17th & 18th Centuries — Turning Point

The old tradition of Oore sharing the crown with Onigogo for adornment during festivals, and the culture of honoring each other with ram meat has endured for many generations. There once reigned a very stern Oore man whose subjects craved to exterminate others. They waited patiently for the following Atapo festival when Elio (Onigogo) would send ram meat and other gifts so that they could add poison to the meat. The gifts were collected, poisoned and sent through messengers.

Unfortunately for them, Kabiyesi Oore could not attend to the messengers immediately. He however sent “aroko” to Elio showing his appreciation for the ram meat. By the time the meat was brought out later, it had turned black. The Oba suspected poison and gave part of it to the emissaries to eat. This emissary died on his way back home. Those who hatched the terrible conspiracy from Oore refused to own up, hence the creation of the foundation of serious conflict between the two communities.

Henceforth, the crown was never released to Elio (Onigogo) again and the ceremonial exchange of gifts ceased. It took the Ondo State Chieftaincy Review Commission of 1978 to restore the right to wear the beaded crown of Onigogo of Igogo as the position of Kabiyesi. It became officially titled from then on.

Adeyooyin, the historical power broker, put a curse on whoever was behind the poisoning of the ram which precipitated the unwarranted conflict between the two communities that had shared age long traditions. The amazonian role of Adeyooyin’s earned a chieftaincy title, the Oyoyin Oore of Igogo. Anyone ascending Oore throne was expected to come to Igogo to receive blessing from Oyoyin in a traditional rite during which she would symbolically put Oore on her lap.

19th Century — Wars

The settlement of Afonbierin and his successors were not without challenges. History revealed that clans and communities waged wars against each other and subjected conquered to imperialism or slavery. Paramount ruler emerged when original settler allow new ones to settle within their domain. The civil wars of 1827­-1893 subsequently ravaged the whole Yoruba land.

Igogoans were the aboriginal settlers of Igogo kingdom which initially bordered with, Ikun, Usi and Isan. But Abiri of Isalu, Igogo, ceded part of his land to Ewu (as noted above) while after leaving igbo Eor, Ikosu people were accommodated by Ilowu people of Igogo.

No aggressor ever conquered Igogo because even way back in Ife, the progenitors were known to be war champions.

Isalu People

Isalu people of Igogo are always remembered for the significant role they played during enemy incursion in those days. Abiri fought and led Igogo to victory in many war encounters. Eisinkin Obe single handedly beat the Igbomina woefully during one military encounter. The singular military feat earned him his oriki (panegyrics):

O fori ka si ranyinranyin ofa, Orile ko Igbomina si and o da Igbomina yoyoyo.

Eisinkin was also a foreman in the conquering squad that fought during the Ibadan­ and Ekiti Parapo War. He was also praised thus:

Otiti­eleru Oogun, Abeegun Itangborodu­gborodun o te gbongbo ona fun sun­un.

The Isalu took part in other intercenary wars, sometimes as mercenaries. In fact, one of the neighboring communities was populated by a returning warlord of Igogo and his soldiers. This warlord felt he could not face the then Elio (now Onigogo) because of the heavy casualty he suffered in the war to assist another community. After a head count, he was shocked by the heavy loss and lamented that “Erikemope”. He settled away from Igogo by dominating the people he met. The warlord assumed the role of Elio of the community like it was a new Igogo. The town that emerged from his settlement takes its name from that fateful head count. An instrument of war used by this celebrated warrior is an idol called Apasa which is worshipped in the community till today.

Idoka People

The early Idoka people played significant roles in stabilizing Igogo. During Igogo-Ado Ibini war, the Eisinkin from Idoka, Apogunbienipesu Asunrijomokurinbaje and Eleekan Abagomugobiigun Igbemotojorogbin were the brain success of Igogo. Before the commencement of the war, this Eisinkin ordered two standing trees to be hewed down and he performed rituals on them. A heavy down pour of rain that ensued soaked the guns of Ado Ibini warriors and rendered them useless. Igogo army took the advantage to kill off their opponents with machetes and deadly weapons. The leader of the aggressors was buried at Apakin (Akuro Ogbolu). A tree was planted on his grave as a memorial.

Ojubomo, wife of the Eisinkin, performed an extraordinary feat by using her pestle to kill two of those escaping the assault. To reward her, her husband gave permission to people to jubilate and celebrate her round the town. Up till this day, some Idoka people still dance round the town with Eyelogun in order to commemorate this feat.