Igbajo

Igbajo is a town in the southwest of Nigeria, in the Boluwaduro Local Government Area in Osun State. It neighbors the cities of Iresi, Ìlá Òràngún, Okemesi, and Òkè-Ìlá Òràngún. It is located 199mi or (321km) southwest of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.[1] As of 2015 it had a population of 25,117. The majority of people in Igbajo are ethnically Yoruba.[2]

History

Igbajo comes from the root word gbajo, as in Agbajo Eniya meaning “assembly of people”. It is said to have been founded in 300 CE by a prince of Yorubaland who was a son of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba.[3] It is well known as being the theater of the Kiriji War (also known as the Ekiti–Parapo War) of the late 1800s.

Igbajo is said to have been the meeting place of ten monarchs as they traveled to found their respective kingdoms. Before departing they erected ten still-extant stone markers to commemorate their meeting. The kings included the Ọ̀ràngún of Ila, the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, the Alara of Aramoko, the Owa of Otan Ayegbaju, the Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti, the Owalare of Ilare, the Onire of Ire-Ekiti, the Oloore of Otun-Ekiti and the Owa of Igbajo.[3]

The monarchs of Igbajo are known by the title of Owa of Igbajo. Oba Olufemi Fasade Akeran IV became the last Owa in 1990. He died in December 2020 at the age of 81.[4]

Economy

The inhabitants engage in a mix of professions. Farming thrives because their land is fertile. Igbajo has a quarry industry that mines precious stones.[5] Tourist destinations include Eleyinla Mountain, Obalara, Oluajo, Aruka, Oke Agere, old ile Oyinbo and Oku- Mewa at Ija-Oke.

The people prosper in the timber and plank business in Mokola, a district in Ibadan to which they migrated thanks to their friendly relationship with Ibadan people.[6]

Historical sites

Faragbota Tree Relics

The Faragbota tree is rumored to have protected the Igbajo and Ibadan armies during war by absorbing bullets from their adversaries when they hid behind it.[7]

Aare Latosa War Camp

The Aare Latosa War Camp was the command post of the commander of the Ibadan Army Aare Ona-Kakanfo, the most skilled, experienced and senior general in Alaafin's army. He died at the camp located in Igbajo.[8][9] As a result, the coronation rites of Aare Ona-Kakanfo were conducted in Igbajo. At present Aare Ona-Kakanfo is Chief Gani Adams.

Peace Treaty Site

On this site the warring factions signed a treaty that ended 400 years of war within the Yoruba Nation. The treaty was signed on September 23, 1886. It was facilitated by British emissaries and made symbolic by inserting the signed agreement into a bottle and then burying it. The words of the agreement were further inscribed in stone.[10]

References
  1. "Trip suggest Nigeria General Igbajo".
  2. "City facts Igbajo".
  3. "Extract of the founding of Igbajo and its people".
  4. "Owa in council confirms Oba Fasade Owa of Igbabajos Demise". The Vanguard.
  5. "Kijiri War 2". The Sun.
  6. "Unity meets industry Igbajo people built Century Old Plank Business in Ibadan". The Tribune.
  7. "Igbajo beyond Kiriji Peace Treaty". The Tribune.
  8. "We will make Aare Latosa Site a tomb a tourist site". National Insight.
  9. "Yoruba Nation Mark 134th Anniversary of Kiriji War". The Daily Trust.
  10. "Kiriji War site landmark peace cynosure-peace". The Osun Defender.

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