THE ANCIENT WALL OF OSI

Owolabi Sam Ibukun

So many times, archaeological findings have shown that *West Africa* had a long going civilization even before the advent of the colonial master, these facts debunk the idea that the development and civilization of West Africa societies came from the outside world.

One of the major problems facing most African civilization and history is the poor documentation most were gotten from mouth to mouth without proper dating maybe because of old age which could lead to a lost of memories or infallibility of human brains others are omissions, commission, additions, exaggeration and contradictions which may finally borne down to distortion of fact.

United States of America president Trump promised to build a wall across the Mexico-US border, in history the building of walls existed as a central part of the first civilization.

The Great Wall of China, Berlin wall of Germany, Troy walls in modern Turkey, Defensive Earthworks of Tikal in Guatemala all these are notable walls famous in the world.

Coming down to the Africa, there are more town walls in Nigeria than in all of the rest of West Africa, walls such as the ancient Kano walls, Sungbos Eredo walls and the walls of Benin, most of these walls were manually built without modern construction equipment and shows the sophistication of the early African societies.

Just like other Famous African ancient walls Osi wall was built long before the arrival of the colonial administration to protect the people from war and slavery.

At the earlier stage, Osi people lived in scattered areas within their domain, but with the advent of inter-tribal war and slavery, they decided to come together for a common defense.

They built round Osi a thick defense wall with a wide deep trench to the outside. This was the period of Olosi Aririmori -Oorun. The remains of this ancient wall can still be traced till today.
Heading from the North at Awu area on the border between Isare and Osi, cutting through to the West at Ogba Ila area and running through the South West part at Eregun-Igbo Area where the Arun Odi(Entrance of the wall) is situated.

This defense wall was the first major self-help project embarked upon by the people of Osi.
The city-wall was demolished in 1930 as a result of the road (Ilorin -Lokoja) that passes through Osi town. When the construction of the road was about to reach Osi, the ancient city wall turned an obstacle. As a result of this obstacle, the then colonial Master in charge of the project met the then *Olosi Alowolodu bi iyere* and demanded that the city wall be pulled down within a given time so as to pave way for the new road under construction. The said Olosi discussed this matter among his chiefs and other important people in the town, but no strong acceptance that the wall be pulled down.

At long last, with lots of explanation of what good and development the road will bring to Osi, the city wall had to be pulled down. When the day to pull down the wall came, almost all the whole town went to the site with the then Olosi himself but none of them was prepared to strike the first axe for they were all scared of the consequence of the unknown and the regret of destroying what the built for their own protection.

The then Olosi climbed the wall and publicly cut him on the leg. As his blood was seen gushing out onto the wall, the sympathetic crown who had been standing in silence started to pull down the wall. The whole wall was pulled down that day and so the new road had a chance of passing through Osi down to Lokoja.

The action of the then Olosi Alowolodu bi iyere to make his blood as a sacrifice before the wall could be pulled down no doubt had shown an act of great self-sacrifice, dedication and leadership.

May his soul continue to rest in peace.