Oritagun is a quarter allocated to Ojumu by the Deji when he arrived Akure. There’s no way you can do Akure oriki without mentioning Oritagun

Akure oloja meji kan no l’orijo

Ku o ba ti n’oritagun waa no’mesi anoye

Therefore, Oritagun is one of the oldest market/Quarter in Akure since it came into existence during the reign of 11^th Deji. Oritagun market then, opened for transaction in the morning, while moving to Imesi market in the afternoon and they’ll still return to Erekesan market at night. Remember the same Deji established Erekesan market

Also, after the demise of any Deji, the trader of Erekesan market will move to Oritagun pending the installation of another one

The way Oritagun built their houses then was different from others. Their usual way was the way the palace of Ojumu at Arakale was built. They don’t built veranda outside, it always constructed inside. You’ll only see the entrance and the windows outside

The journey to ORITAGUN…

We’ve read a story of Obagbeyi Adegite, the 11^th Deji of Akure(1313-1363), who was a double prince and was brought from Oba Ile to ascend the throne of his forefathers

Obagbeyi, when coming to Akure from Oba Ile where he had spent most of his childhood and youthful days, he left with some of his close friends among who held various chieftaincy titles, so that he won’t be missing them, thereby replicating the titles in Akure. Oloba allowed him to go with Ejemikin, an Ifa Priest and Ojumu, a hunter. Oloba also promised him he will be sending his share of “agbon” to him during every igbagbon festival, which is being done for every Deji up till today

Obagbeyi was installed in Akure as Deji and his reign began.

He installed Ojumu, Ejemikin and other chiefs and allocated farmland for them. Where he allocated to Ojumu is the present Oritagun. When Obagbeyi showed Ojumu this land they stood in front of Ojumu’s palace facing the Oritagun market. Remember this particular point formed T-junction because it adjoins Arakale road. Ojumu was excited and thank the Deji for he has allocated to him “orita ko gun” that is, “a well-shaped T-junction”. The reason why this Quarter is being called ORITAGUN

The other Chief was equally allocated a farmland where he stays and was called Ijemikin

As Ojumu begins his reign, other suburb settlement started springing up. Among them was Ugbeyin, Imosun, Oke Arata, Igisan, Otutubiosun

UGBEYIN, now a street, was where Akure ends then, the reason why it was called Ugbeyin(End), i.e. ibi ki Akure gbeyin si tabi pari si. Later, Akure continue expanding beyond Ugbeyin but the name remains

IMOSUN has a stream called “Omi Imosun”. The water is beside Aromed. No one fishes in this water

Beside omi Imosun is “omi siikiri”. This siikiri got there due to an incident.

Moro was a warrior with evil activities. Akure people wanted to kill him and he was pursued until he reached Imosun where he fell at the back of Imosun water and turned to water himself. This water was refers to as omi siikiri in Akure. All his armoured bracelet formed the dirt on the surface of this water. So no one can fish in Imosun stream so that you won’t provoke siikiri. There is a saying in Akure which says, “won ko n’ile ti won n gbe eja omi Imosun wo, nitoripe ijagbajagba(siikiri dirt) a binu.” If any sacrilege is done beside siikiri, some dangerous creatures like snake will come out to attack people

Omi Imosun is used to bath for any Ojumu that passes on

OKE ARATA was a street named after one of Ojumu’s chiefs.

There was a man, a traditional priest, living in this area. The way he dressed, especially when sitting down in big agbada, it will be as if he’s a king, very flamboyant and attractive. The passers-by will be hailing him as “Ararata abata yanyan”. He was later made a Chief of the area, going by the name Chief Alarata by the then Ojumu. This was why the street name became “Oke Arata”

This title was later stepped down from the chieftaincy titles of Oritagun and up till today by another Ojumu for fear of allowing Alarata become more popular than him. His flamboyant way of appearance seems a threat. No more Chief Alarata

IGISAN was one of the settlement of Ado-Akure people. When they return to Akure, they requested from the Deji where they will stay. Deji called on Ojumu to give them land and Igisan was given to them to settled. They were being refer to as “Bilekale(m-d-r-d)”

This name was changed to Igisan following an incident

There was a celebration of a festival called “odun ina” – festival of fire, going on in Oritagun. There was this native of Iju entering Oritagun. At this period no stranger was welcome. When this stranger entering the midst of the worshippers, instead of explaining himself, he took them up. They gave him the beating of his life. When he was about to die, he lamented and he said, “ha! Mo rin si ‘gisan oran” which has formed a prayer/saying in Akure today. His lamentation was, he accidentally walked into a danger. Since that day the street is being referred to as Igisan

Me ra rin s’igisan oran. I know you’ll say your own either silently or openly

ORITAGUN is well known as a land of many ESI(shrine). In Akure then, the divination always directed them to make the esi at Oritagun so as to prevent foreseen or conquer any occurrence

These esis are many and largely formed part of their oriki

Esho meta Oritagun

Esi amukoko oye

Esi agbarubo mo run

Esi agbada mo y’oko

Esi amarakan

ORIKI

Esho oritagun omo elesi

Esho wewe oritagun e j’ole gbigbe

Ko j’ole gbigbe ma gbe temi r’iro mekun

Ko j’ole gbigbe ma gbe temi rijemikin oba

Omo elesi a marankan l’igisan

Esi kan li sunkun otutu ko d’aran bora

Omo elesi amukoko oye

Esi kan li t’ukoko de’ri bi oni r’omi

Omo elesi agbada mo yoko

Omo elesi agbarubo mo run

Omo elesi kan poyi ka kan ti m’obitun rele oko

Omo aladiye anukan je re’ge

O je titi o seyin a s’igisan

Ojo ro l’oritagun e de ponna Ojigbogi.

Ira inu aye on feran ara rion.

ESHO ORITAGUN

Esho meta Oritagun, e j’ole gbigbe. This esi was made up of three big stones that nobody dare carries it. So Oritagun people love it to the extent that they wish they could carry it to their places of abode but it’s uncarriable. The love for it make them called it Esho oritagun(Oritagun treasure)

ESI AMARANKAN

Esi amarakan is the one being refer to as “esi kan li sunkun otutu ko d’aran bora”. The aran that’s being refer to here is not cloth but part of palm tree skin. It will be fetched during the cold winter to cover the esi

ESI AGBARUBO MO RUN

This esi when you get to it, after chewing your chewing-stick finish, you’ll spit on it the substance. Chewing-stick is what we know pako or orin in yoruba tongue. This pako is what is called arubo. No matter the volume of pako substance spitted on it, it will never stinks/smell hence the name agbarubo mo run

ESI AGBADA MO Y’OKO

You cannot pass in front of this esi without dropping your cutlass if you’re holding one. The cutlass will just dropped from your hand. In general, whatever drops there you must not take back because it’s a taboo. So if your cutlass dropped there on your way to farm, you don’t have a choice than to leave it there. It is one esi with many cutlasses but can’t go to farm

OMI OJUMU

There’s an ancient stream called “omi Ojumu” or “omi Aremo” in Oritagun. As its name implies, omi aremo, if any woman is looking for fruit of womb, if she takes the water to birth and drink, she’ll conceive. If it is used to birth for a child with sickness, the child will be healed. The people of Oritagun still celebrate it as festival up till today. You can find it inside the car park opposite the palace of Asamo at Arakale. Enter through the exit gate of the car park, it’s there

OJUMU

Ojumu Olonigbonran, omo ajagun beni ori

The reason why Ojumu is being eulogise this way was that, there was an Ojumu who has many loyalists. You dare not talk evil about him, he will know. Those loyalists will tell him hence the appellation “OLONIGBONRAN”.

THE LIST OF OJUMUS THAT HAVE RULED IN AKURE SINCE YEAR 1313AD TO DATE

1. CHIEF OJUMU OGUNDARE
2. CHIEF OJUMU FAMUTIMI
3. CHIEF OJUMU OGUNJOBI
4. CHIEF OJUMU JEBUTU
5.  CHIEF OJUMU FATUNSI
6.  CHIEF OJUMU OLUBO
7. CHIEF OJUMU FADEBI
8.  CHIEF OJUMU OSADEYI
9. CHIEF OJUMU OSABIYI
10.  CHIEF OJUMU OJOPOLUGBEGBELOJU
11.  CHIEF OJUMU OGUNSAKIN
12. CHIEF OJUMU FAGBUALE
13.  CHIEF OJUMU OGUNGBE
14. CHIEF OJUMU FAGBEMI
15. CHIEF OJUMU BAMIGBE
16. CHIEF OJUMU OMOLUKA
17. CHIEF OJUMU OMOLALA
18. CHIEF OJUMU OKUTA
19. CHIEF OJUMU AJIMOKUNOLA
20. CHIEF OJUMU GBORISIBE
21. CHIEF OJUMU ADESUYAN
22. CHIEF OJUMU ONIMESI
23. CHIEF OJUMU OLIGI-OBI
24. CHIEF OJUMU ATANDIPE
25. CHIEF OJUMU OSUE
26. CHIEF OJUMU ADARAMOLA
27. CHIEF OJUMU OJO OLOGUNMETA (PRESENT OJUMU)

The story of the present Ojumu, Chief Ojo Ologunmeta and the installation process of Ojumu will be a story for another day

I will end it with this Oritagun festival song..

Chorus: Kowe-kowe kowe kowe
Esho oritagun o
Kowe-kowe kowe kowe
Ku o k’osodi ku o k’asamo o
Kowe-kowe kowe kowe
Ku o di ki Sasere Eru Oba o
Kowe-kowe kowe kowe
Olose gbara ko kojumu o
Kowe-kowe kowe kowe
Agbo momo la mu s’odun umoroko l’ule ria o
Kowe-kowe kowe kowe
Ka ba gboja I la tura ki o
Kowe-kowe kowe kowe
A ma ri ja lodi ule ria o
Kowe-kowe kowe kowe
Ku o ki Osita ku o Osue o
Kowe-kowe kowe kowe