Ijebu Ode#History##British-Ijebu War
{{short description|Town in Ogun state, Nigeria}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=January 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Ijebu-Ode
| other_name =
| native_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = {{hlist |LGA|Town}}
| image_skyline = Wall of Oba Palace ijebu ode.4.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_caption = Wall of Oba Palace, Ijebu ode
| image_flag =
| flag_size =
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| pushpin_map = Nigeria
| pushpin_label_position =
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| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Nigeria}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Ogun
| subdivision_type2 = Local Government Areas of Nigeria
| subdivision_name2 = Ijebu-Ode
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =
| government_footnotes =
| government_type = Democratic
| leader_title = Awujale
| leader_name = Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba Agbotewole II
| leader_title1 = Local Government Chairman
| leader_name1 = Dare Alebiosu(APC)
| established_title =
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| area_magnitude =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 192
| area_land_km2 =
| population_as_of = 2024
| population_footnotes =
| population_note =
| population_total = 394,246
| population_density_km2 =
| timezone = WAT
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST =
| utc_offset_DST =
| coordinates = {{coord|6|49|15|N|3|55|15|E|region:NG|display=inline}}
|module={{Infobox mapframe|wikidata=yes|zoom=8|marker=village|coord={{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}
| elevation_footnotes =
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| postal_code_type = 3-digit postal code prefix
| postal_code = 120
| area_code = 120101
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| footnotes =
| name =
|blank_name_sec1= Predominate language
|blank_info_sec1= English, Yoruba
}}
Ijebu-Ode is a town in Ogun State, South Western geopolitical zone in Nigeria, close to the A121 highway. The city is located 110 km by road Northeast of Lagos; it is within {{cvt|100|km}} of the Atlantic Ocean in the eastern part of Ogun State and possesses a warm tropical climate.
According to the Britannica, by the 16th century, it was established as the chief town, and since pre-colonial times it has been the capital of the Ijebu kingdom.{{cite encyclopedia |title=Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Ijebu-Ode |encyclopedia=Britannica |access-date=5 February 2019}} There are around 2,119,221 Ijebus around south-west Nigeria, in Lagos and Ogun states.It has an estimated population of 394,246(2024).{{Cite web |title=Ijebu Ode (Local Government Area, Nigeria) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/nigeria/admin/ogun/NGA028011__ijebu_ode/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=www.citypopulation.de}} It is home to Sungbo's Eredo one of the largest ramparts in West Africa.{{cite news |title=10 Amazing Facts You Probably Don’t Know About Nigeria |url=https://guardian.ng/life/10-amazing-facts-you-probably-dont-know-about-nigeria/ |access-date=5 February 2019 |publisher=Guardian Nigeria |date=1 October 2018}}
As with most Ijebus, people from Ijebu Ode have a nationwide reputation of being natural entrepreneurs, The primary cultural food is "Ikokore".{{cite web |title=The Ijebu are very enterprising, shrewd and business like |url=https://www.nigeriafilms.com/movie-news/96-art-culture/15746-the-ijebu-are-very-enterprising-shrewd-and-business-like |publisher=Naijafilms.com |access-date=5 February 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?men=gpro&des=gamelan&geo=348534392 |title=The World Gazetteer |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209105955/http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?men=gpro&des=gamelan&geo=348534392 |archive-date=2013-02-09 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|title=Post Offices- with map of LGA |publisher=NIPOST |url=http://www.nipost.gov.ng/PostCode.aspx |access-date=2009-10-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007011423/http://www.nipost.gov.ng/PostCode.aspx |archive-date=2009-10-07 }}
History
The largest city inhabited by the Ijebus, a sub-group of the Yoruba ethnic group who speak the Ijebu dialect of Yoruba, it is historically and culturally the headquarters of Ijebuland. The name "Ijebu-Ode" is a combination of the names of two persons namely, AJEBU and OLODE who were conspicuous as leaders of the original settlers and founders of the town.{{cite web |title=The historical background and formation of ijebu people |url=http://blacks.com.ng/index.php/news/newz/623-the-historical-background-and-formation-of-ijebu-people-by-toyin-akingbade |publisher=blacks.com.ng |access-date=5 February 2019}} Today, however, due to migration, colonization, and inter-tribal marriage, Ijebu-Ode is now composed of a mixed people who majorly speak the general Yoruba language, as opposed to the local dialect. In 1891, the Ijebu tribe, dwelling between 50 and 60 miles north-east of Lagos on the Magbon river, set a blockade on the trade route from the interior into Lagos, which was a crown colony, and charged customs dues which served as their income. The Awujale, the traditional ruler of Ijebu, closed down the Ejirin market, cutting off Lagos from a source of up-country trade. The British colonial government persuaded the Awujale several times to open the blockaded route but the Ijebu ruler remained adamant. However, in May 1891, a British acting governor, Captain C.M. Denton C.M.G, together with some Hausa troops (mostly slaves who fled the North to the South and were recruited by the British) went to Ijebu kingdom to make an agreement with the Awujale on opening the blockaded route and allowing the free passage of goods into Lagos. The Awujale refused but after much persuasion and pressure, the Awujale agreed in January 1892 on the terms of receiving £500 annually as compensation for the loss of customs revenue. However, the agreement didn't last long. A white missionary was denied access to pass through the kingdom and was sent back. The British colonial government was provoked by the action of the Ijebus and authorized the formation of an expeditionary force to attack the kingdom; the British gathered men from the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, Ibadan, and Lagos (the Hausa troops numbering nearly 150 men).{{cite news |last1=Ayomide |first1=Tayo |title=How a Christian missionary caused the expedition of a great kingdom |url=https://www.pulse.ng/gist/british-ijebu-war-how-a-christian-missionary-caused-the-expedition-of-a-great-kingdom/er9tc4y |access-date=5 February 2019 |date=8 December 2017}}
=British-Ijebu War=
Also known as the Battle of Imagbon, a Colonel, F.C. Scott C.B, was the commander of the British expeditionary force numbering around 450 men. On 12 May 1892, the captain and his men, including some carriers, sailed up the Lagos Lagoon and landed at Epe. When they got to Lekki, another 186 soldiers were recruited. On the Ijebu side, 8,000 men, equipped with old rifles, were recruited to fight the British. The British underestimated the fighting prowess of the Ijebus thus giving them a hard time penetrating into the interior of the Ijebu kingdom. On the first day of battle, the British captured and burnt four Ijebu-held villages with some of their force sustaining fatal injuries. The next day, they proceeded to Atumba and, equipped with Maxim guns, engaged in a skirmish with Ijebu forces. The British lost 12 men which included a Briton and 11 Africans. Every Ijebu village they captured was subsequently burnt.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
The Ijebus were sustaining heavy losses in battles thus far but were determined to prevent the British from crossing the Yemoji River. The goddess of the Yemoji River was said to have accepted human sacrifices in order to prevent the British from crossing. The river was dug deeper by the Ijebus to make it impenetrable by all means for the British. However, the British managed to cross the Yemoji River and unleashed havoc on the Ijebus. They proceeded to the Ijebu settlement of Imagbon. The Ijebus had lost over 900 men while the British lost only 56 men with around 30 wounded. The Ijebus were still determined to fight on but shortly afterward, the Awujale surrendered and admitted defeat.{{cite web |last1=Opemipo Omipidan |first1=Teslim |title=The British-Ijebu war of 1892 (The battle of Imagbon) |url=https://oldnaija.com/2015/11/04/the-british-ijebu-war-of-1892-the-battle-of-imagbon/ |publisher=oldnaija.com |access-date=5 February 2019}}
The Union Flag was later raised above Ijebu Ode. Captain Scott warned his men against pillaging which some didn't heed especially the Ibadan irregulars who were later deprived of their arms. The toll gates in Oru built by the Ijebus were destroyed and some of their shrines were also torched. This conflict is also known in history as the 1892 Ijebu Expedition. All European members of the British expeditionary force were awarded The East & West Africa Medal with Clasp dated ‘1892’. Today, one of these medals can be found in Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Ijebu kingdom was later annexed to the colony of southern Nigeria.{{cite web |title=British-Ijebu War of 1892 (Battle Of Imagbon) |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/british-ijebu.htm |access-date=5 February 2019}}
Monarch
The ruler of the Ijebu Kingdom, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, is known as the Awujale of Ijebuland and resides in Ijebu-Ode.{{cite news
|url = http://www.tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/opinion/1040-celebrating-50-years-reign-of-oba-adetona.html
|title = Celebrating 50 Years Reign Of Oba Adetona
|first = Dipo
|last = Jimilehin
|date = 15 May 2010
|newspaper = Nigerian Tribune
|location = Ibadan, Nigeria
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100516143023/http://www.tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/opinion/1040-celebrating-50-years-reign-of-oba-adetona.html
|archive-date = 16 May 2010
|url-status = dead
|access-date = 7 January 2012
}}
He is regarded as the paramount ruler of Ijebu land, encompassing every town that is originally an Ijebu domain, including Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu-Igbo, Ososa, Oru, Awa, Remo, Imota Ranodu known as the 10th son of Oluiwa, Ekewa Olu, Ikorodu, Agbowa Iikosi, Émuren, Ijebu-Isiwo (pronounced Ijebu Ishiwo), Odogbolu, Aiyepe, Epe, and other Ijebu territories. The Awujale is highly revered by natives and residents of these towns.{{cite news |last1=Samuel |first1=Oba |title=21 Facts You Need To Know About Oba Sikiru Adetona-Awujale |url=https://dailyfamily.ng/21-facts-you-need-to-know-about-oba-sikiru-adetona-awujale/ |access-date=5 February 2019 |publisher=dailyfamily.ng |date=1 August 2017}}
Town structure
Adjacent to Ijebu Ode are several smaller towns and villages. They are mostly referred to as Egure "small settlement"; some of them include Odo-Agamegi, Ogbo, Italupe (a neighbourhood within Ijebu-Ode), Ososa, Imomo, Imawen, Odo Ogbun, Apa (Mesan), Okelamuren, Abapawa, Erunwon, Apunren, Isonyin, Imoru, Oke-Eri, Imagbon, Ijebu-Isiwo (pronounced Ijebu-Ishiwo), Okorogbin (a village before Ijebu-Ishiwo), Okemoyin (a village within Ijebu-Isiwo), Odo-lewu, Odo-sengolu (a village within Odo-lewu), Odo-Arawa, Idowa, Iworo, Ala, Atiba and Ibefun among others. Ijebu-Ode is made up of three parts - Iwade, Ijasi and Porogun. Italupe is a ward in Iwade, not an Egure of Ijebu Ode. The town has 39 Public Primary Schools, 14 Public Junior Secondary school, 13 public Senior Secondary Schools, 110 approved Private Nursery and Primary Schools and 22 approved Private Secondary Schools. Ijebu Ode has a local television station affiliated with the government's NTA network and is the trade center of a farming region where yam, cassava, grain, tobacco and cotton are grown.{{cite news |title=Dawn of a new era in Ijebu-Ode |url=http://thenationonlineng.net/dawn-new-era-ijebu-ode/ |access-date=5 February 2019 |publisher=The Nation (Nigeria) |date=13 May 2014}}
Climate
Ijebu Ode has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw).
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| collapsed = yes
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| location = Ijebu Ode (1991–2020)
| Jan record high C = 37.4
| Feb record high C = 39.4
| Mar record high C = 39
| Apr record high C = 37
| May record high C = 36
| Jun record high C = 33.9
| Jul record high C = 32.9
| Aug record high C = 32.6
| Sep record high C = 33
| Oct record high C = 34
| Nov record high C = 35.6
| Dec record high C = 39.4
| year record high C = 39.4
| Jan high C = 33.4
| Feb high C = 34.7
| Mar high C = 34.2
| Apr high C = 33.1
| May high C = 31.9
| Jun high C = 30.2
| Jul high C = 28.6
| Aug high C = 28.3
| Sep high C = 29.2
| Oct high C = 30.6
| Nov high C = 32.4
| Dec high C = 33.2
| year high C = 31.6
| Jan mean C = 27.9
| Feb mean C = 29.3
| Mar mean C = 29.3
| Apr mean C = 28.7
| May mean C = 27.8
| Jun mean C = 26.6
| Jul mean C = 25.7
| Aug mean C = 25.4
| Sep mean C = 26.0
| Oct mean C = 26.7
| Nov mean C = 27.9
| Dec mean C = 27.9
| year mean C = 27.4
| Jan low C = 22.4
| Feb low C = 23.9
| Mar low C = 24.5
| Apr low C = 24.3
| May low C = 23.7
| Jun low C = 22.8
| Jul low C = 22.7
| Aug low C = 22.6
| Sep low C = 22.5
| Oct low C = 22.5
| Nov low C = 22.2
| Dec low C = 22.7
| year low C = 23.1
| Jan record low C = 15
| Feb record low C = 15
| Mar record low C = 18
| Apr record low C = 20.4
| May record low C = 17.8
| Jun record low C = 19
| Jul record low C = 19.8
| Aug record low C = 20
| Sep record low C = 19
| Oct record low C = 20
| Nov record low C = 19
| Dec record low C = 13.2
| year record low C = 13.2
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 10.2
| Feb precipitation mm = 48.7
| Mar precipitation mm = 86.3
| Apr precipitation mm = 121.0
| May precipitation mm = 183.3
| Jun precipitation mm = 282.0
| Jul precipitation mm = 270.9
| Aug precipitation mm = 138.2
| Sep precipitation mm = 269.4
| Oct precipitation mm = 241.9
| Nov precipitation mm = 52.4
| Dec precipitation mm = 10.4
| year precipitation mm = 1714.6
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 1.2
| Feb precipitation days = 2.6
| Mar precipitation days = 6.5
| Apr precipitation days = 7.9
| May precipitation days = 10.8
| Jun precipitation days = 15.0
| Jul precipitation days = 14.9
| Aug precipitation days = 11.8
| Sep precipitation days = 15.5
| Oct precipitation days = 15.4
| Nov precipitation days = 4.4
| Dec precipitation days = 0.9
| year precipitation days = 106.9
| Jan humidity = 77.84
| Feb humidity = 81.62
| Mar humidity = 86.21
| Apr humidity = 88.73
| May humidity = 90.01
| Jun humidity = 90.85
| Jul humidity = 90.44
| Aug humidity = 89.63
| Sep humidity = 90.48
| Oct humidity = 90.30
| Nov humidity = 86.55
| Dec humidity = 80.02
| year humidity = 86.9
| source = NOAA{{cite web
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Nigeria/CSV/IjebuOde_65210.csv
|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Ijebu Ode
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = January 5, 2024}}
}}
Landmarks and places
Festivals
{{Main|Ojude Oba festival}}
Agemo is the unity of Ijebus. There are 16 Agemos in various parts of Ijebu. They come out every July and they all meet at Ijebu-Ode before moving to Imodi Mosan, where the Agemo Festival takes place. The Agemo of Ijebu-Isiwo is called Petu-Ado (short form Petu). Agemo festival has masquerades and is a performing art of the Yoruba religion.
Women are forbidden from seeing the Agemo on their way to Ijebu-Ode. A public announcement is made on radio and television to inform everyone the exact time Agemo will be moving.
The Ojude Oba festival of Ijebu-Ode is usually held two days after the Ileya festival while the Ojude Oba festival of Ijebu-Isiwo is usually held three days after the Ileya. Horses with beautiful and vintage carts are usually paraded on the streets of Ijebu Ode in the hours of the morning and eventually, they ride to the palace of the king to celebrate. It is a festival whose main purpose is for the people of Ijebu to come together as one to honor their king and is regarded as one of the biggest in West Africa.{{cite web |title=Discover Ijebu-Ode! |url=https://bellafricana.com/discover-ijebu-ode/ |publisher=Bellafricana |access-date=5 February 2019}}
Notable people
The following is a list of notable people who were either born in, lived in, are current residents of, or are otherwise closely associated with or around the city of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria.
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
- Beatrice Aboyade, Nigerian librarian
- Professor Adebayo Adedeji, Nigerian economist and academic
- Joseph Adefarasin, Nigerian High Court judge
- Paul Adefarasin, Pastor, convener of The Experience (gospel concert) and founder of House on the Rock (church)
- Adebowale Adefuye, Nigerian historian and diplomat
- Sunday Adelaja, Founder of the Embassy of God in Kyiv
- Oluyemi Adeniji †, a Nigerian diplomat
- Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Awujale of the Ijebu kingdom
- Tobi Amusan, Nigerian sprinter and 2022 world Athletics Championship 100 metres hurdles champion
- Mobolaji Bank Anthony†, Businessman and philanthropist
- Eniola Badmus, Nigerian actress
- Subomi Balogun, Nigerian banker, philanthropist and founder of FCMB
- Harold Olusegun Demuren, National celebrated Aeronautical Engineer
- DJ Jimmy Jatt, Nigerian disc jockey
- Ginger Johnson, Nigerian bandleader and percussionist
- Abiodun Koya, American-based Opera Singer and Songwriter
- Aderemi Kuku OON, Mathematician and academic
- Gasper Lawal, multi-instrumentalist
- Omololu Meroyi, Politician
- Abayomi Mighty, Public Speaker, United Nations Spokesperson for African Youth and Children (April 2001)
- Adeola Odutola †, Nigerian businessman
- Hubert Ogunde†, Nigerian actor and playwright
- Ade Olufeko, Multidisciplinary contributor to Sungbo's Eredo{{cite news |title=Sungbo’s Eredo Monument Back to Awareness |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/09/03/sungbos-eredo-monument-back-to-awareness/ |access-date=21 September 2024 |publisher=This Day}}
- Esther Olukoya and Emily Ogunde, Identical twin centenarians
- Jelili Adebisi Omotola†, Educator and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)
- Aina Onabolu†, Nigerian modern arts teacher and painter
- Kola Onadipe (1922–1988), Nigerian children's author
- Abiola Onakoya, Nigerian sprinter
- Freeman Osonuga, Nigerian physician, humanitarian and public speaker
- Yusuf Otubanjo, Nigerian footballer
- Victor Adenuga Oyenuga†, Nigerian Professor Emeritus
- Idowu Philips, Nigerian veteran actress
- Olikoye Ransome-Kuti †, Activist, and health minister of Nigeria
- Festus Segun†, Nigerian Anglican Bishop
- Wizkid, Nigerian Recording and Musical Artist
}}
Photo Gallery of Ijebu Ode
File:Adeite house, Ijebu ode.jpg
File:Adeite house, Ijebu ode5.jpg
File:Adeite house, Ijebu ode6.jpg
File:Adedunmola Court, Ijebu-ode, Ogun state.jpg
File:Adeitan street, Ijebu.jpg
File:Alero house, Ijebu ode.jpg
File:Alhaja Salamotu Kuku 11.jpg
File:Alhaja Salamotu Kuku 4.jpg
File:Alhaja Salamotu Kuku statue, Ijebu ode.jpg
File:BabaJosh Memorial Hall, Ijebu ode3.jpg
File:Baba Jor memorial hall.jpg
File:Cathedral Church of Our Saviour, Ijebu ode, Ogun state.jpg
File:Cathedral Church of Our Saviour, Ijebu ode, Ogun state3.jpg
File:Cathedral church of our saviour. italowajoda-ijasi, ijebu ode 4.jpg
File:Cathedral church of our saviour. italowajoda-ijasi, ijebu ode.jpg
File:Catholic cathedral, ijebu ode.jpg
File:Catholic church, Ijebu ode.jpg
File:DE-GLORY HALL Ijebuode2.jpg
File:Entrance into Ojude oba, Ijebu ode.jpg
File:Holy Trinity Anglican Church Cathedral, Ijebu ode.jpg
File:Ijebu flyover bridge, Ijebu.jpg
File:Ijebu National Museum, Ijebu ode3.jpg
File:Ijebu ode central mosque 6.jpg
File:Ijebu ode central Mosque, Ijebu2.jpg
File:Ijebu ode masquerade statue, Ogun state3.jpg
File:Ijebu ode Post office.jpg
File:Ijebu-ode Central Mosque, Ijebu ode, Ogun state2.jpg
File:Lagos garage Bridge Ijebuode.jpg
File:M.S Bookshop, Ijebu ode, Ogun state.jpg
File:Nigeria postal service, Ijebu ode, Ogun state2.jpg
File:Oba palace roundabout, Ijebu-ode, Ogun state2.jpg
File:Oba S.K Adetona market ijebu ode 2.jpg
File:Oba S.K Adetona market ijebu ode.jpg
File:Ojude Oba stadium ijebu oden 5.jpg
File:Ojude Oba stadium ijebu ode.jpg
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{LGAs and communities of Ogun State}}
{{Yoruba topics}}
{{Coord|6|49|15|N|3|55|15|E|region:NG_type:city(222653)|display=title}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Local Government Areas in Ogun State