HISTORY OF ISE-EKITI, AND 120 YEARS OF MAGIC LATERN

HISTORY OF ISE-EKITI, AND 120 YEARS OF MAGIC LATERN

By: Comr. Olamide Akinwumi, 09068215955

Ise Ekiti (Yoruba: Ìṣẹ̀-Èkìtì, also Ise), is a city in Ekiti State, Nigeria, It is the traditional home of Akinluaduse, also known as Akinluse by the inhabitants of the city. Akinluse was a great warrior in the ancient Oyo empire. Ise - Ekiti is the headquarters of  the Ise/Orun Local Government Area, along with Orun. Its geographic coordinates are 7°27′36″N 5°25′12″ECoordinates: 7°27′36″N 5°25′12″E. As of 2006, the Arinjale, or king, of Ise-Ekiti is Oba Ayodele Ajayi. As of 2007 Ise Ekiti had an estimated population of 204,022.

History of Ise Ekiti and their Traditions of OriginIse Ekiti in Ekiti State is the headquarters of Ise/Orun Local Government area is situated approximately between geographic latitudes 07o25 and 07o30N with a population of about 204, 022 as at 2007. The town is bounded on the north by Ado Ekiti and Gboyin Local Government Areas, on the East by Emure Ekiti Local Government Area, on the south by Owo Local Government Area and on the west by Akure-North and Ikere Ekiti Local Government Areas. Ise-ekiti, is located in the rain forest zone of south-western Nigeria where the rains are steady and spread almost evenly throughout the wet season (April – October). The area supports rain-fed agriculture and the crops grown are yam, maize, rice, cassava, cocoyam, plantain and banana. Ise was one of the original sixteen kingdoms of Ekitiland. This preeminence of the town in Ekiti and indeed in Yorubaland conferred on the Arinjale, even before the advent of colonial administration in Nigeria, the inherent right to wear the beaded crown, which still remains the symbol of authority and a veritable indicator of the importance of a traditional ruler in Yorubaland. Oral history, no matter the source has it that the original founders of Ise Ekiti came from Okeluse, a town in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State. The question is how they arrive at Okeluse when according to one of their traditions of origin, the Ise people migrated from Ile – Ife. It is believed that a certain Olofin, a descendant of Oduduwa from Ile – Ife had three male children and that the Arinjale of Ise Ekiti was the youngest while his brothers where the Oba of Benin and the Awujale of Ijebu Ode. Arinjale was said to have accompanied Awujale to Ijebu Ode while the Oba of Benin set off in a different direction. There arose some communal dispute about title of Awujale which ultimately led to the exit of Arinjale from Ijebu Ode. As was the practice in those days, Arinjale left Ijebu Ode with many followers and settled at a place called Olokuta near Akure where they encountered considerable difficulties as a result of some natural disasters such as thunderstorm etc. The exit of Olofin’s children from Ile – Ife agrees with the account of Chief Omotosho Eluyemi who stated that after the death of Oduduwa, his children started to quarrel over his property. This was followed by a very serious misunderstanding as a result of which the different warring camps agreed at Itajero conference that they should all leave Ile – Ife except the Ooni. Another version of their oral tradition connects the Ise people to the royals of Benin Kingdom. It is said that the Oba of Benin had two sons Osunleke and Gbaderin who were born on the same day but by different mothers. In conformity with tradition, the mother of Osunleke who was the younger wife was the first to draw the attention of the Oba to her giving birth to a bouncing baby boy. She took the baby to the palace for royal blessings and the Oba named the child the successor to the throne. It was after this that the mother of Gbaderin took him to the palace. The Oba blessed the baby as usual but it was clear that he could not ascend the throne in succession to the Oba. Gbaderin was an ardent hunter who usually goes on hunting expedition for two months at a time. He was away on one of such expeditions when his father died and his younger brother Osunleke was enthroned in line with the will of their father. Displeased with the enthronement of his brother as the Oba of Benin, Gbaderin left the town as usual with some numbers of supporters especially hunters like himself and on getting to Okeluse, he settled at the outskirts of the town due to the invitation of the Oba of Okeluse. News of his stay in Okeluse reached Osunleke his brother the Oba of Benin who dispatched emissaries to inform the Oba to drive out his brother and his entourage since Okeluse was a tributary to Benin. Gbaderin believed that there was no point causing untold hardship to the people of Okeluse, so he and most of his entourage left to a place he had once discovered during a hunting expedition which was called Use; a word that has over the years been adulterated or yorubanised into Ise. In conclusion, both version of Emure tradition of origin laid claims to Ile – Ife as the point of dispersion. It also states that a prince Fagbamila whose mother was Obele was the founder of the kingdom at Igbo Owa. Thus, it is safe to adjourn that the Emure people migrated to their present destination from Ile Ife. In respect to Ise Ekiti, the first oral tradition laid claim to Ile – Ife while the second one states that the founder of Ise Ekiti was one of the sons of the Oba of Benin which according to history was a kingdom founded by a prince from Ife. So we can assume that the claim of Ise people to Ile – Ife is legitimate

Ise-Ekiti is divided into three quarters namely; Oraye, Odo-Ise and Erinwa respectively.

120 YEARS OF MAGIC LATERN

The people of Ise-Ekiti, were stunned on Wednesday, November 30, 1898, when a ‘magic lantern’ was put on exhibition in the town. The villagers, in the present day Ekiti State, could not believe their eyes as they watched the display of the magic lantern.

Some adherents propagating Christianity, who had their tutelage in Lagos, brought the lantern to the town. It was a journey, which took several days through mosquito-ridden forests and the Ogbese River.

It was very hazardous to cross the Ogbese River in those years, which meandered through thick forests and rocks when there was no bridge on it. In fact, some students going to higher classes were carried across the Ogbese River in those days.

In the diary of Bishop Philips, he recorded that through the exhibition of the magic lantern that year, they were able to realize the sum of two pounds and 16 shillings. What the people referred to as magic lantern, was actually a movie projector, which had never been seen in the town in those years.

However, it was recorded in the diary that the money realized from those who came to watch the magic lantern was used to buy a church bell.

The town, Ise-Ekiti, has a rich history. It’s a land of culture, education and Christianity. The rich history, cultural evolution, emergence of Christianity and educational advancement was brought to bear recently when St. Mark’s Anglican Church celebrated 120 years of Christianity in the town.

 It was the day the town came alive and recognized its illustrious sons and daughters, (those who had passed on), their children, and their offspring’s and several others, including government functionaries, who were pioneers of modern development in the town. The event also revealed why Ise-Ekiti and some Ekiti towns are reservoirs of knowledge that produce professors and educationists in the country.

Coincidentally, Oba Aweloye, the great grandfather of the present monarch, Oba David Adetunji Ajayi Aweloye II, was on the throne in 1896 when the magic lantern was brought into the town for people to watch.

The award ceremony, initiated by the priests and elders of the church, evoked a sense of pride, memory and love for the Aweloye, who was present at the ceremony and he paid glowing tributes to the memory of his grandfather in the establishment of the early church.

He saluted the courage of the foundation members, most importantly Mrs. Lucricia Fayose, popularly called Yeye Lukiri (1877-1976), who risked her life with others under a very harsh and hostile environment. Oba Aweloye II recalled the establishment of St. Mark’s Primary School, Ise-Ekiti, in the first decade of the 20th Century, as “a watershed in the history of educational development and civilisation in the community.”

He mentioned how the love between Ise-Ekiti and Emure-Ekiti in 1958 culminated in the establishment of a grammar school. The Oba also mentioned the relationship with the three major crown heads in Ekiti, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti and the Arinjale of Ise-Ekiti.

 These were the three towns that received the torch of Christianity in those early years. The Oba likened Ise-Ekiti to Israel, which was chosen as the “peculiar treasure of God.”

Amongst those who were given awards of distinction in the town were the first Post Master, Pa John Ogunleye, and the first university graduate in 1951 and parliamentarian, Babalola Olokesusi, who encouraged parents to enroll their children in secondary schools.

Olokesusi was potrayed in the book, Ise-Ekiti, A Cradle of Honour, written by Prof. L.B. Kolawole in 2003, as the man who changed the educational landscape of Ise-Ekiti by the way he also encouraged the kids from the town to enroll in his schools – Academy Secondary School, Sapele, and Holy Trinity School, Sabongida Ora, where he was principal at various times.

His boys in the town were known as “Olokesusi boys.” Interestingly, the town recalled at the recent event that his boys were the ones who emerged as professors, technocrats, administrators and great achievers from the town over the years.

Sadly, the principal died at the age of 38 but his footprints were remembered and honoured at the event.

• From a ceremony, which was to mark 120 years of Christianity in the town, the anniversary became a huge event to celebrate foremost indigenes and reminisce on old times.

Venerable J.O. Adeyemo, the Archdeacon of the church, who was happy with the turnout of the event, said that he was elated that he received massive support from everyone. According to him, the idea of celebrating 120 years struck him because when the church clocked 100, it was not marked.

The Most Reverend Dr. S.A. Abe, Archbishop of Ondo and Bishop of Ekiti (Anglican Communion), expressed delight that the impact of Christianity has spread to other sectors such as education, health and social amenities in the town. The General Secretary of the Anniversary Committee, Joseph Olatunji Falana, said it took a year to plan the glorious event that touched all facets of the Ise-Ekiti life.

Special guests at the event included the governors of Ekiti State and then former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; Chief Afe Babalola, Niyi Akintola, Wole Olanipekun, and Benedict Ajayi. Twenty-four people were given posthumous awards, including Rev. Charles Jemiriye, who was head of the church at inception.

 ORIKI ISE-EKITI

ISE -EKITI- Omo Akin je'Efon. Omo a gbure Agudugbu s'oju odi k'ari j'Efon Use ya yan. Ugbo kan mo'sii si kan si d'Use, a mo foo oun le iijugbo Aje a l'Use. Adabalukosi lo ba loriigi l'oja Odo, kan p'ugba Ode jo. Oni mo tita libe, o ta ogun ifon. A ri mo tita libe, o t'oji akofa. Ugbogbo kukuruku la gbogi l'oja odo, k'Adabalukosi fo lo, Emi omo ogidan,o gun mo gara, Omo at'eran mo ta'ho.

SOURCE:

1. http://naijasky.com/iseorun/235/ise-ekiti-history/6332/

2.  "Ise/Orun Local Government Area". www.nigeriacongress.org. West African Non-Governmental Organisation Network. 2004. Retrieved 2007-01-11.