HISTORY OF SHARÈ: HEADQUARTERS OF IFELODUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KWARA STATE
Share was founded in 1793 by four renowned hunters from Aun (Ahun) in present Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. The hunters were led by Osojajogi, others were Alapo, Oyi Andi and Mojapo. Their compounds exist in Share till date. The first compound in Share is Osoja compound and it is at the foot of Agbonna Hill in Share. The four hunters were Igbomina stock of Yoruba race. They came mainly from Aun for hunting expedition. On getting to the site of Share town, they found a protective hill (Agbonna Hill) and a source of drinkable water (Soose) oozing out from the hill. Availability of Agbonna Hill which afforded protection against invaders and Soose as the source of drinkable water located at the foot of Agbonna Hill made them decide to make Share their permanent abode.
In 1800, a larger group of the Igbominas led by Awodo, the progenitor of Olupako stool, decided to leave Aun for fear of being attacked by the Ibadan warriors. Awodo and his group decided to move northwards and had a stopover at a place called Sakama. Incidentally, a breakaway Nupes crossed over the River Niger and settled at a place called Kpotofu-Taiyechi. Sakama and Kpotofu-Taiyechi were adjoining each other. The two settlements are now in ruin. Neither the Yorubas nor the Nupes had a stable stay at both Sakama and Kpotofu-Taiyechi.
In 1808 or thereabout, in retaliation of Etsu Jimada’s death in a battle at Ragudu, Jimada’s Maiyaki (Warlord/Balogun) began to assemble army to fight Etsu Majin. Idrisa, Jimada’s son, arrived Ilorin from the place to which he had fled on his father’s death. Thus, a war broke out among the Nupes. “The Igbonnas (Igbominas) at Sakama fearing they could be attacked left Sakama under the Awodo and built themselves a new town some seven miles away to the Southwest which they called Share, named after the stream (Soose) which rises at the back of the town. The reason for the choice of the spot being the 1
proximity of hills (Agbonna Hill) into which they could flee if attacked.

Furthermore, one of their number named Osojajogi, a hunter, was already living there. Very shortly afterwards, probably only a few weeks, the Nupes (Tsaragi People) began to desert Kpotofu-Taiyechi for the same reason. The reason why the Igbomina left Sakama to join Osojajogi at Share. They (Nupes) built themselves a new town adjoining Igbonna town and called it Sharagi; (in Nupe language Sharagi means small Share). Ndadzoko was the first of the Nupes to leave Kpotofu-Taiyechi and settled at Sharagi”. (This means he was the first Nupe to join Awodo and others at Share. There was no title like Ndakpoto). Paragraph 6, pages 24 & 25 of the 1921 Gazette of Ilorin Province by K. V. Elphinstone is relevant (All brackets and underlined for emphasis).
The narration above confirmed the fact that the Igbominas were the first to settle at Share. Other records that confirmed this assertion are contained in a memorandum from Emir Abdulkadir Dan Bawa (1919-1959) to the Resident Ilorin Province dated 5th December, 1932 requesting for the division of Share District into two. The Olupako to be the District Head for the Yorubas and the Ndakpoto to be the District Head for the Nupes. The Emir said “It is very good to seal (see) the Olupako at Share together with the Ndakpoto; because the Yorubas were the first settlers at Share”. Underlined for emphasis.
The land where Sharagi (Tsaragi) stands belong to the Igbomina. This was confirmed by Hon. H. B. Hermon-Hodge, the Resident of Ilorin Province when he says “The Emirate of Ilorin is mainly inhabited by Yoruba including the powerful Igbonna or Igbomina tribe, which extends from neighbourhood of Awtun (Otun) in the south to Share in the north. Share town consists of two distinct quarters; one Yoruba and one Nupe” (1929 Gazetteer of Ilorin Province page 63 under History of Ilorin is relevant). The two distinct quarters are today known as Share and Tsaragi respectively.
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As succinctly explained by the Resident in the 1929 Gazetteer referred to above, the Yorubas and Nupes lived together in Share as indigenes of one community – SHARE until 1933 when Share District was divided into Share Yoruba and Share Nupe Districts. Thus, we saw ourselves as indigenes of Share Community. In the Northern part of Nigeria, the early educated individuals bore the names of their towns or communities as surnames. Therefore, the late but one, Ndakpoto (Etsu) Tsaragi’s name was Sule Share. He was a teacher and rose to the rank of a Visiting Teacher before he became traditional ruler in 1955 and changed his name to Sule Ibrahim. (1949 Touring notes on Share District by J. R. Bird in page 5 under N. A. School relevant). Also, one of the pioneer staffers of Nigerian Sugar Company Bacita from Tsaragi’s name was Yahaya Share.
Administration
As the population of Share, comprising both the Yorubas and Nupes, increased, a semi- independent administrative unit known as Ogudu Country was created. Ogudu was corrupted as Gudu by the Nupes. Hitherto, Ogudu was the last Yoruba settlement at the bank of River Niger. I will allude to issue of Ogudu later. The semi-independent Ogudu Country was under Raba Authority which is the closest Authority to Share then. The location of Raba was just a few miles away from Jebba northwards. Usman Sarkin later moved to Bida. The creation of the Ogudu Country was orally said to be in 1817 or thereabout. The Counrty consisted of TODAY Share, Tsaragi and Shonga Districts as well as Zambufu. Initially, Ndakpoto was made the Head of the Ogudu Country. He headed it up to 1850 when the Fulani waged war against the Nupes. Sharagi was involved and was sacked by the Fulani warriors. The headship of the Ogudu Country was thus bestowed on the Olupako of Share who headed the Ogudu Country from 1850 up to 1900
In 1900, Ogudu Country was split to two Districts of Share and Shonga. Share District comprised of today’s Share and Tsaragi Districts as well as Zambufu which is today in
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Lafiagi District. In a Touring Note titled Share and Shonga written by the Resident, Ilorin Province dated 21/3/34. Paragraph 7, the Residents said “In 1900, a Resident was appointed to Ilorin, Shonga and Share (which for the time being included Zambufu) were first treated as independent units but in 1905, they were put under Ilorin, and Sarkin Shonga and Olupako became District Heads under the Emir. The change of status was not relished by Oyadeyi, the then Olupako. Difficulties arose as a result of which he was banished to Ilorin and the Nupe Ndakpoto was made the District Head. This arrangement continued with varying success till 1933 when Share was finally divided into two districts, Share Nupe under the Ndakpoto and Share Yoruba under the Olupako”. Share Nupe is what is today called Sharagi/Tsaragi. The change from Sharagi to Tsaragi was of course of recent. It was as a result of their search for identity.
As mentioned earlier, Emir of Ilorin, Abdulkadir Dan Bawa (1919-1959) caused a memorandum dated 5th December, 1932 to the Resident, Ilorin Province proposing the Division of Share District into two – Share Yoruba and Share Nupe. In response to the Emir’s proposal, the Resident Ilorin Province caused a memorandum to the Secretary Northern Provinces dated 15th February, 1933 on the issue.
In a letter written by the Acting Secretary Northern Provinces Kaduna dated 2nd May, 1933 and addressed to THE HON. THE CHIEF SECRETARY, LAGOS, the Ag. Secretary, Northern Provinces conveyed the approval of the division of Share District into Share Yoruba and Share Nupe. The letter is hereunder reproduced:
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THE HON. THE CHIEF SECRETARY, LAGOS.
Share District, Ilorin Emirate – Division of:
I am directed by the Acting Lieutenant Governor to inform you that His Honour
has recently approved the division of the Share District in the Ilorin Emirate into two separate districts in conformity with the racial elements, Yoruba and Nupe, of which it is composed. These districts will be known as the Share Yoruba and the Share Nupe Districts respectively. Although, Yoruba predominate in the proportion of three to two and at one time under a Yoruba Chief held the ascendancy over a whole area, the District Head has for many years a Nupe, a situation which has at times led to friction in the administration of the District. His Honour has accordingly approved the promotion of the Senior Yoruba village Head, the titular Head of Share Yoruba, to the status of District Head and the two races will thus in future be administered by their own natural rulers.
Sgd
Acting Secretary, Northern Provinces
After the division of Share District into Share Yoruba and Share Nupe in 1933, there was a suggestion to change the name of Share Nupe. This is evident in a document titled Share Yoruba Assessment – 1934-35 signed by the Assistant District Officer in paragraph 8 when he said “If
2nd May, 1933
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the suggestion to alter the name of Share Nupe District is adopted, this District could automatically revert to its native name – Share”.
Olupako was the Head of Share District from 1900 when it was created to 1905 when the Olupako was banished to Ilorin and headship fell on his second-in-command, the Ndakpoto who was made the District Head from 1905 to 1933 when Share District was finally divided to Share Yoruba and Share Nupe Districts respectively.
The division of Share District into Share Yoruba and Share Nupe Districts respectively notwithstanding, the two districts and Shonga District remained under Ilorin Emirate. However, following an Administrative Reform of 1946 which was implemented in 1947, Share Nupe and Shonga Districts were severed from Ilorin Division to Lafiagi Division in replacement of certain Igbomina districts.
Who is Awodo; the Progenitor of Olupako Stool?
Awodo, the progenitor of Olupako Stool was a hunter and a prince from Aun. Awodo’s progenitors were descendants of Ooni Ilare from Ogboru Ruling House, Ile-Ife. They migrated from Ile-Ife to Aun (History of Ahun Igbomina kingdom by Prof. N. J.Bello (unpublished) is relevant). Awodo left Aun for fear of impeding war by Ibadan warriors in 1800. Awodo and his team stayed at Sakama (1800-1808). They joined Osojajogi and his team at Share. Even though, he met Osojajogi and other hunters in Share, Osojajogi and his team accorded him respect he deserved as a Prince from their ancestral home. He was automatically made their head. They, his people, saluted him as Olupako. The other people saluted him as “Sarkin Dagi” meaning the King of the jungle. This confirms that the site of Share and the whole of Share District was not only a virgin land but pure jungle when our forefathers settled in Share. The title Olupako was derived from the then vegetation of Share. There were a lot of bamboos in Share. In page 200 of the 1929 Gazetteer of Ilorin Province where list of commodities were listed and 6

where they were produced, Bamboos were listed against Share. Bamboos were used in the olden days for rafter of the houses of kings and nobles. The best bamboos were produced in Share. Bamboo in Yoruba means “Pako” and the word “Olu” stands for best, Therefore, Olupako means best Bamboo.
Appointment of Past Olupakos
It was at Raba that Sarkin Usman Zaki (Fulani) officially recognized Olupako Akinyode, the eldest son of Awodo in 1832. Akinyode died in 1835 and was succeeded by his son Dada (1835- 1874). By this period, Olupako had become the Head of Ogudu country (1850-1900). Oyadei, his son succeeded him and reigned from 1874-1905 when he was banished to Ilorin. By this period, Share had been put under the Emir of Ilorin. Aside, Oyadei’s resentment of his being put under Ilorin, he had problem with his subjects because of the discriminatory tax he leveled a section of Share. Oyadei was succeeded by Adeleye in 1905. Olupako Adeleye who reigned between 1905 and 1913 was said to owe his appointment to the scheme of the then Balogun of Share. Olupako Adeleye died in Ilorin in 1913 while he was on an official visit. Prince Abubakar, a co-contestant to the Olupako stool with him in 1905 had become the Wardhead of Babanloma, one of his chiefs, was in his entourage to Ilorin. Abubakar seized the opportunity of his being in Ilorin during the death of Adeleye to lobby people that matter in Ilorin and he was appointed Olupako in 1913. Abubakar was conscious of the crisis his father Oyadei had with the people which also culminated to his deposition, Abubakar felt unsecured. For this reason, Abubakar took refuge in Sharagi for three (3) years. Abubakar came back to his palace in Share in 1916. All his successors were appointed and turbaned in Ilorin up to 1967 when the immediate past Olupako was appointed.
The fact that our forefathers from Ahun migrated from Ile-Ife was confirmed in the Report of the Minority Commission, Northern Nigeria, 1954. Appendix S. Recommendation on Local
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Government Reforms in Igbomina Area, 1954 when it was said “Another group of these Ile-Ife Igbomina lives in the Share Yoruba District in the North East of the Emirate (Ilorin Emirate) which is separated from the remainder of the Igbomina Area by the Metropolitan District of Iponrin. The Ile-Ife Igbomina in Share District represents the later northward migration from Aun (Ahun) toward the end of the XVIII century”. Afterwards, people from different parts of Yorubaland migrated to Share. Thus, we have people from Oyo Ile, Ila- Orangun, Ibadan, Ilesha and virtually from all towns and villages from present day Ifelodun, Irepodun and Isin Local Government Areas of Kwara State.
Agbonna Hill (Oke Agbonna)
This is tourist attraction existing in Kwara State. The existence of the hill informed our forefathers’ decision and choice of the spot where Share was built. Agbonna Hill has been recognized as one of the natural attractions in Kwara State since its creation in 1967. The Hill provided our forefathers the necessary protection during the period of inter and intra tribal wars and thereby became one of the gods of our people. Till date, one of the masquerades (by name Aiyedero) in Share always takes off from the tiptop of the hill. Since the inception of Share, the hill have been known and called Agbonna Hill. The relics of the defense wall built by our forefathers on top of the hill are still visible till today. Agbonna Hill stretches from Share to Apado town in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State. It is also called Agbonna Hill at Apado. There is a cave in Agbonna Hill. In the olden days when people entered the cave from Share, they would surface at Apado and vice-versa. The relics of the cave are visible till date.
Title of the Traditional Ruler of Tsaragi
After Ndazoko joined our forefathers in Share from Kpotofu-Taiyechi, others started to join him. Thereafter, our forefathers asked them to move and settle beside the fig tree (fig tree means “Igi Opoto” in Yoruba Language). Hence, their leader was always referred to as Nda Idi Opoto (fig
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tree) by our forefathers. As a result of this usage, it became Ndakpoto among his people which until recent was the title of Tsaragi traditional ruler. The world over, Etsu is the title of any Nupe traditional ruler. In their search for identity, Tsaragi’s traditional ruler’s title has been changed from Ndakpoto to Emir and of recent to Etsu. This our inseparable neighbour is at liberty to invent lies, which is their trade in stock, to explain the rationale behind the change of their traditional ruler’s title from Ndakpoto to Emir and from Emir to Etsu. Adoption of Tsaragi as the name of the town and Etsu as the name of their traditional ruler’s title was as recent as late 60s and early 70s respectively.
In their write up published in Opera News Hub titled “History of Tsaragi Town in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State” they stated as follows: “The man who led these Kpoto people from Mulia through Mokwa to Gudu was known as Ndace Dogun”. The said Ndace Dogun was an arrow hunter who crossed from River Niger on a hunting expedition but lost in the jungle. While he was wandering in the jungle, he saw smoke of fire and traced the source of the smoke and met our forefathers who had already settled in Share. This was around 1805 or thereabout. He was received warmly. He narrated his ordeal in the jungle and reason for his crossing to this side of the River Niger for hunting. Our forefathers assisted him in solving his problems. Afterwards, he returned to Share to live with our forefathers who taught him how to use dane gun for hunting until his death.
While Ndace Dogun was already in Share, Ndazoko led a nember of Nupes to settle in Share in 1809 at their present site. Despite the arrival of Ndazoko and his people, Ndace Dogun did not join them. He stayed put with his benefactors, our forefathers. Ndace Dogun lived all his life in Share with our forefathers until he died and was buried in Share. Ndace Dogun’s grave is still at Osoja Compound in Share till today.
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Annually, the Nupe hunters from Share environment including Tsaragi District always visited the grave of Ndace Dogun in Osoja Compound to offer sacrifice to god of iron (Ogun) in honour of Ndace Dogun as the first Nupe hunter who used dane gun for hunting expedition, until as recent as year 2000 when they were barred from visiting the grave of Ndace Dogun to offer their annual sacrifice as a result of incessant attacks on Share by Nupes of Tsaragi.

Thanks for this i'm actually from shaare but my dad never talks about his hometown and even the two times i visited kwara state i was not chanced to go visit but i plan on visiting soon

Smazlexander:
Thanks for this i'm actually from shaare but my dad never talks about his hometown and even the two times i visited kwara state i was not chanced to go visit but i plan on visiting soon

Try to visit your home town.