AWO-EKITI

The original inhabitants of Awo were believed to have come from Ifè Oòdáyé. They were part of the waves of Yorùbá who migrated from Ile-Ife to found settlements in the present South-Western Nigeria. The foundation of Awo in its present site was as a result of amalgamation of some villages which agreed to cooperate for defensive reasons, as a result of common threats from stronger – chiefdoms. This was about 1350 A.D.

The community which later became Awo had its nucleus in a small settlement at Ijoru. The small settlement in later time became part of Oke-Uba Quarter under Osukoti of Awo Ekiti. At Ijoru was a market called Olujoda which was held every nine other days by such nearby settlements at Uju and Ile-Ona. The great importance of the market of Odo settlement who engaged Ijoru, Uju, Ile-Ona and other surrounding hamlets in warfare. The incessant attacks from Odo people forced the settlements to move close. Their united efforts helped them to put a permanent stop to Odo attacks. This early was referred to as Ogun Owuro.

Some years after the amalgation of the settlements that jointly fought Odo war, Olujoda market was abandoned and a more central market called ‘ATOWOSE’ was created. The great strength of the new settlement as well as its flourishing trade in kolanuts attracted the fancy of Odo people. The negotiated peace with the people of the new settlement and then many of the people from Odo moved in to settle with them. It was at this time an Ife Prince arrived at the settlement. The Ifew Prince was Akinadesanmi (but simply called Akinsanmi). He later became the first paramount ruler of the settlement with the title – Alawo of Awo.

Akinsanmi was one of the grand princes of Ile-Ife who with their followers left Ile-Ife some hundreds of years before the Yoruba inter-tribal wars. The group was led by a senior brother of Akinsanmi by name Okiribiti nicknamed Obadudu. He was fearless and popular. He later founded the settlement now called Emure Ijaloke and thus became the first Elemure of Emure Ijaloke. Olosi who later founded Osi-Ekiti (in Ido/Osi Local Government) also a brother to Akinsanmi was in the group. They left Ife with many beaded crowns and beads. The group arrived at Igbo Owa near River Ose where a powerful kingdom was established. Rivalry among Akinsanmi and his brother princes as well as attacks from Oba of Ado Ibini led to the fall of Igbo Owa Kingdom. The group then split and migrated in smaller groups settling in places one after the other.

Akinsanmi led a group which settled at Oba-Ile near Akure and later at Ise before he arrived to settle finally at the settlement within Atowose market environment which later became known known as Awo. On his way from Ise he fed mainly on baobab tree fruit. Ejisun, Erinwa, Edemo, Oluaro Aroro and Edemorun accompanied him as his followers on arrival.

Akinsanmi was a great hunter and a powerful medicine man. He was also very handsome and could change his body skin into different colours like a chameleon. He killed many animals and therefore dresed in different animals skins which were varied in colour. The often changing body skin and his garments of varied animal skins made people to popularly refer to him as ‘Alawo ewu arabara’. From this, the name Alawo is coined and the settlement became known as ‘Ilu Awo’. He often displayed his medicine charms hung on ‘Igba – (the type of coined ropes used for climbing palm tree). He used it as a necklace (Igbajo) in addition to beaded necklace. This, he believed gave him magical power against his enemies, and made his medicine handy for use during any emergency. So, for magical power against enemies ‘Igbajo’ was traditionally given to every newly installed Alawo as part of his regalia. It was however used last at the installation of Oba Filani Adesiyan in 1930.

People feared Akinsanmi (Alias Alawo ewu arabara) and was highly respected. With time he became recognised as the leader and paramount chief of the settlement (Awo). His fame extended to some far places and some people left their villages to settle at Awo. People from Ikole. Oba-Ile among others came to settle. Among such people were Elesi and Elese from the royal lineage of Osi-Ikole and Ilese respectively. The two men left their villages when they were not made paramount chiefs there. Both of them knew the traditional coronation rites as practised in their villages. They were then given the honour to perform the installation of Akinsanmi as the first Alawo of Awo. The two became recognised chiefs as Elesi and Elese. The official traditional duties of the Elesi and Elese up till this day is to install new Alawo.

Awo people have no common oriki like some other towns. For example: Osi-Ekiti has ‘Asise’ as its oriki, Ifaki as Orinkinran, Iyin is Egirioke and Akure is Oyemekun. The reason for this is simply that the original inhabitants of Awo came from different angle. Its royal family has its oriki which originated in the person of Oba Akinsanmi the first Alawo. Because of his boldness, his garments of varied colours, his feeding on baobab tree fruits and his arrival at Awo after his brief stay at Ise, members of the royal family at Awo have 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 not far from Awo and a man called Ogbese was its paramount ruler. He was a hunter as well as great warrior. He was also a powerful medicine man. As Alawo was in history but it was faced in its early days with incessant harassments of invaders. For this reason the Alawo palace was removed from its original site at Oke -Uba which was very prone to attack to Erewa which appeared a more secured place. The construction of the first palace at Erewa had not been completed when the incoming Alawo left the palace at Oke-Uba. He had to stay for three months in a compound close to the new palace site at Erewa before he moved in after the completion. He gave the name Ile Aro to the compound where he stayed and the head of the compound was given the title ‘Aro’. For years it was customary for newly installed Alawo to stay in chief Aro’s house for three months before moving to the palace. The period was used to make necessary repairs to the grass thatched roof of the palace. Now that the palace is roofed with corrugated iron sheets there is no need for any new Alawo to stay for three months. From the time of Oba J. D. Aladejuyigbe III in 1968 the stay has been for three days only.

Early in its history, Awo evolved a stable political system. Alawo was and still the paramount ruler and he ruled with the assistance of his chiefs. There was the traditional council of state. It was made up of:

• numo Chiefs consisting of three Iare, three Iro and three Emo.
• Elegbe consisting of three Agba Elegbe, three Agba Akin and three Oisa Ijokun from each of the three wards or quarters.
• Egiri consisting of three Olorigbo, three Elegiri and three Elerukuku.
• Women Chiefs consisting of Eyedofin, Eyegun and Eyesemore.
• There was also the Ward Council which was made up of precinct Chiefs (Olori Ebi).

The institution of age-grade system was an important aspect of the political organisation.The lowest grade was Otun Erukuku, followed by Agba Erukuku. These two age-grades took charge of public works like road, market and palace repairs and construction. After seven years, Otun Erukuku moved to Agba Erukuku. From here they moved to Origbo. The Orighos moved to Egiri and Erigi moved to Oye Elegbe and Agba Elegbe. The Elegbes were responsible for the maintenance of peace, they caught and punished criminals like witches, and they made sacrifices to appease the gods of the town. They were also the warriors. The ablest member was made the leader with the little Sajowa.

Among the early traditional festivals was the Oodun or Oro Olofin festival. This was and still is a traditional festival that is performed or celebrated by any direct Ife prince ruling a community. The traditional beaded crown is worn during the festival others were Ogun festival, Egungun festival and the worshipping of Orisa Oja, Orisa Iko otherwise called Orisa Ojuna (god of fire) bought by the family that came from Ikole, Orisa Odo brought by Odo people and Oyi the popular god of Oke-Uba ward.

Many Alawos has reigned since the demise of Akinsanmi. They included the following. (Their names are not all listed in 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 and was waylaid by the Elegbe and killed with their metal rod i.e. Ogbo Elegbe, Oba Ona Owuro who later abdicated his throne and left for Era where he became Elera of Era (now Araromi Ijero) Oba Adubienimu, who reigned at about 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 first enlightened Oba. The people found his reign too tyrannical and he was dethroned on 27th of March 1930. He left Awo for Igede. He was allowed to come back in 1941 but not as a king. People in later years judged him a good king but were too fast for his people. He lived in Awo till 1972 when he died, Oba Filani Adesiyan II 1930 – 1962 and Oba J. D. Alade 1966 – 1977 who was the last of the past Alawos.