SNAPSHOP HISTORY OF AIYEPE TOWN IN OGUN STATE NIGERIA

AIYEPE TOWN (Odogbolu LG) IN FOCUSThere are so many great towns in Odogbolu Local Government . One of it is Aiyepe-Ijebu, a sleepy town very close to Ijebu-Ode. And one significant thing about that town is the fact that it is governed by 6 traditional rulers namely: Alakan, Obiri, Olowu, Alaye Aba, Akalako. All the rulers are rated second class, except one who is yet to be promoted to that grade. All are recognised by the Ogun State government. The five-2nd classes Obas are also members of the Ijebu Traditional Council under the Chairmanship of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba S.K. Adetona.

To ensure that rancour does not tear apart the Aiyepe Traditional Rulers Council to which all the Obas belong the chairmanship is not permanent. The council’s meeting is held periodically and chaired in rotation by the six Obas.

Aiyepe is located between Odogbolu and Ikenne and has an estimated population 25,000 people. The name Aiyepe was derived from an Ijebu dialect Soju Aiyepe which literally means “the world completely gather here.”

The amalgam of 6 Obas in just one town dated back about 2 centuries when Aiyepe was founded. Specifically, in 1800, six homesteads – Aba, Idobin, Odolowu, Ilakan, Afo and ldobusanwa held a meeting and agreed to live together in the same vicinity. Before then they lived at a distance of about 10 to 15 kilometres apart.

Odolowu and Idobusanwa horne-steads were near Ikenne remo. The Ilakan was very close to Shagamu, while Aba settled close to Odogbolu. Ako and Idobiri homesteads were also not far from Shagamu.

Basically, their decision to live together was informed by the internecine wars and the regular disappearance of their folks particularly women and children at the time. Around this period, there were incessant civil wars in Yorubaland and many homesteads were raided where people were killed or capture. To stop incursions into their territories, the six Obas met over how to ward off the enemies and find a lasting solutions.

ANTHEM AND ORIKI OF IJEBU-AIYEPE OGUN STATE NIGERIA.

To the germane and the pedestrian, Aiyepe is the superbly blessed mega-town in Odogbolu LG area of Ogun state Nigeria. The town boasts of the best mosque in Nigeria as at the time of this post, amongst other firsts. Thus, basking in the euphoria of the apt adage that the great Yorubas of the world have an endless repertoire that is fast fading and diminishing due to non-existent records and archives, we therefore posit to bring to the fore, this rare and golden Oriki of all the 6 quarters in Aiyepe and the Aiyepe anthem to all and sundry. 
We are exited, proud and well-primed to post and publish this for posterity.

Thanks to Alhaja Afusat Adeite Elias MBE, she is the No 1 Aiyepe personality in diaspora. A great, mother, grandmother and parent. 

Please pass it on to all and sundry.  

LINKS:
http://www.lamzat.com/2014/04/new-aiyepe-central-mosque-opens.html
http://youtu.be/KzJ2_9oC5bQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzJ2_9oC5bQ

Ijebu Aiyepe Anthem
1. A, ilu mi ilu to t’eju
Aiyepe nilu ta bi mi
N’go ma wa ire ni nibikibi mo wa
N’go gbo’ruko ree ga ilu mi

2. Baba Orun Edumare
Se’lu mi ni ilu Ayo
Ki awon enia le
Roju rere re
Ka la’fia Re ba won gbe.

3. Bukun Oba ati’joye
Femi Otito-jinkin won
Ki won le ma dari Awon enia re
L’ododo ati niwa mimo.

 

FOR THE RECORDS: AGEMO IN IJEBULAND.

AGEMO



Foremost among the deities in Ijebu is the Agemo which is jointly celebrated by Ijebu communities in June/July of every year. The Agemo is a ral­lying factor among the communities that make up Ijebu state. It is believed that the idea was initiated by the Obanta himself as an annual assembly of his priests (Alagemos) at Imosan to curb an unusual in­cidence of recalcitrance during the dispersal of town­ships. He was said to have summoned the Agemo priests from 16 different locations to Ijebu-Ode for heart-to-heart (frank) discussion.

The Obanta prepared well for his visitors whom he feted and had. discussion (oro awo) with. These priests too, as it was normal with them, came with their instruments of power (and defense). And to prevent a possible attack on the people, Obanta made the meeting more business-like so that none of their powers could filter to the people.

The Agemos (in the order of dancing at Agbala Imosan & Ijebu Ode) are:

Tami (Odogbolu), Olumoro (Imoro), Serefusi (Igbile), Posa (Imosan), Moko (Okun), Alofe (Ijesa-Ijebu), Onugbo (Okenugbo), Iju (Imosan), Lapen (Oru), Magodo (Aiyepe), Bajelu (Imuku), Lubamisan (Ago-lwoye), Petu (Isiwo), Ogegbo (Ibonwon), ldobi (Ago-Iwoye), Nopa (Imushin).

Other fetish Agemo Priests that do not per­form dancing rites are:

Onijagbori (Imosan), Adie (Ago-Iwoye), Ogi (Idogi, Ijebu-Ode).

The Agemo festival has since followed the format with people celebrating it with pomp and pag­eantry. The Alagemos usually follow a permanent festival route during which women are compelled to stay indoors. The Awujale is the one that now re­ceives the Alagemos through their head (Tami) whom he (Awujale will receive at Ipebi before the usual "e e ke e e" is chanted to signify the arrival of the other Alagemos.


Credit: Michael Olusegun Adeboyejo Cole