ÒGBÓRÍ ELÉMÒSÓ: A HISTORY OF A YORUBA TOWN
Ògúnlolá was the name of the brave hunter and an expert àrcher, he was said to be of Ibariba descent. In the mid-17th century he migrated with his wife, Èsùu to the present site known today as Ọ̀gbómòsó, he first settled under a tree called Ajagbon (still standing near the king’s palace).
Later on Ògúnlolá discovered that there were people who have settled in that area before him, he then went to introduce himself and fortunately they were also hunters just like him, they were; Aale, Onisile, Orisatolu and Akande.
Though, Ògúnlolá established his dominance over his fellow hunters, the brave men agreed to form a society called Alongo in other to protect the settlement from wìld animals and slave raìders. It was on this initiative that Ògúnlolá killèd an Ijesa itinerant trader, thinking he was a slave ràider. Ògúnlolá was jàiled because of this capital offence.
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While he was awaiting his trial, a tr0ubling report of a dreàdful attack on Oyo-Ile spread through the palace and among the prisoners, it was said that a certain warri0r called “ELÉMÒSÓ” is wrecking hav0c and causing great tensi0n.
Being a fearlèss warri0r himself, Ògúnlolá offered his services to the Alaafin, he promised that he would bring elémòsó’s head if granted freedom. Upon his release Ògúnlolá crept into the opposition camp and sh0t elémòsó with an arrow before behèading him. He brought the head to the Alaafin and the whole kingdom rejoiced.
The Alaafin persuaded him to stay in Oyo-Ile but he insisted, he said to the Alaafin “e jé kín lo má ṣe òhún”, “let mẹ go and stay far away”. This was how the title “Soun Ọgbomoso” was coined. Ògúnlolá returned to his settlement a nobleman, having been decorated and greatly rewarded by the Alaafin for his bravery.
Later, travelers started referring to the settlement as “ìdóo eni tí ó gbórí elémòsó” meaning the settlement of him who bèheaded Elemoso, and this was how the present day Ogbomoso derived its name.
The story was adapted into a movie by Chief Lérè Paimo who played the role of Ògúnlolá.
Credit: Facebook
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