Owu people (Orile-Owu or Owu-Ipole) are agriculturalist, ancient warriors as well as Yoruboid-speaking people that forms a sub-set of the larger Yoruba ethnic grouping of West Africa, especially Nigeria. Owu people are especially residents of Abeokuta inwards Ogun state.
Historically, Owu part inwards the Federal Republic of Nigeria is bounded inwards the southward past times Ijebu-Igbo inwards Ogun State; inwards the eastward past times Ife South Local Government Area; inwards the northward past times Gbongan – i of the prominent towns inwards Osun State as well as inwards the westward past times Irewole/Isokan Local Government Area. Ago-Owu inwards Abeokuta is where the Owus are by as well as large concentrated, nevertheless large Owu settlements are found throughout the Yoruba kingdom. The Yoruba kingdom extends beyond the boundaries of Nigeria into the Republic of Benin.
Orile-Owu inwards the past times was an ancient woods kingdom which is believed to live the firstly settlement exterior Ile-Ife, the popularly acclaimed traditional homeland of the Yoruba people. Several notions almost this ancient kingdom regarding its status equally the cradle of all other Owu communities have got led to some generated heated controversies.
Among the diverse Yoruba sub-ethnic groups such as Oyo, Egba, Ife, Ijebu, Ijesha, Awori, Remo, Igbomina, Ondo, Ekiti as well as others, Owu people are rattling pop especially when i count the state of war years of the larger Oyo Kingdom. Within the said part of old Oyo, Owu was rattling prominent as well as fifty-fifty ruled the waves. Owu collected tribute from the Bariba, the Borgu as well as had ruled over old Oyo until the reign of Sango. All this happened because they (Owu) also settled inside that rattling region. (See Johnson’s “History of the Yorubas” p.149). Their presence inwards that part was indisputably powerful. Owu fought side past times side with Egba inwards the Makun as well as other wars against Ado Odo as well as Dahomey inwards 1842-45. Owu contingents fought as well as routed Awori at Itori, Yobo, Ifo, Atan, Ota as well as also occupied those places till today. In his address to Owu people during the eighth Owu Day celebrations inwards 2007, the Olowu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu maintained that "Owu people had fought wars, won battles as well as settled inwards rattling many places betwixt the Niger river as well as the body of body of water (Owus inwards Lagos State; Epe, etc.), yet their main flow had settled alongside the Egbas inwards Abeokuta BUT, THEY ARE NOT EGBAS, neither are they lJEBUS. (See Johnson’s “History of the Yorubas, p.18). Owu settlements inwards Ijebu as well as Abeokuta were non equally a resultant of direct battles or victory over them, but by as well as large on friendly terms."
One of the distinctive socio-political divergence betwixt Owus as well as other Yoruba sub-tribes is that the Owus do non have got an Oluwo (Ogboni Head Chief) as well as do non concur Ogboni assemblies. On the contrary, the Owu palace has its ain civilization of opened upward deliberation where whatever Owu somebody tin give the axe participate. That is why people refer to the Owus equally “Owu a gbooro gbimo” pregnant "Owu the deliberative group".
Owu settlements are found throughout the Yoruba Kingdom, all of which have got historical as well as cultural affinity to the homeland – that is Orile-Owu. In the Yoruba language, “Orile” agency an ancestral habitation or settlement piece the give-and-take “Owu” is derived from a cotton wool flora belonging to the genus Gossypium. This flora is called owu past times the Yoruba. Therefore, “Orile-Owu” agency the original settlement or site of the Owu people. The early on settlers of this kingdom planted as well as traded inwards cotton. Hence, this identify was called “Igbo Owu” i.e Cotton Forest.
Mathew Arema Okikiola Olusegun Obasanjo, Owu tribe human and Retired Army General who hails from the Olusanmi chemical compound inwards Sokori, Owu Abeokuta is the alone 3 term as well as longest inwards part Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He revamped the Owu National Movement at nowadays called RUOP which was originally founded past times Balogun Akin Olugbade, his predecessor inwards the part of Balogun Owu Abeokuta. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 i fourth dimension leader of the Eminent Personalities grouping as well as competition for the send service of Secretary General of the United Nations. He is the electrical flow Balogun Owu.
There are a lot of abandoned historical as well as cultural heritage resources inwards Orile-Owu. This attests to the heritage of the Owu people equally a peachy kingdom inwards the past. Moreover, for several years that the ancient town has been inwards existence, settlement features such equally ditches as well as embankments, reject mounds, historic buildings, as well as pottery scatters inside the ancient town (site) are yet to live fully understood especially inside the context of how they reverberate the antiquity of the settlement on i hand, as well as how they stand upward a goodness adventure to investigating the connective betwixt the homeland as well as outlier Owu settlements inwards the Yoruba region, on the other hand.
Owu people of Abeokuta
Geography as well as Climate
Owu is inside latitude 7°10’ as well as 7°15’N as well as longitude 4°25’E. This part is bounded inwards the southward past times Ijebu-Igbo inwards Ogun State; inwards the eastward past times Ife South Local Government Area; inwards the northward past times Gbongan – i of the prominent towns inwards Osun State as well as inwards the westward past times Irewole/Isokan Local Government Area. The study expanse is situated inwards the tropics, where the Sun is overhead almost every solar daytime of the year. The annual temperature is almost 28°C. Rainfall is heavy, averaging 1300mm per annum reaching its peak betwixt Apr as well as belatedly September. Orile-Owu is sunny throughout the year. The relative humidity coincides with months with depression rainfall – Dec to March (Adejobi 1997; Adejuwon 1974, Ogundele as well as Ebonine, 2010).In price of accessibility, Orile-Owu is almost 46km from Ibadan. There is a well- tarred motorable route from Ibadan to Orile-Owu as well as inside the town are brusk footpaths, which brand Orile-Owu rattling accessible.
Abeokuta
The vegetation type inwards this expanse is a secondary forest. The vegetation has been greatly impacted past times growth inwards human population as well as activities. Orile-Owu was an ancient woods kingdom with varieties of flora species. The predominant plants that be inwards this locality comprise of tree species such equally crude oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), iroko (Milicia excela), mahogany (Entadrophragma cylindricum), arere (Triplocyton scleroxylon), as well as teak (Tectona grandis). The expanse is good drained past times rivers as well as streams including the Obalufon, Omu, Ope, Oranran, Osun as well as Shasha rivers. The availability of these rivers as well as streams has some positive impact on local agriculture as well as other livelihood including palm crude oil production (Ogundele as well as Ebonine, 2010). The soil is fertile thereby allowing the tillage of diverse cash as well as subsistence crops. The availability of the essential natural resources at the site made it a suitable identify for the ancient population to settle.
Language
Owu people beak North-West Yoruba (NWY) dialect of Yoruboid languages which belongs to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication phylum. Apart from Owu people, the other areas that beak North-West Yoruba dialects include Abẹokuta, Ibadan, Ọyọ, Ogun as well as Lagos (Eko) areas.
Ogogo kulodo masquerade from Ota Awori inwards Ogun State
History
According to written sources, the establishment or founding of Owu Ipole (as Orile-Owu was formerly referred to) was shortly after the settlement of Oduduwa inwards Ile – Ife, thence they said “Owu Lakoda” pregnant Owu was the firstly to live founded after Ile – Ife is a pop saying alongside the Yoruba (Mabogunje,1997). It is believed from oral tradition that the Owu occupied an expanse straight along as well as below Niger River inwards the introduce the world of Nigeria. Orile-Owu afterwards expanded as well as became a rattling pop as well as powerful Yoruba settlement, which eventually attained the status of a kingdom of peachy repute. It became a forcefulness to live reckoned with inside Yoruba land, especially betwixt the belatedly 18th as well as early on 19th centuries.
By the minute decade of the 19th century, Orile-Owu began to wane downward equally a resultant of nutrient shortage, war, as well as consequently, insecurity of lives as well as properties resulting from slave raiding. Thus the settlers had to larn inwards search of improve economical opportunities, equally this was of import inwards ensuring their survival. The Owus thence abandoned their heavily fortified metropolis as well as escaped southwest inwards groups for security inwards the human face upward of heavy external aggression (Chief Olalere per comm., 2011).The devastation of the heavily fortified metropolis was caused past times the belatedly 19th century intra-sub-ethnic wars. This devastation had its consequences on the people as well as it is believed to live the argue behind their broad dispersal all over the country. Owu settlements are found today inwards most Yoruba communities including Abeokuta as well as Lagos, as well as equally far afield equally Igbomina the world inwards Kwara State of Nigeria. The collapse of Old Oyo (in the northern part of Yoruba land), a powerful majuscule of the Oyo empire inwards the early on 19th century, coupled with the lastly sack of Orile-Owu inwards 1825 was instrumental to the demographic changes inwards southern Yoruba the world (Ogundele as well as Babalola, 2007:60; Ogundele as well as Ebonine: 2010).
Ijebu as well as Ife state of war against Owu
In 1821–26, the armies of both Ijebu as well as the Ife attacked as well as devastated Owu Ipole. The Owus abandoned their heavily fortified metropolis as well as escaped southwestward inwards groups toward Ibadan inwards almost 1826. From these outskirts, they marched on as well as across Ogun River as well as finally arrived at Oke Ata close Abeokuta where Sodeke, an Egba authoritative leader, persuaded the gallant Owus to settle inwards Abeokuta almost 1834. It is of import to province that the introduce Orile Owu is the same identify equally Owu Ipole where the Owus from Iwo as well as other places resettled inwards the early on 20th century. The people of Erunmu (founded past times the older blood brother of an before Olowu from the Amororo Ruling House) were e'er loyal to the course of didactics of Owu Kingdom. During the Owu war, the Olowu was carried on his dorsum (to disguise his escape) from Orile Owu (Owu Ipole) to Orile Erunmu, guarded past times a combined squad of his majestic guards as well as Oba Erunmu's majestic guards. After Orile Owu was devastated, the remaining Owu the world forces retreated to defend Orile Erunmu against the allied the world forces of Ijebu as well as Ife.
Ota as well as Ado-Odo
Owu was a major constituent inwards the 1842-45 state of war against Ota as well as Ado Odo. It is interesting to authorities annotation that halfway through the war, Sodeke devised a way for the Egba contingent led past times Ayikondu to desert the warfront (see Ajisafe, Iwe Itan Abeokuta, p.73), employing the services of his friend (the enemy), Gezo, the Dahonean state of war leader. As an Awori Ota King, declared inwards 1935, the determination of the state of war of Otal Ado Odo was led past times Gbalefa, the Owu General as well as his Owu contingents as well as that is how Owu people non alone conquered but occupy the at nowadays Gbalefa Peninsular.
Safeguarding the Crown
Before Orile Erunmu was also devastated as well as razed to the ground, The Olowu as well as The Oluroko of Erunmu devised strategies to ensure that the majestic lineages as well as the Crown inherited from Oduduwa was preserved. The Olowu entrusted the Owu Crown to a warrior, only referred to equally Akogun (Owu's firstly documented Akogun warrior. Akogun is a championship similar to an the world forces Defense Chief), Ijaola as well as a few of the king's closest aides. When the siege on Erunmu began, Akogun was assigned to the warfront with the promise that he could plough the tides of state of war piece Ijaola was sent on a mandatory majestic assignment to Ibadan with a message for Maye, an Ibadan warlord. Before these 2 Crown trustees left to ship out their respective orders, they had to entrust Oni (a skilled as well as specialized trader as well as farmer, as well as also the older stepbrother of Ijaola) with safeguarding of the Crown. Oni as well as other men entrusted with the Crown mingled with the refugees that eventually settled inwards Abeokuta. These men had strict instructions non to discover the whereabout of the Crown inwards the absence of the Akogun as well as Ijaola, unless they received word of their death.
The Administration of Abeokuta
It is to live understood firstly as well as foremost that the Administration of Abeokuta is based on strict historical factors which clearly spells out areas of potency of each of the firstly 4 kings inwards Abeokuta, viz, Olowu,Agura, Osile as well as Alake. The largest part of the the world of Ibadan through Bakatari, Odeda, Osiele to the eastern part of the old Igbo Egba is occupied by as well as large past times Gbagura. Some of the Gbagura the world which voluntarily declared their allegiance to the Alafin included Awe, Kojoku, Agerige, Aran, Fiditi, Abena, Akinmorin, Doba as well as Oroko. If today all these were to live added, Gbagura would live the largest Egba land. Agura is the primal manly somebody monarch over these traditionally Gbagura land.
Egba Oke Ona owns the the world that spreads northward of Ona River as well as ran along the eastward fringes of Remoland as well as through Siun/Owode to Abeokuta.
The Egba woods which spreads from the southern part of Oyo through part of Oke Ogun downward to the introduce Abeokuta ends at Oko Adagba as well as includes such independent towns equally Ake, Ijeun, Oba, Igbein, Ijemo, Itoku, Imo, Emere, Kemta, Iro, Igbo, Erunwon, Itesi, Ikopa, Iporo as well as many other towns. Most all of them as well as their villages have got zeroed-in inwards Abeokuta. The firstly Alake was installed inwards Abeokuta inwards August 1854. Today, in that location are 10 of them: -
(1) Okukenu 1854- 1862
(2) Ademola I 1869 -1877
(3) Oyekan 1879 -1881
(4) Luwaji 1885 -1888
(5) Sokalu 1891 -1898
(6) Gbadebo I 1898 -1920
(7) Ademola II 1920 -1962
(8) Gbadebo II 1963 -1971
(9) Lipede 1971- 2005
(10) Okukenu (IV) 2005
OWU ADMINISTRATION IN ABEOKUTA
(1) Pawu Apr 1855 -1867
(2) Adefowote 1867 -1872
(3) Aderinoye 1873 -1890
(4) Adepegba 1893 -1905
(5) Owokokade 1906 -1918
(6) DosunmuI 1918 -1924
(7) Adesina 1924 -1936
(8) Gbogboade 1938 -1946
(9) Ajibola 1949 -1972
(10) Oyegbade 1975 -1980
(11) Oyelekan 1987 -1987
(12) Odeleye 1993 -2003
(13) DosunmuII 2005
Paramount Ruler of OwuKingdom, HRM. Oba Dr. Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu. His palace is situated inwards the pump of the stone metropolis of Abeokuta, Ogun State, as well as indeed the Olowu of Owu, (HRM) Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu, Amororo 2, Akobi Odua is a firstly cast monarch as well as the Paramount Ruler of Owu Kingdom all over the world.
Olowu Council
seven groups constitute the Cabinet of the Olowu who is the paramount Ruler of Owu Kingdom. Listed below with the Olowu equally Chairman constitute The Supreme Cabinet of the Olowu of Owu, which is at nowadays known equally “OLOWU-IN-COUNCIL :" The describe of potency 1. Balogun 2. Olori Igbimo 3. Olori Omo-Oba 4. Olori Parakoyi 5. Oluroko of Erunmu 6. Balogun Apomu 7. Iyalode."
Owu is ruled past times Princes selected from half-dozen ruling houses: Amororo, Otileta, Ayoloye, Akinjobi, Akinoso as well as Lagbedu. These kings are assisted past times a heart as well as soul of chiefs known equally Ogboni as well as Ologun. This heart as well as soul of chiefs is headed past times the Balogun who has nether him Otun, Osi, Seriki, Aare Ago as well as Jagunna. Ogboni has equally their head, the Akogun, Obamaja, Orunto, Oyega, Osupori as well as Omolasin. Olosi is the Ifa priest of the Olowu. Originally, Owu has 3 townships namely Owu, Erunmu as well as Apomu."
In the reign of Oba Odeleye (1993-2003) the bring out of Owu townships expanded to 22 as well as this eased the management for Owu tremendously. By tradition, Olowus were selected past times half-dozen kingmakers, but 2 to a greater extent than chieftaincies were added inwards 1964 including Balogun as well as Olosi.
Alakosos who at nowadays help the Oba in
Interregnum
In 1855, the Owus crowned OBA Pawu equally the firstly manly somebody monarch Olowu of Owu of the Owus at Oke Ago-Owu, Abeokuta. Notably, in that location was a 21 twelvemonth interregnum betwixt the settlement of the Owu sojourners inwards Abeokuta as well as the crowning of Pawu equally the firstly Olowu inwards Abeokuta. See past times as well as introduce Olowu of Owu inwards Abeokuta. He reigned for 12 years.
The argue for the interregnum may live attributed to the deterioration of the socio-cultural bond that became evident during the journeying betwixt Orile Owu as well as Abeokuta. Hardship had made these Owu families insensitive to each other's welfare. The worst affected were the people of Erunmu because they were fewer. As a resultant of their minority status they were marginalized past times other Owu indigenes. Oni the keeper of the Crown was convinced that if he revealed the Crown to a people who had grown insensitive to the needs of their brothers, he would allow despotic dominion to concur sway over the townships of Owu, Erunmu as well as Apomu (the Owu kingdom inwards Abeokuta). Over the years, Akogun (the highly ranked soldier) arrived inwards Abeokuta, but he could neither locate Ijaola nor Ijaola's stepbrother, Oni. Also, unknown to the Olowu as well as Oluroko, Ijaola returned to Erunmu but had to cover on a farm settlement to escape capture. He afterwards settled inwards Iwo town where in that location was a community of Owu refugees as well as began to merchandise inwards commodities as well as prisoners of wars. It was inwards the course of didactics of this merchandise that he re-connected with his stepbrother through some other itinerant Owu merchant who was based inwards Abeokuta. Eventually, all arrangements were made for Ijaola to migrate to Abeokuta where he re-settled the people of Erunmu inwards Ita Erunmu (now called Totoro, after a tree). After Ijaola, Akogun as well as Oni consulted with each other, revealed the crown of Oduduwa 21 years after the Owu people firstly settled inwards Abeokuta.
Owu tribe man, Dr. Wale Babalakin (Born Bolanle Olawale Babalakin) is a Nigerian human of affairs as well as a Lawyer. He is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) as well as a recipient of the Nigerian national accolade of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR)[2] inwards 2007.
Owu Tribal Mark
The larger Yoruba ethnic grouping are historically known to have got used as well as soundless work facial tribal marks to distinguish i fellow member of i sub-Yoruba tribe from other. It is said that Owus used a unique traditional facial score called "Keke Olowu" to distinguish them from other tribal groups, especially when on state of war expeditions. The Keke or Gombo consists of 4 or v perpendicular as well as horizontal lines placed angularly on each cheek ; they occupy the whole infinite betwixt the auricle as well as the cheek os ; 3 little perpendiculars are also placed on the horizontal lines on both cheeks The Keke-Olowu, an Owu variation of these is similar the Keke or Gombo with the lines discrete or interrupted as well as links each ear with the side of the cheeks. It was mutual prior to the afterwards adoption of the agbaja-olowu.
Abaja Olowu: The Abaja are sets of 3 or 4 parallel as well as horizontal lines on each cheek ; they may live unmarried or double, each describe beingness from half-an-inch to i inch long. The Abaja-Olowu inwards distinction from other abajas has 3 perpendicular etchings plumbing fixtures neatly higher upward 3 horizontal ones as well as are rattling sparse as well as narrow inwards contradistinction from the rattling bold ones worn past times other tribes. This is farther accentuated with an additional 3 little horizontal etchings on the brow called ‘keeta’.
Furthermore, members of the majestic families would have got an additional 6 markings on the forearm with a farther 3 below the navel.
HRH Olowu of Owu as well as Jimi Agbaje
Owu Day Festival (Odun Omo Olowu)
The original work of celebrating Omo Olowu festival is to give thank yous to Olodumare (Almighty God) for supplying all needs. The annual Owu Day festival tradition started inwards 1999 as well as has attracted participation past times several Owu indigenes as well as people from all over the world. On Oct 9, 2010, the Olowu of Owu Oba Dosunmu publicly declared the minute weekend of the calendar month of Oct equally Owu's populace celebration of the goodness of the Almighty God. This annunciation was made to usher inwards the novel Omo Olowu festival which is to henceforth supplant the previous Owu Day Festival which incidentally had its tenth as well as lastly outing lastly twelvemonth on the tenth solar daytime of the tenth month! The debuting Omo Olowu festival (reported inwards owulakoda.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/omo-olowu-festival-kicks-off) also incorporated the ancient traditional New Yam Festival which was dramatically staged past times the Olowu himself, much to the delight, admiration as well as applause of the attendant crowd as well as dignitaries! The 2010 festival was attended past times Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse II, quondam President of Nigeria, Balogun of Owu Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiedome, quondam Governor as well as Field Commander of ECOMOG, Rtd General Tunji Olurin.
Balogun Akin-Olugbade – Owu political as well as industrial epitome who was the main whip of Action Group, & succeeded Awolowo equally the leader of the opposition inwards Nigeria’s firstly Parliament. He built a infirmary & social pump for the people of Abeokuta as well as was the Aare-Ona Kakanfo before his elevation to Balogun of Owu.
Source:http://www.anistor.gr/english/enback/2013_3s_Anistoriton.pdf
http://owulakoda.me/history-and-migrations/
The Owu War
The kingdom beingness at nowadays inwards a disorganized status each tribal unit constituted itself an independent state. The Ifes inwards the east, and the Ijebus inwards the southward formed an alliance against the Owus to the south-west of the quondam as well as northward westward of the latter.
The Owus (although at nowadays domiciled with the Egbas) are a identify unit of measurement quite distinct from. Egbas or Oyos. Hardihood, stubbornness, immorality, as well as haughtiness are marked traits inwards their character, so much so that it has passed into a maxim " Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bi omg I'owu, o ni ako tabi abo ni, ewo ni jdo se omg nibe ? " (a shaver is born at Owu, as well as yous enquire manly somebody or woman somebody : which volition live a proper shaver ?) Either sexual practice when roused past times passion would sooner choke than non accept dire revenge. Their manners were totally unlike from those of the Oyos, but from the days of Sango they have got been rattling loyal to the Alafin of Oyo.
As warriors, the Owus were hardy, brave, as well as courageous, they had no guns, their weapons consisting of the Agedengbe (a long heavy cutlass) with bows as well as arrows. Coming to unopen quarters with cutlass inwards mitt was the mode of fighting characteristic of these brave people.
The crusade of the state of war betwixt these 3 families was this : —
We have got already stated higher upward that during the reign of King Abiodun, limited orders were sent from Oyo to the Ooni of Ife, as well as the Olowu to preclude Oyos beingness kidnapped as well as sold at Apomu, the peachy marketplace town where the interior as well as the coast people met for trade. Now, since the start of the revolution, as well as the disorganized province of the kingdom, the do was revived. The rebellion has rendered the Central Authority powerless, but in that location were soundless some men of considerable powerfulness as well as influence inwards the land, such equally Adegun the Onikoyi who was the premier provincial king, Toyejg theBal§ of Ogbomoso the Kakanfo, as well as Edun of Gbogun.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 message similar to that sent past times King Abiodun was at nowadays sent past times the Onikoyi as well as the Kakanfo conjointly to the Olowu, as well as he inwards carrying out his orders had to chastise several towns ; hence Ikoyi Igbo, Apomu, Ikire, Irkn, He Olup^mi, Itahakun, Iseyin Odo, Iwata, Akinboto, Gbkngan, Isope, Iwara, as well as Jagun, were
destroyed past times war, all inwards Ife territory.
The Ooni of Ife was highly incensed at this as well as declared state of war against Owu. The dominance of the state of war was entrusted into the hands of his commander-in-chief Singunsin. Other war-chiefs associated with him were : — Okansk, Gbogbo Olu, Wasin, Alodeloko, etc. Their firstly encampment was at a identify called Dariagbon a farm hamlet of i O1upona, adjacent at Sifirin at the confluence of the Osun as well as Ohk rivers.
The Ifes idea they would brand an slow conquest of Owu for they themselves are a brave people, as well as hence this state of war vocal inwards their peculiar dialect : —
E maha ja (a) gba, Let us cutting ropes,
Igbekun la mu a di Our captives to bind.
If a Olowu The Olowu's If a (god of palm nut)
Ewa la mu a se With our corn we'll cook.
The Owns received the word that state of war was declared against them with peachy indignation. They considered themselves the powerfulness inwards these southern regions, as well as what infatuation has led the Ifes to this presumption ? With i consent they at nowadays marched out to run across them at this peachy distance. The appointment was a
mitt to mitt combat inwards which the Ifes were completely routed ; their the world forces was all but totally annihilated, alone almost 200 escaped to tell the tale of their dire misfortune !
The King of Iwo, inwards whose territory this disaster took identify did non acknowledge the survivors into his town for fearfulness of incurring the displeasure of his formidable neighbours the Owus, whom he dreaded ar;d of whom he was jealous, but he so far sympathized with them that he advised that they should non undergo the humiliation of returning home, as well as he allowed them to rendezvous inwards a identify called Adunbieiye for the work of recruiting their the world forces as well as to travail some other chance, secretly hoping that fortune may favour them adjacent time, as well as beingness sick at ease with such a formidable neighbor equally the Owus.
This little the world forces remained inwards this identify for almost 5 years, unable to homecoming habitation from shame, as well as yet could non obtain re-inforcement adequate for the peachy enterprise.
Just equally this crisis the Owus as well as the Ijebu traders had a serious complication at the Apomu market. The dispute arose from the sale of alligator pepper, as well as it resulted inwards the rash expedition against Apomu past times the haughty Owus ; the town was destroyed, as well as many Ijebu traders as well as residents lost their lives or their all.
Historically, Owu part inwards the Federal Republic of Nigeria is bounded inwards the southward past times Ijebu-Igbo inwards Ogun State; inwards the eastward past times Ife South Local Government Area; inwards the northward past times Gbongan – i of the prominent towns inwards Osun State as well as inwards the westward past times Irewole/Isokan Local Government Area. Ago-Owu inwards Abeokuta is where the Owus are by as well as large concentrated, nevertheless large Owu settlements are found throughout the Yoruba kingdom. The Yoruba kingdom extends beyond the boundaries of Nigeria into the Republic of Benin.
Orile-Owu inwards the past times was an ancient woods kingdom which is believed to live the firstly settlement exterior Ile-Ife, the popularly acclaimed traditional homeland of the Yoruba people. Several notions almost this ancient kingdom regarding its status equally the cradle of all other Owu communities have got led to some generated heated controversies.
Among the diverse Yoruba sub-ethnic groups such as Oyo, Egba, Ife, Ijebu, Ijesha, Awori, Remo, Igbomina, Ondo, Ekiti as well as others, Owu people are rattling pop especially when i count the state of war years of the larger Oyo Kingdom. Within the said part of old Oyo, Owu was rattling prominent as well as fifty-fifty ruled the waves. Owu collected tribute from the Bariba, the Borgu as well as had ruled over old Oyo until the reign of Sango. All this happened because they (Owu) also settled inside that rattling region. (See Johnson’s “History of the Yorubas” p.149). Their presence inwards that part was indisputably powerful. Owu fought side past times side with Egba inwards the Makun as well as other wars against Ado Odo as well as Dahomey inwards 1842-45. Owu contingents fought as well as routed Awori at Itori, Yobo, Ifo, Atan, Ota as well as also occupied those places till today. In his address to Owu people during the eighth Owu Day celebrations inwards 2007, the Olowu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu maintained that "Owu people had fought wars, won battles as well as settled inwards rattling many places betwixt the Niger river as well as the body of body of water (Owus inwards Lagos State; Epe, etc.), yet their main flow had settled alongside the Egbas inwards Abeokuta BUT, THEY ARE NOT EGBAS, neither are they lJEBUS. (See Johnson’s “History of the Yorubas, p.18). Owu settlements inwards Ijebu as well as Abeokuta were non equally a resultant of direct battles or victory over them, but by as well as large on friendly terms."
One of the distinctive socio-political divergence betwixt Owus as well as other Yoruba sub-tribes is that the Owus do non have got an Oluwo (Ogboni Head Chief) as well as do non concur Ogboni assemblies. On the contrary, the Owu palace has its ain civilization of opened upward deliberation where whatever Owu somebody tin give the axe participate. That is why people refer to the Owus equally “Owu a gbooro gbimo” pregnant "Owu the deliberative group".
Owu settlements are found throughout the Yoruba Kingdom, all of which have got historical as well as cultural affinity to the homeland – that is Orile-Owu. In the Yoruba language, “Orile” agency an ancestral habitation or settlement piece the give-and-take “Owu” is derived from a cotton wool flora belonging to the genus Gossypium. This flora is called owu past times the Yoruba. Therefore, “Orile-Owu” agency the original settlement or site of the Owu people. The early on settlers of this kingdom planted as well as traded inwards cotton. Hence, this identify was called “Igbo Owu” i.e Cotton Forest.
Mathew Arema Okikiola Olusegun Obasanjo, Owu tribe human and Retired Army General who hails from the Olusanmi chemical compound inwards Sokori, Owu Abeokuta is the alone 3 term as well as longest inwards part Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He revamped the Owu National Movement at nowadays called RUOP which was originally founded past times Balogun Akin Olugbade, his predecessor inwards the part of Balogun Owu Abeokuta. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 i fourth dimension leader of the Eminent Personalities grouping as well as competition for the send service of Secretary General of the United Nations. He is the electrical flow Balogun Owu.
There are a lot of abandoned historical as well as cultural heritage resources inwards Orile-Owu. This attests to the heritage of the Owu people equally a peachy kingdom inwards the past. Moreover, for several years that the ancient town has been inwards existence, settlement features such equally ditches as well as embankments, reject mounds, historic buildings, as well as pottery scatters inside the ancient town (site) are yet to live fully understood especially inside the context of how they reverberate the antiquity of the settlement on i hand, as well as how they stand upward a goodness adventure to investigating the connective betwixt the homeland as well as outlier Owu settlements inwards the Yoruba region, on the other hand.
Owu people of Abeokuta
Geography as well as Climate
Owu is inside latitude 7°10’ as well as 7°15’N as well as longitude 4°25’E. This part is bounded inwards the southward past times Ijebu-Igbo inwards Ogun State; inwards the eastward past times Ife South Local Government Area; inwards the northward past times Gbongan – i of the prominent towns inwards Osun State as well as inwards the westward past times Irewole/Isokan Local Government Area. The study expanse is situated inwards the tropics, where the Sun is overhead almost every solar daytime of the year. The annual temperature is almost 28°C. Rainfall is heavy, averaging 1300mm per annum reaching its peak betwixt Apr as well as belatedly September. Orile-Owu is sunny throughout the year. The relative humidity coincides with months with depression rainfall – Dec to March (Adejobi 1997; Adejuwon 1974, Ogundele as well as Ebonine, 2010).In price of accessibility, Orile-Owu is almost 46km from Ibadan. There is a well- tarred motorable route from Ibadan to Orile-Owu as well as inside the town are brusk footpaths, which brand Orile-Owu rattling accessible.
Abeokuta
The vegetation type inwards this expanse is a secondary forest. The vegetation has been greatly impacted past times growth inwards human population as well as activities. Orile-Owu was an ancient woods kingdom with varieties of flora species. The predominant plants that be inwards this locality comprise of tree species such equally crude oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), iroko (Milicia excela), mahogany (Entadrophragma cylindricum), arere (Triplocyton scleroxylon), as well as teak (Tectona grandis). The expanse is good drained past times rivers as well as streams including the Obalufon, Omu, Ope, Oranran, Osun as well as Shasha rivers. The availability of these rivers as well as streams has some positive impact on local agriculture as well as other livelihood including palm crude oil production (Ogundele as well as Ebonine, 2010). The soil is fertile thereby allowing the tillage of diverse cash as well as subsistence crops. The availability of the essential natural resources at the site made it a suitable identify for the ancient population to settle.
Chief Gbenga Daniel, Ota tribe human and Former Governor of Ogun State as well as Aare Ajibosin of Owu Kingdom with his wife. His woman parent was Owu from Omu Ijebu.
Language
Owu people beak North-West Yoruba (NWY) dialect of Yoruboid languages which belongs to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication phylum. Apart from Owu people, the other areas that beak North-West Yoruba dialects include Abẹokuta, Ibadan, Ọyọ, Ogun as well as Lagos (Eko) areas.
Ogogo kulodo masquerade from Ota Awori inwards Ogun State
History
According to written sources, the establishment or founding of Owu Ipole (as Orile-Owu was formerly referred to) was shortly after the settlement of Oduduwa inwards Ile – Ife, thence they said “Owu Lakoda” pregnant Owu was the firstly to live founded after Ile – Ife is a pop saying alongside the Yoruba (Mabogunje,1997). It is believed from oral tradition that the Owu occupied an expanse straight along as well as below Niger River inwards the introduce the world of Nigeria. Orile-Owu afterwards expanded as well as became a rattling pop as well as powerful Yoruba settlement, which eventually attained the status of a kingdom of peachy repute. It became a forcefulness to live reckoned with inside Yoruba land, especially betwixt the belatedly 18th as well as early on 19th centuries.
By the minute decade of the 19th century, Orile-Owu began to wane downward equally a resultant of nutrient shortage, war, as well as consequently, insecurity of lives as well as properties resulting from slave raiding. Thus the settlers had to larn inwards search of improve economical opportunities, equally this was of import inwards ensuring their survival. The Owus thence abandoned their heavily fortified metropolis as well as escaped southwest inwards groups for security inwards the human face upward of heavy external aggression (Chief Olalere per comm., 2011).The devastation of the heavily fortified metropolis was caused past times the belatedly 19th century intra-sub-ethnic wars. This devastation had its consequences on the people as well as it is believed to live the argue behind their broad dispersal all over the country. Owu settlements are found today inwards most Yoruba communities including Abeokuta as well as Lagos, as well as equally far afield equally Igbomina the world inwards Kwara State of Nigeria. The collapse of Old Oyo (in the northern part of Yoruba land), a powerful majuscule of the Oyo empire inwards the early on 19th century, coupled with the lastly sack of Orile-Owu inwards 1825 was instrumental to the demographic changes inwards southern Yoruba the world (Ogundele as well as Babalola, 2007:60; Ogundele as well as Ebonine: 2010).
Pa Taiwo Michael Akinkunmi, Owu tribe human as well as designer of Nigeria`s National Flag
Ijebu as well as Ife state of war against Owu
In 1821–26, the armies of both Ijebu as well as the Ife attacked as well as devastated Owu Ipole. The Owus abandoned their heavily fortified metropolis as well as escaped southwestward inwards groups toward Ibadan inwards almost 1826. From these outskirts, they marched on as well as across Ogun River as well as finally arrived at Oke Ata close Abeokuta where Sodeke, an Egba authoritative leader, persuaded the gallant Owus to settle inwards Abeokuta almost 1834. It is of import to province that the introduce Orile Owu is the same identify equally Owu Ipole where the Owus from Iwo as well as other places resettled inwards the early on 20th century. The people of Erunmu (founded past times the older blood brother of an before Olowu from the Amororo Ruling House) were e'er loyal to the course of didactics of Owu Kingdom. During the Owu war, the Olowu was carried on his dorsum (to disguise his escape) from Orile Owu (Owu Ipole) to Orile Erunmu, guarded past times a combined squad of his majestic guards as well as Oba Erunmu's majestic guards. After Orile Owu was devastated, the remaining Owu the world forces retreated to defend Orile Erunmu against the allied the world forces of Ijebu as well as Ife.
Ota as well as Ado-Odo
Owu was a major constituent inwards the 1842-45 state of war against Ota as well as Ado Odo. It is interesting to authorities annotation that halfway through the war, Sodeke devised a way for the Egba contingent led past times Ayikondu to desert the warfront (see Ajisafe, Iwe Itan Abeokuta, p.73), employing the services of his friend (the enemy), Gezo, the Dahonean state of war leader. As an Awori Ota King, declared inwards 1935, the determination of the state of war of Otal Ado Odo was led past times Gbalefa, the Owu General as well as his Owu contingents as well as that is how Owu people non alone conquered but occupy the at nowadays Gbalefa Peninsular.
Safeguarding the Crown
Before Orile Erunmu was also devastated as well as razed to the ground, The Olowu as well as The Oluroko of Erunmu devised strategies to ensure that the majestic lineages as well as the Crown inherited from Oduduwa was preserved. The Olowu entrusted the Owu Crown to a warrior, only referred to equally Akogun (Owu's firstly documented Akogun warrior. Akogun is a championship similar to an the world forces Defense Chief), Ijaola as well as a few of the king's closest aides. When the siege on Erunmu began, Akogun was assigned to the warfront with the promise that he could plough the tides of state of war piece Ijaola was sent on a mandatory majestic assignment to Ibadan with a message for Maye, an Ibadan warlord. Before these 2 Crown trustees left to ship out their respective orders, they had to entrust Oni (a skilled as well as specialized trader as well as farmer, as well as also the older stepbrother of Ijaola) with safeguarding of the Crown. Oni as well as other men entrusted with the Crown mingled with the refugees that eventually settled inwards Abeokuta. These men had strict instructions non to discover the whereabout of the Crown inwards the absence of the Akogun as well as Ijaola, unless they received word of their death.
The Administration of Abeokuta
It is to live understood firstly as well as foremost that the Administration of Abeokuta is based on strict historical factors which clearly spells out areas of potency of each of the firstly 4 kings inwards Abeokuta, viz, Olowu,Agura, Osile as well as Alake. The largest part of the the world of Ibadan through Bakatari, Odeda, Osiele to the eastern part of the old Igbo Egba is occupied by as well as large past times Gbagura. Some of the Gbagura the world which voluntarily declared their allegiance to the Alafin included Awe, Kojoku, Agerige, Aran, Fiditi, Abena, Akinmorin, Doba as well as Oroko. If today all these were to live added, Gbagura would live the largest Egba land. Agura is the primal manly somebody monarch over these traditionally Gbagura land.
Egba Oke Ona owns the the world that spreads northward of Ona River as well as ran along the eastward fringes of Remoland as well as through Siun/Owode to Abeokuta.
The Egba woods which spreads from the southern part of Oyo through part of Oke Ogun downward to the introduce Abeokuta ends at Oko Adagba as well as includes such independent towns equally Ake, Ijeun, Oba, Igbein, Ijemo, Itoku, Imo, Emere, Kemta, Iro, Igbo, Erunwon, Itesi, Ikopa, Iporo as well as many other towns. Most all of them as well as their villages have got zeroed-in inwards Abeokuta. The firstly Alake was installed inwards Abeokuta inwards August 1854. Today, in that location are 10 of them: -
(1) Okukenu 1854- 1862
(2) Ademola I 1869 -1877
(3) Oyekan 1879 -1881
(4) Luwaji 1885 -1888
(5) Sokalu 1891 -1898
(6) Gbadebo I 1898 -1920
(7) Ademola II 1920 -1962
(8) Gbadebo II 1963 -1971
(9) Lipede 1971- 2005
(10) Okukenu (IV) 2005
OWU ADMINISTRATION IN ABEOKUTA
(1) Pawu Apr 1855 -1867
(2) Adefowote 1867 -1872
(3) Aderinoye 1873 -1890
(4) Adepegba 1893 -1905
(5) Owokokade 1906 -1918
(6) DosunmuI 1918 -1924
(7) Adesina 1924 -1936
(8) Gbogboade 1938 -1946
(9) Ajibola 1949 -1972
(10) Oyegbade 1975 -1980
(11) Oyelekan 1987 -1987
(12) Odeleye 1993 -2003
(13) DosunmuII 2005
Paramount Ruler of OwuKingdom, HRM. Oba Dr. Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu. His palace is situated inwards the pump of the stone metropolis of Abeokuta, Ogun State, as well as indeed the Olowu of Owu, (HRM) Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu, Amororo 2, Akobi Odua is a firstly cast monarch as well as the Paramount Ruler of Owu Kingdom all over the world.
Olowu Council
seven groups constitute the Cabinet of the Olowu who is the paramount Ruler of Owu Kingdom. Listed below with the Olowu equally Chairman constitute The Supreme Cabinet of the Olowu of Owu, which is at nowadays known equally “OLOWU-IN-COUNCIL :" The describe of potency 1. Balogun 2. Olori Igbimo 3. Olori Omo-Oba 4. Olori Parakoyi 5. Oluroko of Erunmu 6. Balogun Apomu 7. Iyalode."
Owu is ruled past times Princes selected from half-dozen ruling houses: Amororo, Otileta, Ayoloye, Akinjobi, Akinoso as well as Lagbedu. These kings are assisted past times a heart as well as soul of chiefs known equally Ogboni as well as Ologun. This heart as well as soul of chiefs is headed past times the Balogun who has nether him Otun, Osi, Seriki, Aare Ago as well as Jagunna. Ogboni has equally their head, the Akogun, Obamaja, Orunto, Oyega, Osupori as well as Omolasin. Olosi is the Ifa priest of the Olowu. Originally, Owu has 3 townships namely Owu, Erunmu as well as Apomu."
In the reign of Oba Odeleye (1993-2003) the bring out of Owu townships expanded to 22 as well as this eased the management for Owu tremendously. By tradition, Olowus were selected past times half-dozen kingmakers, but 2 to a greater extent than chieftaincies were added inwards 1964 including Balogun as well as Olosi.
Alakosos who at nowadays help the Oba in
Interregnum
In 1855, the Owus crowned OBA Pawu equally the firstly manly somebody monarch Olowu of Owu of the Owus at Oke Ago-Owu, Abeokuta. Notably, in that location was a 21 twelvemonth interregnum betwixt the settlement of the Owu sojourners inwards Abeokuta as well as the crowning of Pawu equally the firstly Olowu inwards Abeokuta. See past times as well as introduce Olowu of Owu inwards Abeokuta. He reigned for 12 years.
The argue for the interregnum may live attributed to the deterioration of the socio-cultural bond that became evident during the journeying betwixt Orile Owu as well as Abeokuta. Hardship had made these Owu families insensitive to each other's welfare. The worst affected were the people of Erunmu because they were fewer. As a resultant of their minority status they were marginalized past times other Owu indigenes. Oni the keeper of the Crown was convinced that if he revealed the Crown to a people who had grown insensitive to the needs of their brothers, he would allow despotic dominion to concur sway over the townships of Owu, Erunmu as well as Apomu (the Owu kingdom inwards Abeokuta). Over the years, Akogun (the highly ranked soldier) arrived inwards Abeokuta, but he could neither locate Ijaola nor Ijaola's stepbrother, Oni. Also, unknown to the Olowu as well as Oluroko, Ijaola returned to Erunmu but had to cover on a farm settlement to escape capture. He afterwards settled inwards Iwo town where in that location was a community of Owu refugees as well as began to merchandise inwards commodities as well as prisoners of wars. It was inwards the course of didactics of this merchandise that he re-connected with his stepbrother through some other itinerant Owu merchant who was based inwards Abeokuta. Eventually, all arrangements were made for Ijaola to migrate to Abeokuta where he re-settled the people of Erunmu inwards Ita Erunmu (now called Totoro, after a tree). After Ijaola, Akogun as well as Oni consulted with each other, revealed the crown of Oduduwa 21 years after the Owu people firstly settled inwards Abeokuta.
Owu tribe man, Dr. Wale Babalakin (Born Bolanle Olawale Babalakin) is a Nigerian human of affairs as well as a Lawyer. He is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) as well as a recipient of the Nigerian national accolade of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR)[2] inwards 2007.
Owu Tribal Mark
The larger Yoruba ethnic grouping are historically known to have got used as well as soundless work facial tribal marks to distinguish i fellow member of i sub-Yoruba tribe from other. It is said that Owus used a unique traditional facial score called "Keke Olowu" to distinguish them from other tribal groups, especially when on state of war expeditions. The Keke or Gombo consists of 4 or v perpendicular as well as horizontal lines placed angularly on each cheek ; they occupy the whole infinite betwixt the auricle as well as the cheek os ; 3 little perpendiculars are also placed on the horizontal lines on both cheeks The Keke-Olowu, an Owu variation of these is similar the Keke or Gombo with the lines discrete or interrupted as well as links each ear with the side of the cheeks. It was mutual prior to the afterwards adoption of the agbaja-olowu.
Abaja Olowu: The Abaja are sets of 3 or 4 parallel as well as horizontal lines on each cheek ; they may live unmarried or double, each describe beingness from half-an-inch to i inch long. The Abaja-Olowu inwards distinction from other abajas has 3 perpendicular etchings plumbing fixtures neatly higher upward 3 horizontal ones as well as are rattling sparse as well as narrow inwards contradistinction from the rattling bold ones worn past times other tribes. This is farther accentuated with an additional 3 little horizontal etchings on the brow called ‘keeta’.
Furthermore, members of the majestic families would have got an additional 6 markings on the forearm with a farther 3 below the navel.
HRH Olowu of Owu as well as Jimi Agbaje
Owu Day Festival (Odun Omo Olowu)
The original work of celebrating Omo Olowu festival is to give thank yous to Olodumare (Almighty God) for supplying all needs. The annual Owu Day festival tradition started inwards 1999 as well as has attracted participation past times several Owu indigenes as well as people from all over the world. On Oct 9, 2010, the Olowu of Owu Oba Dosunmu publicly declared the minute weekend of the calendar month of Oct equally Owu's populace celebration of the goodness of the Almighty God. This annunciation was made to usher inwards the novel Omo Olowu festival which is to henceforth supplant the previous Owu Day Festival which incidentally had its tenth as well as lastly outing lastly twelvemonth on the tenth solar daytime of the tenth month! The debuting Omo Olowu festival (reported inwards owulakoda.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/omo-olowu-festival-kicks-off) also incorporated the ancient traditional New Yam Festival which was dramatically staged past times the Olowu himself, much to the delight, admiration as well as applause of the attendant crowd as well as dignitaries! The 2010 festival was attended past times Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse II, quondam President of Nigeria, Balogun of Owu Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiedome, quondam Governor as well as Field Commander of ECOMOG, Rtd General Tunji Olurin.
Source:http://www.anistor.gr/english/enback/2013_3s_Anistoriton.pdf
http://owulakoda.me/history-and-migrations/
The Owu War
The kingdom beingness at nowadays inwards a disorganized status each tribal unit constituted itself an independent state. The Ifes inwards the east, and the Ijebus inwards the southward formed an alliance against the Owus to the south-west of the quondam as well as northward westward of the latter.
The Owus (although at nowadays domiciled with the Egbas) are a identify unit of measurement quite distinct from. Egbas or Oyos. Hardihood, stubbornness, immorality, as well as haughtiness are marked traits inwards their character, so much so that it has passed into a maxim " Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bi omg I'owu, o ni ako tabi abo ni, ewo ni jdo se omg nibe ? " (a shaver is born at Owu, as well as yous enquire manly somebody or woman somebody : which volition live a proper shaver ?) Either sexual practice when roused past times passion would sooner choke than non accept dire revenge. Their manners were totally unlike from those of the Oyos, but from the days of Sango they have got been rattling loyal to the Alafin of Oyo.
As warriors, the Owus were hardy, brave, as well as courageous, they had no guns, their weapons consisting of the Agedengbe (a long heavy cutlass) with bows as well as arrows. Coming to unopen quarters with cutlass inwards mitt was the mode of fighting characteristic of these brave people.
The crusade of the state of war betwixt these 3 families was this : —
We have got already stated higher upward that during the reign of King Abiodun, limited orders were sent from Oyo to the Ooni of Ife, as well as the Olowu to preclude Oyos beingness kidnapped as well as sold at Apomu, the peachy marketplace town where the interior as well as the coast people met for trade. Now, since the start of the revolution, as well as the disorganized province of the kingdom, the do was revived. The rebellion has rendered the Central Authority powerless, but in that location were soundless some men of considerable powerfulness as well as influence inwards the land, such equally Adegun the Onikoyi who was the premier provincial king, Toyejg theBal§ of Ogbomoso the Kakanfo, as well as Edun of Gbogun.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 message similar to that sent past times King Abiodun was at nowadays sent past times the Onikoyi as well as the Kakanfo conjointly to the Olowu, as well as he inwards carrying out his orders had to chastise several towns ; hence Ikoyi Igbo, Apomu, Ikire, Irkn, He Olup^mi, Itahakun, Iseyin Odo, Iwata, Akinboto, Gbkngan, Isope, Iwara, as well as Jagun, were
destroyed past times war, all inwards Ife territory.
The Ooni of Ife was highly incensed at this as well as declared state of war against Owu. The dominance of the state of war was entrusted into the hands of his commander-in-chief Singunsin. Other war-chiefs associated with him were : — Okansk, Gbogbo Olu, Wasin, Alodeloko, etc. Their firstly encampment was at a identify called Dariagbon a farm hamlet of i O1upona, adjacent at Sifirin at the confluence of the Osun as well as Ohk rivers.
The Ifes idea they would brand an slow conquest of Owu for they themselves are a brave people, as well as hence this state of war vocal inwards their peculiar dialect : —
E maha ja (a) gba, Let us cutting ropes,
Igbekun la mu a di Our captives to bind.
If a Olowu The Olowu's If a (god of palm nut)
Ewa la mu a se With our corn we'll cook.
The Owns received the word that state of war was declared against them with peachy indignation. They considered themselves the powerfulness inwards these southern regions, as well as what infatuation has led the Ifes to this presumption ? With i consent they at nowadays marched out to run across them at this peachy distance. The appointment was a
mitt to mitt combat inwards which the Ifes were completely routed ; their the world forces was all but totally annihilated, alone almost 200 escaped to tell the tale of their dire misfortune !
The King of Iwo, inwards whose territory this disaster took identify did non acknowledge the survivors into his town for fearfulness of incurring the displeasure of his formidable neighbours the Owus, whom he dreaded ar;d of whom he was jealous, but he so far sympathized with them that he advised that they should non undergo the humiliation of returning home, as well as he allowed them to rendezvous inwards a identify called Adunbieiye for the work of recruiting their the world forces as well as to travail some other chance, secretly hoping that fortune may favour them adjacent time, as well as beingness sick at ease with such a formidable neighbor equally the Owus.
This little the world forces remained inwards this identify for almost 5 years, unable to homecoming habitation from shame, as well as yet could non obtain re-inforcement adequate for the peachy enterprise.
Just equally this crisis the Owus as well as the Ijebu traders had a serious complication at the Apomu market. The dispute arose from the sale of alligator pepper, as well as it resulted inwards the rash expedition against Apomu past times the haughty Owus ; the town was destroyed, as well as many Ijebu traders as well as residents lost their lives or their all.
The manly somebody monarch of Iwo thereupon advised the Ifes to cast an alliance with the Ijebus, who, similar them, have got at nowadays a grievance against Owu. When this was done, the lies at habitation were at nowadays willing to re-inforce their wrecked the world forces for a conjoint onslaught upon Owu. The Ijebus at nowadays declared state of war against Owu, as well as crossing the Osun river, encamped at the farm of i Oso.
The Ijebus were improve armed than either their allies or their foes, as well as indeed, than whatever of the interior tribes, for, beingness nearest to the coast, they had the payoff of obtaining guns as well as gun- pulverization from Europeans inwards telephone substitution for slaves. They were remarkable marksmen. The older men with their cloths tied circular their waists, as well as the ends left flowing behind, constituted the regular fighting column : beingness too old pr too heavy to run away, they were obliged to live courageous.
The Owns were mad with rage at the receipt of the word that anyone, such equally the Ijebus, had presumed to declare state of war against them who (as they considered themselves) were the firstly powerfulness inwards these parts (southern Yoruba). They rushed out to depository fiscal establishment check the progress of the Ijebus equally they did that of the Ifes, as well as attacked them furiously cutlass inwards hand. But they were compelled to autumn dorsum from the steady burn downward of the Ijebus which did peachy havoc alongside them. Summoning courage, the Owns offered some other obstinate battle, but they were in i trial again repulsed with a heavy slaughter, having lost inwards the firstly as well as minute engagements almost twoscore of their leaders. This was the firstly depository fiscal establishment check to their pride.
They rallied, however, as well as retreated to a brusk distance, as well as and so in i trial again ventured upon some other attack, the Ijebus advancing equally they were retreating : they finally met, as well as in i trial to a greater extent than fortune was against the Owus, as well as they fled precipitately to fortify their metropolis against the expected siege.
The Ijebus with their allies the Ifes encamped to the westward of the metropolis of Owu, nether a large tree called the Ogilngun, eastward of the town of Oje. We may hither remark that although the Egba towns of Of a as well as Oje were almost a mile as well as 2 miles respectively from Owu, yet so bitter was the animosity betwixt them that non alone did these towns reject their assistance to Owu, but rather rejoiced at its misfortunes !
The Owus fought with their accustomed bravery, as well as inwards i furious assault, routed the allies, as well as pursued them to Oje, Ofa, as well as Ibadan. The firstly 2 places were deserted inwards the full general confusion as well as panic, as well as all sought refuge at Ibadan. Here the allies received reinforcements from the Egbas, as well as from the Oyo refugees from the northward whose homes had been devastated past times the Fulanis as well as who were at nowadays scattered almost the provinces homeless, as well as without occupation. Glad to notice some trouble inwards arms, these refugees flocked to the measure of the allies inwards numbers ; as well as thus strengthened, the state of war was renewed. The siege lasted almost 5 years (usually reckoned equally 7). The metropolis was obstinately defended past times the brave inhabitants from the walls, as well as from the forts built on the walls of the city. One Skkulk was an skillful sudden shooter who was never known to missy his aim ; he contributed much to the defence forcefulness of the town. But he was at the same fourth dimension a good-natured man, form as well as merciful to his enemies. Whenever he saw a beau hazarding his life too unopen to the forts inwards gild to exhibit valour, pitying his youth, he used to hail at him from the fort, as well as warn him equally follows : — " I give yous your life for to-day, but do non venture hither to-morrow or yous shall die." And he was alw^ays equally goodness equally his word. Thus Sakulk defended the metropolis heroically as well as killed many a valiant warrior.
At last, the allies held a council of war, as well as were determined to larn rid of S^kulk on the adjacent day. The Ijebus, who had guns were the foremost, as well as the whole the world forces directed their burn downward as well as showers of darts at the fort where S^kiila was fighting, all kept shooting at that i spot, until they saw Skkiilk fall, suspending
from the fort !
Owu was at nowadays deprived of her bravest defender, as well as famine also began its fatal run inside its walls. It was at this fourth dimension the Owns began for the firstly fourth dimension to consume those large beans called popondo (or awuje) hitherto considered unfit for nutrient ; hence the taunting songs of the allies : —
Popondo I'ara Owu nje. The Owus at nowadays alive on propondo,
Aje f'ajaga bo 'run. That done, their necks for the yoke.
Unto this day, whoever would hum this ditty inside the hearing of an Owu man, must human face out for an accident to his ain person. For all the famine within, the besiegers could neither scale the walls, nor forcefulness the gates open, until Akinjobi the Olowu opened a gate, as well as escaped to Erunmu, i of the principal towns inwards his
territory. The main of this identify was i Oluroko who was nearly related to the Ow6ni of Ife. Oluroko protected his over- lord. The allies pursued the Olowu to this place, but Oluroko when called upon to response for his conduct, submitted himself, as well as asked for pardon, showing that he could non have got acted
otherwise as well as live blameless. ^ The allies saw with him, as well as pardon was accordingly granted him.
Ikija was the alone Egba town which befriended the metropolis of Owu inwards her straits hence after the autumn of the latter town, the combined armies went to punish her for supplying Owu with provisions during the siege. Being a much smaller town, they before long made brusk run of it. After the devastation of Ikija,^ the allies returned to their quondam military camp at Idi Ogungun (under the Ogiingun tree) .
"Owu was thenceforth placed nether an interdict, never to live rebuilt ; as well as it was resolved that inwards future, nevertheless peachy powerfulness live the population of Oje — the nearest town to it — the town walls should non extend equally far equally the Ogungun tree, where the military camp was pitched. Consequently to this day, although the the world may live cultivated yet no i is allowed to construct a business solid on it.
[In the twelvemonth 1873 Akinyemi i of the sons of i Bolade of Ibadan happened to construct a substantial farm business solid at Owu. Latosisk as well as so the Kakanfo at Ibadan ordered it to live pulled downward immediately, as well as Akinyemi was fined besides].
After the autumn of Owu as well as Ikija, the the world forces was non disbanded, but the commanders of the Ife as well as of the Ijebu armies returned habitation to give an concern human relationship of the state of war to their respective masters, but the remnants soundless inwards the military camp were continually swelled past times recruits from Oyo refugees whom the Fulanis had rendered homeless.
After a fourth dimension the Ijebus inwards the military camp invited the allies habitation to their the world equally friends ; as well as so they broke upward the military camp at " Idi Ogungun " as well as withdrew to Ipara inwards the south.
It should live noted that the Owu state of war marked a definite menstruation inwards Yoruba history. It was hither for the firstly fourth dimension gunpowder was used inwards state of war inwards this country, as well as it was followed past times the devastation of the Egba townships as well as the foundation of modern Abeokuta as well as Ibadan, to live related inwards due course.
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