Ekiti
SHORT HISTORY OF EKITI The word “Ekiti” as we know it today denotes a “mound.” and is derived from the rugged mountainous features of the State. It is an extensive State originally divided into 16 districts. Each district has its own “Owa” or King of which four are supreme.
1. The Owore of Otun 2. The Ajero of Ijero 3. The Ewi of Ado 4. The Elekole of Ikole 5. Alara of Ara 6. Alaaye of Eron-Alaye 7. Olomuo of Omuo 8. Ologotin of Ogotun
9. Olojudo of Ido 10. Ata of Aiyede 11. Oloja Oke of Imesi 12. Oloye of Oye 13. Ajanpanda of Akure (Deji) 14. Onire of Ire 15. Arinjale of Ise 16. Onitaji of Itaji
According to oral and contemporary written sources of Yoruba history, the Ekitis are among the earliest settlers of Yorubaland. The Yoruba [Oyo Yoruba] are said to have sprung from Lamurudu, one of the kings of Mecca whose offspring were Oduduwa (Crown Prince), the kings of Gogobiri (Gogir in Hausaland) and 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 in the town were Agbonniregun [Stetillu], Obatala, Orelure, Obameri, Elesije, Obamirin, Obalejugbe just to mention a few. It is known that descendants of Agbonniregun [Baba Ifa] settled in Ekiti, examples being the Alara and Ajero who are sons of Ifa. Orunmila [Agbonniregun] himself spent a greater part of his life at Ado. Due to this, we have the saying ‘Ado ni ile Ifa’ [Ado is the home of Ifa]. The Ekiti have ever since settled in their present location.
Nobody can give accurate dates to these events due to the lack of written sources, but people have lived in Ekiti for centuries. It is on record that Ekiti Obas had prosperous reign in the 13th century. An example was the reign of Ewi Ata od Ado in the 1400s.
1. The Owore of Otun 2. The Ajero of Ijero 3. The Ewi of Ado 4. The Elekole of Ikole 5. Alara of Ara 6. Alaaye of Eron-Alaye 7. Olomuo of Omuo 8. Ologotin of Ogotun
9. Olojudo of Ido 10. Ata of Aiyede 11. Oloja Oke of Imesi 12. Oloye of Oye 13. Ajanpanda of Akure (Deji) 14. Onire of Ire 15. Arinjale of Ise 16. Onitaji of Itaji
According to oral and contemporary written sources of Yoruba history, the Ekitis are among the earliest settlers of Yorubaland. The Yoruba [Oyo Yoruba] are said to have sprung from Lamurudu, one of the kings of Mecca whose offspring were Oduduwa (Crown Prince), the kings of Gogobiri (Gogir in Hausaland) and 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 in the town were Agbonniregun [Stetillu], Obatala, Orelure, Obameri, Elesije, Obamirin, Obalejugbe just to mention a few. It is known that descendants of Agbonniregun [Baba Ifa] settled in Ekiti, examples being the Alara and Ajero who are sons of Ifa. Orunmila [Agbonniregun] himself spent a greater part of his life at Ado. Due to this, we have the saying ‘Ado ni ile Ifa’ [Ado is the home of Ifa]. The Ekiti have ever since settled in their present location.
Nobody can give accurate dates to these events due to the lack of written sources, but people have lived in Ekiti for centuries. It is on record that Ekiti Obas had prosperous reign in the 13th century. An example was the reign of Ewi Ata od Ado in the 1400s.