Igede-Ekiti (Latitude 7° 40' 6" N; Longitude 5° 7' 34" E) is the headquarters of Ifelodun/Irepodun Local Government area of Ekiti State. Minimal elevation 194m. Maximum elevation 756m [1].
Ekiti's capital Ado-Ekiti (Ado-Ekiti) is approximately 11.6 km / 7.2 miles away from Igede-Ekiti (as the crow flies). The distance from Igede-Ekiti to Nigeria's capital Abuja (Abuja) is approximately 303 km / 188 miles[2].
It is bounded in the North by Awo-Ekiti, in the South by Ilawe-Ekiti, in the East by Iyin-Ekiti along Ado-Ekiti side, and in the West by Aramoko-Ekiti. It is at a distance of 64 kilometers from Akure, the capital of Ondo State.
The town was founded by Àkẹ̀ and his wife, Erindo, who migrated from Ilode in Ile-Ife together with their maid Aota. Their initial camping site was at Uta Ake. They later came to the hilltop Ori Oke Esu[5] where Àkẹ̀ remined until his demise. As they increased in number, they spread out to a site the Ekiti Baptist High School is currently located.
Ake had 16 children (8 male, 8 female) who grew up to be very powerful. Ogbese was the first born, the second Osun, followed by Elemi, Aribaja, Kangiri, as well as Okunsusi - the last born. On Ake's demise, a power struggle over who would ascend to the throne led to a serious crisis. They resorted to using incantations to fight one another. This was how the name of the town came about. Igede is a derivation of "ogede" which means incantations.
It is said that as a result of the fight, four of these children (Osun, Elemi, Ogbese and Orunro) transformed into rivers, whilst the others like, Ibaja, disappeared into the ground alive. These rivers are present in Igede Ekiti today. All rivers in Igede have their sources in Igede[6]. It is said that the Elemi never dries up - not even during dry seasons, and never overflows its modest banks in the rainy season[7].
The last born of Àkẹ̀, Okunsusi, was a hunter who was not as powerful as the siblings and thus did not struggle for the throne. He, therefore, was not a casualty of the fight and was the only surviving child. As a result, he was the one chosen by the people to be their King.
Ruling Houses
edit
There are 3 ruling houses in Igede - Onaowuro, Oborolada and Okiribiti. The three have equal rights to the throne, one after the other. The current king is the Onigede of Igede Ekiti, Oba James Adelusi Aladesuru II. He was crowned in 1959 and may be the longest reigning king in Nigeria. He is of the Okiribiti Adeyibaka Ruling House. The Onaowuro and Oborolada ruling houses founded Igede. Okiribiti Ruling House members are descendants of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti[8].
Vegetation
editTropical Savannah, Wet[9].
Population
edit87,282 (2016)[10]
Agriculture
edit
Agriculture is the mainstay of Igede-Ekiti.
The Bioresources Development Centre (BIODEC) Igede Ekiti was established in October 2018. Its purpose was to empower Ekiti State indigenes through the profitable and sustainable exploitation and development of indigenous bioresources. Pioneer Units included the Human Resources Development Unit, Finance & Accounts Unit, Bio-Enterprise Unit Crop/Plant Unit, Fishery/Aquaculture Unit.[11]
Religion
editChristianity is predominantly practiced . It also has a mix of 10% traditional deities worshippers.
Osun Oshogbo
editThe source of the Osun River is situated in Igede Ekiti[12]. It is worshipped annually and revered by the worshippers of Osun Osogbo. Osun Osogbo, the wife of the great Sango, was a native of Igede-Ekiti[13][14]. The core custodians of Osun Osogbo annually pay a visit to the source in Igede before the annual Osun Osogbo festival.[15] Osun-Oshogbo sacred grove is on the UNESCO World Heritage List [16]
Baptist Church
editThe Baptist Church was founded in Igede-Ekiti on 7th February, 1910 by Rev. Charles Ajiromola Jemiriye. Igede was the first town in Ekitiland where the Baptist Church was established [17].
Chief Samuel Famugba Obaweya founded St John's Anglican Church in 1934 with his wife, Marian, at Atiba Street in Igede.
Roman Catholic Presence
editThe Mater Christi Catholic Girls, popularly known as the school of the princesses was established in Igede-Ekiti on 29th September, 1997 by the sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ Congregation. It is a full boarding school. The school registers for Federal examinations even at the Junior class level. It draws its students from different states of the federation and all over the world for a more balanced culture. It was awarded the best private school in Ekiti State for the 2019/20 school year [18].
Igede-EKiti is also home to the Mater Christi Catholic College Of Health Sciences and Technology.
- ^ "Satellite Location Map of Igede Ekiti". www.maphill.com. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ https://nigeria.places-in-the-world.com/2338630-place-igede-ekiti.html
- ^ https://keteekitipost.com/igede-ekiti-town-steeped-myths-taboos/
- ^ "Brief History of Igede and the link with Osun goddess". Yoruba Traditional & Cultural Renaissance. 2020-09-08. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ https://tribuneonlineng.com/why-osun-left-igede-ekiti-and-settled-in-osogbo-oba-aladesuru/
- ^ https://tribuneonlineng.com/why-osun-left-igede-ekiti-and-settled-in-osogbo-oba-aladesuru/
- ^ "Why Travel Abroad? Go To Ekiti! – Ekiti State Website". Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ "I saw signs as a boy that I'd be king –Aladesuru II, Onigede". Punch Newspapers. 2019-07-19. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ https://www.mindat.org/feature-2338630.html
- ^ https://www.mindat.org/feature-2338630.html
- ^ "BIODEC IGEDE-EKITI – Nabda". Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ THE ORIGIN AND SOURCE OF OSUN IN IGEDE EKITI, retrieved 2023-04-25
- ^ "The Mystery Of The Osun-Oshogbo Grove: Romance Between Nature And Culture". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2020-09-06. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ THE ORIGIN AND SOURCE OF OSUN IN IGEDE EKITI, retrieved 2023-04-25
- ^ "Brief History of Igede and the link with Osun goddess". Yoruba Traditional & Cultural Renaissance. 2020-09-08. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ Jegede, Gabriel Gbenga (2015). "The Baptist Mission in Ekitiland (1901 – 2005): An Historical Analysis". Journal of Philosophy, Culture and Religion. 6 (1): 1–15. ISSN 2422-8443 – via IISTE.
- ^ "About Us". Mater Christi Catholic Girls' High School. Retrieved 2023-04-25.