Delegation Visits Ilesa to Document Historical Account of Igbooye's Role in the Expedition to Fetch Seawater for Oduduwa
The Iwude Ijesa Secretariat in Ilesa, Osun State, has hosted a delegation of historians, researchers and community representatives from Igbooye Kingdom in Lagos State, who visited to strengthen historical ties between their community and Ijesaland.
The visit centred on historical accounts linking Igbooye's ancestry to the expedition led by Owa Ajibogun, one of the sons of Oduduwa, to fetch seawater believed to have been used to restore Oduduwa's eyesight.
The delegation, which comprised mainly historians and researchers, came from Igbooye, also known as Igbo Yeye, in the Eredo Local Council Development Area of Epe, Lagos State.
Receiving the visitors, the Chairman of the Iwude Ijesa Planning Committee, Chief Afolabi Igbaroola, delivered a welcome address in which he introduced the Iwude Ijesa Secretariat and explained the importance of the Iwude Ijesa Festival and the Ijesa Unity Carnival.
He also highlighted the influence of the festival in promoting unity, preserving cultural heritage and strengthening relationships among Ijesa people and other communities with historical connections to Ijesaland.
Among the members of the visiting delegation were Femi Joshua Adefioye of Guts 104.9 FM, Epe, Asoju-Oba of Igbooye, Eredo LCDA, Lagos State; the CEO of Voice of Epe media practitioner; Hon. Remilekun Michael Adesiyan; and Elder Paul Oluwole Alimi, Community Secretary of Igbooye.
The delegation explained that their visit to Ilesa was part of an ongoing historical research project aimed at documenting the origins and contributions of Igbooye's traditional leaders to Yoruba history.
According to the historical account presented by the visitors, Oshinfaderin Oranike, also known as Orijeru, the founder of Igbooye Kingdom, was among the eleven men who accompanied Owa Ajibogun on the mission to fetch seawater for Oduduwa.
The account states that Oduduwa, towards the latter part of his reign in Ile-Ife, suffered an illness that affected his eyesight. His traditional physician reportedly prescribed seawater, known as omi okun, as a remedy.
Owa Ajibogun led the royal expedition to obtain the seawater from the coastal domain of Olokun. Following the successful mission and Oduduwa's recovery, Ajibogun was honoured with the title of Owa Obokun and later became the progenitor of the Ijesa royal dynasty.
The Igbooye historical account identifies Oshinfaderin as another important member of the expedition. It states that he later founded Igbooye Kingdom and became its first ruler under the title of Orijeru.
The delegation further explained that the particular location where the seawater was reportedly collected is known as Okun Orijeru, a historical site identified with the Lekki axis of Lagos State.
The visitors also mentioned Osipaderin as another individual who followed Oduduwa's expedition from Ile-Ife in search of the seawater.
Speaking during the visit, Talabi Nurudeen Olusola of the Department of History, Lagos State University, discussed the importance of documenting the history of traditional chiefs and preserving the oral traditions of Igbooye for future generations.
He explained that the community was working towards producing a more comprehensive historical record of the kingdom, including the contributions of its traditional rulers and chiefs.
The historical material presented by the delegation traces the founding of Igbooye Kingdom to the 11th century and identifies Oshinfaderin Oranike as its founding ancestor.
It also explains that, after the successful expedition, Orijeru embarked on a journey to establish a permanent settlement. His eventual settlement at Igboyeye, meaning "plenty of forest," marked an important stage in the development of the kingdom.
According to the account, the kingdom has grown to include 37 villages, each administered by a Baale under the authority of the Orijeru.
The current traditional ruler is His Royal Majesty, Oba (Tpl.) AbdulRasaq Akanni Musa, the Orijeru of Igbooye Kingdom, who was installed in 2024.
The visiting delegation emphasised the need to preserve historical memories, noting that oral traditions and the contributions of past generations should be properly documented to prevent their loss or distortion.
The visit provided an opportunity to strengthen the historical relationship between Igbooye and Ijesaland, particularly through the shared account of Owa Ajibogun's expedition and the important role attributed to its members.
It also underscored the importance of further historical research and cooperation among Yoruba communities in preserving their common heritage and passing it on to future generations.
The visit also featured a guided tour of some of the historic and cultural landmarks in Ilesa. The delegation was conducted round the Ultra-Modern Owa Obokun Palace, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran Civic Centre, Obokungbusi Hall of Fame and the ancient Okemese Palace. The tour provided the visitors with an opportunity to appreciate the rich cultural heritage, traditional institutions and historical development of Ijesaland, further deepening their understanding of the kingdom and its enduring legacy.
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Coverage, script ✍️ camera 📸 CREDIT: Oladimeji Lasore (+2347035105413, [email protected])
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