HISTORY OF IJOMU-ORO TOWN, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION This is a detailed explanation of how Ijomu-Oro was founded and how the different families/clans arrived Ijomu-Oro, cooperated based on mutual understanding, to “eat and drink together” and live in peace and harmony. Ijomu-Oro Town, one of the Eku-Oro Towns, is in the Irewolede District of Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria.

THE FOUNDING FATHERS

Asefon-Ode Ashipa Efundere Dosunmu, alias Amu-Eta-laaye (probably from Oke-Oki, near Iyin-Ekiti) and Oloro Atiiri-Oke-Ogun (from the first Owa-Onire settlement to the current Owa Onire - home of Owu Waterfalls) were the two men who founded, and first domiciled together in, Ijomu-oro, to the exclusion of any other human being on the whole land.

These two men were powerful hunters who became blossom friends when both met on their hunting expeditions on this land. They decided to stay and start a community, having realized that both of them had their nuclear families domiciled within a shouting distance to each other. They continued their hunting together on the land and were prayerful to the Almighty God to increase their population into a sprawling town. They did a lot of traditional prayer - rituals to this effect.

A ROYAL BLOOD JOINS

After some years, one fateful evening, the first two ‘indigenes’ were relaxing together when they saw a man (with his family) coming with an Agan (royal) staff on his shoulder. The two ‘indigenes’ stopped the man, asked of his name, and where he was coming from and going to? He answered that he was Ikoyi - Agan Alodologba from the Ikoyi Clan in Oyo Ile. He added that chieftaincy crisis in Oyo Ile made him flee, as he could not pay obeisance to his younger brother who was favoured with their royal stool. The two indigenes convinced him to settle down with them, so they could together be eking out a living - kajo maaje, kajo maamu - ajoje-ajomu (‘We eat and drink together’). He agreed but said he would only stay at any spot where his Agan staff stood erect without falling. Thus, he put the staff down at a spot and the staff stood stiff, and so the spot became his abode.

The two ‘indigenes’ thanked him for agreeing to stay with them in their new settlement. After some discussions, they agreed that Ikoyi Alodologba, being a royal blood, should become the Baale (leader) and permanently reside in the hamlet. This was because the first two founders were itinerant hunters. Ikoyi Alodologba (with Agan royal staff), thanked the two indigenes for the honour (of royal concession) done him.

The “Oro” Suffix and Oloro of Oro's Royal Recognition

The next day, Elerinlose and Alade brought back the good news of Oba Oloro Olufayo's invitation to their compatriots to visit the royal father. Elated, Efundere Dosunmu, Oloro Atiiri-Oke and Ikoyi Alodologba (whom the first two had earlier unanimously appointed as the Baale of Ajoje-Ajomu) followed Elerinlose and Alade to visit their father, the King, Oba Oloro Olufayo at Aafin Oro.

The royal father welcomed them, and promptly gave them his blessings and his royal permission to add the “Oro” suffix to the “Ajoje-Ajomu” name of the new hamlet. The Oba Oloro Olufayo also gave royal approval and blessings to Ikoyi Alodologba as the Baale of Ajoje-Ajomu-Oro hamlet under Oro Kingdom. He also honoured the first of the two founders of Ajoje-Ajomu-Oro, Asefon-Ode Efundere Dosunmu with the title of Eesa of Oro Kingdom, meaning the second in command to the Oloro-In-Council. From then on, Elerinlose and Alade would always visit their father, the King, Oba Oloro Olufayo, in company of Ikoyi Alodologba, the Baale of Ajoje-Ajomu-Oro.

After some time, the five compatriots agreed to adjust the name of their hamlet from “Ajoje-Ajomu-Oro” to simply “Ijomu-Oro”, which has remained till today. Thus, Ijomu-Oro became on of the 9 generic autonomous settlements forming Ekumesan Oro, under one paramount ruler called: Oloro of Oro (‘Federated Kingdom’).

THE IJOMU-ORO SETTLEMENT AND ITS BOUNDARY NEIGHBORS The new Ijomu-Oro Settlement, already, had its settled boundaries in a concentric circle with six (6) autonomous neighbors, starting clockwise with Edidi-Isin, Otun-Oro, Okerimi-Oro, Afin-Oro, Iddo-Oro, and closing with Aalla-Isin. This land was to collectively belong to all the settlers, with each settler owning whatever location is apportioned to him on arrival in the settlement.

IJOMU-ORO LAND OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE

The Ijomu-Oro township lands as bounded by the six towns mentioned above, were collectively owned by the Ijomu-Oro community family settlers, with each family/clan having exclusive ownership rights on whatever portion was given to it at initial settlement, and additional lands given later to it for family expansion. The entire Ijomu-Oro township lands, therefore, belonged to all the families/clans duly settled by the community.

SERIAL ORDER OF SETTLEMENT OF THE FAMILIES IN IJOMU-ORO

1. Asefon-Ode Efundere Dosunmu Amu-Eta-laaye (Ile Olori, Ile Ogiko, Ile Olookan)
2. Oloro Atiiri-Oke-Iremogun (Ile Oloro Atiiri-Oke, Oloro-Atolagbe, Oloro-Star, Oloro-Onire, Abiku-Ifelodun, Abiku-Ifelodun-Gbenle)
3. Elerinlose - son of Oba Oloro Olufayo (Ile Elerinlose, Ile Oniwo, Ile Efuufu)
4. Alade - son of Oba Oloro Olufayo, and younger brother of Elerinlose (Ile Alade Efunsola)
5. Ikoyi - Agan Alodologba (Oyo) - First Baale of Ijomu-Oro (Ile Alodologba, Ile Iree,
6. Ile Agbogun, Ile Odonigi, Ile Tasoro-Isalebare, Ile Amede-Ifa, Ile Olohun, Ile Oloo-Olowo)
7. Odofin - Ibara (Ile Ibara, Ile Ibara-Isalebare)
8. Iwata (Ile Nla - Baale Apeloye, which got royalty through Alodologba's daughter called Olaribihun, through her three (3) sons called Ajagbe, Oyerinde and Adefila- who became Baales with the express approvals of Efundere Dosunmu, Oloro Atiiri-Oke, Elerinlose and Alade (the first four settlers and ‘king-makers’); Ile Nla - Onirorun, Ile Ateere, Ile Alaye, Ile-Aro Onimesan, Ile Olutookun - Oluso - Asanlu)
9. Olotun Adifala (Ile Orunmo, Ile Adifa-Arikewuyo, Ile Olotun-Onifunlala)
10. Alara (Ile Eleyele-Aro, Ile Odukudu-Alemo-Balogun, Ile Obaale)
11. Umija Omo Oro l’Oba (Ile Elemosho, Ile Alashe, Ile Adaralode-Atolowo)
12. Olupo (Ile Oluawo, Ile Alape, Ile Agbagbari-Olohunsogo, Ile Ofeelu, Ile Olookan)
13. Eesinkin Alokomeji (Ile Eesinkin-Alokomeji)
14. Tapa (Ile Asala)
15. Aala (Ile Aala)
16. Olomu - Aperan (Ile Petu, Ile Olomu)
17. Olusin (Ile Elerinmowe, Ile Sunmoke)
18. Agbe (Ile Agbe, Ile Agbe-Ogundele, Ile Agbe-Olowa)
19. Olukori (Ile Olukori)
20. Gbegilagbe (Ile Gbegi)
21. Ile Ayetoro, Ile Baba Alo-Isalebare, Ile Baba Boro-Isalebare

References

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