HISTORY OF IWOYE KINGDOM (AYEDUN) OKE-ERO LGA, KWARA STATE (REVISED EDITION)
HISTORY OF IWOYE KINGDOM (AYEDUN) OKE-ERO LGA,
KWARA STATE 2020 OCTOBER
Oral tradition says that the town IWOYE in (Ayedun) traced her origin directly to the ancient city of Ile Ife, the origin of Yoruba race and the cradle of Yoruba cultures. Before going further on the history of Iwoye in Ayedun of Kwara State, it becomes imperative to mention for purpose of historical record that there are many Iwoyes spread among Yoruba Communities. Iwoye near Ijebu-Jesha in Ori-Ade LGA, Osun State, Iwoye near Ede, Ago-Iwoye Ketu near Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, Iwoye in Orin, Iwoye in Isapa in Ekiti LGA, Kwara State, Ekiti State and Iwoye in Ayedun, etc.
ORIGIN OF IWOYE KINGDOM
Iwoye in Ayedun, according to history, is a descendant of Obalufon from Iremo quarters, Edun Ide Royal Compound, in Ile Ife. As a result of the inter- tribal wars which broke out, the unity of the Kingdom of Ile Ife created the tribal independence, hamlets or township with her own Obas. From Ile Ife, many princes and princesses left Ile Ife either directly or indirectly for their settlement as Obas, Oranmiyan and his army, as well as his brothers pushed on their conquests in every directions, the princes and the warlords stationed in various locations to hold the "country" and from them sprang up many provincial kings.
In Ile – Ife, Iremo Quarters produced the longest reigning Ooni in Ogbogbodirin, the 4th Ooni Ife who reigned for five (500) hundred years. Within Iremo Quarters, we have four Obas:
Obalufon
Olofin
Oba Wirin who had seven children
Oba of Iwoye
Reliable oral tradition and intensive research harmoniously revolves the historical origin of Iwoye from illustrious Royal Quarters of IREMON in Ile – Ife. Atabata Obawinrin, the founder of Iwoye Kingdom in Ayedun traced the history to one of the descendants of His Royal Majesty Oba Ologbodirin the OBALUFON of Ife, the fourth Ooni of Ife and the longest reigning king of Ile – Ife. 0oni Obalufon Ogbogbodirin is said to have reigned for centuries and later transfigured into a metal figure as he aged and eventually become a deity. But there is more to Obalufon even in death. He has become a prayer point for every Ooni that have reigned after him. The present Ooni once revealed that “Obalufon Ogbogbodirin holds the spiritual classified codes for Ooni long reign”
It was gathered that every Ooni that has reigned after Obalufon Ogbogbodirin have gone to where his figure his, knelt before it and prayed for long life on the throne before they are crowned. Historical evidence stated that Obalufon Shrine till date plays an important role in the installation of every Ooni after him as Aare crown is always blessed in his shrine before it will be placed on the head of the new Ooni.
The ancestral shrine of OBALUFON is at Igbo Epa in Iwoye, Ayedun till today. In fact the adherents of OBALUFON Festival are many and still waxing stronger.
Atabata Obawinrin was the founder of Iwoye in Ayedun in Ekan-Meje District of Kwara State. During the early dispatch from Ile Ife, the people of Iwoye migrated to Ijebu-Jesha land and from there the Iwoye sub- ethnic group started to found many communities across Yoruba nation. Here, Iwoye formed Oke Ooye, Uwoye quarters near Ijebu-Jesha, Osun State, Iwoye near Oyo Ile that produced the first and second Aare Onakankanfos of Yoruba Nation. The entire Iwoye Communities are of the same and bear striking same features of Iwoye.
In another historical evidence it was alluded that Obalufon Alayemore succeeded his father as the 5th Ooni of Ife. He also lived long on the throne and later founded and established other settlements like Ido Osun, Ifon Osun, Erin Osun, Ayedun, Kwara State, Erin – Ile, Erinmon, Ilawe Ekiti, Osan Ekiti, Ora Igbomina, Iba Ogudu, Sagamu, Ikorodu, Ikeja, Oke Mesi and Efon Alaye.
In deference to Ifa oracle Atabata wanted to found a community of his own, left Ijebu-Jesha. Ajuan, one of his brothers settled there and became the ONIWOYE OF IWOYE in Ori Ade LGA. The Ifa gave Atabata some injunctions where he would settle and he would find a tunnel, a sweet and tasty spring, and abundant "Yunriyun" leaf. This long journey through thick and thin forests could only be at the dictates of the Oracle. Atabata was a great hunter, farmer and herbalist.
In continuation of his search for a place of his suzerainty, he passed through Obbo, met some people there and left, apparently because he met a king in Obbo who is called Owa Lobbo in Ekiti LGA, Kwara State. However, his brother settled down at Ilemisi. Ilemisi is one of the royal ruling houses in Obbo. Eventually, Atabata settled down at Ori-Agbon where he found a big tunnel, "Yunriun" leaf and spring that tastes very sweet which is called ISUN IRAN. He named where he first settled down as Ori Agbon. On his entourage to Iwoye are Olukosi, Odoba, Aro (now Obaaro), adherent of Onifon the modern day prophets and Osun worshippers. A Shrine of Onifon and Osun deities respectively are still in Iwoye till today.
Time and circumstances combined to make Iwoye of yore recognize those at Isapa and eventual settlement at Ori Agbon historically called ISEDO, the tunnel therein leads, according to our forefathers, Ile-Ife and Igbo Epa in the present day IWOYE respectively. This was confirmed by late Chief Olukosi Abifarin who said he travelled through the tunnel in those days and confirmed that it leads to Ife and Igbo Epa. He died in 1975 at the age of 125 years.
At Ori Agbon, ISEDO where Obaoye settled down, his brother Ogobiro asked him whether he could come and join him. He told him to come as "IGBOKU", meaning land still remains. Igboku became home to Iwoye much latter known as IMOSO (ONE MIND).This is the first place where IWOYE people settled before their eventual movement to the present location. Iwoye has boundaries with Ilale, Ekan, Ajure, Erinmope and Aran-Orin towns.
IWOYE KINGDOM, AYEDUN
Odo Iwoye was the first settler in the present day Iwoye and the first to produce Obaoye. As event unfolded, there are three Ruling houses (Odo-Iwoye, Ile-Agbe and Ile-Asaba) in Iwoye.
Iwoye is a federating town which traditionally comprises of six villages of Emu, Ile Asaba, Ile Agbe, Odo Iwoye. Isowu and Odo - Ede. Today Iwoye Kingdom in addition to the six villages, also has districts like Titi Idera, Agamon, Odo Ara, Oluwa sogo etc.
INSTALLATION OF OBAOYE
Obaoye elect is being installed at ORILE ISEDO in Igboku. At the ancestral place, all the traditional rites would be performed and thus become the OBAOYE OF IWOYE KINGDOM, from that moment he will not prostrate before any mortal again. The Obaoye together with his compound people move to Esije in Igbo eku where another traditional rites would be performed and from there will go to enu igbo Onifon, where he will perform rituals and offer prayer to the Obalufon Ogbogbodirin for long life on the throne and at oju adodo for ceremonial installation. After this, he will again move to Isowu for Iyewu for seven days. On the seventh day he will go to Obalufon Shrine for some rites and from there to his palace for another seven days of seclusion
IRIN AAYE. THE TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENT OF OFFICE
After Obaoye has been on the thrown, the Irin Aaye will be given to the Obaoye for keep in his custody. He must not open the deity and can only been seeing by palace messenger called uko oba. It is usually open when a new chief from Iwoye want to pay traditional pig called Eran Ilu for successful reign and peace of the Iwoye Kingdom. The Irin Aaye cannot leave Moso Compounds for any reason. It is well guided.
Also of importance is Esije Oba, the king farm located at Igbo Eku. The farm is being cleared for farming by young and active men from Iwoye. This tradition continued up to 1980 but the exodus of young men from the village to towns and cities for education and greener pastures made it to go extinction.
INSTALLATION OF IWOYE CHIEFS BY OBAOYE:
From the beginning to the present it is within the jurisdiction of Obaoye to install Chiefs from Iwoye and Obajisun does the installation of Odo Ode Chiefs. Both Obaoye and Obajisun serve as quest in any installation ceremony in Iwoye and Oja Ado.
AMALGAMATION
According to oral tradition, it was Obaoye and Olu odo that founded the town known as Ayedun today. One Ejisun met Olu Odo while going on transit that the wives of Olu Odo informed their husband of the presence of Ejisun and he persuaded the Ejisun and his entourage to stay back and live with him. This history was reconfirmed by HRH Oba Sunday Ajiboye in his interview with the Sunday Tribune of 30th April, 2000. The Obaoye told the duo that his jurisdiction would not be involved in accepting Ejisun as an Oba over Iwoye territory and agreement was struck. All issues affecting Iwoye to date are being resolved in the palace of Obaoye, ditto any issue in Obajisun jurisdiction are resolved in Obajisun. This arrangement continued up to 2015 when the present HRH Oba O A Rotimi said he was not comfortable with the aged long tradition that united us together hence the present crisis.
ADVENT OF OTHER SETTLERS
1 Moso - three villages - from Iremon Quarters in Ile-Ife,
2. Odo Ede - from Oke-Ede, Ila-Orangun (Osun State),
3 Isowu - two relations - from Ilawe-Ekiti State and Ifon Ilobu Osun State
4 Emu – from Omu-Aran
All these villages till today subsume under the traditional Head and Authority of Obaoye of Iwoye. Obaoye of Iwoye land installs all the Chiefs in his domain.
TRADITIONAL FESTIVAS IN IWOYE
The following festivals are exclusive being observed by people of Iwoye Kingdom:
• Onifon being worshipped in remembrance of Obalufon Ogbpgbodirin, the 4th Ooni of Ife
• Osun
• Epa
• Orogbo
• Esu Ijelu
• Yemoo
THE LIST OF OBAOYE OF IWOYE :
1. OBAOYE ATABATA EYE BI OKIN
2. OBAOYE ASISE SELE SEDE
3. OBAOYE OLODE AMUNDARO (The first) Obaoye who relocated from Ori Agbon to our present location)
4. OBAOYE AJIFIN OKIN
5. OBAOYE AJOKO T'ONIFON
6. OBAOYE AROJO J'OYE
7. OBAOYE AGBEDE GBEYO
8. OBAOYE ORUBULOYE
9. OBAOYE ABEGBE IROKO S'OOGUN
10. OBAOYE OGBODO SOLA OYIBO 1889 - 1903
11. OBAOYE OYIYO WAYE 1903 -1936
12. OBAOYE FALASE AULODO BI OSUPA 1936 - 1952
13. OBAOYE IPE AFARIDU J'OYE 1952 - 1975
14. OBAOYE FAYE FALASE, ALENI LOYE, 1975 - 2002
15. OBAOYE ARINDE OBAYOMI 2008 - 2012
16. OBAOYE MATTHEW ADEYEMI TUNDE-AKOSEWA OLODE AMUDARO II, 2011-2012
17. OBAOYE (Engr.) MICHAEL SUNDAY AYANTOLA, JP
AROJOJOYE II OGBAGBA GBA OTE WOLE 2014 - 2020
OTHER CHIEFS IN IWOYE CHIEFS IN IWOYE KINGDOM ARE:
(i) Oba-Ede
(ii) Olu Isowu.
(iii) Elemu.
(iv) Odofin.
(v) Obaaro
(vi) Olowa.
(vii) Asaba
(viii) Alawe
(ix) Olooko/Uko oba alabibe Obaoye
(x) Olukosi
(xi) Oloriare - rotational title
(xii) Enijesha.
(xiii) Asha.
(xiv) Ajagona
(xv) Enisape
(xvi) Enigemo.
(xvii) Odoba
(xviii) Elemikan
(xix) Elerikan
(xx) Eleegbes
WOMEN CHIEFS
(i) Orangun/Iyalode Head of Women –in - Council
(ii) Odofin obinrin (2)
(iv) Obaisa.
(v Aro.
(vi) Eleesi.
(vii) Eesinkan and a host of other women warriors called
Reference:
1. Ooni Obalufon Conquered Largest Territories in Ile Ife History – June 2017
2. Blier
3. Suzan Kings Crowns, and the Right of Succession: Obalufon Arts at Ife and other Yoruba Centers. Art Bulletin via www.academia.edu
4. Law Robin (1976) Early Yoruba Historiography
5. Alao Agbedegbeyo History of Ile Ife.
6. The History of Ayedun by Hon P O Obaoye
AUTHORS
Chief T A Adekeye
Hon P O Obaoye
Chief Niran Obaoye
Omoba Dele Aworinde
