HISTORY & CULTURE
ARAROMI -EKITI : MARCHING INTO A MODERN ERA IN YORUBA HISTORY
By Femi Alufa
Araromi‑Ekiti(formerly known as Era), is a community that forms part of the present Ijero Local Government Area in Ekiti State, Nigeria.
The people of Araromi -Ekiti are off-shoots from the mother town, Ijero-Ekiti who migrated from Ita Ajero quarters in Ile-Ife,the source of the Yoruba people.
The founder of the vassal town of Araromi(Era) was DADA AWURU, a younger prince of Ajero of Ijero from Ita Ajero quarters in Ile-Ife.
Oral traditions tell us that the history of ERA (now Araromi -Ekiti) town started from Ita Ajero quarters in Ile-Ife,when Ajero of Ijero left Ile-Ife to Eba Osa and coming to Ijero Atoose. A brother to Ajero, Dada Awuru,his junior brother left Ile-Ife with him . He (Dada Awuru) departed from his brother on the way to Erinmo Ijesa for hunting expedition.
Ajero was in search for his lost brother for few years until one man saw him in the bush and ran to Ajero to inform him that he saw Dada Awuru, his brother.
When Ajero saw him he shouted “Ati ri oni ki ra!” meaning,:”We have finally found the lost person”. This is how the town got its former name “Era”.
Dada Awuru later settled at Ijiko, along Epe Road. When the people at Ijiko discovered that he was a royal personality and younger brother to the Ajero of Ijero, the community decided to be holding the town meetings with him at Ijiko and later crowned him the king of the town until they moved to the present site known as Araromi Ekiti today .
Araromi-Ekiti in the olden days was called Era.The Elera (Village Head) of Era was an Ajero prince who migrated to settle at the village of Era (now Araromi). Araromi is a frontier village of Ijero Kingdom ruled by Elera (now known as Alararomi) and he recognized the paramountcy of his father, the Ajero of Ijero.The boundaries between Era (Araromi) and Ara (two towns in Ijero Kingdom ) and Iropora ( a town in the old Ado Kingdom) represented the boundary between Ijero and old Ado Ewi kingdom.
GEOGRAPHY
The town is about Two(2) kilometers to Epe -Ekiti (Ijero LGA) and Eight (8) Kilometers to Ijero -Ekiti.Ara is about six (6) kilometers to Ijero -Ekiti.
Araromi Ekiti is about Fifteen (15) kilometers North-west of Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State nigeria, stretching 280 kilometers from Lagos State the financial hub of Nigeria and 300 kilometers from Abuja the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, Araromi is situated to the east of Ijero- Ekiti.
Araromi -Ekiti is one of the twenty two towns and villages that formed the old Ijero Kingdom,one of the 16 Ekiti Confederacy Kingdoms before the British colonial rule in Nigeria.
T.B. Bovell- Jones, the Assistant District Officer of the Ijero District Council visited the town of Epe and Era (now Araromi) on 25th April,1936 as the first European to visit the community and he was accompanied by late High Chief Isaac Fasugba
Adeniran,the Obanla and High Chief D.S.Obasa, the Odofin of Ijero -Ekiti.
Era now Araromi -Ekiti was part of the Ijero Native Authority in the 1930s, Ijero District Council of old Ekiti Division,Ondo Province and the present Ijero Local Government Area since 1976 after the creation of old Ondo State of Nigeria (now Ondo and Ekiti States).
The trio of the towns,Ara,Epe and Araromi -Ekiti form the political unit,EKAMETA WARD of the present Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State of Nigeria.
Historical Origins & Ancestry
Araromi‑Ekiti (formerly known as Era) was founded by a prince of Ajero of Ijero -Ekiti who migrated to the town many centuries ago.The monarch of the town was known as Elera in the olden days and since the town has changed it’s name due to modernity,the monarch is known as Alararomi of Araromi -Ekiti.
The shares in the broader narrative of the Ekiti Yoruba people, believed to be among the earliest settlers of Yorubaland. Their ancestors migrated from Ita Ajero in Ile-Ife , migrated to Ijero -Ekiti before the founding of the town integrating with indigenous groups over generations and developing the distinct Ekiti community and identity.
Notable founding kings of Ekiti land include Ajero of Ijero, whose lineage is tied to the establishment of Ijero‑Ekiti and nearby communities like Araromi‑Ekiti .
Settlement & Local Evolution
The people generally are peaceful and law abiding and are mostly agrarian, engaging in farming.
Though specific written records on Araromi’s founding are limited, it falls within the Ijero‑Ekiti domain, historically a major contributor of cocoa, kola nut, palm produce and timber to old Western Nigeria.
The major religion of the people is : African Traditional religion.Christianity and Islam are increasing in the community as Churches of various denominations are found in the town.
The town has primary schools, Health Care Center and other social amenities.The main roads from Ijero-Ekiti link the town with the neighborhood community of Epe -Ekiti (Ijero LGA) and Iropora (Irepodun Ifelodun LGA) of Ekiti State.
Traditional Governance & Chieftaincy
Araromi‑Ekiti follows the traditional Yoruba system of rulership:
The Village or Town Council composed of all titled men known as IJOYEs or AGBA ILU,and certain of the ELEGBE group of chiefs or OLOGUNs taking more interest in the traditional administration of the town under the leadership of Alararomi of Araromi -Ekiti.
The Village/Town Head is Alararomi (formerly Elera). The Village Council consist of The IKORI MESAN,who comprised of the whole Iyare Group.The Erinshe group,the Uro group and all Elegbe Chiefs.
In the olden days, the Elera of Era (now Alararomi of Araromi -Ekiti) approached the Ajero of Ijero Kingdom through The Ogboni of Ijero -Ekiti who also settled quarrels between Ajero’s daughters or princesses as one of the Iwarefa Mefa Ajero.
THE IKORI MESAN (Iyare)
The Ikori Mesan group of chiefs are responsible for the traditional administration of Araromi -Ekiti which includes the traditional head (Alararomi) and other Eight (8) chiefs that consists of :
1.The ALARAROMI (Traditional Monarch)
2.The ODOFIN
3.The EISA
4.The ARO
5.The ASAO
6.The OJUMU
7.The EJEMU
8.The AJANA
9.The OBALOGBO
IWAREFA MEFA Group
1.The Odofin
2.The Eisa
3.The Aro
4.The Eisikin
5.The Eisaba
6.The Ejemu
THE ERINSHE Titles :
1.The EISABA
- The INURIN
- The ODOLOFIN
- The Saloro
THE URO Titles:
1.The Eisikin
2.The Sajuku
3.The Asha
4.The Osolo
5.The ALAWE
THE ELEGBE Titles:
1.The Elebeyin
2.The Sajiyan
3.The Oshuta
4.The Okunato
5.The Ajaguna
6.The Olukotun
7.The Elekosi
N.B: Titles show in capital letters are confined to certain families.
THREE QUARTERS IN ARAROMI -EKITI
The Araromi -Ekiti Community is sub- divided into Three (3) quarters: ISHA,ILARO and OKE-ERA (Oke Araromi).The ALARAROMI (Elera) is the traditional ruler of the Araromi and Head of ISHA Quarter,The ODOFIN is the head of ILARO Quarter and the EISA is the head of the OKE ERA (Oke Araromi) Quarter.
TRADITIONAL FAMILIES/QUARTERS :
1. IKORE Family/ISHA Quarter
The traditional family of Ikore or the royal family has the Alararomi (Town Head) as the Head of the family.Other Hereditary title holders in the family are the Elemo (Aworo Group of Chiefs) and Alawe ( Uro group).
2.AOLE Family/ILARO Quarter
Aole Family (1st branch or Agbale) at ILARO Quarter is headed by the Odofin as the Family Head.
The hereditary title holders in the quarter are :The Aro,Asao, Ojumu, Odofin or Abaworo (always the same man held these two titles) and Obalogbo.
3. AOLE Family/OKE ERA Quarter
The Aole (2nd branch or Agbale) of Oke Era (Oke Araromi) quarter is headed by EISA.Other Hereditary title holders in the quarter are: The Eisa, Ejemu, Inurin,Odolofin, Eisaba, and Ajana.
THE ALARAROMI STOOL
The head of Araromi -Ekiti community is the Alararomi (formerly known as Elera).The stool of Alararomi was vacant following the death of Oba Caleb Adeoye Falomo on November 18, 2021.
Multiple princes from the Odimulele Ruling House vied for the throne .
Following Ifa consultations administered by recognized kingmakers, Prince Babatunde Adebomi Babalola emerged as the Alararomi‑elect, a process later ratified by the Ekiti State Government in accordance with the Chieftaincy Law of 2012 .
The state government also intervened to mitigate tensions surrounding the selection, urging calm and unity in the community .
Since his installation, Oba Gabriel Babatunde Adebomi Babalola, Oyiyosaye Araromi, Odimulele IV has suspended two chiefs for breaches of protocol in line with recognized chieftaincy practices and received support for local development from the state administration .
Modern Development & Governance
Under the current administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Araromi‑Ekiti has seen renewed development:
Infrastructure upgrades including road works, electrification, and improved telecommunication connectivity are underway .
The state government continues to engage local leadership to ensure smooth governance and communal cohesion.
The Ascension of Oba Gabriel Babatunde Adebomi Babalola, Oyiyosaye Araromi Odimulele IV , The Alararomi of Araromi -Ekiti
“In August 2024,The Ekiti State governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has installed a new Alararomi of Araromi-Ekiti, in Ijero Local Government Area of the state, Oba Babatunde Adebomi Babalola, with a charge to citizens to abstain from actions that could trigger bloody chieftaincy squabbles in any of the communities.
Oyebanji warned the communities against allowing Obaship and chieftaincy tussle to create cleavages and internal aggression within them, saying such scenario may hinder development and unity in the state.
The governor gave the charge in Araromi Ekiti while presenting an instrument and staff of office to Oba Babalola from Odimulele ruling house.
The seat became vacant, following the demise of Oba Caleb Adeoye from Falomo ruling house, on November 18, 2021, after which Oba Babalola was picked in a rigorous and fiercely contested selection process from Odimulele royal dynasty.
Addressing the residents, Oyebanji, represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, posited that the installation of the new monarch was in consonance with Part 1 sections 1-2 of the provisions of the Chief Law 2012 cap C5 Law of Ekiti State.
He said: “While congratulating Oba Babalola for ascending the throne of his forebears, I urge you to work harmoniously with your people to accelerate the rate of development, as a tree can’t make a forest, there is need for collective responsibility, If we desire to have a society of our dreams.
“I implore you to always carry your people along while taking critical decisions. Don’t do a one-man show. This is the best way to build unity and spirit of oneness among your people.”
Harping on the imperative of unity among Araromi citizens following crisis that dogged the selection process, the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Chief Ojo Atibikoke, said the process leading to Oba Babalola’s ascension to the stool was thoroughly monitored in line with the extant law.
The commissioner saluted the kingmakers and the Alararomi-in-council for their contributions to the emergence of the new monarch, and for holding forth during the vacuum created by Oba Adeoye’s demise.
In his acceptance speech, Oba Babalola, promised to unite the community by pursuing fence-mending mission that will restore love, unity and orderliness to the town.
Oba Babalola appreciated Governor Oyebanji for granting the approval for his installation, saying he won’t betray the confidence reposed in his ability to usher development to the agrarian community.
Ethnic Heritage: Ekiti Yoruba from Ile‑Ife ancestry
The traditional seat of Alararomi of Araromi -Ekiti is linked with the Ijero‑Ekiti royal lineage of the Ajero dynasty from Ile- Ife.(the cradle of the Yorubas).
The recent enthronement of Alararomi, Oba Babalola Adebomi Babalola, Oyiyosaye Araromi, Odimulele IV, The Alararomi of Araromi -Ekiti,an educated,urbane and cosmopolitan monarch ushers a new beginning and modern era in the history of traditional administration of the Araromi -Ekiti community.
Araromi Ekiti: Marching into a New Era
On July 23, 2025, Araromi-Ekiti community under the leadership of Kabiyesi Oba Gabriel Babatunde Adebomi Babalola, Odimulele IV witnessed the successful coronation of several traditional chiefs selected by their respective quarters.
This historic event reflects our collective commitment to preserving cultural heritage and promoting inclusive leadership.
“As the drums of revolution echo through the palace, a king sits; rooted in ancient wisdom, steady in modern grace.
The tradition found new voices as the quarters crowned their chosen chiefs
under the gaze of Kabiyesi Oba Oyiyosaye Araromi Odimulele IV, Araromi-Ekiti is moving forward; with love, with legacy, and with quiet revolution.”
Araromi -Ekiti embodies the fusion of ancient Yoruba heritage, colonial-era transformation, and contemporary developments within Ekiti State of Nigeria.
References:
1 Intelligence Report on Ijero District (1936) by T.B.Bovell-Jones
2.Ijero Kingdom in Yoruba History (1996) by High Chief Wellington Fajembola Alufa
3.Nigerian Tribune(August 27,2024)-
Community News- Oyebanji presents staff office to Araromi’s monarch by Yomi Aiyeleso
4.Ekiti Summit History & Genealogy Project by Femi Alufa (2025).
5.Alararomi of Araromi -Ekiti Facebook Page (July 25,2025).
#EkitiSummitNews #FemiAlufaPost
#AraromiEkiti #Alararomi
#OdimuleleIV #ModernEra