OWA AJERO DYNASTY:
The Story of Olofin Oduduwa’s Prince from Ita Ijero quarters in Ile-Ife to the Present
By Femi Alufa
Ijero Kingdom has an enthralling history as a land of great monarchs and royal majesties. The place of Owa Ajero, the paramount traditional monarch of Ijero Kingdom in Ekiti confederacy of old and indeed Yoruba history cannot be pushed aside or discarded. The Owa Ajero of Ijero Kingdom is not only a supreme King in defunct Ekiti Confederacy but he was the fourth eldest direct Prince of Olofin Oduduwa, the first divine King of Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba race.
Ajero kin osa,the fourth direct Prince of Olofin Oduduwa had his abode at Ita –Ajero quarters in Ile-Ife and he was the convener of the first “Ajoro”(council meeting ) of the Oduduwa Princes where they decided to found their own Kingdoms outside Ile-Ife around 1200 A.D.
Ajero led his people out of Ile-Ife to EbaOsa (Lagos Lagoon) to found a new settlement, Successive generation of Ajeros during the exodus of the people found new habitation northward in Ekitiland like other Ekiti tribes at a settlement called Atoose, situated around the present site of Aramoko and Ijero Forest reserve.From Atoose, they moved to Ilede and Ilukuno until they settled at the present site of Ijero town till today.
The earliest rulers and monarchs of the Ijero people started from Ajero kin Osa who left Ile-Ife around 1200 A.D to Eba Osa (Lagos Lagoon) was the father of Ajero Akikodiye,who begot Ajero Owarede (a uterine brother of Orangun Ogboye, the third paramount ruler of Ila Orangun and Alara of Aramoko being of the same mother,Iwa Ademiregun) and Ajero Alakeji 1, who was the father of Prince Otutu and Ajero Ogbe who started the Ajero Dynasty at the present Ijero town in 1376 A.D. Eyekunrinafin was also an amazon and pioneer,a powerful woman leader at the earliest history of the Ijero people.
By 1600 A.D, Ajero Princes started to establish new settlements outside the Ijero metropolis,Prince Owariberu who later reigned as Ajero (1611-1632)founded the town of Odoowa and ruled at Iloro.Prince Fashiku,a Prince of Ajero Onaowuro (reigned 1754-1765) became the first traditional monarch of Ikoro after receiving the blessing of his father.The towns of Ogbonlu (now Owatedo,Ejiyan and Ipoti) and Iyapa Elo(now Ayetoro) were founded by Ajero Princes.All the 22 towns and villages of the old Ijero Kingdom with the exception of Ilejemeje were founded by Ajero Princes.
For many centuries, Ijero was a centre of effective traditional administration in the pre-colonial era and reputed to be one of the 16 principal Ekiti Confederacy. By 1750 A.D, Ajero’s palace at Ijero metropolis had become a centre of grandeur and splendor, power and authority as well as a beauty to behold and be proud of due to its magnificence art works and radiance masterpiece of the time.
Owa Ajero, the occupant of the exalted throne of Ijero Kingdom is an embodiment of its grandeur and majesty. His strong leadership and influence by the heredity of his royal roots as a direct Prince of Olofin Oduduwa and charisma when he is enthroned place him not only as a great monarch of the people but also the true leader of his people.
The Owa Ajero is an emblem of power, authority and influence in this part of the world, nothing more and nothing less. Every successive Ajeros had added their personal charisma, character and convictions to Ijero royal hood to be sublime in spite of the changes of time and seasons, but as the monarch of the people and keep influencing our world.
We have records and chronicles of the 35 Ajeros in history and the Ijero royal ruling houses; the place of Ajero of Ijero Kingdom in Yoruba History is well elucidated with a well research and comparative analysis.
The biographical vignette of the 31 Kings who have occupied the exalted throne of Ajero at the Ijero metropolis, their successes and failures is explained as a lesson in leadership.
The family lineage and genealogies of Ajero of Ijero Kingdom from Olofin Oduduwa gives us a quite appreciation and demonstrate the enormous value of ancestory and royal roots of Ajero to Ijero people. Every traditional monarch has domain of his power and influence.
The Owa Ajero Dynasty explains the place of Ijero Monarchy in Yoruba History and accorded its premium accuracy on Ijero Kingdom steeped in history and culture.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR –
FEMI ALUFA
Femi Alufa is a paternal descendant of Opeeleke, the first Saade of Ijero Kingdom and a son-in-law of Ajero Erukudede who reigned from 1666 to 1689 AD.
Femi is not only Omo Anashin Ajero (a descent of Ajero son-in-law)but he has his maternal roots traced to Ajeros of Ijero Kingdom as a maternal great-grandson of Ajero Aderuku Arojojoye 1(reigned 1916-1930),maternal great-great-great grandson of Ajero Obaleyakin (reigned 1795-1815)and a scion of both Ajero Onaowuro (reigned 1754-1765) and Ajero Owariberu (reigned 1611-1632).
His maternal ancestry is rooted in all the royal ruling houses of Ijero-Ekiti.
He loves blending traditions with modernity and he has a vast knowledge of Ijero history and is always mobilize others to join him in his cause for Ijero modern development.
Femi is a social entrepreneur, prolific writer, ICT administrator, community organizer and experienced festival director. He is also a public historian and peace advocate. His debut book, Tell Ijeroism: Reminiscences of Ajoro is a patriotic story on Ijero-Ekiti his hometown.
Visit the author’s website: https://ekitisummit.com/