Osun grove, in Osogbo, Osun State, is rich in history but little is known of its links with Igede- Ekiti, Ekiti State. In this interview by AKIN ADEWAKUN, commemorating the 60th coronation anniversary ceremony of the Onigede of Igede-Ekiti, Oba James Aladesuru, the traditional ruler speaks on the history of the grove and the relevance of the ancient town to Yoruba culture and religion.
There are three ruling houses – Onaowuro, Oborolada and Okiribiti and all of them have rights to the throne, one after the other. I knew my father was a king. He passed on when I was eight years old and two kings reigned after him before I was installed in 1959.
Prior to the era of Christianity, Igede- Ekiti had been the ancestral home of the legendary Osun, Elemi pond and other historical spots that are relevant to the origin of the community. According to oral literature passed from one generation to another, the popular Osun Osogbo actually left Igede as a result of disagreement with her siblings in Igede and settled in Osogbo, in the current Osun State.
The Igede people settled in Oke Esu and were living in peace until their father and king Ake died. After the demise of Ake, his offspring, who were sixteen in number, couldn’t agree on who would succeed their father. The disagreement led to commotion and things fell apart. At the end of the day, they turned to different things, including rivers and ponds. Ibaja entered the ground, while Orunro, Elemi, Ogbese and Osun turned into water.
If Osun was originally from Igede, how come it has now become god in Osogbo with little reference to Igede?
I just mentioned the fact that the sixteen children of Ake, including Osun fought and things fell apart as Chinua Achebe would say. Osun found her way to Osogbo after leaving Sango, her husband in Oyo. At Osogbo, she ran into a troubled community, who sought her help. Her intervention paid off as the calamity in the land subsided. Of course, the people begged her to stay and she obliged. That is why till date, prayers are being answered at the Osun Osogbo grove. At her source in Igede, prayers are also being answered till date.
Do the people of Osogbo know about this or is there anything that reminds adherents of Osun that it has its source in Igede?
The core custodians of Osun Osogbo and the traditional institution in the city know because, till date, Osun Osogbo is being eulogized as Onibu Ola Ere Igede. Don’t forget, we still have Elemi and others here. Elemi flows north and eastward towards Ogbese on Ikare Road while Osun flows ward. It will surprise you too that the rivers in Igede are not from anywhere but have their sources from the community. Again, till date, a stone in the mode of an armchair is still seated at Osun Igede spot. We also have Aworo Osun and Iya Osun in the person of Mrs. Victoria Ajiyegbe Ayodele. It will also interest you that core custodians of Osun Osogbo annually pay a visit to the source in Igede before the annual Osun Osogbo festival.
Credits :
Oba Aladesuru, the Onigede of Igede-Ekiti
Nigeria Tribune Online- Aug 13, 2019
