referred to every bit Ogun Owuro.
Some years after the amalgation of the settlements that jointly fought Odo war, Olujoda marketplace was abandoned together with a to a greater extent than cardinal marketplace called ‘ATOWOSE’ was created. The groovy strength of the novel settlement every bit good every bit its flourishing merchandise inwards kolanuts attracted the fancy of Odo people. The negotiated peace with the people of the novel settlement together with and so many of the people from Odo moved inwards to settle with them. It was at this fourth dimension an Ife Prince arrived at the settlement. The Ifew Prince was Akinadesanmi (but simply called Akinsanmi). He after became the foremost paramount ruler of the settlement with the championship – Alawo of Awo.
Akinsanmi was i of the grand princes of Ile-Ife who with their followers left Ile-Ife some hundreds of years earlier the Yoruba inter-tribal wars. The grouping was led yesteryear a senior blood brother of Akinsanmi yesteryear call Okiribiti nicknamed Obadudu. He was fearless together with popular. He after founded the settlement at nowadays called Emure Ijaloke together with thus became the foremost Elemure of Emure Ijaloke. Olosi who after founded Osi-Ekiti (in Ido/Osi Local Government) also a blood brother to Akinsanmi was inwards the group. They left Ife with many beaded crowns together with beads. The grouping arrived at Igbo Owa close River Ose where a powerful kingdom was established. Rivalry amongst Akinsanmi together with his blood brother princes every bit good every bit attacks from Oba of Ado Ibini led to the autumn of Igbo Owa Kingdom. The grouping together with so split together with migrated inwards smaller groups settling inwards places i after the other.
Akinsanmi led a grouping which settled at Oba-Ile close Akure together with after at Ise earlier he arrived to settle finally at the settlement within Atowose marketplace surround which after became known known every bit Awo. On his way from Ise he fed mainly on baobab tree fruit. Ejisun, Erinwa, Edemo, Oluaro Aroro together with Edemorun accompanied him every bit his followers on arrival.
Akinsanmi was a groovy hunter together with a powerful medicine man. He was also really handsome together with could alter his torso peel into unlike colours similar a chameleon. He killed many animals together with so dresed inwards unlike animals skins which were varied inwards colour. The oftentimes changing torso peel together with his garments of varied animate beingness skins made people to popularly refer to him every bit ‘Alawo ewu arabara’. From this, the call Alawo is coined together with the settlement became known every bit ‘Ilu Awo’. He oftentimes displayed his medicine charms hung on ‘Igba – (the type of coined ropes used for climbing palm tree). He used it every bit a necklace (Igbajo) inwards add-on to beaded necklace. This, he believed gave him magical powerfulness against his enemies, together with made his medicine handy for usage during whatsoever emergency. So, for magical powerfulness against enemies ‘Igbajo’ was traditionally given to every newly installed Alawo every bit component division of his regalia. It was nonetheless used lastly at the installation of Oba Filani Adesiyan inwards 1930.
People feared Akinsanmi (Alias Alawo ewu arabara) together with was highly respected. With fourth dimension he became recognised every bit the leader together with paramount main of the settlement (Awo). His fame extended to some far places together with some people left their villages to settle at Awo. People from Ikole. Oba-Ile amongst others came to settle. Among such people were Elesi together with Elese from the royal lineage of Osi-Ikole together with Ilese respectively. The 2 men left their villages when they were non made paramount chiefs there. Both of them knew the traditional coronation rites every bit practised inwards their villages. They were together with so given the honour to perform the installation of Akinsanmi every bit the foremost Alawo of Awo. The 2 became recognised chiefs every bit Elesi together with Elese. The official traditional duties of the Elesi together with Elese upwardly till this twenty-four hours is to install novel Alawo.
Awo people have got no mutual oriki similar some other towns. For example: Osi-Ekiti has ‘Asise’ every bit its oriki, Ifaki every bit Orinkinran, Iyin is Egirioke together with Akure is Oyemekun. The argue for this is simply that the original inhabitants of Awo came from unlike angle. Its royal household unit of measurement has its oriki which originated inwards the mortal of Oba Akinsanmi the foremost Alawo. Because of his boldness, his garments of varied colours, his feeding on baobab tree fruits together with his arrival at Awo after his brief remain at Ise, members of the royal household unit of measurement at Awo have got their oriki thus: Omo Akin, Omo Aláwò èwù àràbarà, Omo olòsè (baobab) Omo irà lílá ònà Ìsè e.t.c.
When Alawo arrived at Awo, the settlement of Eyinke was non far from Awo together with a adult man called Ogbese was its paramount ruler. He was a hunter every bit good every bit groovy warrior. He was also a powerful medicine man. As Alawo was inwards history but it was faced inwards its early on days with incessant harassments of invaders. For this argue the Alawo palace was removed from its original site at Oke -Uba which was really prone to assault to Erewa which appeared a to a greater extent than secured place. The construction of the foremost palace at Erewa had non been completed when the incoming Alawo left the palace at Oke-Uba. He had to remain for 3 months inwards a chemical compound closed to the novel palace site at Erewa earlier he moved inwards after the completion. He gave the call Ile Aro to the chemical compound where he stayed together with the caput of the chemical compound was given the championship ‘Aro’. For years it was customary for newly installed Alawo to remain inwards main Aro’s theatre for 3 months earlier moving to the palace. The flow was used to brand necessary repairs to the grass thatched roof of the palace. Now that the palace is roofed with corrugated Fe sheets at that spot is no demand for whatsoever novel Alawo to remain for 3 months. From the fourth dimension of Oba J. D. Aladejuyigbe III inwards 1968 the remain has been for 3 days only.
Early inwards its history, Awo evolved a stable political system. Alawo was together with soundless the paramount ruler together with he ruled with the assistance of his chiefs. There was the traditional council of state. It was made upwardly of:
numo Chiefs consisting of 3 Iare, 3 Iro together with 3 Emo.
Elegbe consisting of 3 Agba Elegbe, 3 Agba Akin together with 3 Oisa Ijokun from each of the 3 wards or quarters.
Egiri consisting of 3 Olorigbo, 3 Elegiri together with 3 Elerukuku.
Women Chiefs consisting of Eyedofin, Eyegun together with Eyesemore.
There was also the Ward Council which was made upwardly of precinct Chiefs (Olori Ebi).
The establishment of age-grade scheme was an of import aspect of the political organisation.The lowest grade was Otun Erukuku, followed yesteryear Agba Erukuku. These 2 age-grades took accuse of world works similar road, marketplace together with palace repairs together with construction. After vii years, Otun Erukuku moved to Agba Erukuku. From hither they moved to Origbo. The Orighos moved to Egiri together with Erigi moved to Oye Elegbe together with Agba Elegbe. The Elegbes were responsible for the maintenance of peace, they caught together with punished criminals similar witches, together with they made sacrifices to appease the gods of the town. They were also the warriors. The ablest fellow member was made the leader with the picayune Sajowa.
Among the early on traditional festivals was the Oodun or Oro Olofin festival. This was together with soundless is a traditional festival that is performed or celebrated yesteryear whatsoever straight Ife prince ruling a community. The traditional beaded crown is worn during the festival others were Ogun festival, Egungun festival together with the worshipping of Orisa Oja, Orisa Iko otherwise called Orisa Ojuna (god of fire) bought yesteryear the household unit of measurement that came from Ikole, Orisa Odo brought yesteryear Odo people together with Oyi the pop god of Oke-Uba ward.
Many Alawos has reigned since the demise of Akinsanmi. They included the following. (Their names are non all listed inwards chronological order) Oba Agodogbo bi ila a fi nsuru, Oba Aropupayoko, Oba Orun ku bi ojo, Oba Amolese, Oba Osodogbadamu, Oba Asowinon who broke the traditional law together with was waylaid yesteryear the Elegbe together with killed with their metallic rod i.e. Ogbo Elegbe, Oba Ona Owuro who after abdicated his throne together with left for Era where he became Elera of Era (now Araromi Ijero) Oba Adubienimu, who reigned at virtually 1650, Oba Ifamosaya 1860 – 1875, Oba Oyiyo Okeruku 1876, Oba Adesiyan I 1880 – 1900, Oba Aladejuyigbe I 1910 – 1925, Oba S. O. Aladejuyigbe II 1927 – 1930 who was the foremost enlightened Oba. The people found his reign likewise tyrannical together with he was dethroned on 27th of March 1930. He left Awo for Igede. He was allowed to come upwardly dorsum inwards 1941 but non every bit a king. People inwards after years judged him a practiced Rex but were likewise fast for his people. He lived inwards Awo till 1972 when he died, Oba Filani Adesiyan II 1930 – 1962 together with Oba J. D. Alade 1966 – 1977 who was the lastly of the yesteryear Alawos.
River Ogbese every bit a Powerful Deity inwards Awo-Ekiti
Ogbese was a pop adult man inwards the olden days. He was a groovy warriors, a hunter together with a powerful medicine man. People used to sing praise of him inwards these words “E e sode (he was a hunter), e e sawo (he was a medicine adult man or an herbalist), omo amurugbon wole peran (he could kill animals inwards a prostrating spot with his beard brushing the ground) Apamudanule (he killed his enemies during wars inwards hundreds so much that his blood drenched sword was used to live cleaned on the ground).
Ogbese was a prince of Ado. When his manlike mortal parent died, at that spot was a tussle betwixt him together with his junior brothers over who would dominion Ado after their father. The 2 brothers set for Ado-Ibini to acquire the staff of business office to rule, from the Oba of Ado-Ibini who was i of the vii sons of Okanbi. Before Ogbese got to Ado-Ibini, his junior blood brother had received the staff of office, a crown together with some beads. This province of affairs made Ogbese to grow annoyed together with to abhor his brother. To avoid serious clash betwixt Ogbese together with his brother, the Oba of Ado-Ibini gave Ogbese some other crown together with some beads. He advised him to go together with found a novel spot of settlement. The hatred betwixt the 2 made them decided non to see each other whatsoever to a greater extent than together with Ogbese ordered his children never to prostrate or kneel downwards earlier whatsoever mortal from his brother’s family.
Ogbese went northwestward together with founded a novel town called Eyinke. He was followed yesteryear members of his household unit of measurement together with the few people who were loyal to him.
Some years after he founded Eyinke, a state of war broke out betwixt Ado (where his blood brother was the paramount ruler) together with an enemy grouping from somewhere. The fighting was likewise much for Ado people that they sought the assist of Ogbese to assist them inwards the battle. Not minding the quarrel he had with his brother, he went together with fought together with won the battle for Ado.
This incident reveals the historical significance of the vocal “Ogbugbulomi, a mo ya ‘Gbese la o, Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 pamudanule oju re laa me io”. In measure yoruba it reads thus “Ogbugbulomi awa sadi Ogbese ni ilu Awo. Apamudanule Oju re la nwo”. This was vocal years after yesteryear Ado people inwards rememberance of the state of war fought for them yesteryear Ogbese.
To exhibit their gratitudes to Ogbese the ruler of Ado sent a slave annually to Ogbese. It was the coming of the European to Nigeria that position a halt to this.
When Ogbese was virtually to die, he called his boy Oloja together with told him that he would go on unusual together with miraculous death, which would brand him a diety that they would proceed to worship. He took a little pot with him together with went to a nearby Iroko tree. He sat at the human foot of the tree all of a abrupt he disappeared into the ground. Just immediately, H2O started to outpouring out from the little pot he left lying closed to the root of the Iroko tree. This became a source of River Ogbese every bit it is known today. The proof is hither till today.
After Ogbese’s disappearance, his boy Oloja became the paramount ruler of Eyinke together with the call ‘Oloja’ consequently became the championship of the paramount ruler of Eyinke. Oloja led his people to worship River Ogbese annally.
Eyinke nether Oloja was engaged inwards a state of war with a grouping of people. Oloja together with his people had to flee together with settle inwards a nearby town after called Awo.
When Alawo arrived together with united the various groups he met nether his sovereignty, Oloja became a traditional chemical compound caput nether Alawo.
Eyinke, the old settlement of Oloja became the farm solid ground of Oloja together with his people. The people continued to farm the solid ground till today. As a grade of honor to Oloja, Ejisun the caput main of the quarter/ward to which Oloja chemical compound belongs is installed till today inwards Oloja’s house.
Annually the people continued to worship the god of River Ogbese together with Oloja established a priesthood of vii members. (Iworo meje) for the worship. He every bit Oloja headed the priesthood. Others were Oisa, Elero, Oisape, Osotun, Elesa together with Odofin ere who was the main errand adult man for the Oloja.
The annual festival for the worship of the god of Ogbese (until recent times) started with the wives together with children of Oloja together with some other priests going to the farm to take novel yams. On their arrival from the farm, they would trip the lite fantastic circular Ogbese together with Atiba shrines vii times respectively. Early inwards the morn on the twenty-four hours of the festival, the youngest wives of Oloja would pound the yams nakedly nether closed doors, with the senior wives guarding the chemical compound gate to forestall people from entering. After the traditional eating of the pounded yam, the gate would live opened to visitors who came for the feast of the festival.
The traditional offering of sacrifice to the god yesteryear Oloja would follow the early on morn feast. Up till the cease of the lastly century, the sacrifice included ritual killing of a slave referred to every bit Oluo. The killing was ever effected yesteryear the Oisa. The slave annually sent to Ogbese together with his predecessors yesteryear the traditional caput of Ado every bit a gift inwards appreciation of the state of war which Ogbese won for Ado people was after the decease of Ogbese annually sacrificed every bit Oluwo to the god of Ogbese.
The lastly vocal sung yesteryear the lastly Oluwo was “eereunfeeo eereunfee oun mo wo ohun mo mu somo lale ke inreunfee.
In add-on annually the traditional caput of Ado used to take kolanuts rapped with a leafage called “Omu” ferns to Oloja.
There is upwardly till today a womanpriest Eyelogbese who plays prominent roles during the flow the annual festival lasts. Every year, people with i job or the other similar those with no children come upwardly to her to live blessed together with those people brand pledges. The worshippers believes that with the annual prayers made yesteryear the priestess, the god ever protect his people from sickness together with troubles of state of war together with also allows them to multiply till today anybody suffering from Republic of Guinea worm would live treated with the H2O from Ogbese river. Up till virtually 1958, anybody infected yesteryear little pod was admitted yesteryear Eyelogbese (Ogbese priest) together with cured. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 number of miracles were performed during the yearly celebrations during various acrobatic displays which include dancing together with rolling on the Earth with little pox (Oru) dressed together with with life fern leaves stalked inwards the pot without falling off. We were robbed of this fanciful together with attractive civilization yesteryear adven of Western civilisation.
Erinmope-Ekiti
Erinmope-Ekiti falls within the derived savannah belt together with has virtually vi months of effective rainfall from mid-April to mid-October. The mutual crops grown are arable crops such every bit Yam, Cassava, Maize, Beans together with Republic of Guinea Corn. Few cash crops such every bit Cocoa, Kolanut together with Cashew are also grown inwards isolated areas.
The Indigenes are really dynamic, industrious together with enterprising. However because of solid ground limitations together with limited opportunities, many of the people settled exterior the town together with tin can live found inwards virtually all parts of Nigeria where they are engaged inwards commercial together with industrial activities together with inwards particular the establishment of plantation inwards agricultural products such every bit Cocoa, Kolanut together with Oil palm.
Record has it that Erinmope-Ekiti had its genealogical history traced to Oraufe dynasty inwards Ile-Ife earlier they migrated therefrom. Oraufe begat Ayetise together with Ayetise begat Lajamisan. Obaleo belonged to the Lajamisan dynasty of the lijo surface area inwards the chemical compound of Chief Obajio, the traditional Lord Exchequer. The foremost Obaleo Elejio (a.k.a) Ajigbeji (a prince, a warrior, a hunter together with a herbalist) with Oore Abajadiewon also a prince left Ile-Ife at the same fourth dimension together with went together to all places until they both settled at a spot called Ipole. When Obaleo Elejio was leaving Ile-Ife with his people he took along his ain inheritance from his manlike mortal parent which included Bearded Crown, Beads, White Horsetail etc.
Later the Obaleo left Oore behind inwards Ipole together with settled foremost at Ekiti Epere close Ipole earlier moving to the nowadays twenty-four hours location sometime inwards the 15th century, also Oore left Ipole together with and so settled at the nowadays location - Otun. Since then, Obaleo has remained undisputed together with unchallenged second-in-command to the Oore. The call Erinmope was derived from a caput count of those who left Ekite-Opere to the nowadays settlement. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 census was conducted together with the Oba asked the people if all the people were present, thus “NJE ORI PE” together with was answered “ORI MOPE O”. Thus, the settlement was referred to every bit “ORIMOPE”. In some other development, Obaleo Elejio having settled downwards ordered his hunters to lookout circular to view if at that spot were other settlers. One of the hunters who faced the surface area called Ibamogun saw a large stone afar off believing it to live an elephant aimed at it but moving closer discovered it was non an elephant but a large rock. On homecoming to others together with the Oba he narrated his ordeal together with ended it with the disputation “ERIN NI MOPE” pregnant that I thought it was an elephant. So Obaleo Elejio decided to call the settlement ERINMOPE. Thus the names “ORINMOPE” together with “ERINMOPE” were used interchangeably to spot the Town upwardly to the kickoff of the 19th century when only ERINMOPE was finally adopted.
For administrative convenience, Oore Abajadiewon divided Moba into 4 constituencies inwards 1579 every bit follows:
(i) Arin Moba (Central) Otun
(ii) Ona Moba (Front/Route) Erinmope, Aaye-Oja together with Irare
(iii) Osi Moba (Left) Osun, Epe, Osan, Ira together with Iro
(iv) Otun Moba (Right) Igogo, Ikun, Ikosu, together with Isaoye
The 1579 resolution made virtually 433 years agone yesteryear the Oore recognised Obaleo every bit second-in-command to him the spot Obaleo soundless holds today.
There are 3 Ruling Houses inwards Erinmope Ekiti namely Iloye Ruling House, Iworo-Aro Ruling House together with Ijewu Ruling House. The Ruling Houses are referred to every bit Royal Families or “OMO-OWAS”. The traditional Ruler - Obaleo of Erinmope - is rotated amongst the 3 Ruling Houses. The electrical flow Obaleo of Erinmope - His Royal Majesty Oba J. O. Aina is from Iloye Ruling House. Oba J.O. Aina ascended the throne inwards 1975. He took over from Oba Atere Atoyosoye from Ijewu Ruling House.
In Erinmope-Ekiti, several Obaleos have got reigned every bit follows:
OBALEO ELEJIO a.k.a. Ajigbeji (Founder)
ALUSULOGBA
ABATI
EKIMODE
AROJO
AGBODOIYAWO
OPEKUNRIN
AJIDAUNATAYERO
ADUMORI
AKOROBOTO
AGBEDEGBEDE
OTUJABIOJO
ARILEKESOOGUN
OSIYABOKUNRINJA
AGBONSILEDOYE
ATEREATOYOSOYE
AINAAJEJIOYE (1975 till date)
In the same vein, the next Oores have got reigned inwards Otun Ekiti:
Oore Abajadiewon (Founder)
Adifagbade
Olasunkade
Okinbaloye
Adifala
Arisilejoye 1886
Ariyowaye 1914
Oyinloye 1929
Aroyinleke Adepoju 1967
Odundun Popoola 2002 till engagement (http://www.erinmope-ekiti.com/pdf_files/Erinmope%20at%20a%20glance.pdf)
The Oore of Mobaland, Oba (Dr.) James Adedapo Popoola JP, CON, Odundun I
L-R: Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Keynote Speaker together with Minister of Finance, doctor Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; CEO, Emzor Pharmaceutical, doctor Stella Okoli; together with Wife of Vice President, Hajia Amina Namadi
Fprmer Ekiti State Governor, doctor Kayode Fayemi left presents staff of business office to Olupole of Ipole Iloro, Oba Babatola Oladele, with him is Olori Grace together with Magaret Oladele
80th Birthday Celebration of Mama Adetutu Famuagun
Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Funso Amosun; Wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi; Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Deputy Governor of Osun State, Otunba Titi Laoye Tomori, Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka at the birthday thanksgiving for Mama Adetutu Famuagun (Mrs Olayinka's mother) at the C.A.C Church Ado-Ekiti,
Ekiti province Dancers
Ekiti State lies due south of Kwara together with Kogi State, East of Osun State together with bounded yesteryear Ondo State inwards the East together with inwards the south. It was declared a province on Oct 1, 1996 amongst 5 others yesteryear the armed forces nether the dictatorship of General Sani Abacha. The state, carved out of the territory of old Ondo State, covers the former twelve local authorities areas that made upwardly the Ekiti Zone of old Ondo State. On creation, it took off with xvi (16) Local Government Areas (LGAs), having had an additional 4 carved out of the old ones. Ekiti State is i of the thirty-six states (Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria)) that constitute Nigeria. The upper-case missive of the alphabet of Ekiti State is Ado-Ekiti. The people of Ekiti State alive mainly inwards towns, similar most Yoruba. There are non less than 120 towns inwards Ekiti state. One of import aspect of the Ekiti towns is the mutual suffix "Ekiti" attached to their names. Some of the towns include Ado, the province upper-case missive of the alphabet becomes Ado-Ekiti, Aramoko, Ayedun, Efon Alaaye, it Emure, Ido, lgede, lgogo, ljero, ljesalsu, Ikere, Ikole, Ikoro, llawe, llupeju, Ire, lse, lye, Ode, Omuo, Otun together with Oye.
Historically, the Ekitis are amongst the aboriginal elements of the Nigeria absorbed yesteryear the invaders from the East (Yoruba people from Ile Ife). "The term Ekiti denotes a "Mound", together with is derived from the rugged mountainous characteristic of the country. It is an extensive province together with good watered, including several tribes together with families correct on to the border of the Niger, eastward. They handgrip themselves quite distinct from the Ijesas, especially inwards political affairs." (Samuel Johnson, The History of the Yoruba, 1921). It is believed that the ancestors of Ekiti people who came to combine with the aboriginal people on the solid ground migrated from Ile Ife, the spiritual domicile of the Yoruba people. According to oral together with contemporary written sources of Yoruba history, Oduduwa, the ancestor of the Yoruba traveled to Ife [Ife Ooyelagbo] where he met people who were already settled there. Among the elders he met inwards the town were Agbonniregun [Stetillu], Obatala, Orelure, Obameri, Elesije, Obamirin, Obalejugbe exactly to call a few. It is known that descendants of Agbonniregun [Baba Ifa] settled inwards Ekiti, examples beingness the Alara together with Ajero who are sons of Ifa. Orunmila [Agbonniregun] himself spent a greater component division of his life at Ado. Due to this, nosotros have got the proverb ‘Ado ni ile Ifa’ [Ado is the domicile of Ifa]. The Ekiti have got ever since settled inwards their nowadays location.
The early on Ekiti solid ground is divided into 16 districts (and it has been maintained to this day), each with its ain Owa or King (Owa beingness a generic term amongst them) of which 4 are supreme, viz. : —
(1) The Owore of Otun, (2) The Ajero of Ijero, (3) The Elewi of Ado together with (4) The Elekole of Ikole.
The next are the pocket-size Ekiti kings : —
(5) Alara of Aramoko, (6) Alaye of Efon Ahaye, (7) Ajanpanda of Akure, (8) Alagotun of Ogotun, (9) Olojudo of Ido, (10) Ata of Aiyede, (11) Oloja Oke of Igbo Odo, (12) Oloye of Oye, (13) Olomuwo of Omuwo, (14) Onire of Ire, (15) Arinjale of Ise and (16) Onitaji of Itaji.
The Orangun of Ila is sometimes classed amongst them, but he is only Ekiti inwards sympathy, beingness of a unlike family.
Udiroko festival at Ekiti
The Ekiti are really intelligent together with have got a deep love of home- at that spot has been no large scale migration of Ekiti peoples to neighbouring countries, but Ekitis are inwards other parts of Yorubaland mostly inwards Ondo, Oshun together with Kwara states. Respect for historic flow together with superiors, ingrained politeness is component division together with parcel of their nature. Ekiti solid ground is reputed to have got produced the highest number of professors inwards Nigeria.
Ekiti man ADEYEMI Ekundayo Adeyinka, Prof. Distinguished Professor, 1st Professor of Architecture inwards West Africa
It is rather yesteryear heritage than yesteryear accident that the motto of the nowadays Ekiti province is “Fountain of Knowledge,” since Agbonniregun whose descendants are all over Ekitiland is praised every bit Akere-finu sogbon [the little adult man with a heed total of wisdom]. Several pioneers academics are from the state. Pioneers similar Profs Adegoke Olubummo (One of the 1st Nigerian Professors inwards the land of Mathematics), Adeyinka Adeyemi (1st Professor of Architecture inwards West Africa). Others include renowned academics similar Profs J.F. Ade-Ajayi, Niyi Osundare, Sam Aluko together with others likewise many to mention.
Adegoke Olubummo, Ekit adult man together with i of the 1st Nigerian Professors inwards the land of Mathematics. He was the boy of the honored foremost literate Olorin of Orin, H.R.H. Oba William Adekolawolu Olubummo II together with Olori Abigael Osarayi Olubommo. As a kid of parents of high honor, he received an first-class teaching at Methodist schools inwards which he worked (Ifaki Methodist School) every bit a student instructor inwards 1937. All 3 of Adegoke Olubummo's children are mathematicians. His daugher Yewande Olubummo is currently inwards the U..S. every bit an assistant professor of mathematics at Spelman College.
In damage of arts together with culture, Ekiti province is amongst the richest inwards the Federation inwards the There are every bit many every bit 50 traditional festivals inwards the state. Egungun, ljesu together with Ogun festivals are celebrated inwards all parts of the province but the latter is associated, inwards particular, with Ire Ekiti. The Ekitis are practiced wood carvers, blacksmiths, together with ornamental potters, mat weavers together with handbasket makers. There are guilds established to command the operations of these crafts. Ekiti music consists mainly of folklore together with moonlight songs. The folk music is usually interjected with folk tales which commonly are both instructive together with interesting.
The main staple nutrient of the people of Ekiti is pounded yam with Isapa soup or vegetable soup. NATURAL RESOURCES Ekiti solid ground is naturally endowed with numerous natural resources. The province is potentially rich inwards mineral deposits. These include granite, kaolin, columbite, channockete, Fe ore, baryte, aquamine, gemstone, phosphate, limestone,GOLD amongst others. They are largely deposited inwards unlike towns together with villages of Ijero, Ekiti West, Ado - Ekiti, Ikole, Ikere, Ise-Ekiti together with other Local Government Areas.
The Land is also blessed with H2O resources, some of its major rivers are Ero, Osun, Ose, together with Ogbese. More so a diversity of tourist attractions abound inwards the province namely, Ikogosi Warm Spring, Ipole - Iloro Water Falls, Olosunta hills, Ikere, Fajuyi Memorial Park Ado - Ekiti together with so on. The Ikogosi tourist centre is the most pop together with the most developed. The warm outpouring is a unique natural feature, together with supporting facilities are developed inwards the centre. The outpouring is at nowadays beingness processed together with packaged into bottled H2O for commercial purpose yesteryear a individual society - UAC Nigeria.
Beautiful Ekiti woman
Moreover, the solid ground is buoyant inwards agricultural resources with cocoa every bit its leading cash crop. It was largely known that Ekiti solid ground constituted good over 40% of the cocoa products of the famous old Western Region. The solid ground is also known for its wood resources, notably timber. Because of the favorable climatic conditions, the solid ground enjoys luxuriant vegetation, thus, it has abundant resources of unlike species of timber. Food crops similar yam, cassava, together with also grains similar rice together with maize are grown inwards large qualities. Other notable crops similar kola nut together with varieties of fruits are also cultivated inwards commercial quantities.
Ekiti people
Ekiti people have got their ain National Anthem:
Ekiti Anthem
" Oun abajoro kiipe kun
Oun asepo nileye
Ehin ola wa tidara o
Awa Ekiti ati parapo
Kaparapo katun panupo
Awa Ekiti ati gbominira
Okan lawansee
Chorus: Ekiti, Ekiti ati gbominira (2ce)
Awa Ekiti iwaju laomalo lagbara Olorun
Awa Ekiti okan soso ma ni’wa o lailai."
L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe; his wife, Eyeosrun Abosede; newly installed chief/wife of Ekiti State Governor, Bisi Fayemi; together with Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, during the conferment of chieftaincy championship of Eye Ajiseye of Ado-Ekiti on Erelu Bisi Fayemi, inwards Ado-Ekiti…
Dressing
The wearing clothing for adult man inwards Ekiti is Bùbá (round cervix shirt) together with Sòkòtò (trousers) While women wearing clothing inwards Bùbá (blouse) together with Ìró (wrapper).
Ekiti women inwards their traditional dress
Ekiti State is situated exclusively within the tropics. It is located betwixt longitudes 40°51′ together with 50°451′ East of the Greenwich meridian together with latitudes 70°151′ together with 80°51′ N of the Equator. It lies due south of Kwara together with Kogi State, East of Osun State together with bounded yesteryear Ondo State inwards the East together with inwards the south, with a total solid ground Area of 5887.890sq km. Ekiti State has 16 Local Government Councils.
By 1991 Census, the population of Ekiti State was 1,647,822 piece the estimated population upon its creation on Oct 1st 1996 was position at 1,750,000 with the upper-case missive of the alphabet located at Ado-Ekiti. The 2006 population census yesteryear the National Population Commission position the population of Ekiti State at 2,384,212 people.
Ekiti, the solid ground of rock
In general, Ekiti State is underlain yesteryear metamorphic rocks of the PreCambrian basement complex, the groovy bulk of which are really ancient inwards age. These basement complex rocks exhibit groovy variations inwards grain size together with inwards mineral composition. The rocks are quartz gneisses together with schists consisting essentially of quartz with little amounts of white micaceous minerals. In grain size together with structure, the rocks vary from really coarse grained pegmatite to mediumgrained gneisses. The rocks are strongly foliated together with they occur every bit outcrops especially inwards EfonAlaaye together with Ikere Ekiti areas (Smyth together with Montgomery, 1962).
Ekiti State has no coastal boundary, hence it has no coastal relief. Indeed, the term, Ekiti, denotes an interior or hinterland surface area every bit opposed to a maritime surface area (Oguntuyi, 1979). It also way mound. This call invariably implies that Ekiti State is mainly an upland area. In the main, the relief is rugged with undulating areas together with granitic outcrops inwards several places. The notable ones amongst the hills are IkereEkiti Hills inwards the southern component division of the state; EfonAlaaye Hills to the western boundary of the province together with the AdoEkiti Hills inwards the cardinal component division of the state.
Most of these hills are good over 250m higher upwardly sea level. The drainage scheme over the areas of base of operations ment complex rocks is usually marked with the proliferation of many little river channels. The chan nels of these smaller streams are dry out for many months, especially from Nov to May.
In Ekiti State, at that spot is no major river. However, the province serves every bit the watershed together with source part for 3 major rivers that flow into the Atlantic ocean. These are the Rivers Osun, Owena together with Ogbese. Other rivers are Ero, Ose together with Oni. Another impor tant aspect of the relief of Ekiti province is the preva lence of erosion gullies along loma slopes together with valleys.
The gullies are really mutual inwards Efon Alaaye together with inwards the northern component division of the state. Indeed, inwards EfonAlaaye, the gullies could live devastating
Climate: The climate is of the Lowland Tropical Rain Forest type with distinct moisture together with dry out seasons. The dry out flavor comes upwardly betwixt Nov together with Apr piece the moisture flavor prevails betwixt May together with October.
In the south, the hateful monthly tem perature is virtually 28°C with a hateful monthly hit of 3°C piece the hateful relative humidity is over sev entyfive per cent. However, inwards the northern component division of the state, the hateful monthly temperature may live over 30°C piece the hateful monthly hit may live every bit high every bit 8°C.
The hateful monthly relative humidity hither is virtually 65 per cent. The hateful annual total rainfall inwards the due south is virtually 1800mm piece that of the northern component division is hardly over 1600mm.
Vegetation: As indicated nether climate, the expected climax vegetation is the evergreen high wood composed of many varieties of hardwood tim ber, such every bit a procera Terminalia superba, Lophir, Khivorensis, Melicia excelsa together with Antiaris africana. This natural vegetation is hardly nowadays at nowadays but relics are observable, especially inwards the southern one-half of the province where some wood reserves are estab lished yesteryear the government.
It tin can so live stat ed that the province is covered yesteryear secondary forest. To the northern part, at that spot is the forestsavanna mosa This is a woody savanna featuring such tree species every bit Blighia sapida, Parkia biglobosa, Adansonia digitata together with Butyrospermum paradoxover most of the state, the natural vegetation has been really much degraded every bit a outcome of human activities, the main of which is bush fallow farming system.
Others are fuel wood production together with route construction. An of import aspect of the vegetation of the province is the prevalence of tree crops. The major tree crops include: cocoa, kola, coffee, stone oil palms together with citrus. In the southern part, cocoa is the most prevalent piece inwards the northern part, fruit trees such every bit mango together with cashew are really common. Cocoa together with stone oil palms are cultivated inwards large planta tions, especially yesteryear the government.
As a outcome of the degradation of the natural for e est, exotic trees have got been introduced every bit wood plantations. The exotics introduced include Tectona grandis (teak) together with Gmelina arborea. Teminalia superba, a native species is also cultivated. All these cultivated trees at nowadays replace the natural veg y etation of the wood reserves, every bit inwards Ikere together with ljero ti wood reserves.
Soils: The soils derived from the basement complex rocks are mostly welldrained, having a mediumtofine texture. The soils of Ekiti province autumn into 2 main association classifications according to Syrnth together with Montgomery. These are Egbeda I Association together with lwo Association.
Under the e FAO/UNESCO classification, they are Orthic together with n Plinthic Luvisols, respectively. The former is of high agricultural value for tree crops especially cocoa. The latter is found to the N of the province classified al every bit Ekiti series. The soils hither are skeletal inwards nature together with of comparatively recent origin. Both soil types d are of high value for arable crops.
Ecological Problems: The main ecological job of Ekiti State is the accelerated soil erosion, which is really devastating inwards EfonAlaaye. As a outcome of the nature of the solid ground surface of the province e together with the continuous opening of the solid ground for agricultural together with constructional purposes, accelerated soil erosion becomes pertinent especially when no concerted effort, is beingness made to command it. For instance, it took the former Ondo province government's intervention inwards 1988 to avert a total sectionalization of EfonAlaaye town into 2 separate entities yesteryear gully erosion.
It is, however, gratifying to banking company annotation that ih this ecological job is receiving the attending of the authorities together with the people every bit observed inwards a see to EfonAlaaye inwards Oct 1999.
Language
The people of Ekiti are culturally homogenous together with speak a unique Central Yoruba (CY) dialect of Yoruba linguistic communication known every bit Ekiti. This Central Yoruba (CY) dialect of yoruba linguistic communication belongs to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication family. Apart from Ekiti, the other Yoruba sub-groups that speak Central Yoruba (CY) dialects are Igbomina, Yagba, Ilésà, Ifẹ, Akurẹ, Ẹfọn, together with Ijẹbu areas.The Ekiti dialect, however, varies across locations, e.g. Otun people (in Moba land) speak a dialect closed to that of the Igbominas inwards Kwara together with Osun States; the Oke-Ako, Irele together with Omu-Oke people speak a dialect similar to that spoken yesteryear the Ijumus inwards Kogi State. The people of Efon Alaaye also speak a similar dialect to that of the Ijesas of Osun State. Although slight (and inwards really few locations, somewhat wide) variations be inwards the local dialects, the Ekiti people sympathise each other together with communicate pretty well.
History
Historically, the Ekitis are amongst the aboriginal elements of the Nigeria absorbed yesteryear the invaders from the East (Yoruba people from Ile Ife). "The term Ekiti denotes a "Mound", together with is derived from the rugged mountainous characteristic of the country. It is an extensive province together with good watered, including several tribes together with families correct on to the border of the Niger, eastward. They handgrip themselves quite distinct from the Ijesas, especially inwards political affairs." (Samuel Johnson, The History of the Yoruba, 1921). It is believed that the ancestors of Ekiti people who came to combine with the aboriginal people on the solid ground migrated from Ile Ife, the spiritual domicile of the Yoruba people. According to oral together with contemporary written sources of Yoruba history, the Ekitis are amongst the earliest settlers of Yorubaland. The Yoruba [Oyo Yoruba] are said to have got sprung from Lamurudu, i of the kings of Mecca whose offspring were Oduduwa (Crown Prince), the kings of Gogobiri (Gogir inwards Hausaland) together with Kukawa (Bornu).
Oduduwa, the ancestor of the Yoruba traveled to Ife [Ife Ooyelagbo] where he met people who were already settled there. Among the elders he met inwards the town were Agbonniregun [Stetillu], Obatala, Orelure, Obameri, Elesije, Obamirin, Obalejugbe exactly to call a few. It is known that descendants of Agbonniregun [Baba Ifa] settled inwards Ekiti, examples beingness the Alara together with Ajero who are sons of Ifa. Orunmila [Agbonniregun] himself spent a greater component division of his life at Ado. Due to this, nosotros have got the proverb ‘Ado ni ile Ifa’ [Ado is the domicile of Ifa]. The Ekiti have got ever since settled inwards their nowadays location.
Another oral tradition assert that The Olofin, i of the sons of the Oduduwa had xvi (16) children together with inwards the way of searching for the novel solid ground to develop, they all journeyed out of Ile-Ife every bit they walked through the Iwo - Eleru(crave) close Akure together with had halt over at a spot called Igbo-Aka(forest of termites) closer to Ile-Oluji. The Olofin, the xvi children together with some other honey people continued with their journey, but when they got to a particular lovely together with apartment land, the Owa-Obokun(the monachy of Ijesha land) together with Orangun of Ila decided to remain inwards the nowadays Ijesha together with Igomina solid ground of inwards Osun state. While the remaining 14 (14) children continued with the journeying together with after settled inwards the nowadays twenty-four hours Ekiti land. They discovered that at that spot were many hills inwards the spot together with they said inwards their mother's linguistic communication that this is 'Ile olokiti' the solid ground of hills. Therefore the Okiti after blended to EkitiI. So Ekiti derived her call through hills. These are straight children together with founder of Ekitiland, Igbominaland together with Ijeshaland:
- Alara of Aramoko
- Alaaye of Efon Alaaye Kingdom
- Ajero of Ijero Kingdom
- Arinjale of Ise
- Ewi of Ado
- Elekole of Ikole
- Ogoga of Ikere
- Atta of Ayede-ekiti
- Elemure of Emure
- Oloye of Oye
- Olojudo of Ido
- Onire of Ire
- Onitaji of Itaji
- Onisan of Isan
- Oore of Otun Moba
- Owatapa of Itapa
- Orangun of Ila-Orangun
- Owa -obokun of Ijeshaland
- Ologotun of Ogotun
- Obanla of Ijesa-Isu
- Oluloro of Iloro-Ekiti
- Alare of Are Ekiti
- Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti
Before Nigeria was amalgamated, the Ekiti tribe was nether the British Protectorate with the other Yoruba tribes. Ekiti became component division of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria which was divided to give the Ekitis their ain state.
Ekiti man
There has been no large scale migration of Ekiti peoples to neighbouring countries, but Ekitis are inwards other parts of Yorubaland mostly inwards Ondo, Oshun together with Kwara states. The nowadays Ekiti province is smaller than the old Ekiti i due to inter-tribal wars together with subsequent redivisions. By virtue of Ekiti’s intelligence, at that spot are to a greater extent than Ekiti graduates today than inwards most states of Nigeria. It is rather yesteryear heritage than yesteryear accident that the motto of the nowadays Ekiti province is “Fountain of Knowledge,” since Agbonniregun whose descendants are all over Ekitiland is praised every bit Akere-finu sogbon [the little adult man with a heed total of wisdom].
The remarkable simplicity, though tough but unwarlike attribute of the Ekitis led the Oyos to wage state of war on them inwards the mid-1800. The Ekitis formed an alliance which they termed Ekiti Parapo (i.e. Ekiti Confederation). They raised a formidable regular army together with were determined non only to release themselves but also to overrun the Oyos correct to Ibadan farms at the River Oba. Prince Fabunmi of Oke Imesi headed the confederates with able warlords such every bit Fabaro of Ido, Famakinwa of Erin, Odole- Oloyombere, Oluborode of Ikogosi exactly to call a few. They were after joined yesteryear Ogedemgbe- Agbogun Gboror who after became the Commander-in-Chief of the Confederates.
Instead of tendering their submission every bit Are Latosisa thought, the Oyo regular army found the Ekiti-Parapos became the foremost to innovate long flintlock guns with large muzzles to state of war inwards Yorubaland. These guns when fully loaded together with fired, gave a study which reverberated from loma to loma all around. It sounded similar KI-RI-JI, KI-RI-JI, from which this state of war was named the Kiriji campaign. The state of war lasted until 1886 around when the Oyos pleaded for British intervention inwards the war. The British intervention led to a peace treaty betwixt the Oyos together with Ekitis. never to wage state of war against each other together with so with Oyo together with other Yoruba nations, thus making the Kiriji state of war the lastly major state of war of the Yoruba
The people of Ekiti State alive mainly inwards towns. These towns include: Ado, Awo Ekiti, Ayegbaju Ekiti, Efon-Alaaye, Aramoko Ekiti, Temidire-Ikole Local Govt, Igede Ekiti, Ikole, Ayede, Isan, Iye Ayede, Ikere, Ire, Ijero, Ayetoro, Ipoti, Igogo, Ise, Itapa, Otun, Usi Ekiti, Ido, Emure, Iyin, Igede, Ilawe, Ode, Oye, Omuo, Ilupeju, Ikoro,Iloro, Ikun, Iye, Ijesa-Isu, Ayedun, Aisegba, Osin, Okemesi, Iworoko, Ifaki, Osan, Erinmope, Asin-Ekiti, Orin, Ilogbo, Osi, Igbole, Ora, Aye, Ikogosi Erio, [Igbara-Odo](Ogotun), Erijiyan Ekiti Iludun, Ilemeso, Otun, Itapaji, Imojo, Ire Ekiti, Eda Oniyo, Gogo Ekiti, Odooro Ekiti, Ijan Ekiti, Epe Ekiti, Usi Ekiti.
Local Government Areas
L-R: Chairman, Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, Ekiti State, Chief Aderemi Ajayi; Alara of Aramoko Kingdom, Oba Adegoke Adeyemi; his wife, Adenike; ..
Ekiti State includes 16 of Nigeria's 774 Local Government Areas. They are:
Proposed 18 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs)in Ekiti State The Ekiti State Government is to create additional 18 Council Development Areas based on the recommendations of the White Paper Committee set upwardly yesteryear the government.
In a press statement, the Commissioner for Information together with Civic Orientation, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, said the novel council areas volition live created from the existing 16 local authorities areas next a plebiscite yesteryear the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) together with consideration of the outcome of the plebiscite yesteryear the State House of Assembly.
They volition operate every bit Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) pending the concurrence of the National Assembly, which would accord them the status of full-fledged local authorities councils.
According to the commissioner, the novel councils together with their proposed headquarters every bit contained inwards the White Paper together with approved yesteryear the State Executive Council are every bit follows:
i) Ado West Local Council Development Area- Okesha
ii) Ado-North LCDA--------------------------------- Oke –Ila
iii) Ado-Central LCDA-------------------------------- Ijigbo
iv) Ekiti North-East LCDA--------------------------- Kota- Ekiti
v) Ogotun/Igbaraodo LCDA------------------------- Oke- Agbe
vi) Osi/Isokan LCDA --------------------------------- Ifaki
vii) Eka Meta LCDA----------------------------------- Erijiyan- Ekiti
viii) Okemesi/Ido Ile LCDA--------------------------- Okemesi - Ekiti
ix) Gbonyin LCDA------------------------------------ Aisegba
x) Irewolede LCDA--------------------------------- Iloro- Ekiti
xi) Irede LCDA--------------------------------------- Ipoti-Ekiti
xii) Ikere West LCDA------------------------------- Anaye
xiii) Ajoni LCDA-------------------------------------- Aiyedun
xiv) Ifelodun LCDA----------------------------------- Igbemo –Ekiti
xv) Araromi LCDA----------------------------------- Iyin –Ekiti
xvi) Ero LCDA----------------------------------------- Igogo
xvii) Ifesowapo LCDA-------------------------------- Bamisile Land
xviii) Ifeloju LCDA------------------------------------- Ilupeju- Ekiti
Ekiti man Adeyinka Adeyemi is the Managing Partner of Intermarc Consulting Limited, an ebanking, epayment together with eGovernment intermediation theatre with a focus on Africa.
Economy
Agriculture is the main line of the people of Ekiti, together with it is the major source of income for many inwards the state. Agriculture provides income together with work for to a greater extent than than 75% of the population of Ekiti State.
Some of Ekiti’s agricultural create are: Cash crops such every bit Cocoa, Oil Palm, Kolanut, Plantain, Bananas, Cashew, Citrus together with Timber; Arable /Food Crops such every bit Rice, Yam, Cassava, Maize together with cowpea. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 detailed listing of agricultural create is contained inwards the tables below.
Ojojolu Theatre grouping entertaining the audience with a Sango trip the lite fantastic at the 2013 Udiroko Festival inwards Ado-Ekiti.
Origin of Ekiti Towns
Ado-Ekiti
Ado Ekiti is a metropolis inwards southwest Nigeria, the province upper-case missive of the alphabet together with headquarters of the Ekiti. It is also known every bit Ado. The population inwards 2004 was 446,749. The people of Ado Ekiti are mainly of the Ekiti sub-ethnic grouping of the Yoruba. Ado Ekiti City has a State owned University - the University of Ado Ekiti at nowadays Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, a privately owned University - the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, a Polytechnic - the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, 2 local idiot box together with radio stations, - NTA Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State Television (BSES), Radio Ekiti, Progress FM Ado Ekiti. Various commercial enterprises operate inwards Ado Ekiti. The metropolis is the merchandise centre for a farming part where yams, cassava, grain, together with tobacco are grown. Cotton is also grown for weaving.
Where Ado-Ekiti is situated is a solid ground that has been continuously inhabited/occupied yesteryear human communities from fourth dimension immemorial. Available query shows that human societies of unknown antiquity occupied this neighbourhood virtually (11,000) years ago. These ancient inhabitants were in all probability the same or progenitors/ancestors of Igbon close Ogotun, Erijiyan, Ijero, Ulesun together with Asin (near Ikole) who were in all probability autochthones because available traditions shows that they had lived inwards together with close their abodes from fourth dimension immemorial. As a thing of fact, no i knows where, if any, they came from together with for how long they had lived inwards those ancient sites. Ulesun appears the best-known evidently on business organisation human relationship of its size, the number of its subordinate communities especially Aso, Ulero, Isinla, Ilamoji, Ukere together with Agbaun (near Igbemo), its well-organized traditional organized faith including its festivals etc. together with its location at the heartland of Ekitiland. These ancient people were the ancestors of Ekiti, they played hosts inwards the seventh together with eighth centuries, virtually 1,200 years ago, to waves of immigrants from the basins of the rivers Niger together with Benue; these settled amongst the ancient Ekiti, together with were fewer inwards number together with so, the hosts culturally absorbed them.
Ewi immigration
After many generations, a novel moving ridge of immigrant groups penetrated this homeland; their leader every bit Ewi, 2d successor of Prince Biritiokun, Son of Oduduwa, on business organisation human relationship of his wanderings all the way from the Republic of Benin forests, the leader was nicknamed Awamaro. Ulesun people welcomed them warmly together with neighbouring committees came together to assist their settlement (built homesteads for them) at Oke-Ibon inwards Odo Ijigbo. Eventually, Ewi together with his people overthrew the existing political arrangements, conquered Ulesun community, displaced its ruler Elesun together with established a novel town, Awamaro named Ado, pregnant 'here nosotros encamp'. Ewi Awamaro together with his successors conquered villages together with cottage inwards the neighbourhood, replaced their rulers with their ain loyalists, stalwarts together with scions of the royal family. The of import citizens of these conquered communities were relocated inwards Ado. Ewi supplanted Elesun every bit sovereign ruler of the aboriginal together with settler population, many of Elesun's Chiefs were confirmed inwards their offices but they swore oaths of allegiance to the Ewi. Many of the succeeding Ewi expanded the kingdom yesteryear forcefulness of arms, annexed territories together with gave these territories to scions of the royal families, these assumed titles which became hereditary. The expansion together with growth of Ado-Ekiti together with the kingdom of Ado lasted over 400 years. In the course of instruction of this expansion, Ado became associated with surely traits. Citizens of the kingdom inwards full general together with those of the woman parent town, Ado-Ekiti inwards particular were reputed for groovy attending to cleanliness. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 pop lyrical description of Ado citizenry depicts:
Ira Ule Ado m'etipise fifin seree (Ado citizens with their usually create clean heels). Ado people were, yesteryear local standard, tough together with brave warriors. Traditions save 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, together with Eleyinmi Orogirigbona of Okeyinmi quarters - all of Ado-Ekiti together with Ogunbulu, a.k.a. Ala l'oju Osoru of Aisegba. The exploits of Ado tough inwards many parts of Ekiti formed the footing of the pop orature: Ikara s'eji s'inu agbagba t'emi ukoko (Of 2 balls of cake inwards the frying-pan, he insists his percentage is one)
Folk, traditions are replete with fond references to Ewi's human relationship with some other Ekiti traditional rulers. Ewi's antecedents are depicted as: Elempe Ekiti (mightiest adult man inwards Ekiti) On k'emu 'kan o mu meji Oloju k'enu 'kan gba kete re (He is entitled to one, he took 2 he has a disposition to take everything) Ewi i pe mi udiroko Onitaji i pe mi esunsu...... (Ewi invites me for his udiroko festival Onitaji invites me for his esunsu festival)
Folk traditions of this nature vividly portray the towering spot of Ado-Ekiti. In the foremost place, Ado-Ekiti is situated at the heartland of Ekiti together with is thus less exposed to cross-border attacks or non-Ekiti influences. Consequently, over many centuries, waves of immigrant groups seeking haven settled inwards Ado-Ekiti together with several other Ado communities. Many of these immigrants were refugees, they left their old homelands inwards parts of Ekiti, Akoko, Owo etc. where their leaders lost out inwards chieftaincy contests. Some were state of war captives, these were brought inwards droves yesteryear Aduloju together with his lieutenants from their slave wars of the 1870s together with 1880s inwards parts of Owo, Ose together with Akoko. They were settled inwards Ado communities where they increased the local population, together with enriched the civilization with their lineage names together with festivals inwards similar circumstances, citizens of Ado communities left their fatherland together with settled inwards a few places inwards the neighbourhood upwardly to Ijesaland. Ibadan sacked many Ado communities inwards 1873 together with made a huge haul of prisoners of state of war together with other captives who eventually settled inwards Iwo, Ibadan together with some Remo towns such every bit Iperu together with Makun Sagamu. However, Ado communities especially the woman parent town offset component division of their losses with a large number of slaves together with prisoners of state of war from Owo, Ose together with Akoko.
Ado-Ekiti is i of the towns of the northeastern territory of Yoruba solid ground together with passed through a succession of military, political together with cultural changes from the fourth dimension of Ewi Awamaro (circa 1310 A.D) who migrated at that spot to shape what became Ado-Ekiti.
Jadesola Babatola (2008) noted that the large component division of the 13th century, legend had it that many princes left Ile Ife to what after became several Yoruba kingdoms along the due west coast of Nigeria. Among the princes were 2 born to Oduduwa yesteryear the same mother, the Oba of Republic of Benin together with the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti. Both foremost settled inwards Republic of Benin forests earlier disputes amongst their people led them to separate together with the Ewi sought a novel domicile westward at Utamodi (Oke Papa). Ewi Biritiokun together with his boy reigned there. It was Ewi Awamaro who migrated to Ilesun (Present twenty-four hours Ado-Ekiti) after staying briefly at Udoani (Ido Ani) together with Agbado during the long trek. When Ewi Awamaro left Agbado, the elders remained behind to repose together with gave the settlement the call Agba Ado (Elders’ Camp) – Agbado-Ekiti every bit the town is known today. Awamaro’s spies encouraged him to assault Elesun with the back upwardly of Odolofin after he had settled downwards at Oke Ibon (now Odo Ijigbo) together with with the conquest of Ulesun yesteryear Awamaro, the town of Ulesun changed its call 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 inwards what is at nowadays known every bit Ado-Ekiti earlier the emergence of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti. The Elesun occupied the peak of a hierarchy where he had his subordinates every bit the Odolofin (Elesun 2d inwards command), Asao, Elegemo, Alamoji, Olisinla, Olulero, Olookori etc. Elesun was the caput of the laity inwards the worship of Olota (god), the deity inwards accuse of the safety of Ulesun State. The Ulesun linguistic communication was unlike 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 every bit Odolofin together with Asao were accepted into the Ewi’s scheme of chieftaincy after Awamaro’s conquest. The Elegemo retained his post every bit Chief Priest together with custodian of Iwemo Ogun. Ewi’s Warrior chiefs who provided armed forces safety for palace inhabitants were the Akogun at Irona, Oloja Ese at Oke Ese, Eleyinmi at Okeyinmi together with Egbedi at Orereowu. Ewi Awamaro subjugated Elesun’s neighbours together with expanded his territory except Ukere (Ikere Ekiti) together with his successors upwardly to Yeyenirewu followed same steps that yesteryear 1550 A.D. Ado-Ewi had go a large powerfulness inwards the entire Ekiti country.
The Ewis that reigned at Ado from 1444 to 1552 were: Ewi Ata (1444–1471), Ewi Owakunrugbon (1471–1490), Ewi Owamuaran (1490–1511), Yeyenirewu - The regent (1511– 1552). Ewi’s armed forces exploits during the flow was to subjugate together with annex his immediate territories extended to Ikere, Igbara Odo, Ogotun, Aramoko, Erio together with Erijiyan amongst others. It was a long fourth dimension systematic armed forces crusade during the reigns of Ewi Obakunrin (1552–1574), Ewi Eleyo-Okun (1574–1599) together with Ewi Afigbogbo Ara Soyi (1599-1630). During the reign of Ewi Gberubioya (1630-1696), Ado-Ewi was peaceful every bit state of war was abandoned inwards spot of diplomacy together with mutual relations strategy. Ewi Gberubioya divided the Ewi dynasty into 3 ruling houses of Owaroloye (Aroloye), Atewogboye together with Arutawekun. Ewi’s sons that ruled inwards 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 together with Olotin. One of his sons, Amujoye founded Igbemo together with took the championship of Oba of Igbemo from its inception. Gberubioya linked the Ewi’s dynasty to both Ikole together with Ijero because i of his wives who were betrothed to Elekole was surrendered to Ewi every bit a peace bargain together with her children for the Elekole, Ewi together with Ajero who took her into custody after Ewi’s demise after ascended every bit Ewi, Elekole together with Ajero respectively. Ido Faboro (Ido-Ekiti) took her electrical flow call from Ado every bit a outcome of settlement with Ewi to remain independent of Ado during Gberubioya’s reign. Other Ewis that reigned after Gberubioya were Ewi Idagunmodo (1696-1710), Ewi Okinbaloye Aritawekun (1710-1722), Ewi Amono Ola (1722-1762), Ewi Afunbiowo (1762-1781), Ewi Akulojuorun (1781-1808), Ewi Aroloye (1808-1836), Ewi Ali Atewogboye (1836-1885), Ewi Ajimudaoro Aladesanmi I (1886-1910), Ewi Adewumi Agunsoye (1910 - 1936), Ewi Daniel Anirare Aladesanmi II (1937 - 1983), HRM Ewi Samuel Adeyemi George-Adelabu I (1984 - 1988) together with HRM Alayeluwa Ewi Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III (the electrical flow Ewi of Ado-Ekiti).
British occupation
From the 1880s, agents of the British, especially Christian missionaries penetrated the Yoruba interior inwards an endeavour to cease the wars, inwards particular, the wars of liberation Ekitiparapo communities waged against Ibadan since October, 1879. In June, 1886, political-cum-military officers got the belligerent parties to sign a truce together with inwards March, 1893, Governor Carter of Lagos visited Ibadan together with Ekitiparapo camps of Igbajo together with Imesi-Ile together with terminated the war, got the leaders to sign treaties which prohibited slavery together with slave trade, human sacrifices together with the usage of weapons to settle conflicts. The British management inwards Lagos (which had authorization over Yoruba hinterland from 1893) proclaimed a full general emancipation for slaves together with ordered slaves who so wished to homecoming to their former homelands. As a result, numerous citizens of Ekiti inwards full general together with Ado inwards particular returned from captivity forth with. The British established its colonial dominion on vast territories together with inwards 1900, a number of districts became Nigeria. Eventually, farther reorganizations led to the creation inwards January, 1913 of Ekiti District, with headquarters inwards Ado-Ekiti. That was a landmark from where to get the give-and-take of today, modern times, a flow characterized yesteryear the emergence of novel things, phenomenal growth together with evolution of old kingdom together with its Chief city, Ado-Ekiti.
Ado-Ekiti Layout every bit a Yoruba Settlement inwards 1800s
Jadesola Babatola (2013) noted that the characteristics of average human settlements across the Yoruba land upwardly to 19th century have got been identified every bit a formation of 2 basic settlement patterns – the main town together with the subordinate towns. In quoting P.C. Llyod (1962:54-57) he presented that the metropolitan (main) town is sometimes larger than the subordinate towns piece its rulership together with kinship are based on patrilinear succession within the agnatic lineage. The traditional layout organisation was usually based on geographic location, population size, demand for expansion, merchandise opportunities, settlers’ vocation together with armed forces vulnerability of major towns over subordinate towns inwards addressing their strategic merchandise together with armed forces advantage. Across Yorubaland, it was observed that variations together with modification inwards the location together with access to King’s palace inwards particular amongst the settings for the King’s marketplace together with coming together places inwards designated areas were determined yesteryear the town’s topography, civilization together with politics together with the extent of command over the people together with the local economy.
The full general Yoruba traditional chemical compound described yesteryear T.J. Bowen inwards his Adventures together with Missionary labours inwards the Interior of Africa from 1849-1856, together with the Revd. R.H. Stone’s inwards Afric’s Forest together with Jungle, was farther described inwards yesteryear PC Llyod’s Comparative Study of the Political Institutions inwards Some Yoruba Towns, an unpublished B.Sc thesis (1952). For avoidance of doubt, the Intelligence Report produced yesteryear N.A.C. Weir (1933) reported a full general framework of township organisation inwards Ado-Ekiti inwards the early on British colonial rule, which is similar to what existed during the pre-colonial era. Weir (1933) noted that the household unit of measurement (Ebi) every bit the smallest unit of measurement which is grouped into Village (Ileto) or Sub-Quarter (Ogbon) or Quarter (Adugbo) inwards a town (Ilu). However Weir made an fault of assertion when he claimed that ‘the wars or slave raids of the 19th century were the greatest factors inwards the creation of the larger towns.’
Weir’s fault was based on his lack of agreement of the traditional layout pattern inwards Yoruba solid ground together with his misconception of the facts behind the growth of major towns which he attributed purely to illegitimate together with legitimate trade. The existing traditional organisation ever recognized some socio-economic together with political factors necessary for the formation together with setting of townships inwards Yoruba land. Recounting the assertions of E. Kraff Askaris, I. Olomola (2013) observed that the Palace of a paramount ruler is the centre of political together with economical activities such that both the palace together with cardinal (Oba’s) marketplace lay at the centre of the town together with all route to together with from the outer. Communities converged on it similar spokes of wheel. Both Palace together with Market were sacred places every bit good every bit centres of ritual sacrifices together with worship of tutelary deities.
The panoramic sentiment of Ado-Ekiti inwards the 19th century was a characteristic of average Yoruba settlement. Llyod (1962) noted that the traditional layout existing across settlements inwards Yoruba solid ground inwards the pre-colonial era formed component division of the physical features of Ado-Ekiti. He described how Ado-Ekiti was traditionally arranged amongst settlers. See diagram of source inwards P.C. Llyod (1962:56) Yoruba Land Law. Using the foregoing parameters, i tin can depict the nature together with pattern of settlements of Ado-Ekiti inwards the pre-colonial era yesteryear pinpointing existing organisation inwards Ado-Ekiti every bit it reflects on the growth of the metropolis or main town (Ilu-Nla) together with the subordinate towns (Ilu-Kekere) inwards the peripheries (Agbegbe) or subordinate areas. Furthermore, the sketch devised yesteryear Llyod (1962:56) showed the construction of Ado-Ekiti settlement every bit a metropolitan town surrounded yesteryear subordinate towns together with communities with Ado-Ekiti layout coordinated together with co-existing with the layout of the subordinate towns surrounding the municipality inwards similar ways.
Ewi’s Suzerainty inwards Ado-Ekiti Traditional Layout together with 1800s Settlements: Ado-Ekiti together with all other Ado communities consisted of a ‘large number of traditional rectangular compounds grouped into the quarters of the town’. Within the Ado-Ekiti township layout, the Ewi’s Palace lay inwards the middle, though it was foremost built at Oke-Ibon together with and so moved to Chief Arowa’s Palace strands beside the Erekesin (King’s Market) earlier it was moved into the vintage dot of Oke Ewi where it has finally settled over 200 years ago. The sitting of Ewi’s Palace within Ado’s topography is discussed inwards the piece of work of G.J.A. Ojo (1966:76) who noted that Yoruba palaces (aafin) are the residence of King (Oba) together with sacred places that houses shrines together with temples to all deities worshipped inwards the kingdom, together with a number of places reserved for ritual activities, oath taking etc. Llyod (1962:192) inwards similar style justified the status of the Ewi every bit a scared ruler inwards the typical Yoruba fashion. Oral tradition farther hinged the sacredness of Ewi together with the location of Ewi’s Palace at the centre of the main metropolis (Ado-Ekiti) on the grade of his human relationship together with the latitude which his High Chiefs, Military Chiefs, Palace Chiefs together with Royal Princes who acted every bit patron chiefs over hamlets together with surrounding villages enjoy.
The traditional layout of Ado-Ewi appeared to have got taken definite shape from the fourth dimension of Ewi Awamaro every bit a thing of strategic repositioning for Kingdom edifice together with political ascendency of the rural together with conquered communities. The traditional layout pattern of Ado-Ekiti relocated most of the early on settlers exterior the vicinity of Ewi’s Palace. It was an organisation that also left the Ado community together with the subordinate towns to revolve around Ewi inwards a preferred order. The enlargement of the Ewi’s Kingdom during the reign of Ewi Gberubioya (1630-1696) inwards the 17th century together with other successive Ewis upward into slow 19th century which covers the flow nether review with the expansion of the main town’s layout indicates that they did non alter the traditions for town settings which is similar to what is obtained inwards many other of Yoruba major towns.
Wife of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Eyesorun Bosede Adejugbe; Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; together with Wife of the Governor of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, when the governor's married adult woman visited the palace,
In the most component division of 1800 (19th Century) together with early on 20th century, Ado people were adherents inwards African traditional organized faith with fervent worship of the supernatural, ancestral together with embodied spirits of varying categories, which revolve circular Ewi’s Palace institution. The mode of worship together with observance of traditional rites revolved around alaponmi, Oitado together with alafonyos, Ogun festival together with Iwe Mo Ogun, Egungun festivals - Ade, Aeregbe, Orude, Epa, Odede festivals together with the most important, beingness Udiroko which is the traditional Ado Day, the foremost twenty-four hours inwards the traditional calendar. Traditional shrines were created for Orisa Ojido, Uba Lota, Ayoba, Oke Egbe (now Ayunbo), Odudu, Osun, Ose, Ogbese, Ajilosun, Isewese, Atan – All of them fertility deities.
The role of Ado-Ekiti inwards the growth of Yoruba organized faith together with politics intertwined together with influenced the survival of Ewi’s realm piece co-habiting together with co-existing with her subordinate together with satellite towns together with other neighbouring communities. The tenancy embedded inwards the spiritual organisation of the Ado-Ekiti layout inwards that era suffices. Narratives together with archival materials embedded inwards the works of Chief J.E. Babatola (1976) written inwards concert with 31 Ado Chiefs every bit a rejoinder to a reconstruction of Ado history yesteryear Chief J.A. Fashubaa, the Oisa tallied with the historical approaches. It also highlighted the traditional panoramic sentiment of Ado-Ekiti inwards 1800s together with the nature of her municipality together with the grouping intersections of her 3 notable traditional sectors inwards a unique organisation that farther conceptualized the traditional components of the Ewi’s cabinet. The layout pattern was shown inwards a sketch that depicted the traditional layout of Ado landscape inwards the pre-colonial era (1800s) every bit reproduced yesteryear Chief J.E. Babatola on the re-arrangement of Ado landscape together with Chieftaincies kickoff from the reign of Ewi Awamaro Source: 31 Ado Chiefs Rejoinder to Chief Oisa Fasuba’s Memo 1975/76
Ewi’s Realm –Territoriality together with Politics of Division inwards Ewi’s Kingdom: At the superlative of Ado-Ekiti influence inwards Ekiti solid ground inwards the 18th together with 19th centuries, legend has it that Ado kingdom consisted of 150 (ewadojo) communities together with that the metropolis of the kingdom was Ado-Ekiti Township where the Ewi every bit Sovereign superintended over the realm every bit the sovereign head. The Oluyin, the Alare, the Alaworoko, the Elesure, the Eleyio together with the Onigbemo are really of import rulers of subordinate towns within the immediate precinct of the Ewi’s municipality. Within the Ewi’s Kingdom, heads of subordinate towns oftentimes performed specific political together with spiritual roles together with responsibilities inwards the service of the Kingdom inwards monastic tell to retain together with sustain their human relationship with the powerful King piece supporting the layers of interrelations amongst towns inwards the realm. Legend has it that it was a tradition inwards Ado-Ekiti for influential members of the royal household (Omo Oba or Omo Owa) to live sent to subordinate Ado-Ekiti community to found novel dynasties on established settlements inwards buffer zones together with borderland areas.
Rulers of subordinate towns similar Iyin-Ekiti (Uyin Alelagba) together with Are-Ekiti were brothers together with relations of the Ewi who co-existed together with led their respective townships every bit co-ordinate lesser cities of Ado-Ekiti. They ruled inwards those towns with a sentiment to creating stability for the Ewi who was a ruler of higher importance inwards the main city, Ado-Ekiti, piece his brothers are rulers over lesser Ado towns where they maintained required importance together with role to save the Ewi’s realm together with accomplish an equation of heart together with stability against Ewi’s potential regional neighbours. The existence of these chieftains assist to save Ewi’s involvement together with to protect Ado-Ekiti from straight invasion yesteryear whatsoever ambitious adventurer since the chiefs stand upwardly for Ewi’s involvement inwards those subordinate together with neighbouring towns, farm settlements, hamlets together with subordinate towns. The headship of most of these towns was selected from the ruling lineage that was created yesteryear the senior chiefs, dependent to the ratification of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti.
J.O. Olubobokun inwards his works – Itan Iyin (1980) every bit corroborated yesteryear A.O. Oguntuyi (1986:9) asserted that Iyin is i of the subordinate towns of Ado-Ekiti founded yesteryear Oluyin Agbogbomaje, e.g. the sword bearer (Oluda) who accompanied Ewi Awamaro to settle inwards Ado earlier he was allocated solid ground to the West of Ado town together with settled inwards a spot called Uro where he was after joined yesteryear people of Ibedoyin, Oketoro together with Okelawe inwards forming a total of 16 quarters which after truncated into i town. The essence hither is that Iyin people were component division of Ado Kingdom that gained royal autonomy to co-exist every bit separate community nether the realm of the Ewi without severing traditional ties together with blood relations with Ewi together with Ado people. The deep traditional human relationship that existed betwixt the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti together with the Onigbemo of Igbemo-Ekiti for instance requiring those rulers of the subordinate towns around Ado-Ekiti to participate inwards specific rites at the decease or installation of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti tends to highlight the role of covenant renewal inwards the community for the continuity of Ewi’s ‘imperial’ or hegemonic status together with influence inwards the subordinate Towns.
It is worth noting that, the rulers of these subordinate towns held rights of sovereignty similar to those wielded yesteryear the Ewi of Ado inwards making rules together with that Llyod (1962:221) asserted that ‘the Ewi, nonetheless holds surely sovereign rights over the entire Kingdom’. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 major characteristic is that each of the subordinate towns also has its separate rulers together with chiefs, with a mensurate of importance together with honor fifty-fifty when they handgrip lesser status or rank inwards relation to the Ewi who takes preeminence over them due to his prominence, influence, traditional rights, armed forces might, population together with size of the realm.
In Ado-Ekiti, the championship of Ewi every bit a metropolitan sovereign is hereditary together with alternatively contested yesteryear members of the 2 prominent ruling houses that had gained traditional preeminence within the royal household during flow nether review, whenever the stool of Ewi became vacant. Heads of subordinate towns inwards old Ado-Ekiti Kingdom may non live regarded every bit Baale (High Chiefs) every bit commonly seen inwards Yoruba communities of the Ibadan together with Oyo country. Rather they were Traditional Rulers (Oba Ilu), though of lower status to the King-Emperor (Oba Alayeluwa or Oba lori Agbegbe) who resides inwards the main town, a spot occupied yesteryear the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti inwards the 19th century. In the circumstances where subjected towns together with their rebellion-prone rulers were faraway or close but troublesome yesteryear striving for autonomy or independence from Ewi’s influence every bit identified inwards instance of the Alawe, the Olosi, the Olode, the Onijan together with the Onimesi; rulers of other subordinate towns together with Ewi’s chieftains were constantly on paw to cheque them against crisis that could create chaos or attract unusual invasions.
There is no doubtfulness that the festering political human relationship betwixt dominant Ado together with its old subordinate Ikere town played into the hands of Republic of Benin inwards 1815 every bit asserted thus: ‘…the rapid expansion of Ado brought it into conflict with Benin, some other powerfulness with imperialistic designs inwards Ekiti. Responding to the invitation yesteryear Ado’s neighbouring states who had go unduly alarmed yesteryear the consolidation together with excesses of the Ewi’s power, Republic of Benin regular army invaded together with subjugated Ado inwards add-on to overrunning most of the other Ekiti states some of whose ruling dynasties, every bit inwards Ikere, were replaced…’ G.O. Ogunremi together with A. Adediran (eds) (1998:17)
The oral tradition of that fourth dimension depicted the irony of the rivalries together with adversities attracted to the Ado Township together with the Ewi when describing her call for for expansion inwards Ekiti every bit popularly recounted thus: ‘Ogun yeye, b’Ewi ja, Ajase I loo Ewi’ Meaning ‘Many are the adversity of the King of Ado-Ekiti (Ewi), but the powerfulness of triumph lies inwards his hands.’ The continuous opposition to Ewi’s paramountcy yesteryear a large number of Ekiti royalties across the solid ground is a pointer to the fearfulness inherent inwards Ewi’s notable regal ambitions from 17th to 19th century, which became threats on the status together with economic scheme of other notable towns, who were also aiming at prominence together with equality within the regional powerfulness sharing construction of Ekiti country. No doubt, the characteristics of town formation inwards Ado-Ekiti surface area distinguish the woman parent town (the metropolis) where the most of import chiefs reside from the subordinate towns where other rulers existed.
Ado-Ekiti Society together with Chief’s Status inwards the Towns inwards 1800s: There are the 2 major grades of chieftaincy titles inwards Ado-Ekiti every bit the ihare together with ijoye. For instance, the ihare grade inwards Oke Ewi (one of the 3 Ado Quarters) is divided into 2 – The Senior chiefs known every bit Olori Marun together with the junior chiefs consisting of 5 Elesi together with 10 Ijegbe. High Chiefs (Baale) inwards Ado-Ekiti similar several others inwards unlike parts of Ekiti solid ground were the senior ranking cabinet members of the King-Emperor’s courtroom within the realm. They emerged every bit most senior chiefs representing recognized leading lineages together with chemical compound (agbo ile), chieftaincy families together with settlements inwards the 3 sectors together with quarters of the main town.
The sectors from where the High Chiefs existed also consisted of their immediate abode together with extended families, the existing lineages (idi) together with groups which Llyod (1962:191) described every bit (idile or ebi) – the main patrilineage corporate group. Others inwards the sector are the abode together with farm settlements of lesser chiefs together with their families which Llyod (1962:55) regarded every bit hamlets (abule or Ileto) piece describing typical settlement patterns inwards Ekiti inwards comparing with those from Ijebu together with Ondo country. By Ado traditions, descendants inwards the manlike mortal line have got exclusive rights to solid ground inwards perpetuity dependent to communal rights of hunting together with the Ewi’s correct every bit Sovereign ruler to surely trees together with game. Grant of solid ground to non-indigene requires permission of Ewi together with his Chiefs to forestall subtle arrival of unknown strangers who could cease upwardly every bit agents of hostile communities or invaders planning to assault the realm.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 reflection of this tradition embedded inwards the status of rulers of subordinate towns upwardly to the 19th century replayed itself during the settlement of a solid ground dispute betwixt the Oluyin together with Odofinyin inwards 1940. It was pronounced according to native law together with customs that the Oluyin could non arbitrarily impel himself on the traditional rights of his chiefs though he held an incontestable spot every bit the Head Chief (Ruler) of Uyin Ekiti (a subordinate town) of Ado-Ekiti. This determination was derived from the tradition that everyone inwards Ado Township has his paternal together with maternal solid ground over which the ruler has no ownership or straight control. The Ewi’s controls over solid ground yesteryear tradition were limited to areas designated every bit royal lands, world or opened upwardly solid ground where the attending of Ewi together with his chiefs should live sought. By tradition, Ado people would naturally challenge Ewi’s intrusion on household unit of measurement lands together with revolt against him if world solid ground had been tampered with, unless the consent of Ado chiefs together with the people were sought together with gotten. P.C. Llyod (1962:200) noted that the Ewi’s 1940 crisis could live traced to these traditions because he was alleged to have got breached same yesteryear alienating palace solid ground for opposite purposes.
In the 1800s, heads of most hamlets together with villages inwards Ado kingdom were Ewi’s chiefs or rulers of subordinate towns who dominion inwards the subordinate towns though lesser inwards rank together with status to Ewi. They are non servile but were subservient to Ado monarch. The import of the higher upwardly explanation is that the lesser Kings together with Chiefs whose towns surround the main town were autonomous together with allowed to operate the running of their local affairs together with economic scheme together with inwards taking decisions which did non conflict with the Ado scheme of governance, political tradition together with civilization nor attract the involvement of the King-Emperor to adjudicate upon.
The Ewi inwards Council together with organisation of Ado-Ekiti Chiefs from the 1800s: The Intelligence Report produced inwards November, 1933 yesteryear N.A.C. Weir could non essentially create adequate information on ancient organisation of Ado-Ekiti due to his inability to elicit required information from the local people. Rather he concluded from his observations that the information is non-existent. Yet he wrote thus: ’…In Ado at that spot is an aboriginal household unit of measurement inwards a number of towns or villages…It is so hard the to a greater extent than hard to describe their ancient organisation because they know goose egg of their history prior to their migration here. They came with their organisation consummate together with at that spot is goose egg of their history to exhibit how it was built up. Whole villages accompanied the Ewi to this component division of the Ekiti solid ground together with every bit a powerful settler, he parceled out what solid ground at that spot was. The aboriginals were so scattered or so weak that they could offering no resistance to his advance together with followed the only course of instruction left to them, that of securing the practiced volition of the fresh arrivals…’
From various accounts of Ado history, Ado-Ekiti with her farm settlements was the largest kingdom inwards the Ekiti Confederation, though Ado inwards itself is an amalgam of 3 constituent sectors largely brought together after the Ewi’s conquest of Ilesun every bit OKE EWI, ODO ADO, together with OGBON META (three coordinate together with equal settlements of Oke Ila, Odo Ora together with Oke Efon).
Llyod amongst others asserted that at that spot were no records of the ranking of chiefs earlier the 20th century because most lineages grew inwards size, yesteryear the absorption of Ado citizens of other lineages together with yesteryear increases due to possession of slaves piece the to a greater extent than regular pattern inwards the town consists of 5 or vi lineages, with each of constituting a quarter where at that spot be those who handgrip senior titles inwards relation to those with junior titles, whether or non hereditary. Many of Ewi’s chiefs together with town settlers within Ado-Ekiti autumn into i of the next 3 categories regardless of their emerging importance together with role inwards the activities together with authorities of Ewi’s Kingdom yesteryear 1800 viz. a. The Aboriginals together with Early Settlers b. The Ewi’s Royal Court together with companion settlers c. The adventurers together with immigrant settlers who the Ewi granted citizenship status
Among the aboriginal together with early on settlers are groups of Chiefs with higher or lesser status inwards the Ewi’s cabinet. Some of the Chiefs which Ewi met inwards Ado are: a. Odolofin inwards Odo Ado Sector b. Olora inwards Ogbon Meta Sector c. Asawa from Odo Ado Sector
Members of the Ewi royal courts together with accompanying Chieftains inwards the groups of Chiefs with higher or lesser status inwards the Ewi’s cabinet include: a. Aro inwards Odo Ado Sector b. Arowa inwards Oke Ewi Sector
Adventurers together with immigrant settlers of Ewi who became citizens together with chieftains inwards the groups of Chiefs with higher or lesser status inwards the Ewi’s cabinet include: a. Alarerin inwards Ogbon Meta Sector from Oke Ila via Ila Orangun b. Odofin inwards Odo Ado Sector from Oba (now Oba Ile) close Akure c. Ejigbo inwards Oke Ewi Sector from Imesi Lasigidi (Now Imesi-Ekiti) East of Ado d. The Esewa inwards Oke Ewi Sector who came from Esewa, Ido Ani e. The Ola inwards Eleyinmi, Oke Ewi Sector who came from Ode-Ekiti f. The Sasere inwards Oke Ewi Sector who came from Omuo at nowadays North East
The number of High Chiefs whose status qualify them every bit senior cabinet members (ihare) inwards the Ewi inwards Council inwards the 19th century were twelve inwards number together with their role was designed inwards the plough of that century, non necessarily yesteryear their seniority, but yesteryear their importance together with contributions to Ewi’s traditional authorization for the advancement of Ado’s political stability together with progress higher upwardly other traditional chiefs (ijoye) of the Ewi. The twelve senior chiefs were drawn from the 3 major traditional sectors of Ado-Ekiti classified below:
OKE EWI SECTOR Odogun (Sector Chairman, Ewi’s Interior Minister together with Head of Okeyinmi Quarters) Ejigbo (Ewi’s Traditional Chamberlain together with Head of Ijigbo Quarters) Baisaya (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Baisaya Quarters) Asa (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Asa Quarters) Sasere (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Sasere Quarters)
ODO ADO SECTOR Odofin (Sector Chairman, Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Idofin Quarters) Aro (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Ularo Quarters) Odolofin (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Udolofin Quarters) Edemo (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Udemo Quarters)
OGBON META SECTOR Alarerin (Sector Chairman, Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Oke Ila Quarters) Olora (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Odo Ora Quarters) Odunro (Ewi’s Cabinet Minister together with Head of Odo Uro Quarters)
Ado-Ekiti 1800s turbulence together with the advent of British Colonial Rule: Much of the flow betwixt the slow 1700 together with early on 1800s, were periods of dislocation together with resettlements for Ado-Ekiti Kingdom. According to A.O. Oguntuyi (1986:13-17): ‘The evolution of the Ado Kingdom was seriously affected yesteryear external invasion. These resulted inwards serial of demographic upheavals with settlements constantly moved from i site to another. The most serious of these external invasions were yesteryear the Edo of Benin. They attacked together with destroyed many settlements…in the Ado Kingdom…The Binis were invited yesteryear Ogoga, the tertiary fourth dimension the Binis were so invited to settle the quarrel betwixt Ado together with Ikere. The line of activity they resolved to adopt was to take all the villages nether the ewi to Ikere, settle them at that spot together with inwards this way Ikere would live equal or fifty-fifty bigger than Ado. Ado would together with so live afraid of Ikere. The Republic of Benin soldiers came…and sent words to the Ewi Aroloye…He refused to surrender. He did non inwards whatsoever way exhibit that he was non ready for fight. Every town or hamlet nether him except Ijan were prepared to fight…The Republic of Benin soldiers stormed Igbara-Odo together with Ilawe together with took them. At this time, Ado town had been vacated. Aroloye took the people to a spot called Oke Oko Axis betwixt Ifaki together with Iworoko. Most of the gods Ado worshipped on that side: Olua at Eyio, Obanifon at Esure together with Are, Ogbese together with Orisala at Iworoko. The soldiers pitched their camps close Uyin (Iyin)…Ogbesi Okun, the together with so Oluyin …was conquered together with killed. They proceeded to Igede, Awo together with Esure together with took them. The inhabitants of Igede together with so uder Okiribiti were driven inwards a north-easternly direction to a spot called Oke Asha…Edo troops together with so marched to Iworoko…The soldiers entered Are…The same fate befell Afao. They were all taken to Ikere. The soldiers moved to Igbemo …entered Igbo-Omoba (now Ilu-Omoba)…The soldiers left Aisegba for Agbado together with without delay took it together with evacuated the people. Agbado was the lastly spot nether the Ewi. With the conquest, of Agbado, the soldiers seemed to have got finished their job…’
Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Professor Modupe Adelabu together with the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe III during the 2013 Udiroko Cultural Festival
Isola Olomola (2005:8-12) dwell extensively on the panoramic sentiment of Ekiti inwards virtually 1800. He noted that the ravages of invaders together with slave raiders from Benin, Nupe-Fulani, Ilorin-Fulani together with Ibadan solid ground turned many medium sized towns together with large number of villages into turmoil, political together with social turbulence. Drawing on the characteristics together with legend of traditional settlements inwards Ekiti solid ground with reference to major Kingdoms of Ado, Ikole, Ijero together with Moba, Olomola (2005:9) asserted thus: ‘Each Kingdom consisted of a major (mother) town together with a few or numerous subordinate communities piece each city-state comprised a main town together with a yoke of villages together with cottages. Each Kingdom or metropolis province was, to all intent together with purposes, a territorial unit of measurement over which its Oba (ruler), for all practical purposes, was sovereign from its inception…The Oba of the woman parent town wore crowns together with lived a life governed yesteryear protocol, piece the heads of subordinate communities …wore crown lets (orikogbofo) together with caps...No component division of Ekiti was spared the agony of imperialist invasions…The rampaigning Republic of Benin armies sacked Ogotun, Aramoko, some subordinate communities of Ijero, Ado communities such every bit Are, Afao, Ugbo (now Ilu) Omoba together with Agbado together with settled a large per centum of the haul of captives therefrom inwards Ikere, their garrison post. The Nupe-Fulani…armies invaded Gbonyin district of Ado…Between 1845 together with 1846, these invaders sacked… (Ekiti) towns together with ravaged the countryside…Balogun Ibikunle led Ibadan armies to the rescue…and after inwards 1850 turned the intervention to punitive wars …Ibadan chiefs led their personal armies into Ekiti together with side yesteryear side communities…In Jan 1873, the Aare Momo (Mohammed) Latosisa launched a total scale invasion of cardinal together with northern Ekiti…sacked Ado together with many of its subordinate communities…’
During the flow of Ado-Ekiti dispersal together with relocation inwards slow 1700 together with after the homecoming of Ewi together with other settlers to their original abode inwards mid 1800, pocket-size modifications inwards the settlement organisation occurred inwards communities exterior Ado metropolis wall together with inwards the opened upwardly solid ground available occupied yesteryear royal household together with other settlers apart from areas taken over yesteryear larger chieftains after the dispersal of some Ado chieftains who resettled elsewhere when Ewi returned to Ado metropolis. Most communities which returned with the Ewi re-occupied their original quarters/ settlements to rebuild them except those who moved from their original settlements exterior the Ado township walls into the main town inwards monastic tell to trim down the straight impact of attacks yesteryear invaders on them whenever hostilities broke out. The modification that affected solid ground line together with re-allocation, border relations together with safety were aimed at reducing imminent threats to Ewi’s Kingdom. Hence, the traditional layout allowed for creation of novel quarters inwards the main town to maintain solidarity, armed forces back upwardly together with boost the farming economy.
Ewi Ajimudaoro Aladesanmi I (1886-1910) had a peaceful reign devoid of Ikere attacks. This was made possible yesteryear the fact that Ado wars with Ikere ended through the peace covenant initiated yesteryear a Prince - Oba Oyinbolaja (Oba Dadi). He was reported to have got convinced the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti together with the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti to have got colonial dominion of the white adult man together with to halt human sacrifices. When the Ewi accepted colonial rule, he sent emissaries to Captain R.L Bower (the Resident together with Travelling Commissioner of Interior Yoruba inwards 1894) through the assist of Ifamuboni (later Babamboni) together with and so Ado-Ekiti was regarded every bit a territory within the British Protectorate. It was recorded that Mr. Campbell was the foremost Briton to see Ado-Ekiti for province of affairs assessment together with study inwards honor of Kiriji Proclamations at the termination of the Yoruba wars.
In the business organisation human relationship of Ewi Anirare Aladesanmi II (1977:9) he noted that the Peace Treaty signed on i hand, betwixt the Ekitis together with their Ife together with Ijebu allies with Ibadan inwards 1886 made Ekitis (Ado-Ekiti inclusive) independent nether the British Government of Lagos, though no straight colonial management was witnessed until the setting upwardly of Ekiti Council for members of Ekiti Confederacy on 21 June 1900. The efforts of Evangelist Isaac Ifamuboni (later Babamuboni) together with a number of early on Christians from Lagos, Abeokuta together with Ibadan who introduced the tillage of cocoa, maize, chocolate-brown cocoyam together with made wage earning labourers to go from Ado-Ekiti to piece of work inwards Ondo, Ijebu together with Ife inwards monastic tell to boost the tillage of economical trees inwards the early on component division of 1900s were legend of the closing historic flow of that era. The contact of the Ewi together with Ado people with the British opened a novel chapter for Ado Kingdom inwards the 20th century. It was a chapter that eventually resulted inwards elevation of Ado-Ekiti every bit a District headquarters of Ekiti Native Authority inwards Ondo Province (of Northeastern Yoruba Territories) which formed component division of the Western Region inwards the Colony together with Protectorate of Nigeria (now the Federal Republic of Nigeria) together with is today, the upper-case missive of the alphabet of Ekiti State.
The gradual pause downwards together with trigger-happy apart of Ewi’s Kingdom after 19th century yesteryear the advent of British colonial dominion is made poignant with the grant of political together with territorial autonomy to various towns together with villages nether Ewi’s influence inwards the pre-colonial era. This is farther strengthened yesteryear the creation of modern local authorities scheme together with the composition of Council of Chiefs with the re-grading of the status of Chiefs together with granting of total autonomies to natural rulers inwards several communities.
Recent times
Chief J.E. Babatola (1995) noted that Ado Ekiti remains a geographical together with historic centre of Ekitiland, a nuclear setting amongst the old 16 Kingdoms together with the political administrative arrangements that succeeded them supported it. The originally 16 associated kingdoms that spanned the Ekiti solid ground had diplomatic ties which depended much for a proper functioning on the role that the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti together with the General of his Army played inwards sustaining harmony inwards the entire Ekiti territory. He asserted that the kingdoms of Egbe Oba (Ikole) together with Ijero gave Ado-Ekiti continual back upwardly inwards playing a leadership role. Hence, the traditional ties together with leadership role of Ado-Ekiti together with the cardinal spot of Ewi’s Kingdom amongst the 3 potential rulers of Ekitiland inwards its medieval flow of history suffice.
In the course of instruction of the history of Ekiti, only kingdoms exterior a straight centrifugal influence exerted from Ado-Ekiti were those of Otun, Ishan, Ayede together with Emure, 3 of them inwards the extreme N together with i on the extreme south. During the advent of colonial dominion inwards Ekiti, betwixt 1899 together with 1912, the British Colonial Government administered Ekitiland from Oke Imo together with from 1913 decided to select Ado-Ewi every bit a convenient centre for its Ekiti administration, piece changing the town’s call to Ado-Ekiti inwards recognition that Ado-Ekiti is the nervus centre of Ekiti people’s social together with economical activities. In the areas of religious harmony inwards Ekiti affairs, major religious activities designed for Ekiti specially for both the Anglican together with the Roman Catholic Churches, have got Ado-Ekiti every bit the Seat of their Bishops. In the academic field, Ado-Ekiti is the spot of the Federal Polytechnic together with the Ondo State University (now renamed Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti). The location of these institutions so bears witness to the central-ness of Ado Ekiti inwards the see of Ekitiland.
Chief J.E. Babatola also indicated that most of the organizations that made demands for the creation of an Ekiti State wanted Ado-Ekiti every bit its upper-case missive of the alphabet because Ado-Ekiti is uniquely a natural setting capable of resultant evolution of its landscape together with facilities inwards a way to assist the finance of the management of a novel State. Part of the summary of the presentation to Mbanefo’s Panel on State Creation for the selection of Ado-Ekiti every bit the State Capital inwards Chief Babatola’s submission was his presentation of the Ekiti Map where he referred to the population sizes of Ekitis together with showed that the percentages yielded yesteryear the population of Ekiti North (headquarters at Ikole), Ijero (headquarters at Ijero) together with Ero (headquarters at Ido Ekiti) are respectively 13.03, 0.93, together with 15.35, piece that of Ado stood at 28.43% of their entire population. He noted that inwards using a map of Ekiti produced earlier Akure opted out of the Ekiti confederacy inwards 1946, the centre of remainder geometrically inwards Ekitiland betwixt 1913 together with 1946 was Itaipe surface area (the picnic Earth at Ado-Ekiti). He highlighted the efforts of Ado-Ekiti people to brand the Ekiti Division of Ondo Province accomplish evolution inwards damage of route transportation, creation of solid ground banking company for business organisation together with official usage through existence of route infrastructures to link the town with the other Ekiti administrative divisions, extensive Government Reservation Areas to theatre authorities officials (i.e. District Officers, judges together with magistrates), the Ewi-in-Council 1975 augmentation of Government efforts yesteryear creation of solid ground banking company for evolution purposes, construction of several buildings yesteryear the Federal together with State Governments for the official usage of the administrative, judiciary, police clit together with prison theatre departments, existing communication facilities together with adequate provision for effective management of justice together with safety of lives inwards Ekitiland which is at its best inwards Ado-Ekiti. He noted that since Ekitis naturally come upwardly to Ado-Ekiti regularly together with settle at that spot inwards large numbers to do business organisation together with contribute enormously to the increased prosperity of Ekiti people, Ado-Ekiti is a befitting spot to site the capital. He concluded that ‘…Ado-Ekiti is already a fortunate property with no liability attached inwards setting upwardly the apparatus for a province capital…”
Ado-Ekiti eventually became the upper-case missive of the alphabet of Ekiti State when the province was created on 1 Oct 1996. The demand for equity amongst Ekiti people together with equality of Ekiti Kingdoms was brought to lite inwards the agitation for the location of the province upper-case missive of the alphabet inwards unlike communities; no component division of Ekiti would view itself every bit subordinate or less developed to the others. This is the politics of evolution inwards modern Ekiti State since 1999 together with i of the major challenges of political governance, leadership aspirations together with policy making.
Political violence sparked a protestation march inwards Ado-Ekiti inwards Jan 2009. Residents took to the streets demanding authorities activity next a spate of political violence involving reported murders, assassination attempts, together with at to the lowest degree i arson of a journalist's home.[2]
Demographics
Some 50 years ago, the metropolis began to grow/expand beyond its peripheries together with ancient gates together with ramparts. In 1963, the metropolis was the largest urban centre inwards nowadays Ondo together with Ekiti States together with its population of 158,000 at the census of that twelvemonth represented it every bit the most populous urban centre inwards Eastern Yorubaland. The 1991 population count confirmed the primacy of the city, at to the lowest degree inwards Ekiti. The creation of Ekiti State inwards Oct 1996 together with the establishment of province upper-case missive of the alphabet at Ado-Ekiti volition farther heighten the city's physical development.
The phenomenal growth together with evolution mentioned higher upwardly have got been due to many factors. Many of these are citizens of Ado urban, some are citizens of Ado rural, some are stranger elements, a yoke of them are fifty-fifty Europeans together with other expatriates. The citizenry warmly welcomed these development. For example, when the main route from the National Bank junction, through Erekesan together with Ereguru to Ojumose was tarred inwards 1952 together with the major route from Ajilosun through Ijigbo, Orereowu, Okesa together with Obada etc. a subdivision of Akure - Ilorin road, was tarred inwards 1956, the really welcome evolution was rendered inwards pop juju songs, i of which rang:
Baba wa te 'ri oda l'ado (Our fathers walked on tarred roads at Ado)
Ko o bi ko e e (what a delight, what a delight)
e e o (very good so)
Ko o bi ko e e (What a delight, what a delight)
The layout of Ado-Ewi drawn upwardly together with successfully implemented from the fourth dimension of Ewi Awamaro together with enlarged yesteryear Ewi Gberubioya were only slightly modified to address the issues of border relations, internal safety together with reduction of threats to the heartland of Ewi’s Kingdom after the turbulence together with wars of 19th century. Since the era of Ewi Awamaro, the pattern of Ado-Ewi Layout had been implemented inwards a style that left the foremost settlers relocated exterior the vicinity of the Ewi’s Palace inwards an organisation that left the community around Ewi inwards a preferred order. Ewi’s palace was foremost built where Chief Arowa at nowadays resides closed to Erekesan (King’s Market). The layout was component division of the physical features inwards the traditional settings together with layout of Ado-Ekiti, the panoramic sentiment every bit at the kickoff of 1800. Ewi Akulojuorun (1781-1808), Ewi Aroloye (1808-1836) who reigned at Ado but was attacked successively yesteryear Republic of Benin hordes.
Ado-Ekiti was a 3 sector traditional grouping with its unique organisation of its ingredient traditional entities inwards the Ewi’s traditional cabinet. The 3 major traditional political divisions of Ado-Ekiti with their unique graphic explanation of the Ewi’s traditional cabinet are every bit shown inwards the historical graph produced yesteryear Chief J.E. Babatola with 31 Ado Chiefs every bit a Rejoinder to Chief Oisa Fasuba’s Memo 1975/76 on the organisation of Ado landscape together with Chieftaincy kickoff from the reign of Ewi Awamaro. It shows that Ado-Ekiti consist of OKE EWI, ODO ADO together with OGBON META.
Religion
Among the most conspicuous of the groovy changes were the introduction together with expansion of Christianity together with Islam. Christian missions especially of the CMS, Roman Catholic, Baptist, African Church together with Methodist, after the Cherubum together with Seraphim together with Apostolic Church took root together with expanded during the 20th century. Each of these Christian communities established numerous churches such that yesteryear 1970, the CMS (Anglican) together with the Roman Catholic had grown so fast that they had go dioceses with their headquarters together with seats of bishops inwards Ado-Ekiti. The 2 missions had 3 grammer schools, the number increased to 5 inwards 1990. The growth of Christian communities was really rapid betwixt 1970 together with 2000; novel missions together with denominations Pentecostal, Charismatic, Evangelical together with Episcopal arose, swelling upwardly existing communions. Altogether over i hundred churches were recorded inwards the metropolis inwards the twelvemonth 2000.
The Muslim community did non lag behind, the faith spread. The cardinal mosque was built virtually 1930 together with thereafter, a number of mosques were built inwards Idemo, Umayo, Isato (Irona), Ogbonado, Okesa, Oke-Ila etc. The Ansar-Ud-Deen emerged inwards the early on 1940s. As a thing of fact, the number of mosques together with the number of Muslims who have got performed the Hajj tin can readily come upwardly to paw every bit indices of expansion. The number of mosques increased substantially with the growing number of well-to-do Muslim who build mosques every bit annexes to their individual homes; yesteryear the twelvemonth 2000, to a greater extent than than 40 mosques could live counted inwards the city. By 1960, only Alhaji Akorede had performed the Hajj but the number of Alhajs increased inwards the 1970s together with steadily increased inwards the 1980s together with 1990s.
Education
In contemporary times, western teaching had been the style throughout Ekiti. Ado-Ekiti took the Pb with the number of educational institutions.
In March 1896, Old Emmanuel School was established at Odo Aremu. In 1917, the Roman Catholic Mission established St. Patrick's Primary School. By the 1950s, the number of primary together with secondary modern schools had increased really substantially. By 1974, the CMS lone had 104 primary schools, 8 secondary schools, together with a teachers' college.
In the early on 1930s, the Venerable Archdeacon Henry. Dallimore superintendent of the CMS mission established Christ's School inwards 1933. It was raised yesteryear the priest to a Middle School together with finally towards the cease of the 1940s it became a full-fledged Grammar School. He was succeeded every bit Principal together with High Master yesteryear Canon LD Mason from 1948-1966. Chief RA Ogunlade was Principal from 1966 to 1972. Christs School, Ado-Ekiti has contributed greatly to the educational together with scientific advancement of Nigeria inwards full general together with Ondo-province inwards particular. Within a brusque bridge of fourth dimension Christs schoolhouse had produced i of the highest numbers of Professors inwards virtually all fields of learning together with especially the professions inwards Nigeria. Christ school, was indeed, i of the footing of the epithet that Ekiti is the "fountain of knowledge". Another possible explanation for the "fountain of knowledge" sobriquet for Ekiti inwards general, is the historical fact that Agboniregun the progenitor of Ifa corpus of knowledge inwards Yoruba cosmology, also had Ekiti roots. Christs schoolhouse Alumni are found inwards academia together with professions around the Earth today. In the early on 1950s, the Ekiti Progressive Union built a 2d grammer schoolhouse at Ido-Ekiti the Ekiti Parapo College, inwards celebration of the overthrow of the Ibadan overlordship next the Kiriji or Ekiti Parapo war. Soon after the CMS agreed to separate Christ's School into 2 (boys' subdivision together with Girls' Section)-as a outcome of the major road(Iworoko Road) which naturally divided the 2 sections into two) viz: Christ's School,Ado Ekiti together with Christ's Girls' School,Ado Ekiti.
Thence forth, communities took it inwards their strides to get upwardly funds together with found a number of community grammer schools. Ado-Ekiti established its ain inwards 1960 together with some other i towards the cease of the 1970s. The number of Grammar Schools kept increasing together with yesteryear the twelvemonth 2000, at that spot were twelve student grammer schools, individual grammer schools numbered six, a total of eighteen. The Federal Government established its polytechnic at Ikewo, Ado-Ekiti, the defunct Ondo State University established its University at Ilewu, Ado-Ekiti.
Within a flow of 50 years, much evolution inwards western teaching had taken spot inwards Ekiti inwards full general together with Ado-Ekiti inwards particular. Chief E. A. Babalola, a native of Oye-Ekiti was foremost University graduate inwards Ekiti. Chief Alex olu Ajayi was the foremost graduate from Ado-Ekiti graduating BA (HONS) from Fourah Bay College, inwards 1953, followed yesteryear a postgraduate diploma inwards Education from the University of London inwards 1954. Thereafter, Ado Ekiti has produced many illustrious sons together with daughters from Earth grade universities, many of whom are professors inwards many scientific, medical, social sciences, Engineering together with humanities disciplines within barely one-half a century. . Chief E Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Babalola from Oye-Ekiti was a high schoolhouse master copy inwards 1947 together with he took over the direction of Christ's High School, Ado-Ekiti when Archdeacon Dallimore retired together with left for Britain. Today, the Ekitis are found inwards large numbers inwards every academic together with professional person positions, Ado-Ekiti has a disproportionate impact inwards the academic Earth both inwards Nigeria together with globally.
Economy
Tremendous evolution took spot inwards the tillage of economical crops, tillage together with collection of wood products such every bit kolanut (cola acuminata, Obi abata together with cola nitida, gbanja) together with stone oil palm produce, commerce together with trade. Much of the impetus of all these came initially from Mr. Isaac Ifamuboni (later Babamuboni) together with a number of early on Christians from Lagos, Abeokuta together with Ibadan. These men introduced the tillage of cocoa, maize, chocolate-brown cocoyam etc. to Ekiti. Wage earning labourers from parts of Ekiti who went to piece of work inwards Ondo, Ijebu together with Ife boosted the tillage of these economical trees.
Ewi Aladesanmi II encouraged the tillage of cash crops together with establishment of trading together with commercial enterprises amongst Ado citizenry. The Urhobo came into Ado communities inwards the early on 1940s with their ain mode of palm stone oil extraction. The Ebira came inwards large numbers inwards the 1940s together with 1950s introducing the tillage of their ain specie of yams, cassava together with beans. In the early on 1950s, Igbemo, together with Ado community started the tillage of rice, the style spread to Iworoko inwards the 1960s together with presently inwards the 1970s to other Ekiti communities such every bit Erio etc. These nutrient crops boosted nutrient production together with contributed to the sustenance of the growing population of Ado communities, especially Ado-Ekiti, together with yesteryear extension, other Ekiti together with non-Ekiti communities.
The progress made inwards Western education, tillage of nutrient crop together with of economical trees, every bit good every bit the establishment of commercial ventures brought groovy turn a profit to Ado-Ekiti. In the early on 1940s large fourth dimension commercial firms (companies) such every bit U.A.C together with inwards after years John Holt, U.T.C, C.F.A.O, established factories inwards the city. The Post together with Telegraph at nowadays (NIPOST) established a station inwards this metropolis inwards 1947/48 causing posting together with collection of mails at the District Officer's business office at Ayoba to cease. In 1958, pipe-borne H2O facility was provided making Ado-Ekiti the foremost town inwards nowadays Ondo together with Ekiti States to bask the facility. Two years later, ECN (now NEPA) extended electricity to the city. These facilities enhanced/increased commercial activities together with brought immense socio-economic do goodness together with improved measure of life to the people. From the 1950s, commercial banks, at foremost the National Bank, the Union Bank, together with inwards the 1960s together with 1970s Co-operative Bank together with United Bank for West Africa, opened their branch offices inwards Ado-Ekiti.
In the early on 1970s, Brigadier RA Adebayo, the 2d armed forces Governor of Western Region partnered with Mr Soliman Nagarty to extablish a Textile factory at Ado-Ekiti ( Western Nigeria Textile Industry Corporation) or WESTEXINCO)
Sport
Ado Ekiti has a stadium with a capacity of 10,000 together with a tertiary sectionalization professional person football game league team.
Oye-Ekiti
Oye is i of the 16th kingdoms of Ekiti land. Oye-Ekiti people are a grouping of the south-western
Yoruba, inhabiting the administrative headquarters’ of the nowadays Oye Local Government surface area of Ekiti State. The Old Oye kingdom comprises of 5 villages namely Oye, Ire, Egosi, Eshetta, (Egosi together with Eshetta have got come upwardly together every bit Ilupeju) together with Arigidi Ekiti (now Ayegbaju) together with covers an surface area of virtually 64 foursquare miles (NationalArchive, Ibadan). The population of Oye-Ekiti according to the 1952 national census was 13,696, (National Archive, Ibadan), 57,196 inwards 1963 together with inwards 2006 the population was 168,251(National Population Commission 2006).
Oye-Ekiti is located at a full general height around 1500 feet with hills together with granite outcrops rising to virtually 200 feet. It is covered yesteryear thick wood with really little patches of high wood together with is surrounded yesteryear hills which supply her protection inwards times of war. In fact, the hills were a approving to the people especially during the Republic of Benin invasion inwards the 19th century (Akintoye 1921).
The root of Oye Ekiti which is also known every bit Obalatanland is associated with the founder
of the town, Oloyemoyin who was born inwards Imore district of Ile Ife (Owoyomi 1995). Thus, the
call Oye was coined from his call ‘Oloyemoyin’, a call supposedly position together because of the circumstances surrounding the nativity of the founder of Oye who was said to have got been born during a terrible together with ‘hostile’ harmattam which commonly blows from the Sahara desert over together with across N Africa countries together with to all parts of Nigeria. And to save his life, he was kept inwards a dark room with woman mortal deity called ‘Obalatan’ for an unspecified flow of time.
Thus, he was observed every bit a wonderful prince whose nativity had been accompanied yesteryear a horrible
harmattan, while, traditional lamps were lit together with arranged inwards the room both twenty-four hours together with dark to maintain the room warm, coupled with the harmattan was the attendant dryness of his mother’s thorax so much that she could non thorax feed him together with rather he was fed with honey inwards spot of thorax milk. This is why he was named Oloyemoyin, pregnant a harbinger of harmattan who fed on honey together with this is limited inwards the cognomen to the kid together with yesteryear extension all autochthons of Oye as; Omo Oloye, Omo ora ufe ketaana Osan gangan, pregnant that Oloye is an aboriginal boy of Ile-Ife who ever position on lite during the twenty-four hours (Oye Progressive Union 1994).
According to available oral evidence, the prince left Ile-Ife inwards society of his blood brother Ogunlire, the acclaimed founder of Ire-Ekiti, with a remarkable entourage, equipped with large armies, unsmooth weaponry, commanders, seers, oracles, priests together with subtle counselors. The entourage on their way from Ile-Ife foremost settled at Ule Oye Ora (National Archive Ibadan). At Oye Odo Ora, the aborigines were non happy with such intrusion together with every bit a outcome fought together with scattered them. They, therefore, moved to a novel settlement together with called it Oye Ekiti, piece Ogunlire migrated together with settled inwards Ire-Ekiti. Some settled inwards Egosi, together with others conquered Eshetta together with Arigidi while, Oye-Ekiti became the caput of these towns together with Oloye was recognized yesteryear them every bit their leader beingness the eldest boy of theirmother, Yeye Aiye (National Achive, District Officer Diary Ibadan). (click here: http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/T%20&%20T/T%20&%20T-09-0-000-11-Web/T%20&%20T-09-2-000-11-Abst-PDF/S-T&T-09-2-123-11-221-Onipede-K-J/S-T&T-09-2-123-11-221-Onipede-K-J-Tt.pdf)
Ikere-Ekiti
“The foremost Olukere came from Ile-Ife together with founded Ikere, much later, the foremost Ogoga, a hunter, left his base of operations inwards Republic of Benin together with came to Ikere on a hunting spree. Reaching Ikere, he went together with stayed with the Olukere at his palace. As fourth dimension passed by, the number of people bringing cases to the Olukere for settlement started increasing yesteryear the twenty-four hours until it reached a dot when he could non do everything alone. He together with so asked Ogoga to go together with remain at Iro to attend to the people on his behalf piece he, the Olukere would proceed with other traditional assignments. The Ogoga started carrying out the project assigned to him until he eventually attained the spot of authority.”
As ordained yesteryear tradition, Ogoga together with Olukere usually run into in i lawsuit a twelvemonth during the Olosunta festival. That day, Olukere wears his crown piece the Ogoga only wears a cap. Today, both Ogoga together with Olukere are, inwards the best involvement of the people, to a greater extent than oftentimes than non seen every bit the head. And both are on the authorities payroll.
Ogoga together with Olukere alive inwards 2 unlike worlds. The attainment of University Degree position Ogoga at the forefront piece Olukere a really intelligent together with i who fully understands the scientific discipline of powerfulness sharing continues every bit the traditional head. However, i thing they both have got inwards mutual is the science to sympathise the want of their subjects together with of winning their confidence. If anything, they seek non to subscribe to the thought of absolute monarch.
Ikere, inwards its uniqueness, remains a complex society, a picayune conglomerate inwards its ain right. History reveals that the resident of Ikere had their root from unlike towns together with cities inwards Yoruba land.
They are people whose existence defines unity together with their nickname, “Ekiti Parapo,” echoes it proudly. Welcome to the only metropolis ruled yesteryear 2 Kings. Ikere-Ekiti, “a wonderland wallowing inwards an admixture of profound civilization together with tenacious cultural learning “. Headline, a reputable Nigerian Newspaper which foremost ran this story described it every bit “an expansive metropolis lucky plenty to escape beingness choked yesteryear the mighty rocks that dots its western part”. Ladies together with gentlemen, this is the story of Ikere – a groovy metropolis located on the southern component division of Ekiti State inwards Nigeria.
Royalty is a rich literary together with artistic tradition, which has influenced the evolution of cultures around the world. This is peradventure i of the reasons people have got such a high regard for the establishment of royalty. Royalty, with its rich history is i within a geographical location such every bit a city, or a nation. One King together with i Queen inwards England, i King inwards Morocco, i inwards Norway, Argentina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia together with so on. But 2 Kings, otherwise known every bit “Obas” inwards Ikere-Ekiti! Oduduwa, the founding manlike mortal parent of the Yoruba solid ground established Ile-Ife, the traditional headquarters of the Yorubas. He never had a 2d or complementary King or Oba. There has never been 2 Oonis reigning simultaneously inwards Ile-Ife.
Battle-loving Aare Onakakanfo wielded tremendous influence inwards the old Oyo Empire, yet Oyo maintains i Alafin. Ibadan, the largest metropolis inwards West Africa had ever had powerful personalities. Among those inwards the kickoff was Efunsetan Aniwura. Yet, Ibadan had never introduced 2 Olubadan.
Ogedengbe, the intractable warrior inwards Ijesa land, was a personality to behold. Ilesa never introduced 2 Agunlejikas because of him. Osogbo together with Osun are almost synonymous. Ataoja, nontheless, is the only recognized Oba inwards Osogbo. There has ever been i Oba (each metropolis inwards Yoruba land), i Emir (Hausa land), together with i Obi (Ibo land).
Itapa
Itapa is i of the towns inwards Ekiti solid ground which sprang from odufuwa of life together with Owatapa is the head. Itapa is i of the goddess beingness worshipped at Ile-ife. Its festival is held for a flow of xxx days together with worshipped yesteryear Ooni together with his people till today. It is worshipped till today. The festival is called Utaale at Itapa.
Ifa devotees of Itapa
Amowa together with Elepe, sons of Oduduwa left Ile-ife with their mother, they also came with 2 friends known every bit Elemo together with Baaro. These people were hunters. At a phase Elepe took his acquire out together with settled at i of Itapa's farms called Osin, Another blood brother of Amowa settled inwards Itapa farm called Ijelu together with he after became Elejelu. Amowa was the foremost OLOSIN of Osin. There are other goods called Elutapa together with Orisa Itapa which are worshiped yesteryear Ooni till today.
His Royal Majesty, Oba David Makanjuola Ajaja of Itapa kingdom
Owa attends these gods through his elected priests called Ayaya every bit the priest of Elutapa together with Aworo Orisa Ilawe every bit the priest of Orisa Itapa or Ilawe. Elemo took his quarter together with go the caput of Remo piece Baaro became caput of Egetun. All of them were groovy hunters.
Many people came to settle with them together with they became prosperous. These heads of quarters regarded Owatapa every bit their caput together with the people approached Owatapa through their heads, together with Owatapa has the terminal say over all matters brought earlier him.
Here are the names of the Owatapa inwards monastic tell of Precedent.
The foremost Owatapa was Amowa;
The 2nd Owatapa was Muaro, Amowa's son;
The 3rd Owatapa was Jejeke;
The fourth Owatapa was Ponrokun, he removed his palace from Iloro Remo to where it is today. Chief Oisemo was asked to take accuse of the palace.
The fifth Owatapa was Yioye;
The sixth Owatapa was Abaradudu;
The seventh Owatapa was Awadieruasola;
The eighth Owatapa was Arawamokunrin during the reign of this Owa, his town Itapa was overcrowded together with many people went to settle at Egosi together with at a spot called Ila.
The ninth Owatapa was Agiriyoyo;
The tenth Owatapa was Akitipa- Obibo;
The 11th Owatapa was Ijimgbere Oke;
The twelfth Owatapa was Owa Edun Alaye;
The 13th Owatapa was Iboun;
The 14th Owatapa was Ajakobijagba;
The 15th Owatapa was Okekorokoro ni kin ma gun on;
The 16th Owatapa was Agodisoro;
The 17th Owatapa was Owa Okogirigiri ni ki nwon ma di on;
The 18th Owatapa was Owa Ogogu;
This Owa wanted to recall his people from Egosi but the people at Egosi at nowadays called Ilupeju refused to release them together with this after resulted into war. This state of war was called 'Ogun yinmomo' -i.e give me child. The people of Egosi were assisted yesteryear Ikole. When Itapas went to war, the Ikole came to Itapa together with carried away their children together with sold them. They were driven away.
During this war,another state of war from Ilorin led yesteryear Aliyu carried people from Itapa, Ikole together with Egosi away. They captured Prince Arowogbadamu at the historic flow of 7 years together with it was during this state of war that Owatapa thereby becoming the 19th Owatapa.
Owa Amerijoye made an alliance with Ata who also came from Iye inwards instance of whatsoever other assault or war. They both settled together at Aiyede. When Ibadan state of war broke out, Ata was captured together with sojourned inwards Lagos from where he was brought to go the 20th Oba.
The 21st Owatapa was Owa Ola I;
The 22nd Owatapa was Owa Ademiloye;
The 23rd Owatapa was Ali Sanni - the boy of Arowogbadamu, who was installed Owa inwards 1929.
The 24th Owatapa was Owa Ojo (Ola II);
The 25th Owatapa was Owa Amuda Adeyeye Ali ( Atabatele II), he was installed on the 17th Apr 1987, together with reigned for Twenty-Two (22) years to Dec 29, 2009.
The 26th Owatapa is HRM Oba (Dr) D. O Makanjoula Ajaja, who started his reign of transformation together with restoration on the 25th twenty-four hours of November, 2011 together with had his Official Coronation every bit the OWATAPA of ITAPA EKITI on the 31st twenty-four hours of March, 2012.
Ade a pe lori o. Kabiyesi... Ire o!!!
Igede-Ekiti
Like a typical Yoruba town, a lot of stories, legends, myths together with oral tales abound with honor to the root together with tradition of Igede-Ekiti.
Ake, a hunter together with herbalist founded Igede. Erindo, his married adult woman together with Awota, his retainer migrated from Ile-Ife. They settled at Okesu. Ake together with his married adult woman were blessed with xvi (16) children, 8 (8) boys together with 8 (8) girls. Among the children were Osun, Elemi, Orunro, Ogbese, Elerinmo together with Okunsusi.
Immediately after the decease of Ake, at that spot was a struggle for leadership amongst the children. This led to a civil state of war where a high grade of metaphysical mightiness through the usage of incantations was displayed. Eventually, the most elderly ones destroyed themselves together with thus, Okunusi, a younger but highly intelligent together with courageous fellow member of the household unit of measurement took over the drape of leadership. He became the foremost Rex of Igede at Okesu because his father, Ake was never appointed a king.
With increasing population, the number of settlers at Okesu outgrew the total solid ground infinite together with hence the demand to motion to a to a greater extent than relatively land surface area to settle at Odogede. This was the root of the proverb “Odo, Baba Igede”. Oba Obirimoko was the foremost Onigede to settle at Odogede. However, he lived a horrifying life together with left a bad tape together with hence, his reign was ruled out of monastic tell together with never to live listed every bit an Oba of Igede-Ekiti.
The call IGEDE was a derivative of the term “OGEDE” pregnant incantations. This call was given to the settlement when the civil state of war was fought with a lot of incantations. Incantations were a powerful weapon of state of war inwards those days every bit a display of metaphysical knowledge.
The other story that the immature lady of Alara of Aramoko-Ekiti who married the boy of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti gave nativity to a babe called Ige on her way to Ado-Ekiti at Odegede was non authenticated every bit the footing for deriving the call of the town – Igede (Signifying that Ige has arrived).
Igede-Ekiti lies within latitudes seventy 391 together with 7 0 411 North of the Equator together with Longitudes 50 71 together with 50 81 East of the Greenwish Meridian. It is the Headquarters of Irepodun / Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ondo State. It is bounded inwards the North yesteryear Awo-Ekiti, inwards the South yesteryear Ilawe-Ekiti, inwards the East yesteryear Iyin-Ekiti along Ado-Ekiti side, together with inwards the West yesteryear Aramoko-Ekiti. It is at a distance of 64 kilometers from Akure, the upper-case missive of the alphabet of Ondo State. It covered solid ground surface area of virtually 3.8 foursquare kilometres with a populatoin of 31,041 people (1966 census). Igede-Ekiti belongs to a grouping called ‘Ekiti’. The Ekitis settled inwards the Eastern component division of the old Western State of Nigeria at nowadays known every bit Oyo, Ogun together with Ondo State.
The people speak Ekiti dialect which is oftentimes mixed with measure Yoruba language. The civilization of the people with honor to mode of dressing, eating habits, housing, marriage, burial together with naming ceremonies follow the same pattern every bit practised inwards Yorubaland.
Igede is a nodal settlement. It is situated on a relatively high Earth with the highest dot at Esu hill, together with an out-crop at Okeaga inwards Odogede quarter. This topography makes Igede a watershed region. River Osun, otherwise worshipped together with adorned every bit “Osun Oshogbo” takes its source from Igede at a portion betwixt Igede together with Awo-Ekiti. There are other rivers together with streams such every bit Elemi, Ogbese, Inansi, Ogangan together with Ogburuu. Gully erosion has adversely affected parts of the town at Irona, Odo-Uri together with Ilamoye. Igede falls within the rainforest belt of southwestern Nigeria.Its vegetation is so evergreen rainforest type. This type of vegetation favours agricultural practices. More than 90% of the inhabitants are farmers.
The farm products include cocoa, accounting for to a greater extent than than 80% of the income of the farming population, kolanut (both Acumulata together with Nitida), stone oil palm, yam, cocoyam, maize cassava, vegetables together with to some extent, rice, Palm vino is Igede’s all the twelvemonth cash earner together with pop imbibe “OGORO IGEDE”. The location within the humid torrid zone makes the town together with its environs bask tropical hot together with moisture type of climate. There is a rainy flavor from Apr to Oct together with a dry out flavor from Nov to March. The rainfall regime is of the monastic tell onset, advance together with retreat. On the average, the rainfall is virtually 1,450mm/year. If non for recent conditions changes, Igede enjoys a brusque spell of picayune rainfall inwards the calendar month of August (August Break) together with harmattan inwards Dec to Jan months.
Awo-Ekiti
Awo-Ekiti is a little town inwards the newly created Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government surface area of Ondo State. Before the creation of the novel Local Government, the town was within the defunct Ekiti Central Local Government. It is virtually vi kilometers from Igede-Ekiti, the Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government headquarters, together with virtually 20 2 kilometers from Ado-Ekiti through Igede/Iyin road. The town is situated within longitude 15½0E of the Greenwich together with Latitude 6¾0 North of the Equator.
Awo-Ekiti is a centrally located town inwards Ekitiland. It is within the heartland of Ekitiland. The cardinal location of the town has non been appreciated simply because of the piteous roads which transcend through the town.Travellers prefer long but practiced roads to piteous but brusque roads. It is when the vi roads that converge on the town are developed that the modality of the town within Ekitiland would come upwardly into focus. The cardinal location of the town makes it shape the shortest route to all corners together with major towns inwards Ekitiland. For example, Ido-Ekiti via Osi through Awo/Igede-Ilawe to Igbara Odo is only 40 kilometers. Ado-Ekiti via old Iyin settlement through Awo/Ara to Ijero Ekiti is exactly 22km. Ifaki via Esure/Eyio through Awo to Aramoko inwards Ekiti West is only 28km. The major towns at the periphery of Ekitiland such every bit Otun, Efon Alaye, Ikere, Ikole are nearly equidistant to Awo Ekiti. With the evolution of the roads, the strategic location of the town would live a strong factor inwards its growth together with development.
The town is situated on a high elevation of virtually 1,800 inwards higher upwardly the sea level. It is on i of the high plains of Western Nigeria. The height gives the town some unique conditions conditions. Throughout the year, the conditions is moderately cool together with its H2O are usually mutual frigidity most especially during the dry out season. When a lot of people inwards the town prefer the naturally mutual frigidity H2O to fridged water. The solid ground likewise is good drained no H2O lodging together with flooding.
The Plateau on which the town situates forms a watershed for tributaries which flow into River Ogbese inwards the South together with River Osun inwards West. It is interesting to banking company annotation that these 2 of import rivers inwards Western Nigeria takes their sourcs exactly a few kilometers apart at the outskirt of the town. The 2 rivers are of import every bit they are beingness worshipped yesteryear a large community of people inwards Western Nigeria.
Very spectacular inwards the topography of the town inwards the Igori Rock which is exactly only i together with a one-half kilometres due east of the town. This loma an outcrop of granite, is reminisent of the beautiful rocky landscape of Idanre. This massive, stone but smoothen characteristic presents a fascinating tourist attraction which ought to live developed yesteryear the province government. The top of the loma is an ideal spot to build challets to boost the tourist manufacture inwards the state. Standing on this loma i has a panoramic sentiment of a rolling countryside whose distant hills together with horizon merge with the blueish sky.
History
The original inhabitants of Awo were believed to have got come upwardly from Ifè Oòdáyé. They were component division of the waves of Yorùbá who migrated from Ile-Ife to found settlements inwards the nowadays South-Western Nigeria. The foundation of Awo inwards its nowadays site was every bit a outcome of amalgamation of some villages which agreed to cooperate for defensive reasons, every bit a outcome of mutual threats from stronger – chiefdoms. This was virtually 1350 A.D.
The community which after became Awo had its nucleus inwards a little settlement at Ijoru. The little settlement inwards after fourth dimension became component division of Oke-Uba Quarter nether Osukoti of Awo Ekiti. At Ijoru was a marketplace called Olujoda which was held every ix other days yesteryear such nearby settlements at Uju together with Ile-Ona. The groovy importance of the marketplace of Odo settlement who engaged Ijoru, Uju, Ile-Ona together with other surrounding hamlets inwards warfare. The incessant attacks from Odo people forced the settlements to motion close. Their united efforts helped them to position a permanent halt to Odo attacks. This early on was referred to every bit Ogun Owuro.
Some years after the amalgation of the settlements that jointly fought Odo war, Olujoda marketplace was abandoned together with a to a greater extent than cardinal marketplace called ‘ATOWOSE’ was created. The groovy strength of the novel settlement every bit good every bit its flourishing merchandise inwards kolanuts attracted the fancy of Odo people. The negotiated peace with the people of the novel settlement together with and so many of the people from Odo moved inwards to settle with them. It was at this fourth dimension an Ife Prince arrived at the settlement. The Ifew Prince was Akinadesanmi (but simply called Akinsanmi). He after became the foremost paramount ruler of the settlement with the championship – Alawo of Awo.
Akinsanmi was i of the grand princes of Ile-Ife who with their followers left Ile-Ife some hundreds of years earlier the Yoruba inter-tribal wars. The grouping was led yesteryear a senior blood brother of Akinsanmi yesteryear call Okiribiti nicknamed Obadudu. He was fearless together with popular. He after founded the settlement at nowadays called Emure Ijaloke together with thus became the foremost Elemure of Emure Ijaloke. Olosi who after founded Osi-Ekiti (in Ido/Osi Local Government) also a blood brother to Akinsanmi was inwards the group. They left Ife with many beaded crowns together with beads. The grouping arrived at Igbo Owa close River Ose where a powerful kingdom was established. Rivalry amongst Akinsanmi together with his blood brother princes every bit good every bit attacks from Oba of Ado Ibini led to the autumn of Igbo Owa Kingdom. The grouping together with so split together with migrated inwards smaller groups settling inwards places i after the other.
Akinsanmi led a grouping which settled at Oba-Ile close Akure together with after at Ise earlier he arrived to settle finally at the settlement within Atowose marketplace surround which after became known known every bit Awo. On his way from Ise he fed mainly on baobab tree fruit. Ejisun, Erinwa, Edemo, Oluaro Aroro together with Edemorun accompanied him every bit his followers on arrival.
Akinsanmi was a groovy hunter together with a powerful medicine man. He was also really handsome together with could alter his torso peel into unlike colours similar a chameleon. He killed many animals together with so dresed inwards unlike animals skins which were varied inwards colour. The oftentimes changing torso peel together with his garments of varied animate beingness skins made people to popularly refer to him every bit ‘Alawo ewu arabara’. From this, the call Alawo is coined together with the settlement became known every bit ‘Ilu Awo’. He oftentimes displayed his medicine charms hung on ‘Igba – (the type of coined ropes used for climbing palm tree). He used it every bit a necklace (Igbajo) inwards add-on to beaded necklace. This, he believed gave him magical powerfulness against his enemies, together with made his medicine handy for usage during whatsoever emergency. So, for magical powerfulness against enemies ‘Igbajo’ was traditionally given to every newly installed Alawo every bit component division of his regalia. It was nonetheless used lastly at the installation of Oba Filani Adesiyan inwards 1930.
People feared Akinsanmi (Alias Alawo ewu arabara) together with was highly respected. With fourth dimension he became recognised every bit the leader together with paramount main of the settlement (Awo). His fame extended to some far places together with some people left their villages to settle at Awo. People from Ikole. Oba-Ile amongst others came to settle. Among such people were Elesi together with Elese from the royal lineage of Osi-Ikole together with Ilese respectively. The 2 men left their villages when they were non made paramount chiefs there. Both of them knew the traditional coronation rites every bit practised inwards their villages. They were together with so given the honour to perform the installation of Akinsanmi every bit the foremost Alawo of Awo. The 2 became recognised chiefs every bit Elesi together with Elese. The official traditional duties of the Elesi together with Elese upwardly till this twenty-four hours is to install novel Alawo.
Awo people have got no mutual oriki similar some other towns. For example: Osi-Ekiti has ‘Asise’ every bit its oriki, Ifaki every bit Orinkinran, Iyin is Egirioke together with Akure is Oyemekun. The argue for this is simply that the original inhabitants of Awo came from unlike angle. Its royal household unit of measurement has its oriki which originated inwards the mortal of Oba Akinsanmi the foremost Alawo. Because of his boldness, his garments of varied colours, his feeding on baobab tree fruits together with his arrival at Awo after his brief remain at Ise, members of the royal household unit of measurement at Awo have got their oriki thus: Omo Akin, Omo Aláwò èwù àràbarà, Omo olòsè (baobab) Omo irà lílá ònà Ìsè e.t.c.
When Alawo arrived at Awo, the settlement of Eyinke was non far from Awo together with a adult man called Ogbese was its paramount ruler. He was a hunter every bit good every bit groovy warrior. He was also a powerful medicine man. As Alawo was inwards history but it was faced inwards its early on days with incessant harassments of invaders. For this argue the Alawo palace was removed from its original site at Oke -Uba which was really prone to assault to Erewa which appeared a to a greater extent than secured place. The construction of the foremost palace at Erewa had non been completed when the incoming Alawo left the palace at Oke-Uba. He had to remain for 3 months inwards a chemical compound closed to the novel palace site at Erewa earlier he moved inwards after the completion. He gave the call Ile Aro to the chemical compound where he stayed together with the caput of the chemical compound was given the championship ‘Aro’. For years it was customary for newly installed Alawo to remain inwards main Aro’s theatre for 3 months earlier moving to the palace. The flow was used to brand necessary repairs to the grass thatched roof of the palace. Now that the palace is roofed with corrugated Fe sheets at that spot is no demand for whatsoever novel Alawo to remain for 3 months. From the fourth dimension of Oba J. D. Aladejuyigbe III inwards 1968 the remain has been for 3 days only.
Early inwards its history, Awo evolved a stable political system. Alawo was together with soundless the paramount ruler together with he ruled with the assistance of his chiefs. There was the traditional council of state. It was made upwardly of:
numo Chiefs consisting of 3 Iare, 3 Iro together with 3 Emo.
Elegbe consisting of 3 Agba Elegbe, 3 Agba Akin together with 3 Oisa Ijokun from each of the 3 wards or quarters.
Egiri consisting of 3 Olorigbo, 3 Elegiri together with 3 Elerukuku.
Women Chiefs consisting of Eyedofin, Eyegun together with Eyesemore.
There was also the Ward Council which was made upwardly of precinct Chiefs (Olori Ebi).
The establishment of age-grade scheme was an of import aspect of the political organisation.The lowest grade was Otun Erukuku, followed yesteryear Agba Erukuku. These 2 age-grades took accuse of world works similar road, marketplace together with palace repairs together with construction. After vii years, Otun Erukuku moved to Agba Erukuku. From hither they moved to Origbo. The Orighos moved to Egiri together with Erigi moved to Oye Elegbe together with Agba Elegbe. The Elegbes were responsible for the maintenance of peace, they caught together with punished criminals similar witches, together with they made sacrifices to appease the gods of the town. They were also the warriors. The ablest fellow member was made the leader with the picayune Sajowa.
Among the early on traditional festivals was the Oodun or Oro Olofin festival. This was together with soundless is a traditional festival that is performed or celebrated yesteryear whatsoever straight Ife prince ruling a community. The traditional beaded crown is worn during the festival others were Ogun festival, Egungun festival together with the worshipping of Orisa Oja, Orisa Iko otherwise called Orisa Ojuna (god of fire) bought yesteryear the household unit of measurement that came from Ikole, Orisa Odo brought yesteryear Odo people together with Oyi the pop god of Oke-Uba ward.
Many Alawos has reigned since the demise of Akinsanmi. They included the following. (Their names are non all listed inwards chronological order) Oba Agodogbo bi ila a fi nsuru, Oba Aropupayoko, Oba Orun ku bi ojo, Oba Amolese, Oba Osodogbadamu, Oba Asowinon who broke the traditional law together with was waylaid yesteryear the Elegbe together with killed with their metallic rod i.e. Ogbo Elegbe, Oba Ona Owuro who after abdicated his throne together with left for Era where he became Elera of Era (now Araromi Ijero) Oba Adubienimu, who reigned at virtually 1650, Oba Ifamosaya 1860 – 1875, Oba Oyiyo Okeruku 1876, Oba Adesiyan I 1880 – 1900, Oba Aladejuyigbe I 1910 – 1925, Oba S. O. Aladejuyigbe II 1927 – 1930 who was the foremost enlightened Oba. The people found his reign likewise tyrannical together with he was dethroned on 27th of March 1930. He left Awo for Igede. He was allowed to come upwardly dorsum inwards 1941 but non every bit a king. People inwards after years judged him a practiced Rex but were likewise fast for his people. He lived inwards Awo till 1972 when he died, Oba Filani Adesiyan II 1930 – 1962 together with Oba J. D. Alade 1966 – 1977 who was the lastly of the yesteryear Alawos.
River Ogbese every bit a Powerful Deity inwards Awo-Ekiti
Ogbese was a pop adult man inwards the olden days. He was a groovy warriors, a hunter together with a powerful medicine man. People used to sing praise of him inwards these words “E e sode (he was a hunter), e e sawo (he was a medicine adult man or an herbalist), omo amurugbon wole peran (he could kill animals inwards a prostrating spot with his beard brushing the ground) Apamudanule (he killed his enemies during wars inwards hundreds so much that his blood drenched sword was used to live cleaned on the ground).
Ogbese was a prince of Ado. When his manlike mortal parent died, at that spot was a tussle betwixt him together with his junior brothers over who would dominion Ado after their father. The 2 brothers set for Ado-Ibini to acquire the staff of business office to rule, from the Oba of Ado-Ibini who was i of the vii sons of Okanbi. Before Ogbese got to Ado-Ibini, his junior blood brother had received the staff of office, a crown together with some beads. This province of affairs made Ogbese to grow annoyed together with to abhor his brother. To avoid serious clash betwixt Ogbese together with his brother, the Oba of Ado-Ibini gave Ogbese some other crown together with some beads. He advised him to go together with found a novel spot of settlement. The hatred betwixt the 2 made them decided non to see each other whatsoever to a greater extent than together with Ogbese ordered his children never to prostrate or kneel downwards earlier whatsoever mortal from his brother’s family.
Ogbese went northwestward together with founded a novel town called Eyinke. He was followed yesteryear members of his household unit of measurement together with the few people who were loyal to him.
Some years after he founded Eyinke, a state of war broke out betwixt Ado (where his blood brother was the paramount ruler) together with an enemy grouping from somewhere. The fighting was likewise much for Ado people that they sought the assist of Ogbese to assist them inwards the battle. Not minding the quarrel he had with his brother, he went together with fought together with won the battle for Ado.
This incident reveals the historical significance of the vocal “Ogbugbulomi, a mo ya ‘Gbese la o, Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 pamudanule oju re laa me io”. In measure yoruba it reads thus “Ogbugbulomi awa sadi Ogbese ni ilu Awo. Apamudanule Oju re la nwo”. This was vocal years after yesteryear Ado people inwards rememberance of the state of war fought for them yesteryear Ogbese.
To exhibit their gratitudes to Ogbese the ruler of Ado sent a slave annually to Ogbese. It was the coming of the European to Nigeria that position a halt to this.
When Ogbese was virtually to die, he called his boy Oloja together with told him that he would go on unusual together with miraculous death, which would brand him a diety that they would proceed to worship. He took a little pot with him together with went to a nearby Iroko tree. He sat at the human foot of the tree all of a abrupt he disappeared into the ground. Just immediately, H2O started to outpouring out from the little pot he left lying closed to the root of the Iroko tree. This became a source of River Ogbese every bit it is known today. The proof is hither till today.
After Ogbese’s disappearance, his boy Oloja became the paramount ruler of Eyinke together with the call ‘Oloja’ consequently became the championship of the paramount ruler of Eyinke. Oloja led his people to worship River Ogbese annally.
Eyinke nether Oloja was engaged inwards a state of war with a grouping of people. Oloja together with his people had to flee together with settle inwards a nearby town after called Awo.
When Alawo arrived together with united the various groups he met nether his sovereignty, Oloja became a traditional chemical compound caput nether Alawo.
Eyinke, the old settlement of Oloja became the farm solid ground of Oloja together with his people. The people continued to farm the solid ground till today. As a grade of honor to Oloja, Ejisun the caput main of the quarter/ward to which Oloja chemical compound belongs is installed till today inwards Oloja’s house.
Annually the people continued to worship the god of River Ogbese together with Oloja established a priesthood of vii members. (Iworo meje) for the worship. He every bit Oloja headed the priesthood. Others were Oisa, Elero, Oisape, Osotun, Elesa together with Odofin ere who was the main errand adult man for the Oloja.
The annual festival for the worship of the god of Ogbese (until recent times) started with the wives together with children of Oloja together with some other priests going to the farm to take novel yams. On their arrival from the farm, they would trip the lite fantastic circular Ogbese together with Atiba shrines vii times respectively. Early inwards the morn on the twenty-four hours of the festival, the youngest wives of Oloja would pound the yams nakedly nether closed doors, with the senior wives guarding the chemical compound gate to forestall people from entering. After the traditional eating of the pounded yam, the gate would live opened to visitors who came for the feast of the festival.
The traditional offering of sacrifice to the god yesteryear Oloja would follow the early on morn feast. Up till the cease of the lastly century, the sacrifice included ritual killing of a slave referred to every bit Oluo. The killing was ever effected yesteryear the Oisa. The slave annually sent to Ogbese together with his predecessors yesteryear the traditional caput of Ado every bit a gift inwards appreciation of the state of war which Ogbese won for Ado people was after the decease of Ogbese annually sacrificed every bit Oluwo to the god of Ogbese.
The lastly vocal sung yesteryear the lastly Oluwo was “eereunfeeo eereunfee oun mo wo ohun mo mu somo lale ke inreunfee.
In add-on annually the traditional caput of Ado used to take kolanuts rapped with a leafage called “Omu” ferns to Oloja.
There is upwardly till today a womanpriest Eyelogbese who plays prominent roles during the flow the annual festival lasts. Every year, people with i job or the other similar those with no children come upwardly to her to live blessed together with those people brand pledges. The worshippers believes that with the annual prayers made yesteryear the priestess, the god ever protect his people from sickness together with troubles of state of war together with also allows them to multiply till today anybody suffering from Republic of Guinea worm would live treated with the H2O from Ogbese river. Up till virtually 1958, anybody infected yesteryear little pod was admitted yesteryear Eyelogbese (Ogbese priest) together with cured. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 number of miracles were performed during the yearly celebrations during various acrobatic displays which include dancing together with rolling on the Earth with little pox (Oru) dressed together with with life fern leaves stalked inwards the pot without falling off. We were robbed of this fanciful together with attractive civilization yesteryear adven of Western civilisation.
Erinmope-Ekiti
Erinmope-Ekiti falls within the derived savannah belt together with has virtually vi months of effective rainfall from mid-April to mid-October. The mutual crops grown are arable crops such every bit Yam, Cassava, Maize, Beans together with Republic of Guinea Corn. Few cash crops such every bit Cocoa, Kolanut together with Cashew are also grown inwards isolated areas.
The Indigenes are really dynamic, industrious together with enterprising. However because of solid ground limitations together with limited opportunities, many of the people settled exterior the town together with tin can live found inwards virtually all parts of Nigeria where they are engaged inwards commercial together with industrial activities together with inwards particular the establishment of plantation inwards agricultural products such every bit Cocoa, Kolanut together with Oil palm.
Record has it that Erinmope-Ekiti had its genealogical history traced to Oraufe dynasty inwards Ile-Ife earlier they migrated therefrom. Oraufe begat Ayetise together with Ayetise begat Lajamisan. Obaleo belonged to the Lajamisan dynasty of the lijo surface area inwards the chemical compound of Chief Obajio, the traditional Lord Exchequer. The foremost Obaleo Elejio (a.k.a) Ajigbeji (a prince, a warrior, a hunter together with a herbalist) with Oore Abajadiewon also a prince left Ile-Ife at the same fourth dimension together with went together to all places until they both settled at a spot called Ipole. When Obaleo Elejio was leaving Ile-Ife with his people he took along his ain inheritance from his manlike mortal parent which included Bearded Crown, Beads, White Horsetail etc.
Later the Obaleo left Oore behind inwards Ipole together with settled foremost at Ekiti Epere close Ipole earlier moving to the nowadays twenty-four hours location sometime inwards the 15th century, also Oore left Ipole together with and so settled at the nowadays location - Otun. Since then, Obaleo has remained undisputed together with unchallenged second-in-command to the Oore. The call Erinmope was derived from a caput count of those who left Ekite-Opere to the nowadays settlement. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 census was conducted together with the Oba asked the people if all the people were present, thus “NJE ORI PE” together with was answered “ORI MOPE O”. Thus, the settlement was referred to every bit “ORIMOPE”. In some other development, Obaleo Elejio having settled downwards ordered his hunters to lookout circular to view if at that spot were other settlers. One of the hunters who faced the surface area called Ibamogun saw a large stone afar off believing it to live an elephant aimed at it but moving closer discovered it was non an elephant but a large rock. On homecoming to others together with the Oba he narrated his ordeal together with ended it with the disputation “ERIN NI MOPE” pregnant that I thought it was an elephant. So Obaleo Elejio decided to call the settlement ERINMOPE. Thus the names “ORINMOPE” together with “ERINMOPE” were used interchangeably to spot the Town upwardly to the kickoff of the 19th century when only ERINMOPE was finally adopted.
For administrative convenience, Oore Abajadiewon divided Moba into 4 constituencies inwards 1579 every bit follows:
(i) Arin Moba (Central) Otun
(ii) Ona Moba (Front/Route) Erinmope, Aaye-Oja together with Irare
(iii) Osi Moba (Left) Osun, Epe, Osan, Ira together with Iro
(iv) Otun Moba (Right) Igogo, Ikun, Ikosu, together with Isaoye
The 1579 resolution made virtually 433 years agone yesteryear the Oore recognised Obaleo every bit second-in-command to him the spot Obaleo soundless holds today.
There are 3 Ruling Houses inwards Erinmope Ekiti namely Iloye Ruling House, Iworo-Aro Ruling House together with Ijewu Ruling House. The Ruling Houses are referred to every bit Royal Families or “OMO-OWAS”. The traditional Ruler - Obaleo of Erinmope - is rotated amongst the 3 Ruling Houses. The electrical flow Obaleo of Erinmope - His Royal Majesty Oba J. O. Aina is from Iloye Ruling House. Oba J.O. Aina ascended the throne inwards 1975. He took over from Oba Atere Atoyosoye from Ijewu Ruling House.
In Erinmope-Ekiti, several Obaleos have got reigned every bit follows:
OBALEO ELEJIO a.k.a. Ajigbeji (Founder)
ALUSULOGBA
ABATI
EKIMODE
AROJO
AGBODOIYAWO
OPEKUNRIN
AJIDAUNATAYERO
ADUMORI
AKOROBOTO
AGBEDEGBEDE
OTUJABIOJO
ARILEKESOOGUN
OSIYABOKUNRINJA
AGBONSILEDOYE
ATEREATOYOSOYE
AINAAJEJIOYE (1975 till date)
In the same vein, the next Oores have got reigned inwards Otun Ekiti:
Oore Abajadiewon (Founder)
Adifagbade
Olasunkade
Okinbaloye
Adifala
Arisilejoye 1886
Ariyowaye 1914
Oyinloye 1929
Aroyinleke Adepoju 1967
Odundun Popoola 2002 till engagement (http://www.erinmope-ekiti.com/pdf_files/Erinmope%20at%20a%20glance.pdf)
The Oore of Mobaland, Oba (Dr.) James Adedapo Popoola JP, CON, Odundun I
L-R: Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Keynote Speaker together with Minister of Finance, doctor Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; CEO, Emzor Pharmaceutical, doctor Stella Okoli; together with Wife of Vice President, Hajia Amina Namadi
Fprmer Ekiti State Governor, doctor Kayode Fayemi left presents staff of business office to Olupole of Ipole Iloro, Oba Babatola Oladele, with him is Olori Grace together with Magaret Oladele
Olokun annual festival at Ayede, Ekiti State,Nigeria.
80th Birthday Celebration of Mama Adetutu Famuagun
Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Funso Amosun; Wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi; Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Deputy Governor of Osun State, Otunba Titi Laoye Tomori, Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka at the birthday thanksgiving for Mama Adetutu Famuagun (Mrs Olayinka's mother) at the C.A.C Church Ado-Ekiti,
0 Response to "Info For Yous Ekiti People: Culturally Homogeneous In Addition To Hilly Intellectual Yoruba Sub-Group From The Metropolis Of Rock"
Post a Comment