The legendary people of Osogbo are found in a city in the southwestern part of Nigeria. The city is the capital of Osun state and seats the headquarters of Osogbo Local Government Area and Olorunda Local Government Area of the state. Osogbo is boredered by Ikirun, Ilesa, Ede, Egbedore, and Iragbiji. They belongs to the Yoruba ethnic group of Nigeria which has its ancestral home in Ile-Ife, in the same Osun state. The city where the people settled is also called ‘Osogbo Oroki’.
According to the Yoruba tradition that uses mythical stories to tell about the origin of its inhabitants, many fleeing the Fulani invasion settled there following the fall of Old Oyo Empire. As a result, they increased in population largely due to migration from other Yoruba towns. The goddess of River Osun is said to establish the people in its settlement. The name was coined from ‘Oso-igbo’ which is translated as ‘Wizard of the bush”. One of its earliest leaders are Larooye and Timehin (a hunter from Oyo) who played a huge role in its settlement.
People of Osogbo and Leadership
The people of Osogbo are led by a traditional ruler, addressed by the title of Oba known as ‘Ataoja of Osogbo’ and the first ever Ataoja of Osogbo is Oba Larooye Gbadewole who died in 1970. The current Ataoja of Osogbo is Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun Larooye II (2010-present).
Major Occupation
The early settlers of Osogbo are farmers and hunters. They cultivate food crops such as yam, cassava, cocoyam, plantain, maize and so on. They also hunt for game in the bush. The people are also very skilled in dyeing as Osogbo is sometimes called ‘’Ile Aro’’ translated as ‘’Home of Dyeing’’. The textile industry is one of the major industries of this people.
Culture and Tradition
The people are known to celebrate many festivals, notable among them is the Osun-Osogbo festival along the River Osun to celebrate its founder (the goddess of fertility). The festival is centered on the sacred groove of the river goddess Osun, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The festival is also one of the most attended in the country with over tens of thousands of attendees from all over the world.
Religion
The people practice traditional religion and worship Yoruba gods and goddess such as Ogun, Sango, Obaluaye, Osun and so on. The advent of Christianity and Islam has made some of the indigenes to become Christians and Muslims.
Food
As the people are known to cultivate food crops in large quantity, they eat foods made of these crops such as eko (pap pudding), lafun, amala, and so on.
Dressing
The people has among them priests and priestesses (referred to as Iya Osun). The priestesses are dressed in white outfits which include iro and buba (wrapper and blouse), beads (in the hands, ankles and neck) as well as white cowries used as accessories for the hair. Men are adorned in white dansiki and sokoto/kembe (trouser). Fila (cap) is also an important part of their dressing. Oja (shawl) is also adorned by the priests and priestesses.
Do you know that?
The first traditional ruler (Ataoja) of the Osogbo people who happens to be one of the two sons of Owa Laage (earliest father) reigned for 90 years (1670-1760) until his death?
