The present Ile-Ogbo was said to be founded in the 18th century. Today, it is the headquarters of Aiyedire Local Government of Osun State. It is 42 kilometres to Osogbo, and 44 kilometres to Ibadan, Oyo State capital. Ife and Gbongon are located to the East of Ile-Ogbo.
For record purpose, Ileogbo is a distinct and independent Yoruba kingdom.
The earliest settlement of Ileogbo at Oke – Ebiti, according to oral sources and documented data, must have occurred in the second part of the eighteenth century (1700–1750). The founder of Ileogbo, Prince Olakale, was said to have relocated from old Oyo, according to researchers. Olakale, the founder of Ileogbo, was a son of the Bashorun of the time.
However, more research is needed on this because a son of Bashorun CAN NEVER be a Prince in Oyo Ile.
Prior to his migration Lakale was plagued by an infant mortality crisis known as “abiku.” As a result, he decided to contact an ifa oracle to find a solution to his lingering dilemma.
The oracle told him to leave his territory and travel south till he found a Hoopoe (“Eye Agbigbo”) and a weaver bird (“Eye ega”) dropping grass into the river with their beaks. He traveled to Operindo, also known as Itagbooro, near Ikonifin, in the current Olaoluwa Local Government Area of Osun State, while travelling and searching for the location.
He did not remain long before leaving the site for reasons only he and his crew knew about. The coronet, which is a smaller crown than Alaafin of Oyo’s crown, was among the items brought from old Oyo as a symbol of monarchy by Prince Olakale.
Lakale arrived in Atokejoye after leaving Iperindo. Along Ogbaagba Road, this location is extremely close to Ori-eru. This occurred between 1650 and 1700 A.D. As predicted by Ifa Oracle, he observed Hoopoe and weaver birds dropping grasses into the river with their beaks. Because Prince Lakale wanted to live long enough to see his own son and grandchildren, he named the place “Ileogbo mi ni mo de yii,” which means “I have arrived at the land where I shall live till I die.” His tenure in Atokejoye was cut short due to the catastrophic impact of a constant fire outbreak on his farm and land.
Another source said, the name Ile-Ogbo was derived from an old Yoruba folktale about the town’s residents living a long life. Ile-Ogbo translates to “land of the old.” “Ile-Ogbo mi ni mo de yi,” the settlers used to say, “I have arrived at the location where I will remain until I am very old.” Later, the name was abbreviated to Ile-Ogbo.
The village of Ileogbo was firmly developed by 1819 A.D. When Ileogbo became a threat in terms of size and strength, the Fulani Jihadists were invited to raid the community during the egungun celebration, when the residents were not in the mood for battle. The raid should have taken place during the reign of Oluwo Lamuye, who reigned from the 1830s to the 1890s. As a result of the Fulani war, the settlers at Atokejoye were forced to relocate to their current location for fear of being attacked again. Oshungbayibi led his people out of Atokejoye, which was later abandoned (“ahoro”).
In 1822, Ileogbo was checkmated by Fulanis, thus, the former site became desolated. Kuseela was said to be the only surviving Prince of the war. The development triggered Kuseela who consulted the oracle and was divined that he stops, with his entourage where ever he finds a tree tied with white cloth. It was divined that he, with his people shall organize a prosperous kingdom.
The famous Yoruba adage, “A kii fi omo Ore, bo Ore”, actually originated from Ile-Ogbo. Oore is the spirit inside a tree not far from the palace of the Olu of Ile-Ogbo, Oba Habeeb Adetoyese Agbaje Arowookun-joye II.
Baba Abore, a male, and Iya Abore, a girl, were selected on the king’s instruction to guard the tree. The tree was termed Alhaja Jarawu or Jajaratu by one of the previous Iya Abore from Olukoun’s Compound. The name is linked to the female spirit that the tree is meant to protect. Some traditionalists saw Ore (Oluwere) as a powerful shield against any calamity in Ile-Ogbo. The Ore tree is said to be the protector of Ile-Ogbo citizens.
Another unique thing is that under its shadow, the tree does not shed its leaves
Opinions however differ on how Oore tree come to be, some said it was a tree that followed their forebearing to the present location, some say it is older than the initial settlers of Ile-Ogbo, hence the people of Ile-Ogbo were unable to determine its age.
Whichever it is, the presence of sacred Ore tree has given birth to Ore Festival. The Ore festival comes up once a year attracting people from far and wide.
Jimoh Taofik Adekunle
Jimson Jaat Taofik
SOURCES
Muhammad Lawal Toyin, an historian, educator and researcher from Offa, Kwara State
‘Tree of life’ by Oluseye Ojo, The Sun Newspaper, 20th January 2022
http://ileogbounited.com/
