THE HISTORY OF IBADAN

[Ogunniyi Olasunkanmi]

The strength of a man is always shown or seen in his story; truly Rome was not built in a day as the saying goes, so is Ibadan. Ibadan, the largest city in Africa after Cairo (Egypt) and Johannesburg (South Africa), also the third largest city in Nigeria in Population after (Lagos and Kano respectively) has some exciting background build-up and stories. It grew rapidly as a defensible site during the struggles among the Yoruba people in the late 18th and the first half of the 19th centuries. As a military stronghold. Ibadan rules the South-West Region of Nigeria for years and is the largest city in Yoruba land. Who founded the city? How does the city started? Why does it grow so rapidly that it outgrew the existing Yoruba land before it? Well, you are welcome to Batt Travels and Tours who is ready to take you round the whole story.

 

Ibadan was carved out of three cities, two of which was founded by Lagelu (the Jagun Commander – in – chief) of Ile Ife, these two are Eba Odan and Eba ‘dan. Lagelu left Ile-Ife with some people to found Eba Odan that means 'between the forest and plains,’ this was in 1829. But this first Lagelu city was destroyed by Sango, (the then Alaafin Oyo). The destruction was as a result of the egungun incident that happened thus: In Yoruba land Egungun are seen as the dead fore fathers who returns yearly to bless their progeny, meanwhile it is an abominable thing for any woman to see the egungun eyes to eyes. Accidently, a disrobed and derisively egungun was mocked in an open market place by women in Eba Odan. When the news got to Sango, he ordered that Eba Odan should be completely destroyed, there was nothing Lagelu could do to that, so he has to flee to a mountain side with few people till the destruction was completed. 

 

Afterward, Lagelu came down from the mountain with the few people and founded another city called Eba ‘dan. The new city rapidly grew prosperous and became commercially important throughout the region. Shortly, Lagelu died and the first Olubadan after Lagelu gave Olowu of Owu his only daughter Nkan for marriage. Not too long to this, Olowu was coming victoriously from a warfront but a river called Odo Oba (River Oba) won’t allow him to pass unless a human sacrifice is made, he then chose Nkan to be sacrificed for that purpose. When the news got to Olubadan, he sent an emissary to inform the Alafin of Oyo. Yoruba kings and rulers such as Ooni of Ife, Agura of Gbagura, Awujale of Ijebu, Alake of Egba and others to form a formidable merger with Eba Odan against the powerful Olowu of Owu. Olubadan fought and won the battle on returning home, most of the invited kings and their people as well refused to return to their homes, hereby help to expand the town by fighting and taking over the neighbouring towns and cities. By so doing they gain such a large political landscape for Eba ‘dan and changed the name to IBADAN as it is till date. The Egbas, who were the original occupants of the Ibadan were forced to leave and moved to the present-day Abeokuta under the leadership of Sodeke. With this Ibadan rapidly grew into an impressive urban center within a little time and dominated the then Yoruba region militarily, politically and economically.

 

Olubadan (which means Lord of Ibadan) is the royal title of Ibadan land from onset. The present Olubadan HRH Oba Samuel Odulana is the 39^th Oba of the land and was enthroned in 2007. The 11 high chiefs that formed the Olubadan-in-council are recognized as the traditional rulers of the 11 Local Government Areas of Ibadanland apart from Seriki and Iyalode. Otun Olubadan and Balogun are next to olubadan himself, other are osi Olubadan, asipa Olubadan, ekerin Olubadan and ekarun Olubadan from Balogun side we have Otun Balogun, Osi Balogun, Asipa Balogun, Ekerin Balogun, and Ekarun Balogun, these posts are recognize under Western Nigeria Law as second class traditional rulers. Apart from the above high chiefs, there are other chiefs also in their hierarchy and seat accordingly in the palace of olubadan. Olubadan is not just selected anyhow or carelessly when one dies but carefully, with good consideration of achievement, seniority, merit, and rotational basis when the council meets. The 11 high chiefs with Seriki plus Iyalode meets in Olubadan palace to deliberate and take decision on sensitive matters as occasion arises but the general house (Olubadan and all the chiefs) meets on a regular basis and days to decide on issues as occasion arises. Each of the chief is representing the interest of a clan, compound or people who actually made them the chiefs they are and defend, fight for their interest and justices as issues touching them arise from the palace. Meanwhile, information is been disseminated to the general public through a town crier, a low chief whose of one his duty is to carry a bell round the community getting the attention of people by beating the bell and pass the message from the palace. This is always done when all decision is taken in the palace and the general public need the information.

 

Tourist Attraction: I plan a customized Tour round these attraction, as you want it

Igbeti Hills, Igbeti Physical, Trans Amusement Park, Ibadan Man-made Resort, Captain Bower, Tower, Ibadan Monument, Agodi Gardens, Ibadan Man-made, Old Oyo National Park Wildlife/Eco-Tourism, University of Ibadan Zoo/Zoological Garden Man-made, Alaafin of Oyo’s Palace Cultural, Calabash Carving Cultural/Souvenir, Ado-Awage Suspended Lake Natural, Aso Oke Weaving, Iseyin Traditional/Souveir.

[Ed Wetschler]

Ibadan's population is probably something like 1,700,000 now. Just a few decades ago, it was barely a million. And even the, it seemed to sprawl out for miles.

[Ogunniyi Olasunkanmi]

Until 1970, Ibadan was the largest city in sub-Saharan Africa. In 1952, it was estimated that the total area of the city was approximately 103.8 km2. Ibadan population is actually much, in fact more than some countries of the world. It was 1,338,659 as at census conducted in 2006 but the GeoNames Geographical database done in 9th August, 2010 says it is 3,565,108. ... Great People . . . Great Nation. . .