Grade A Traditional Titles (Towns in Alphabetical order)

1 Ewi Ado-Ekiti
2 Alara Aramoko - Ekiti
3 Alare Are-Ekiti
4 Ata Ayede-Ekiti
5 Alaaye Efon-Alaaye-Ekiti
6 Elemure Emure-Ekiti
7 Obako Erinmope-Ekiti
8 Olojudo Ido-Ajinare-Ekiti
9 Olojudo Ido-Ekiti
10 Onigede Igede-Ekiti
11 Arajaka Igbara-Odo-Ekiti
12 Ajero Ijero-Ekiti
13 Obanla Ijesha-Isu-Ekiti
14 Ogooga Ikere-Ekiti
15 Elekole Ikole-Ekiti
16 olukoro Ikoro-Ekiti
17 Alawe Ilawe-Ekiti
18 Onisan Isan-Ekiti
19 Arinjale Ise-Ekiti
20 Onitaji Itaji-Ekiti
21 Oniye Iye-Ekiti
22 Oluyin Iyin-Ekiti
23 Olode Ode-Ekiti
24 Ologotun Ogotun-Ekiti
25 Alaaye Oke-Ayedun-Ekiti
26 Owa Ooye Okemesi-Ekiti
27 Olomuo Omuo-Ekiti
28 Olosi Osi-Ekiti
29 Oore Otun-Ekiti
30 Olootunja Ootunja
31 Oloye Oye-Ekiti

Grade B Traditional Titles (Towns in Alphabetical order)
S/N TRADITIONAL TITLES TOWNS
1 Onise Araromi-Ekiti
2 Onigogo Igogo-Ekiti
3 Oluloro Iloro-Ekiti
4 Apeju Ilupeju Ekiti
5 Onire Ire-Ekiti
6 Olorin Orin-Odo-Ekiti
7 Alaworoko Iworoko-Ekiti
8 Olusi Usi-Ekiti
9 Ooro Agbado-Ekiti
10 Apalufin Aisegba-Ekiti
11 Alara Ara-Ikole-Ekiti
12 Alara Ara-Ijero-Ekiti
13 Alawo Awo-Ekiti
14 Alayegunle Ayegunle-Ekiti
15 Alayetoro Ayetoro-Ekiti
16 Elerio Erio-Ekiti
17 Eleda Eda-Oniyo-Ekiti
18 Olohan Erijiyan-Ekiti
19 Olufaki Ifaki-Ekiti
20 Onigbemo Igbemo-Ekiti
21 Ojunrin Ijurin-Ekiti
22 Onikun Ikun-Ekiti
23 Alasa Ilasa-Ekiti
24 Owologbo Ilogbo-Ekiti
25 Owa Iludun-Ekiti
26 Onimesi Imesi-Ekiti
27 Obanla Ipao-Ekiti
28 Olupoti Ipoti-Ekiti
29 Oniropora Iropora-Ekiti
30 Owatapa Itapa-Ekiti
31 Olu Itapaji-Ekiti
32 Asaba Isaba-Ekiti
33 Owa Odo-ayedun-Ekiti
34 Olowa Odo-Owa-Ekiti
35 Owa Osun-Ekiti
36 Olosan Osan-Ekiti
37 Olusin Usin-Ekiti

Grade C Traditional Titles (Towns in Alphabetical order)
S/N TRADITIONAL TITLES TOWNS
1 Alaaye Aaye-Ekiti
2 Alaaye Aye-Oja--Ekiti
3 Alaafao Afao-Ekiti
4 Alararomi Araromi-Ekiti
5 Oloja Araromi-Oke-Ekiti
6 Odoloofin Araromi-Odo-Ekiti
7 Alasin Asin-Ekiti
8 Owa Ayebode-Ekiti
9 Owa Ayegbaju-Ekiti
10 Owa Egbe-Ekiti
11 Elewu Ewu-Ekiti
12 Eleyio Eyio-Ekiti
13 Eleda Eda-Ile-Ekiti
14 Elepe Epe-Ijero-Ekiti
15 Elepe Epe-Ekiti
16 Elesure Esure-Ekiti
17 Elesun Esun-Ekiti
18 Apetu Idao-Ekiti
19 Onofishin Ifishin-Ekiti
20 Olugbole Igbole-Ekiti
21 Obaloke Igbona-Ekiti
22 Onijan Ijan-Ekiti
23 Onijesa Ijesa-Modu-Ekiti
24 Elejelu Ijelu-Ekiti
25 Oloja Ikogosi-Ekiti
26 Obanikosun Ikosun-Ekiti
27 Onikoyi ikoyi-Ekiti
28 Onikun Ikun-Ekiti
29 Eleri Ikunri-Ekiti
30 Alafon Ilafon-Ekiti
31 Obadu Ilemeso-Ekiti
33 Eesatokun Ilukuno-Ekiti
34 Ajagun Ilumoba-Ekiti
35 Onipere Ipere-Ekiti
36 Olumojo Imojo-Ekiti
37 Olupole Ipole-Iloro-Ekiti
38 Owa Irele-Ekiti
39 Oluroko Iroko-Ekiti
40 Oniro Iro-Ekiti
41 Aroniro Iro-Ekiti
42 Obasaoye Isaoye-Ekiti
43 Onisin Isinbode-Ekiti
44 Olu Iyemero-Ekiti
45 Obalemo Odo-Orov
46 Owa Oke-Ako-Ekiti
47 Olojebu Oke-Ijebu-Ekiti
48 Obalemo Oke-Ora-Ekiti
49 Obaloje Oloje-Ekiti
50 Owajunmu Omu-Ekiti
51 Olorin Orin-Ekiti
52 Olorun Orun-Ekiti
53 Olosin Osin-Ekiti
54 Onikun Temidire-Ekiti
55 Amuro Temidire-Ikolev

Background Of Ado-Ekiti

The first thing to note is that Ado is the name of a political society, as a matter of fact, a kingdom, on account of its size and development, was the largest in Ekiti. In its heydays, the kingdom covered all of the present-day Ado Ekiti Local Government Area, Irepodun/Ifelodun and Aiyerire Local Government Areas, Ekiti Southwest less Ogotun and part of Ido/Osi Local Government Area. Traditions assert that at the height of its power in the 18th and 19th centuries, about 200 years ago, Ado kingdom consisted of 150 (ewadojo) communities. The metropolis of the kingdom was Ado-Ekiti, Ewi was the sovereign head, his palace was (and still is) situated in the Chief city. All the high Chiefs lived in the city. These Chiefs were patron Chiefs of all the subordinate towns and villages.

Some Past Traditional Rulers Ewi Adewumi Agunsoye 1910 - 1936 Ewi Anirare Aladesanmi II 1937 - 1983 Ewi Adeyemi George, Adelabu I 1984 - 1988 Ewi Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III From 1990 up to the present time

History

Where Ado-Ekiti is situated is a land that has been continuously inhabited/occupied by human communities from time immemorial. Available research shows that human societies of unknown antiquity occupied this neighbourhood about (11,000) years ago. These ancient inhabitants were probably the same or progenitors/ancestors of Igbon near Ogotun, Erijiyan, Ijero, Ulesun and Asin (near Ikole) who were probably autochthones because available traditions shows that they had lived in and near their abodes from time immemorial. As a matter of fact, no one knows where, if any, they came from and for how long they had lived in those ancient sites. Ulesun appears the most well-known apparently on account of its size, the number of its subordinate communities especially Aso, Ulero, Isinla, Ilamoji, Ukere and Agbaun (near Igbemo), its well-organized traditional religion including its festivals etc and its location at the heartland of Ekitiland. These ancient people were the ancestors of Ekiti, they played hosts in the 7th and 8th centuries, about 1,200 years ago, to waves of immigrants from the basins of the rivers Niger and Benue; these settled among the ancient Ekiti, and were fewer in number and so, the hosts culturally absorbed them. Eventually,the people fused as aboriginal people by and by.

After many generations, a new wave of immigrant groups penetrated this homeland; their leader as Ewi, second succesor of Prince Biritiokun, Son of Oduduwa, on account of his wanderings all the way from the Benin forests, the leader was nicknamed Awamaro. Ulesun people welcomed them warmly and neighbouring committes came together to assist their settlement (built homesteads for them) at Oke-Ibon in Odo Ijigbo. Eventually, Ewi and his people overthrew the existing political arrangements, conquered Ulesun community, displaced its ruler Elesun and established a new town, Awamaro named Ado, meaning 'here we encamp'. Ewi Awamaro and his successors conquered villages and cottage in the neighbourhood, replaced their rulers with thier own loyalists, stalwarts and scions of the royal family. The important citizens of these conquered communities were relocated in Ado. Ewi supplanted Elesun as sovereign ruler of the aboriginal and settler population, many of Elesun's Chiefs were confirmed in their offices but they swore oaths of allegiance to the Ewi. Many of the succeeding Ewi expanded the kingdom by force of arms, annexed territories and gave these territories to scions of the royal families, these assumed titles which became hereditary.

The expansion and growth of Ado-Ekiti and the kingdom of Ado lasted over 400 years. In the course of this expansion, Ado became associated with certain traits. Citizens of the kingdom in general and those of the mother town, Ado-Ekiti in particular were reputed for great attention to cleanliness. A popular lyrical description of Ado citizenry depicts:

Ira Ule Ado m'etipise fifin seree (Ado citizens with their usually clean heels)

Ado people were, by local standard, tough and brave warriors. Traditions preserve numerous brave citizens of each Ado community, the best known were Ogbigbonihanran of Idolofin quarters, Ogunmonakan of Okelaja, Fasawo, a.k.a Aduloju of Udemo quarters, and Eleyinmi Orogirigbona of Okeyinmi quarters - all of Ado-Ekiti and Ogunbulu, a.k.a Ala l'oju Osoru of Aisegba. The exploits of Ado tough in many parts of Ekiti formed the basis of the popular orature:

Ikara s'eji s'inu agbagba t'emi ukoko (Of two balls of cake in the frying-pan, he insists his share is one)

Folk, traditions are replete with fond references to Ewi's relationship with some other Ekiti traditional rulers. Ewi's antecedents are depicted as:

Elempe Ekiti (mightiest man in Ekiti) On k'emu 'kan o mu meji Oloju k'enu 'kan gba kete re (He is entitled to one, he took two he has a disposition to take everything) Ewi i pe mi udiroko Onitaji i pe mi esunsu, (Ewi invites me for his udiroko festival Onitaji invites me for his esunsu festival)

Folk traditions of this nature vividly portray the towering position of Ado-Ekiti. In the first place, Ado-Ekiti is situated at the heartland of Ekiti and is thus less exposed to crossborder attacks or non-Ekiti influences. Consequently, over many centuries, waves of immigrant groups seeking haven settled in Ado-Ekiti and several other Ado communities. Many of these immigrants were refugees, they left thier old homelands in parts of Ekiti, Akoko, Owo etc. where their leaders lost out in chieftaincy contests. Some were war captives, these were brought in droves by Aduloju and his lieutenants from their slave wars of the 1870s and 1880s in parts of Owo, Ose and Akoko. They were settled in Ado communities where they increased the local population, and enriched the culture with thier lineage names and festivals in similar circumstances, citizens of Ado communities left their fatherland and settled in a few places in the neighbourhood up to Ijesaland. Ibadan sacked many Ado communities in 1873 and made a huge haul of prisoners of war and other captives who eventually settled in Iwo, Ibadan and some Remo towns such as Iperu and Makun Sagamu. However, Ado communities especially the mother town offset part of their losses with a large number of slaves and prisoners of war from Owo, Ose and Akoko.

From the 1880s, agents of the British, especially Christian missionaries penetrated the Yoruba interior in an endeavour to end the wars, in particular, the wars of liberation Ekitiparapo communities waged against Ibadan since October, 1879. In June, 1886, political-cum-military officers got the belligerent parties to sign a truce and in March, 1893, Governor Carter of Lagos visited Ibadan and Ekitiparapo camps of Igbajo and Imesi-Ile and terminated the war, got the leaders to sign treaties which prohibited slavery and slave trade, human sacrifices and the use of weapons to settle conflicts. The British administration in Lagos (which had authority over Yoruba interland from 1893) proclaimed a general emancipation for slaves and ordered slaves who so wished to return to their former homelands. As a result, numerous citizens of Ekiti in general and Ado in particular returned from captivity forth with. The British established its colonial rule on vast territories and in 1900, a number of districts became Nigeria. Eventually, further reorganizations led to the creation in January, 1913 of Ekiti District, with headquarters in Ado-Ekiti. That was a landmark from where to begin the discussion of today, modern times, a period characterized by the emergence of new things, phenomenal growth and development of old kingdom and its Chief city, Ado-Ekiti.

Religion

Among the most conspicuous of the great changes were the introduction and expansion of Christianity and Islam. Christian missions especially of the CMS, Roman Catholic, Baptist, African Church and Methodist, later the Cherubum and Seraphim and Apostolic Church took root and expanded during the 20th century. Each of these Christian communities established numerous churches such that by 1970, the CMS (Anglican) and the Roman Catholic had grown so fast that they had become dioceses with their headquarters and seats of bishops in Ado-Ekiti. The two missions had three grammar schools, the number increased to five in 1990. The growth of Christian communities was very rapid between 1970 and 2000; new missions and denominations Pentecostal, Charismatic, Evangelical and Episcopal arose, swelling up existing communions. Altogether over one hundred churches were recorded in the city in the year 2000.

The Muslim community did not lag behind, the faith spread. The central mosque was built about 1930 and thereafter, a number of mosques were built in Idemo, Umayo, Isato (Irona), Ogbonado, Okesa, Oke-Ila etc. The Ansar-Ud-Deen emerged in the early 1940s. As a matter of fact, the number of mosques and the number of Muslims who have performed the Hajj can readily come to hand as indices of expansion. The number of mosques increased substantially with the growing number of well-to-do muslim who build mosques as annexes to their private homes; by the year 2000, more than forty mosques could be counted in the city. By 1960, only Alhaji Akorede had performed the Hajj but the number of Alhajs increased in the 1970s and steadily increased in the 1980s and 1990s.

Education

In contemporary times, western education had been the vogue throughout Ekiti. Ado-Ekiti took the lead with the number of educational institutions.

In March 1896, Old Emmanuel School was established at Odo Aremu. In 1917, the Roman Catholic Mission established St. Patrick's Primary School. By the 1950s, the number of primary and secondary modern schools had increased very substantially. By 1974, the CMS alone had 104 primary schools, 8 secondary schools, and a teachers' college.

In the early 1930s, the Rt. Rev. H. Dallimore superintendent of the CMS mission established a pupil Teachers Institution. It was raised by the priest to a Middle School and finally towards the end of the 1940s it became a full fledge Grammar School. In the early 1950s, the Ekiti Progressive Union built a second grammar school at Ido-Ekiti. Soon after the CMS built a Girls' Grammar School (Christ Girls').

Thenceforth, communities took it in their strides to raise funds and establish a number of community grammar schools. Ado-Ekiti established its own in 1960 and another one towards the end of the 1970s. The number of Grammar Schools kept increasing and by the year 2000, there were twelve pupil grammar schools, private grammar schools numbered six, a total of eighteen. The Federal Government established its polytechnic at Ikewo, Ado-Ekiti, the defunct Ondo State University established its University at Ilewu, Ado-Ekiti.

Within a period of 50 years, much development in western education had taken place in Ekiti in general and Ado-Ekiti in particular. What a leap! Chief E. A. Babalola, a native of Oye-Ekiti was first University graduate in Ekiti. He was a high school master in 1947 and he took over the management of Christ's High School, Ado-Ekiti when Archdeacon Dallimore retired and left for Britain. Chief J. E. Babatola who graduated in 1952 was first University graduate in Ado-Ekiti. Today, Ekiti sons and daughters are found in large numbers in every academic and professsional positions, Ado-Ekiti has its fair share in this 'industry'.

Agriculture, Trade And Commerce

Tremendous development took place in the cultivation of economic crops, cultivation and collection of forest products such as kolanut (cola acuminata, Obi abata and cola nitida, gbanja) and oil palm produce, commerce and trade. Much of the impetus of all these came initially from Mr. Isaac Itamuboni (later Babamuboni) and a number of early Christians from Lagos, Abeokuta and Ibadan. These men introduced the cultivation of cocoa, maize, brown cocoyam etc to Ekiti. Wage earning labourers from parts of Ekiti who went to work in Ondo, Ijebu and Ife boosted the cultivation of these economic trees.

Ewi Aladesanmi II was a crusader in this sphere, he encouraged the cultivation of cash crops and establishment of trading and commercial enterprises among Ado citizenry. The Urhobo came into Ado communities in the early 1940s with their own mode of palm oil extraction. The Ebira came in large numbers in the 1940s and 1950s introducing the cultivation of their own specie of yams, cassava and beans. In the early 1950s, Igbemo, and Ado community started the cultivation of rice, the vogue spread to Iworoko in the 1960s and soon in the 1970s to other Ekiti communities such as Erio etc. These food crops boosted food production and contributed to the sustenance of the growing population of Ado communities, especially Ado-Ekiti, and by extension, other Ekiti and non-Ekiti communities.

The progress made in Western education, cultivation of food crop and of economic trees, as well as the establishment of commercial ventures brought great profit to Ado-Ekiti. In the early 1940s big time commercial firms (companies) such as U.A.C and in later years John Holt, U.T.C, C.F.A.O, established factories in the city. The Post and Telegraph now (NIPOST) established a station in this city in 1947/48 causing posting and collection of mails at the District Officer's office at Ayoba to cease. In 1958, pipe-borne water facility was provided making Ado-Ekiti the first town in present Ondo and Ekiti States to enjoy the facility. Two years later, ECN (now NEPA) extended electricity to the city. These facilities enhanced/increased commericial activities and brought immense socio-economic benefit and improved standard of life to the people. From the 1950s, commericial banks, at first the National Bank, the Union Bank, and in the 1960s and 1970s Co-operative Bank and United Bank for West Africa, opened their branch offices in Ado-Ekiti.

Population

Ado-Ekiti grew in size and in population. Some fifty years ago, the city began to grow/expand beyond its peripheries and ancient gates and ramparts. In 1963, the city was the largest urban centre in present Ondo and Ekiti States and its population of 158,000 at the census of that year represented it as the most populous urban centre in Eastern Yorubaland. The 1991 population count confirmed the primacy of the city, at least in Ekiti. The creation of Ekiti State in October 1996 and the establishment of state capital at Ado-Ekiti will further enhance the city's physical development.

The phenomenal growth and development mentioned above have been due to many factors. God has used many people as instruments of His will to work out His purpose, many of these are citizens of Ado urban, some are citizens of Ado rural, some are stranger elements, a couple of them are even Europeans and other expatriates. The citizenry warmly welcomed these development. For example, when the main road from the National Bank junction, through Erekesan and Ereguru to Ojumose was tarred in 1952 and the major road from Ajilosun through Ijigbo, Orereowu, Okesa and Obada etc a section of Akure - Ilorin road, was tarred in 1956, the very welcome development was rendered in popular juju songs, one of which rang:

Baba wa te 'ri oda l'ado (Our fathers walked on tarred roads at Ado) Ko o bi ko e e (what a delight, what a delight) e e o (very well so) Ko o bi ko e e (What a delight, what a delight)

Source:ADO-EKITI: YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW by Prof. Isola Olomola (J.P)

Background Of Ado-Ekiti

The first thing to note is that Ado is the name of a political society, as a matter of fact, a kingdom, on account of its size and development, was the largest in Ekiti. In its heydays, the kingdom covered all of the present-day Ado Ekiti Local Government Area, Irepodun/Ifelodun and Aiyerire Local Government Areas, Ekiti Southwest less Ogotun and part of Ido/Osi Local Government Area. Traditions assert that at the height of its power in the 18th and 19th centuries, about 200 years ago, Ado kingdom consisted of 150 (ewadojo) communities. The metropolis of the kingdom was Ado-Ekiti, Ewi was the sovereign head, his palace was (and still is) situated in the Chief city. All the high Chiefs lived in the city. These Chiefs were patron Chiefs of all the subordinate towns and villages.

Some Past Traditional Rulers Ewi Adewumi Agunsoye 1910 - 1936 Ewi Anirare Aladesanmi II 1937 - 1983 Ewi Adeyemi George, Adelabu I 1984 - 1988 Ewi Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III From 1990 up to the present time

History

Where Ado-Ekiti is situated is a land that has been continuously inhabited/occupied by human communities from time immemorial. Available research shows that human societies of unknown antiquity occupied this neighbourhood about (11,000) years ago. These ancient inhabitants were probably the same or progenitors/ancestors of Igbon near Ogotun, Erijiyan, Ijero, Ulesun and Asin (near Ikole) who were probably autochthones because available traditions shows that they had lived in and near their abodes from time immemorial. As a matter of fact, no one knows where, if any, they came from and for how long they had lived in those ancient sites. Ulesun appears the most well-known apparently on account of its size, the number of its subordinate communities especially Aso, Ulero, Isinla, Ilamoji, Ukere and Agbaun (near Igbemo), its well-organized traditional religion including its festivals etc and its location at the heartland of Ekitiland. These ancient people were the ancestors of Ekiti, they played hosts in the 7th and 8th centuries, about 1,200 years ago, to waves of immigrants from the basins of the rivers Niger and Benue; these settled among the ancient Ekiti, and were fewer in number and so, the hosts culturally absorbed them. Eventually,the people fused as aboriginal people by and by.

After many generations, a new wave of immigrant groups penetrated this homeland; their leader as Ewi, second succesor of Prince Biritiokun, Son of Oduduwa, on account of his wanderings all the way from the Benin forests, the leader was nicknamed Awamaro. Ulesun people welcomed them warmly and neighbouring committes came together to assist their settlement (built homesteads for them) at Oke-Ibon in Odo Ijigbo. Eventually, Ewi and his people overthrew the existing political arrangements, conquered Ulesun community, displaced its ruler Elesun and established a new town, Awamaro named Ado, meaning 'here we encamp'. Ewi Awamaro and his successors conquered villages and cottage in the neighbourhood, replaced their rulers with thier own loyalists, stalwarts and scions of the royal family. The important citizens of these conquered communities were relocated in Ado. Ewi supplanted Elesun as sovereign ruler of the aboriginal and settler population, many of Elesun's Chiefs were confirmed in their offices but they swore oaths of allegiance to the Ewi. Many of the succeeding Ewi expanded the kingdom by force of arms, annexed territories and gave these territories to scions of the royal families, these assumed titles which became hereditary.

The expansion and growth of Ado-Ekiti and the kingdom of Ado lasted over 400 years. In the course of this expansion, Ado became associated with certain traits. Citizens of the kingdom in general and those of the mother town, Ado-Ekiti in particular were reputed for great attention to cleanliness. A popular lyrical description of Ado citizenry depicts:

Ira Ule Ado m'etipise fifin seree (Ado citizens with their usually clean heels)

Ado people were, by local standard, tough and brave warriors. Traditions preserve numerous brave citizens of each Ado community, the best known were Ogbigbonihanran of Idolofin quarters, Ogunmonakan of Okelaja, Fasawo, a.k.a Aduloju of Udemo quarters, and Eleyinmi Orogirigbona of Okeyinmi quarters - all of Ado-Ekiti and Ogunbulu, a.k.a Ala l'oju Osoru of Aisegba. The exploits of Ado tough in many parts of Ekiti formed the basis of the popular orature:

Ikara s'eji s'inu agbagba t'emi ukoko (Of two balls of cake in the frying-pan, he insists his share is one)

Folk, traditions are replete with fond references to Ewi's relationship with some other Ekiti traditional rulers. Ewi's antecedents are depicted as:

Elempe Ekiti (mightiest man in Ekiti) On k'emu 'kan o mu meji Oloju k'enu 'kan gba kete re (He is entitled to one, he took two he has a disposition to take everything) Ewi i pe mi udiroko Onitaji i pe mi esunsu, (Ewi invites me for his udiroko festival Onitaji invites me for his esunsu festival)

Folk traditions of this nature vividly portray the towering position of Ado-Ekiti. In the first place, Ado-Ekiti is situated at the heartland of Ekiti and is thus less exposed to crossborder attacks or non-Ekiti influences. Consequently, over many centuries, waves of immigrant groups seeking haven settled in Ado-Ekiti and several other Ado communities. Many of these immigrants were refugees, they left thier old homelands in parts of Ekiti, Akoko, Owo etc. where their leaders lost out in chieftaincy contests. Some were war captives, these were brought in droves by Aduloju and his lieutenants from their slave wars of the 1870s and 1880s in parts of Owo, Ose and Akoko. They were settled in Ado communities where they increased the local population, and enriched the culture with thier lineage names and festivals in similar circumstances, citizens of Ado communities left their fatherland and settled in a few places in the neighbourhood up to Ijesaland. Ibadan sacked many Ado communities in 1873 and made a huge haul of prisoners of war and other captives who eventually settled in Iwo, Ibadan and some Remo towns such as Iperu and Makun Sagamu. However, Ado communities especially the mother town offset part of their losses with a large number of slaves and prisoners of war from Owo, Ose and Akoko.

From the 1880s, agents of the British, especially Christian missionaries penetrated the Yoruba interior in an endeavour to end the wars, in particular, the wars of liberation Ekitiparapo communities waged against Ibadan since October, 1879. In June, 1886, political-cum-military officers got the belligerent parties to sign a truce and in March, 1893, Governor Carter of Lagos visited Ibadan and Ekitiparapo camps of Igbajo and Imesi-Ile and terminated the war, got the leaders to sign treaties which prohibited slavery and slave trade, human sacrifices and the use of weapons to settle conflicts. The British administration in Lagos (which had authority over Yoruba interland from 1893) proclaimed a general emancipation for slaves and ordered slaves who so wished to return to their former homelands. As a result, numerous citizens of Ekiti in general and Ado in particular returned from captivity forth with. The British established its colonial rule on vast territories and in 1900, a number of districts became Nigeria. Eventually, further reorganizations led to the creation in January, 1913 of Ekiti District, with headquarters in Ado-Ekiti. That was a landmark from where to begin the discussion of today, modern times, a period characterized by the emergence of new things, phenomenal growth and development of old kingdom and its Chief city, Ado-Ekiti.

Religion

Among the most conspicuous of the great changes were the introduction and expansion of Christianity and Islam. Christian missions especially of the CMS, Roman Catholic, Baptist, African Church and Methodist, later the Cherubum and Seraphim and Apostolic Church took root and expanded during the 20th century. Each of these Christian communities established numerous churches such that by 1970, the CMS (Anglican) and the Roman Catholic had grown so fast that they had become dioceses with their headquarters and seats of bishops in Ado-Ekiti. The two missions had three grammar schools, the number increased to five in 1990. The growth of Christian communities was very rapid between 1970 and 2000; new missions and denominations Pentecostal, Charismatic, Evangelical and Episcopal arose, swelling up existing communions. Altogether over one hundred churches were recorded in the city in the year 2000.

The Muslim community did not lag behind, the faith spread. The central mosque was built about 1930 and thereafter, a number of mosques were built in Idemo, Umayo, Isato (Irona), Ogbonado, Okesa, Oke-Ila etc. The Ansar-Ud-Deen emerged in the early 1940s. As a matter of fact, the number of mosques and the number of Muslims who have performed the Hajj can readily come to hand as indices of expansion. The number of mosques increased substantially with the growing number of well-to-do muslim who build mosques as annexes to their private homes; by the year 2000, more than forty mosques could be counted in the city. By 1960, only Alhaji Akorede had performed the Hajj but the number of Alhajs increased in the 1970s and steadily increased in the 1980s and 1990s.

Education

In contemporary times, western education had been the vogue throughout Ekiti. Ado-Ekiti took the lead with the number of educational institutions.

In March 1896, Old Emmanuel School was established at Odo Aremu. In 1917, the Roman Catholic Mission established St. Patrick's Primary School. By the 1950s, the number of primary and secondary modern schools had increased very substantially. By 1974, the CMS alone had 104 primary schools, 8 secondary schools, and a teachers' college.

In the early 1930s, the Rt. Rev. H. Dallimore superintendent of the CMS mission established a pupil Teachers Institution. It was raised by the priest to a Middle School and finally towards the end of the 1940s it became a full fledge Grammar School. In the early 1950s, the Ekiti Progressive Union built a second grammar school at Ido-Ekiti. Soon after the CMS built a Girls' Grammar School (Christ Girls').

Thenceforth, communities took it in their strides to raise funds and establish a number of community grammar schools. Ado-Ekiti established its own in 1960 and another one towards the end of the 1970s. The number of Grammar Schools kept increasing and by the year 2000, there were twelve pupil grammar schools, private grammar schools numbered six, a total of eighteen. The Federal Government established its polytechnic at Ikewo, Ado-Ekiti, the defunct Ondo State University established its University at Ilewu, Ado-Ekiti.

Within a period of 50 years, much development in western education had taken place in Ekiti in general and Ado-Ekiti in particular. What a leap! Chief E. A. Babalola, a native of Oye-Ekiti was first University graduate in Ekiti. He was a high school master in 1947 and he took over the management of Christ's High School, Ado-Ekiti when Archdeacon Dallimore retired and left for Britain. Chief J. E. Babatola who graduated in 1952 was first University graduate in Ado-Ekiti. Today, Ekiti sons and daughters are found in large numbers in every academic and professsional positions, Ado-Ekiti has its fair share in this 'industry'.

Agriculture, Trade And Commerce

Tremendous development took place in the cultivation of economic crops, cultivation and collection of forest products such as kolanut (cola acuminata, Obi abata and cola nitida, gbanja) and oil palm produce, commerce and trade. Much of the impetus of all these came initially from Mr. Isaac Itamuboni (later Babamuboni) and a number of early Christians from Lagos, Abeokuta and Ibadan. These men introduced the cultivation of cocoa, maize, brown cocoyam etc to Ekiti. Wage earning labourers from parts of Ekiti who went to work in Ondo, Ijebu and Ife boosted the cultivation of these economic trees.

Ewi Aladesanmi II was a crusader in this sphere, he encouraged the cultivation of cash crops and establishment of trading and commercial enterprises among Ado citizenry. The Urhobo came into Ado communities in the early 1940s with their own mode of palm oil extraction. The Ebira came in large numbers in the 1940s and 1950s introducing the cultivation of their own specie of yams, cassava and beans. In the early 1950s, Igbemo, and Ado community started the cultivation of rice, the vogue spread to Iworoko in the 1960s and soon in the 1970s to other Ekiti communities such as Erio etc. These food crops boosted food production and contributed to the sustenance of the growing population of Ado communities, especially Ado-Ekiti, and by extension, other Ekiti and non-Ekiti communities.

The progress made in Western education, cultivation of food crop and of economic trees, as well as the establishment of commercial ventures brought great profit to Ado-Ekiti. In the early 1940s big time commercial firms (companies) such as U.A.C and in later years John Holt, U.T.C, C.F.A.O, established factories in the city. The Post and Telegraph now (NIPOST) established a station in this city in 1947/48 causing posting and collection of mails at the District Officer's office at Ayoba to cease. In 1958, pipe-borne water facility was provided making Ado-Ekiti the first town in present Ondo and Ekiti States to enjoy the facility. Two years later, ECN (now NEPA) extended electricity to the city. These facilities enhanced/increased commericial activities and brought immense socio-economic benefit and improved standard of life to the people. From the 1950s, commericial banks, at first the National Bank, the Union Bank, and in the 1960s and 1970s Co-operative Bank and United Bank for West Africa, opened their branch offices in Ado-Ekiti.

Population

Ado-Ekiti grew in size and in population. Some fifty years ago, the city began to grow/expand beyond its peripheries and ancient gates and ramparts. In 1963, the city was the largest urban centre in present Ondo and Ekiti States and its population of 158,000 at the census of that year represented it as the most populous urban centre in Eastern Yorubaland. The 1991 population count confirmed the primacy of the city, at least in Ekiti. The creation of Ekiti State in October 1996 and the establishment of state capital at Ado-Ekiti will further enhance the city's physical development.

The phenomenal growth and development mentioned above have been due to many factors. God has used many people as instruments of His will to work out His purpose, many of these are citizens of Ado urban, some are citizens of Ado rural, some are stranger elements, a couple of them are even Europeans and other expatriates. The citizenry warmly welcomed these development. For example, when the main road from the National Bank junction, through Erekesan and Ereguru to Ojumose was tarred in 1952 and the major road from Ajilosun through Ijigbo, Orereowu, Okesa and Obada etc a section of Akure - Ilorin road, was tarred in 1956, the very welcome development was rendered in popular juju songs, one of which rang:

Baba wa te 'ri oda l'ado (Our fathers walked on tarred roads at Ado) Ko o bi ko e e (what a delight, what a delight) e e o (very well so) Ko o bi ko e e (What a delight, what a delight)

Source:ADO-EKITI: YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW by Prof. Isola Olomola (J.P)

In Okun Kete Ule!

jmaine:

Sweet list . . .the emboldened is currently the chairman of the council of obas in Ekiti state . . . Reporting confidently from Okemesi  (The land of the brave and intellectuals ) . . .

The list is not sweet. Two of the towns where I grew up are not shown.
Fix the list plz

jmaine:

Sweet list . . .the emboldened is currently the chairman of the council of obas in Ekiti state . . . Reporting confidently from Okemesi  (The land of the brave and intellectuals ) . . .

Yeah he is,I was in the town couple of months ago for a friend's wedding ceremony. . .saw the Oba and his Oloris.

Ileke-IdI:

The list is not sweet. Two of the towns where I grew up are not shown.
Fix the list plz

Eeeeeewi Ado ooo! aayo mi,o t'orun! . . . .It's been ages! How have you been?
Towns? and I didn't list them? names?

Kudos and bravos. Nice one.

thanks man,
Ekiti lu o re?

@kete ule,
In Okun O!

EFON ALAAYE

ABOUT EFON ALAAYE

Efon Alaaye is located on Longitude 4.8 degrees - East and Latitude 7.6 degrees - North.
It is situated on an elevation of about 500 metres above sea level. It is a very large town
covering several hills, hill sides, plains and valleys, hence we talk of areas like Oke
Imolekere, Oke Iloja, Oke Are, Oke Ojabalu, Oke Ahun, Odo Ijao, Odo Ibete, Odo Ejigan,
etc. The prefix Oke means (hills) and Odo means (Valley). There are many streams
flowing round the town but none passes through the town. The topography of the town
is mountainous and the hills were claimed to be of advantage to the people of the town
during the days of the inter-tribal wars. The hills made invasion of Efon difficult for
invaders, hence, the saying "Oke lo mu Alaaye tile ogun" - (the mountain emboldens the
Alaaye to wage war). "Omo-Oloke lomoke gun" - It is the son of the soil that can climb
the hills with ease. The effect of this unique topography is that it has produced a sort of
sturdy and determined people capable of fighting against the forces of nature for their
existence. This can be seen in the way Efon people are building fantastic structures
despite the topography of the town - These hills which gave security advantage to the
early settlers are now a cause of serious erosion problems to the people of the town.
With development and destruction of the vegetation for the purpose of expansion and
construction, soil erosion has now created a lot of gullies in the town.
CLIMATE AND VEGETATION
Efon is situated in the tropical zone. In the dry season, the town experiences very severe
harmattan with temperatures high in the afternoons but very low in the evenings. Until
recently it was impossible to get a mosquito inside Efon Alaaye township. The dry
season begins towards the end of October and ends in early March; the raining season
begins in April and ends in October; Efon Alaaye climate encourages a luxuriant forest
growth.
OCCUPATION
The Efon people are predominately farmers producing food crops like yams, maize,
cassava, rice, fruits and vegetables. They also produce cash crops like, cocoa, kolanut,
timber and palm oil. Efon is one of the major producers of upland rice in Ekiti State. The
people are also traders.
INDUSTRIES The people are engaged in black smithing, wood carving, dyeing, weaving
and dressmaking. Other pursuits include saw milling, block making and sand and stone
quarrying.
ADMINISTRATION The Alaaye is the traditional head of the town. His official residence
is in AFIN (Palace Residence). The town is grouped into six quarters, each under a
quarter head - the quarter heads are called the "Iwarafas." . The Alaaye and the Quarter
Heads constitute the ALAAYE IN COUNCIL, the Alaaye In Council is in large of the daily
administration of the town. The Quarters and titles of the Quarter heads are as follows:
AAYE --- Obanla
OBALU --- Obaloja
EJIGAN --- Oisajigan
EMO --- - Alaayo
ISAJA --- - Peteko
IKAGBE --- - Ojubu
The quarter heads are called High Chiefs. Each of the Quarter Heads has other Chiefs
under him who helps in the day to day running of the administration of the quarter.
Each of them has an official traditional residence which is like a palace. All the quarter
heads are responsible to the Alaaye.
Religion
The three main religions are represented in Efon: Traditional, Islam and Christianity.
Efon Alaaye is strong-hold of the Christian religion, particularly the Christ Apostolic
Church. This is attributable to the fact that Efon Alaaye was the operational base of the
founder and first Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church - The Late Apostle Joseph
Ayo Babalola, of blessed memory. The people of the town still observe festivals such as
Egungun, Ogun and Ipori among several others.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
The town has six Secondary Schools:
C. A. C. Grammar School
Efon Alaaye High School
Anglican Grammar School
St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School
Apostle Babalola Memorial Grammar School
Federal Government Girls Secondary School (established in 1999)
The former C. A. C. Teacher Training College was the Permanent Orientation Camp for
the National Youth Service Corps in Ondo State. There are eighteen Primary Schools and
some Nursery Schools also in town.
MEDICAL / HEALTH FACILITIES/ INFRA STRUCTURAL FACILITIES
The town has a General Hospital. There is also the Catholic Hospital, the Local
Government Maternity Centre and several private clinics as well as Chemist and Patent
Medicine Shops.
The town enjoys pipe-borne water supply and electricity.
The road net-work in the town needs urgent government attention. The roads linking
the town with other towns need urgent repairs, -Efon, which is the gate-way to Ekitiland
is now an enclave. There is a Post Office, managed by the Nigerian Postal Services
(NIPOST). The town has good Hotels and Restaurants. There is a Commercial Bank, The
First Bank of Nigeria PLC and a Community Bank.
The Town has two (2) Nigerian Police Stations with barracks and there is the presence of
the Fire Brigade, with modern fire fighting equipment.
The Town has a modern Town Hall, which is well furnished.
The Town has an Inland Revenue/ Licencing Office and a Treasury Cash Office.
The Ondo State Broadcasting Repeater and NITEL Stations are sited on some of the hills
surrounding the Town.
PLACES OF INTEREST
The places of interest in Efon are the Palace, the Babalola Mausoleum (where the late
Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, founder of the C. A. C. Church and his father were buried)
The Oni River, which is a River of Spiritual importance, with people coming from far and
near to pray at the stream. It was blessed by the late Apostle Babalola in the 1930's.
Oke Ahun - Agodo Ojodi, Agodo Ibete and Omi Afeni; (Afeni Stream), Omi Olua, which
is noted for its cure of Guinea Worm. Other places of interest such as the Efon Hills, Oke
Isegun, Oke Olatole, Oke Sagbonke, etc,
THE PRESENT ALAAYE OF EFON LAND OBA (DR. ) EMMANUEL ADESANYA ALADEJARE
Oba (Dr.) Emannuel Adesanya Aladejare Agunsoye II, was born on 30th April 1944 at
Efon Alaaye to the Royal family of Ogbenuote in Ikiran Quarters of Efon Alaaye. His
father was the late Prince Gabriel Ajifowowe Aladejare of blessed memory who is the
second eldest son of the Late Oba Solomon Aladejare Agunsoye, I, who reigned between
1917 and 1935 and the mother is Olori Dorcas Isaremilade Aladejare. He attended St.
Patrick's Primary School, 1954-1959 and later St. Finbarr's Catholic Modern School from
1960 - 1962, both in Efon Alaaye.
The Alaaye had his first working experience as a Class Teacher at St. Michael's primary
School, Efon Alaaye from January to December 1963. He then attended St. Peter's
Teacher Training College, Akure from 1964 - 1966, where he obtained the Teacher's
Grade II Certificate in January 1967, after which he was employed as a teacher in St.
Thomas Moores' Primary School, Sobe, in Ondo State from January - December 1969;
St. Augustine's Primary School, Ifon -Ondo State, from January 1968 to December 1970;
Ibodi Grammar School, Ibodi Osun State, January 1971 to September 1972. From there
he entered the University of Ibadan in September 1972, graduating in 1975 with a B. Sc.
in Economics, Second Class Honors (Upper Division)
Oba Aladejare then proceeded for the National Youth Service Corps from August 1975
to July 1976. He worked with the Kano state Ministry of finance as an Inspector of
Taxes. He came back from National Service to teach Economics at Oyemekun Grammar
School, Akure in Ondo State.
In 1977 he got the Ondo State Government Post Graduate Scholarship award and he
went to the University of Manchester from 1977 - 1979, where he got an M. A. Degree
in Accounting and Business Finance. In 1980, he received the Federal Government
Doctoral Scholarship Award in Accounting and in 1983 he got his Ph. D in Accounts and
Financial Management from the University of Sheffield, U. K.
He got appointed as a Lecturer II at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile - Ife in the
Department of Management and Accounting in September, 1984. He was promoted
Senior Lecturer in October, 1989. Oba Adesanya Aladejare Agunsoye II was still working
at the Obafemi Awolowo University before he was elected as the 45th ALAAYE OF
EFONLAND.
He is married to Mrs. Roseline O. Aladejare (nee Pariola) of Obalu Quarters of Efon
Alaaye. He has five (5) children, three (3) males and two (2) females. He is a member of
the Nigerian Economic Society and Nigerian Accounting Teachers Association.
Oba Aladejare has attended many Conferences, Workshops and Seminars, both within
and outside the country where he has presented many papers. He has also published
many articles in many academic journals both in Nigeria and abroad.
He has supervised many Post-Graduate research projects in the University. He is a good
Christian of the Catholic Faith. He is a member of the Rising Stars Club of Efon Alaaye
and an active member of the Efon Alaaye Improvement League, Ile-Ife branch.
His hobbies are, Debating, Current Affairs, Table Tennis, Tenniqucourt and Lawn Tennis.
ORIKI OBA ALADEJARE AGUNSOYE KEJI
Kabiyesi o, Oba Alayeluwa, Alaaye ji Emigun, Omo oko leruleru ora Ota,
Omo ota, omo
ota pete omo ota
gogoro, omo
osan pon, omo ona kan,
omo osan pon ki
won ma rin ti koro
Ilode, eni ba rin
koro Ilode a ruja Ebora,
Omo Olori Alade Ajiwojiwo ileke.
Omo Alalede aimowo gba, toni ki won mu osa kotu a gbale oun
Omo Afigun rubo keru ba diye,
Omo o O pagbo soju ebo fi saro lokun
Omo a momo rubo keye re karufin ana, Arufin. Ebo aruida ebo
Omo Atabatubu alejo, to nse onile kanrinkanrin,
Omo Alere Ikiran ti a ni kafi gbale ile nu, Odi oko ma won lowo.
Omo gbegba nla Ade kari, Ajiwojiwo ileke, Otoke Ikirun wa taye Efon se.
Omo Osupa Ikiran Amo roro lagbo, Omo ogbenu ote soro,
Omo Ajogedea bawon lawo segi, Omo ore peri otun agogo nla oke, Ikiran,
Omo Arojojoye Adele tejiteji, Omo Agunsoye bi Oyinbo,
Omo Ajifowowe bi Oyinbo. Omo ogbonje sile gbe omi iye tira
Omo agbo kara ija masa. Omo Akere to sokun kosegbamu Oko Olarewaju,
Omo Agbonngbe Okun, Alugbulugbu Osa.
KAA BIYESI OO
THE PAST ALAAYES OF EFON
Adudu Oranku, 12th Century A. D.
Aparapa Orun,
Esumareade Oju Orunre aga ija,
Ewonbale rowojo,
Ona se Sangoke,
Ile ka Eku,
Ididetu,
Ogogo ati inu Adeleyo Oko Oloni ni no mafi aju ba
Igberu Aro,
Iji Emigun,
Agege Ifo,
Okemokunrin Ona,
Ogbagba alaka Onaija,
Okeke Igbo orito arireku do ase akun,
Eredamotu ogetehusiteyo,
Atakumosa Faboleowo,
Afini-okin Orisa fi akegun Esi,
Alase Aye, Alase Ori Aye,
Idagiri se omonana,
Abata nia yala okun Okungbe,
Orijaju Ogun,
Edolodiyi Atirikala,
Ikirinmijasi Akugbe,
Oyigimoligbirigbiri,
Gberu bi oya oke ola ona,
Abolu Erinwo Igbokose mimu,
Apata Amurojege,
Ojokomu afin ojukarin lagbo,
Osantoki wo aofin,
Ogarun wo oko Eye,
Anbihoho ola to oko mujowale,
Egboro oibo Akunu Ewu,
Otutubi osun ota gbena omikunwa ariragbenu okun yinoun
Abarudu, orudu ajise owo,
Osupo sebi ere wolu Irin banigbele komo oju eni,
Ogbenu ote soro Agboju Oloja ti o nfon bi oro o,
Obologunjogbon asasara okuta,
Asemojo bi owo - Ogbaruku Efon soro,, .1826 - 1886
Arosoye Ajogebe bawon lawo segi, 1886 - 1892
Atewogboyelowo Oyinbo I, 1893 - 1911
Arusuboja afi apasebi eni jegun, .1911 - 1917
Solomon Aladejare Agunsoye I, 1917 - 1935
Adeniran Asusumasa Atewogboye II, 1936 - 1949
Lawani Aladegbemi Asemojo bi owo III, 1950 - 1990
Dr. Emmanuel Adesanya Aladejare Agunsoye II, 1991 to Present
A SHORT HISTORICAL SKETCH OF EFON ALAAYE
The history of Efon Alaaye, as an ancient town, dates back to 1200 A. D. In accordance
with the historical facts, the founder and the first Alaaye of Efon Alaaye was Obalufon
Alaayemore, the third king of the Yoruba race, who reigned at Ile-Ife, whose ancestor
was the founder and father of Yorubas, Oduduwa, otherwise known as Odua.
Obalufon Alaayemore, third Oba of Ife, was the son of Obalufon Ogbogbodirin, second
ruler of Ile-Ife and eldest grandson of Oduduwa who lived and reigned for an unusually
long period. The same Obalufon Alaayemore was one of the brothers of Oranyan, whose
children (Ajaka and Eweka) were crowned by him (Oranyan) as the Alaafin of Oyo and
Oba of Benin Kingdoms respectively.
Obalufon Alaayemore ascended the ancient and most important throne of Oduduwa
when his brother Oranyan, who was supposed to ascend the throne of Ife after
Obalufon Ogbogbodirin, was on sojourn at Benin and Oyo.
On the return of Oranyan from Benin and Oyo Kingdoms, after installing his sons as
Obas of these kingdoms to ascend the throne of Ife. Obalufon Alaayemore fled from Ife
to found Efon Alaaye in Ekiti. When Oranyan died, Obalufon Alaayemore was recalled
from Efon Alaaye to ascend the throne of Oduduwa at Ife, for the second time and he
thus became the third and fifth ruler of Yoruba race reigning at Ife. Before he left Efon
Alaaye, Obalufon Alaayemore installed his son Adudu Oranku as Oranyan did at Benin
and Oyo as the second Alaaye in his place and decorated him with all the paraphernalia
of kingship and the kingship has ever remained within the lineage uninterrupted since
1200 A. D.
According to the Royal list of 1931, Alaaye of Efon was listed as number 16 among all
the Obas in Yorubaland. Extracts from the Nigerian Government Gazette of 28th
February, 1903 relating to the special meeting of Central Native council which was
presided over by the Colonial Governor, Sir William MacGregor, the Ooni listed Alaaye
of Efon as number eleven among leading Yoruba Obas to whom crowns have been given
by the Ooni of Ife, ( and number four with regard to Ondo State).
With its unique historical facts and background, Efon Alaaye had been a Sovereign
Yoruba kingdom as far back as 1200 A. D.; and it is blessed with rich traditional and
cultural heritage.
Before the introduction of the Local Government system of administration into Nigeria,
Efon Alaaye, as a sovereign Yoruba Kingdom, enjoyed a kind of traditional political
democracy. The administration of the kingdom was in the hands of the Oba-In-Council,
made up of the Oba and six Chiefs. Each of the six Chiefs was and still is a head of one of
the six quarters that make up the town.
The six quarters making up Efon Alaaye town are:
AAYE QUARTER:
The quarter head is the OBAALA . The present Obaala is JOHN OLUFEMI FAKOREDE
(born 1932). He was installed as the Obaala in November 1979.
OBALU QUARTER: The quarter head is the OBALOJA. The present Obaloja is TIMOTHY
IGE AJAYI ADEKAHUNSI . He was installed as the Obaloja in 1982. ISAJA QUARTER:
The quarter head is the PETEKO. He is SAMUEL OWOLABI OYEDIRAN DADA(born 1959).
He became the Peteko on the 2nd of May, 1992.
EJIGAN QARTER:
The quarter head is the OISAJIGAN, he is THOMAS OLABODE ADENIRAN(born 1940).
He was installed on the 22nd of December, 1984.
EMO QUARTER:
The quarter head of the Emo Quarter is the ALAAYO. He is GABRIEL OJO AFOLAYAN
( born 1950). He was installed as the Alayo on the 14th of September, 1992, at the age
of 51 years.
IKAGBE QUARTER:
The quarter head of the Ikaagbe Quarter is the OJUBU. He is JAMES OLOWOKERE. He
was installed as the Ojubu in 1959.
Each quarter head has his own set of Chiefs, who are either males or females.
THE ALAAYE
He is the Royal Highness and Head of Efon - Alaaye (Kingdom). He stays at the Afin
(Palace), while the quarter heads (Iwarafas) each stays or lives in his Akodi of the
quarter.
ODE - ELEGBE
It is the most important sector of the Afin. It is where you have most of the tombs of
previous Obas who reigned many years ago. Among the tombs is that of Oba Afin-bi
Okin who is reputed as yet the longest reigning Oba.
At the Ode -Elegbe, all the traditional Oath Taking takes place at a specially organized
shrine in the center of the sector.
There are three ruling houses in Efon Alaaye that normally produce the Oba in rotation.
The ruling houses and the order of rotation are:
Ogbenuote
Obologun
Asemojo
The present Oba, His royal Highness Oba (Dr.) Emmanuel Aladejare Agunsoye II is the
45th Alaaye of Efon Alaaye, starting from Adudu Oranku, the son of the founder of the
town, Obalunfon Alaayemore; he hails from the Ogbenuote ruling house. And the kingmakers
are the six high Chiefs who are heads of six Quarters into which the town is
divided.
The six Kingmaker's are:
1. High chief Obanla of Aaye Quarter
2. High Chief Obaloja of Obalu Quarter
3. High Chief Peteko of Isaja Quarter
4. High Chief Oisajigan of Ejigan Quarter
5. High Chief Alaayo of Emo Quarter
6. High Chief Ojubu of Ikagbe Quarter
THE EYESEMUE EFON
Chief Eyesemue is the head of all women and women chiefs in Efon - Alaaye, she is
refereed to as "Obabinrin". She performs more or less like the Oba when it comes to
women affairs and she is assisted by other female chiefs to handle women affairs in the
town. Her staff of office is a sword.
Her Oriki:
Eyesemue Efon, bi Oba ibomiran l'ori Esemu Oluda, Oleyin lerun, O rerikijobi
A notable and powerful Eyesemue was Chief (Mrs.) Alice Ajayi Aiyodola Fasakin. She
was installed in 1959. She reigned for twenty-six (26) years and died at the age of 121.
Efon Alaaye maintains certain traditional institutions up till today for the purpose of
good harvest, prevention of diseases and the death of young people and for the
maintenance of peace throughout the nooks and corners of the town and its environs.
Such traditional festivities include Olookun, Odun Egungun, Sango, Atita, Oloore,
Olokun and Odun Ogun and they are held annually.
The traditional occupation of the Efon Community is mainly agriculture, and this
indicates that the people are mostly farmers, planting such crops like yams, cassava,
rice, plantain, banana, maize, lolanuts, pineapples and cocoa.
By January 12, 1981, Efon Alaaye was created as an autonomous Local Government
Administration by the Civilian Government of Ondo State when the community refused
to participate in the affairs of Ekiti West Local Government created in 1976. The reason
for the non participation in the affairs of the Local Government is the fact that Efon
Alaaye was the Headquarters of Ekiti West District Council for eighteen years which
became Ekiti West Local Government of Ondo State in 1976, when the headquarters was
arbitrarily removed from Efon Alaaye to Aramoko-Ekiti without regard to history,
amenities, population and wishes of the people. In 1984, under the Military Government
of Ondo State, Efon Alaaye Local government Administration was renamed a Efon Area
Authority; and by 1st July, 1989, Efon Alaaye was legally created as Efon Subordinate
Area Authority by the Military Government of Ondo State with its Headquarters at Efon
Alaaye. After the creation of Ekiti State, Efon-Alaaye Local Government was created with
headquarters at Efon.
Today, the following towns and villages constitute Efon Alaaye Local Government. They
are:
1. Efon Alaaye - Headquarters 2. Araromi 3. Iwaji 4. Igboaba 5. Etisun 6. Alerokuku 7.
Abeta 8. Ita-Ido 9. Ita-Awure 10. Alawaye 11. Irunsin 12. Oba Ayetoro 13. Obake 14. Ido
Ayegunle 15. Oroo 16. Agboro 17. Okoadagba 18. Aladura 19. Orisunmibare 20.
Alagbamesan 21. Olomoweve 22. Igbodofin
We have direct links with Aramoko-Ekiti, Okemesi, Ido Ajinare and Ipole-Ilore. We do
trade and intermarry.
The official coronation and presentation of Instrument and Staff of Office of His Royal
Highness Oba (Dr.) Emmanuel Adesanya Aladejare Agunsoye II, the Alaaye of Efon
Alaaye, was performed on Saturday, December 21, 1991.
Long may he reign[b]

EFON ALAAYE ANTHEM[/b]

1. Efon npele omo oloke
Oke - ko ma ‘Laye tile ogun
Edu Ule Ahun Efon kumoye
Lomode lagba lule loko
Ibi an bini na se
In mo mo gbagbe Ule
Efon - Eye o la ke le Efon
Olorun laba ri a.
Efon npele omo oloke,
Edu Ule Ahun Efon kumoye
2. Oba Laye l'Efon,
Uwarafa mefa kete,
Indi Efon mu gbonin - gbonin
Akanda Ulu Olodumare
Afefe ibeo tuni lara
Omi ibe a mu fokan bale ni
Un kejarun, o jina s'Efon.
Efon npele omo oloke
Edu Ule Ahun Efon kumoye.
3. Iyo l'Efon re lau jo ero
Un da an da an mani
Aaye, Obalu, Ejigan, Emo,
Usaja, Ukagbe, Usokan
Efon in dimu gbonin-gbonin
Efon npele omo oloke
Edu Ule Ahun Efon kumoye.

In Okun O!

Ufeolorun omoaeye re ki kete rin o

In ora o

Hello good people,it's been ages!
In Okun O Kete Ule,O t'orun,se ala ni?

Ki la o ti se yii si ooo...Ekiti kete!

Shollypopz: Ki la o ti se yii si ooo...Ekiti kete!

Okun Awe,
are you one of us?
Identify&Belong. . .Aba ria a gbe a o

Aba ria a gbe a ohh. let keep the flag flying. God bless ekiti,God bless federal republic of Nigeria

IFELEKE:
Okun Awe,
are you one of us?
Identify&Belong. . .Aba ria a gbe a o

Yes ooo, omo Ekiti ni mi

....I understand d Ekiti language but can't speak it

Shollypopz:
Yes ooo, omo Ekiti ni mi

....I understand d Ekiti language but can't speak it

Same here

I begged my mom to teach me, she dey shako.

"Are you not ashamed of yourself? Is it no something you used to speak?"

Like wtf? Just teach me, woman!

IFELEKE: Grade C Traditional Titles (Towns in Alphabetical order)
S/N TRADITIONAL TITLES TOWNS
1 Alaaye Aaye-Ekiti
2 Alaaye Aye-Oja--Ekiti
3 Alaafao Afao-Ekiti
4 Alararomi Araromi-Ekiti
5 Oloja Araromi-Oke-Ekiti
6 Odoloofin Araromi-Odo-Ekiti
7 Alasin Asin-Ekiti
8 Owa Ayebode-Ekiti
9 Owa Ayegbaju-Ekiti
10 Owa Egbe-Ekiti
11 Elewu Ewu-Ekiti
12 Eleyio Eyio-Ekiti
13 Eleda Eda-Ile-Ekiti
14 Elepe Epe-Ijero-Ekiti
15 Elepe Epe-Ekiti
16 Elesure Esure-Ekiti
17 Elesun Esun-Ekiti
18 Apetu Idao-Ekiti
19 Onofishin Ifishin-Ekiti
20 Olugbole Igbole-Ekiti
21 Obaloke Igbona-Ekiti
22 Onijan Ijan-Ekiti
23 Onijesa Ijesa-Modu-Ekiti
24 Elejelu Ijelu-Ekiti
25 Oloja Ikogosi-Ekiti
26 Obanikosun Ikosun-Ekiti
27 Onikoyi ikoyi-Ekiti
28 Onikun Ikun-Ekiti
29 Eleri Ikunri-Ekiti
30 Alafon Ilafon-Ekiti
31 Obadu Ilemeso-Ekiti
33 Eesatokun Ilukuno-Ekiti
34 Ajagun Ilumoba-Ekiti
35 Onipere Ipere-Ekiti
36 Olumojo Imojo-Ekiti
37 Olupole Ipole-Iloro-Ekiti
38 Owa Irele-Ekiti
39 Oluroko Iroko-Ekiti
40 Oniro Iro-Ekiti
41 Aroniro Iro-Ekiti
42 Obasaoye Isaoye-Ekiti
43 Onisin Isinbode-Ekiti
44 Olu Iyemero-Ekiti
45 Obalemo Odo-Orov
46 Owa Oke-Ako-Ekiti
47 Olojebu Oke-Ijebu-Ekiti
48 Obalemo Oke-Ora-Ekiti
49 Obaloje Oloje-Ekiti
50 Owajunmu Omu-Ekiti
51 Olorin Orin-Ekiti
52 Olorun Orun-Ekiti
53 Olosin Osin-Ekiti
54 Onikun Temidire-Ekiti
55 Amuro Temidire-Ikolev

I am blessed to come from 3 Ekiti towns

My dad is part Ondo. . . so he says. So does that make me 3/4 Ekiti 1/4 Ondo?

Shollypopz:
Yes ooo, omo Ekiti ni mi

....I understand d Ekiti language but can't speak it

eeeyah, okun sola, the language is easy to pick up ,you only need few tutorials/listening to ardent speakers. . .a'a ko ra ria lori tireedi. . .
what part of motherland are you repping?

Ileke-IdI:


Same here

I begged my mom to teach me, she dey shako.

"Are you not ashamed of yourself? Is it no something you used to speak?"

Like wtf? Just teach me, woman!

awe mi, o t'orun! how have you been?

Ileke-IdI:


I am blessed to come from 3 Ekiti towns

My dad is part Ondo. . . so he says. So does that make me 3/4 Ekiti 1/4 Ondo?

. . .It makes you a full blooded Ekiti. . .
Okun awe,se ala lu ese? aba ri a gbe a o,

IFELEKE:
. . .It makes you a full blooded Ekiti. . .
Okun awe,se ala lu ese? aba ri a gbe a o,

LOL Okay, full-blooded EKITI then.

Ala ni mi se, in seun

Long time

chic2pimp: EKITI KWENU OOO!!!....

IFELEKE:
eeeyah, okun sola, the language is easy to pick up ,you only need few tutorials/listening to ardent speakers. . .a'a ko ra ria lori tireedi. . .
what part of motherland are you repping?

hhmmm....first person to spell my name right.

Most ppl I know, do not know how to speak any other language apart from English. I can't even speak the normal Yoruba without sounding like an Igbo person...

Repping Ise-Ekiti.....why is my city not up there abi na village, no be town??

Ileke-IdI:


Same here

I begged my mom to teach me, she dey shako.

"Are you not ashamed of yourself? Is it no something you used to speak?"

Like wtf? Just teach me, woman!

Ehya, if u once knew how to speak d language, I'm sure d moment she starts speaking it to u, u'll regain ur lost knowledge.

Do you know ur oriki, like does she sing u ur Dad's oriki??

Shollypopz:
hhmmm....first person to spell my name right.

Most ppl I know, do not know how to speak any other language apart from English. I can't even speak the normal Yoruba without sounding like an Igbo person...

Repping Ise-Ekiti.....why is my city not up there abi na village, no be town??

Ise and Emure: eternal enemies

Coefficient:

Ise and Emure: eternal enemies

I've heard of Emure. Is dat where we hv d Ogbese river?? Not sure

Btw, why are they eternal enemies??