Igbomina

The Ìgbómìnà (also colloquially Igboona or Ogboona) are a subgroup of the Yoruba ethnic group, which originates from the north central and southwest Nigeria. They speak a dialect called Ìgbómìnà or Igbonna, classified among the Central Yoruba of the three major Yoruba dialectical areas. The Ìgbómìnà spread across what is now southern Kwara State and northern Osun State. Peripheral areas of the dialectical region have some similarities to the adjoining Ekiti, Ijesha, Yagba, and Oyo dialects.

The Ìgbómìnà are renowned merchants well known for long distance trading which account for their wide spread across Yoruba land, they engage in other traditional occupation such as agriculture and hunting, as well as their woodcarving, leather art, and the famous Elewe masquerade. It is an Egungun representing the ancestors during special festivals.

Traditional Ìgbómìnàland consist of Four local government areas (LGAs) of Kwara State: Irepodun, Ifelodun, Ilorin East and Isin LGAs, as well as two local government areas of Osun State: Ifedayo and Ila LGAs. The major Ìgbómìnà cities in Osun State are Oke-Ila Orangun, Ora, and Ila Orangun, while the major Ìgbómìnà cities in Kwara State which has most of the Ìgbómìnà land and population include: Omu-Aran, Òbà, Ajasse Ipo,Eju-land(Igbonla & Sanmora), Eku-Mesesan-Oro (Ijomu-Oro, Iddo-Oro, Okerimi-Oro, Afin-Oro, Okeola-Oro, Ibode-Oro, Oro, Iludun-0ro, Agbeola-Oro),Agbamu, Edidi (Edidi-ona, Edidi Idera, Edidi Oja), Oke-Onigbin, Isanlu Isin, Ijara-Isin, Aran-Orin, Rore, Esiẹ, Omupo, Omido, Ipetu-Igbomina, Igbaja, Ora, Oke-Ode, Owu-Isin, Oro-Ago, Oko- Irese, Ahun, Arandun, Shaare, Oke-Aba. The villages in Igbomina Ile-Ire are: Owa Onire, Owa Kajola, Owode Ofaro, Idoba Araromi( This village settled on Owode Ofaro Land, their so called ancestral land at Idoba Orioke near Owa was owned and given to them by Owode Ofaro), Ikosin (Ile Ire District Headquarters, where the popular ancient Igbo Ejimogun market was located), Oke-Oyan, Idera, Afin, Alaabe, Obinn or Obinrin Aiyetoro, Oreke Oke, Okeigbo, Babanla. Other Igboimna towns include but not limited to the following cities: Idofian, Igbo-Owu, Omupo, Okanle, Fajeromi, Odo-eku, Ola, Idofin, Iwo, Agbonda, Agbeku, Olayinka, Alakuko-Irorun, Edidi, Ijan-Otun, Agbele, Omido, Okeya, Babanlomo, Agbamu, Ijan, Pamo-Isin, Egii-Owu, Owa-Onire, Durosoto, Koko-Afin, Maloko, Olomi Oja, Omirinrin, Faje, Ajengbe, Alasoro, Idofin Ayekale, Eyin Afo, Idofin Igbana, Idofin Aga, Ekudu, Manasara, Oko Adigun, Kudu-Isin, Oke oyi, Alegongo, Sabaja, Oponda, Oree, Agunjin, Apado, Eleyin, and Yaru.

Ìgbómìnàland is adjoined on the west and northwest by major neighbours such as the Oyo-Yoruba region, on the south and southwest by the Ijesha-Yoruba region, on the south and southeast by the Ekiti-Yoruba region, on the east by the Yagba-Yoruba region, and on the north by the non-Yoruba Nupe region south of the Niger River. Other minor neighbours of the Ìgbómìnà are the Ibolo sub-group of the cities of Offa, Oyun and Okuku in the west.

Over 800 carved stones, mostly representing human figures, have been found around Esie in western Igbomina, Iji-Isin, Ijara and Ofaro villages. It is not known who crafted the sculptures, but they appear to have been made around 1100 AD.

Archaeological and linguistic evidence suggest that the Ìgbómìnà people may have predated the surrounding peoples except perhaps the Nupe and the Yagba. Ìgbómìnàland definitely predated the Oduduwa era as evidenced by oral traditions of royal and non-royal migrations from Oduduwa’s Ile-Ife which met existing dynasties in place but displaced, subsumed or subjugated them. It appears that aside from more recent conflicts in the last two centuries, the Oyo, Ijesha, and the Ekiti may have in more ancient times, pressured the Ìgbómìnà, captured territory in the plains and restricted them into the more rugged and lower-quality land of the Yoruba hills. The Ìgbómìnà, on the other hand, appear to have pressured the Nupe and the Yagba and taken territory away from them in places, but also losing territory to them in other places.

The people of Igbomina prioritized defense over offense due to its lower resource requirements and reduced risks. To protect against military threats, they constructed various fortifications such as earthen ramparts, and stone and/or mud walls.

One notable fortified settlement was Gbagede, which had a mud wall enclosure and existed from 1795 to pre-19th century. Iyara and Ila-Yara also had massive rampart walls with deep ditches, built in the late 16th or early 17th century. These fortifications aimed to slow down attackers and provide protection to defenders.