PEOPLE & SOCIETY
WHEN OONI,OWA AJERO VISITED ITA AJERO IN ILE- IFE
By Femi Alufa
News Flashback ,August 7,2024.
The Arole Oduduwa,Ooni of Ife,His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II and Owa Ajero of Ijero Kingdom,HRM Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, JP, OFR, Arojojoye II visited the Ita Ajero (Ita Ajoro) quarters in Ile-Ife,the cradle of Ijero people worldwide in Ile-Ife.
The symbolism of the Ita Ajero quarters,in Ile-Ife is not only the source of Ijero-Ekiti people but it’s significance to the entire House of Oduduwa because it was a place of consultation where Olofin Oduduwa (the legendary Progenitor of the Yoruba race)princes decided to found their Kingdoms in various parts of the Yoruba Kingdoms.
The visitation of Arole Oduduwa,His Imperial Majority,Oba Eniyan Adeyeye Ogunwusi,Ojaja II,CFR ,The Ooni of Ife and Owa Ajero,HRM Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, JP, OFR,The Ajero of Ijero -Ekiti to the Ita Ajero quarters, Ile-Ife proved our oral traditions in both Ile-Ife and Ijero -Ekiti right of the ITA AJERO traditions and the place of the Owa Ajero of Ijero Kingdom in Yoruba History and the entire House of Oduduwa.
It is now realized that history of our race and people is not just a bunch of dates and figure, it’s a story of real people and real situation.
The Owa Ajero of Ijero Kingdom, along with other prominent Ekiti premier monarchs, are seen as descendants of Oduduwa, signifying their shared ancestry. The Owa Ajero and other Ekiti Obas are recognized as important figures in the Yoruba traditional system.
The next Ita Ajero Cultural Festival, taking place on August 18, 2025, in Ijero-Ekiti, it will have the Ooni of Ife,His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II as the Royal Father of the Day, highlighting the close relationship between the two kingdoms.
“The Owa Ajero is considered one of the top four sons of Oduduwa, holding a significant position in the dispersal of princes from Ile-Ife. A gathering of these princes, including the Ajero, is said to have taken place in Ile-Ife, where they vowed not to attack each other’s kingdoms.”