History of Osolu Kingdom

OJO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

LAGOS STATE

NIGERIA

Location

Irewe is an Awori Town about sixteen {16} kilometers South West of Ojo. It is bounded in the West by Iwori and in the East by Ikare. Irewe is situated on the Island of one of the Badagry Creeks. All the towns and villages in Osolu-land place Irewe in the center.

History

Irewe, which is the nucleus of Osolu-land in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, was founded by Edinni in the 16th Century.

Edinni the Osolu of Irewe who was the father of the Royal Lineage of Ile-ife migrated with his wife, Ojube, his brother, Oluwen and other followers.

They first settled in Gaun now called Ogun State. From Gaun, they moved to Ilamiro,also now in Ogun State.Not yet satisfied Edinni and his people moved out of Ilamiro to Idole,a village near port-Novo.Still not satisfied ,Edinni and his people proceeded southwards of the main Lagoon near the sea and settled at a place which was known as Orile Edinni { now called Idinni } derived from his name.

At Orile Edinni, Osolu people were constantly raided by the Ibaribas .Osolu then consulted his Oracle and was asked to move across the Lagoon. In obedience to the Oracle, he and his people moved across the Lagoon and settled in the place known as Irewe meaning {A PLACE OF FORTUNE}. From Irewe, the Osolu family expanded to the place known as Osolu Kingdom.

Edinni was the first Oba of Irewe where he built his palace in the place known as Idunmogun Quarters. He was blessed with six {6} children namely: {1} Adeshi

{2} Ogungbayi {3} Iye {4} Lakelu {5} Erelu {6} Iyewo. Osolu is one of the recognized Chiefstaincies in the old Western Region and when the House of Obas and Chiefs was created in 1951, Oba Rufai Durosinmi Aganran Eru of Osolu of Irewe and Oba Gbadamosi Sonibare of Iba represented the Badagry Division in the old Western Region.

There were three successive crowned Obas of Irewe, namely:

{1}Edinni {2} Adeshi {3} Osadare

The title lapsed for five {5} generations and was revived until 1935 when Oba Rufai Durosinmi was appointed and installed Oba Osolu of Irewe. There are four chiefs that reigned at Irewe with the title “ale” before the revival of the title “Oba”, they are:-

{1} Idowu Ayibiodo {2} Aganran Eru {3} Obania Apanikoko {4} Akingbade

Ruling House

There is only ruling house in Irewe known as “ IGA OSOLU”. All the descendants of the six children of Edinni constitute Iga Osolu. And from amogst whom a suitable candidate is elected to occupy the throne whenever it becomes vacant. This is in accordance with the existing Registered Chieftaincy declaration dated 23rd of January 1958.

Oba Rufai Durosnmi reigned from 1935-1962. He was succeeded by Oba Ashefa Adeoye Oyefolu who was appointed and installed in 1964.He reigned from 1964-1988.Irewe was the senior Town of the Lagoon Group when the Badagry Native Authority was created in 1939,the seat of all towns where all purposes of administration are holding regular meetings. There are seven {7} units that comprises the Lagoon Group. The other six {6} units are {1} Ibeshe {2} Elete {3} Imore {4} Irede {5} Ikare {6} Idoluwo

The only Native Court that served the units was sited at Irewe in 1941. When the Native Authority was changed to Awori District Council in 1995. Irewe has since been serving as the Head Quarters of Osolu-Elete Group. Irewe was administered from Lagos till 1984 and was then in the Badagry District till 1908. In the Lagos District till 1914. In the Badagry District again till 1927. In Ikeja District in 1933 and later transferred back to Badagry in 1933.

Osolu Family is so large that one would find his descendants in most towns and villages in Badagry Division, Lagos, Iddo, Ajiran, Lamgbasa, and Ebute Meta etc… 

The Boundaries of Osolu land on the Eastern and western side were settled by law suits in 1904 and 1925.From east to west, Osolu-land is about 40 kilometers, bounded in the east by Ikare town, and in the West by Iwori town, the boundary which was fixed in 1870 by Governor Glover. There are thirty-seven {37} towns and villages settled by Yorubas of various kinds, Eguns and Hausas. There are thirteen {13} shore settlements of Ketas who came from Gold Coast [Now Ghana} 1922, they are expert sea-fishermen.

These villages are:

1}PETEPETE    

2}MOBA VILLAGE   

3}IGBO-OJA-NLA   

4}IGBO OJA KEKERE

5}TAFFI HAUSA         

6} TAFFI AWORI   

7}TAFFI SEA BEACH     

8} MESU SEA BEACH       

9}AGONU VILLAGE    

10}ALEMUWO VILLAGE     

11}ORUFO VILLAGE     

12}PONPOKU VILLAGE   

13}IBODE VILLAGE   

14}OLOMOMETA VILLAGE      

15}OLOMOMETA SEA BEACH

16}EGIRA VILLAGE

17}AGAGA VILLAGE

18} AGAGA SEA BEACH

19}KOBO S-BEACH

20}VIAKU SEA BEACH

21}ALAGUNTAN VILLAGE

22}ALAGUNTAN S-BEACH

23}IGBOLOBI VILLAGE

24}IGBOLOBI SEA BEACH

25}IYAGBE VILLAGE

26}IYAGBE SEA BEACH

27}ISHAHAI 28}ISHAHAI S-BEACH

29}OKOLUNDU VILLAGE

30}EREKUN VILLAGE

31}ITOGBESA BEACH

32}AJIGBO SEA BEACH

33}IKATE SEA BEACH

34}KOBO SEA BEACH

35}ZANU SEA BEACH

36}MOBA SEA BEACH .

Irewe has Oba's Council {igbimo} which is very much a family affair. The town administration {igbimo Oba} consisted of the Oba, some subordinate chiefs and some both elders and younger men.The Oba is the most executive authority.

Oba Osolu by virtue of his position in Badagry division was the first President of the Amori District Council. They are {8} gods brought to Irewe by the OSOLU and His people ,they are : 1}ORO 2}OGUN 3}OTA 4}EJIWA [OR OLOJO] 5}ELEKU 6}ORA 7}ISEKI AND 8}AGBA. Amongst the {8} gods in Irewe, Oro cult is the most powerful.

The chief Priest is known as "ABORE-MOLE" who lives at Idunbore Quarters in Irewe.It is customary  forbidden for Chief Abore to set his eyes on a woman during pregnancy. Not until after three months of delivery that any nursing mother could set her eyes on Chief Abore.All pregnant women in Irewe are regarded as Chief Abore's wives according to Irewe custom.

Relationship with Iddo.

Olofin,the Founder of Iddo in Lagos was a great friend of Osolu and on one significant occassion ,Olofin had to seek the help of his friend Osolu to solve a problem that bedeviled him in his domain. The problem was after the release of Olofin from Bini, he did not waste time with the matter of his traitorous wife,Ajaye,when he got back to Iddo.

He beheaded Ajaye and his rash decision was to be followed by series of unrests in Iddo as Ajaye's headless body walked about freely and showed up at most unexpected places. If she disappeared on Lagoon today, she would be seen at a gathering of people for a special ocassion tomorrow. There was a great panic in Iddo more so when it appeared that the matter of Ajaye's headless body had become a big problem for Olofin. 

Olofin himself was a very powerful herbalist, and his team of herbalists tried their mights but all their efforts were proved abortive .At last, Olofin sent emissaries to his friend for assistance .Oba Osolu was delighted to help Olofin.Osolu sent the emissaries back to collect from Olofin materials for rituals to be performed before he could take out of Irewe, his OSU, which is his mystical power.

When the emissaries of Olofin returned to Irewe, with the materials for the rituals, Osolu had already retired to Okun-Ose opposite Iyagbe,as was his custom to do every seventeen days {popularly known as {Ose-Iga}.The delegates met Osolu's brother,Oluwen,who without waiting for Olofin performed the rituals ,took the Osu to follow the emissaries of Olofin to Iddo.He went with some devotees of the Osu to Iddo.On arrival at Iddo, Oluwen confronted the headless body of Ajaye with the Osu.On seeing the Osu,the headless body made straight for the lagoon and got drowned. The spot where the body got drowned is known until today as the Abyss of Ajaye.

After the job had been done, it became difficult for Osolu's brother to return to Irewe for fear of his brother's wrath. Instead of returning to Irewe, Oluwen stayed behind at Iddo for his settlement and later transformed to a mystical snake, swam accross the Langbasa Lagoon and settled in a place called Ajiran.He later became the King of Ajiran with the title Ojomo of Ajiran meaning Ejo Omu. {The Snake has not sunk} Oshogbo went in search of his father Oluwen, on setting to Iddo; he learnt that his father has gone to Ajiran. he stayed behind ,married ,had children and died there. His tomb lies beside Olofin in Iddo till today.

The Osolu devotees who went with him pleaded to return to Irewe. They sought and received the pardon of Osolu to return to Irewe.When the devotees got the message from Oba Osolu that "they were pardoned and could return to Irewe, they burst into spontaneous singing thus:-

"Osolu lo ni 'Rewe O!

Irewe la gbe tiwa

Irewe la gbe deru ke mi nio

Iberu 'oje a de' Rewelasiko"

Meaning:

Irewe belongs to Osolu. We hail from Irewe; it is to Irewe we poised to return .But fear prevented us from getting to Irewe in time.

That song is still in the lips of Otto-Iddo people till today to show gratitude for deliverance of Iddo by the mystical power of Osolu from Irewe.Osu is still today lying at the Ogun shrine {Idunmogun Quaters in Irewe up till today. The Osu devotees came back to Irewe, the Osolu himself met them outside the town and performed for them the rituals of atonement. That spot where he met his people is known till today as Oju Ajaye where a shrine established in commeration to the event.

Oluwen was the Chief Priest of Eluku Cult, and whenever the Irewe people celebrate Oro Cult festival, they always remember him and sing his praise thus:

"Eleku iba e, Oluwen iba e

Oluwen iba e la rugbe 

la rugbe Eleku iba e o"

Meaning:

"We salute Eleku

We salute Oluwen in Oro"                        

The people of Irewe are Aworis of Yoruba Nation and the main dialect is Awori. They have the same culture as other Yoruba people anywhere in the country. Before the advent of Christianity and Islamic Religions, the people of Irewe worshipped those "gods" as earlier, mentioned, but now they are mostly muslins.

Irewe people are mostly farmers and fishermen, and the women are mat meavers and petty traders their main agricultural products are coconuts. There are very large coconut plantations belonging to individual farmers on Osolu land.

There is a Primary School established in 1941 known as Native Authority Primary School, and also a secondary school established in 1980 known and called Osolu Community High School. Micro Water Project was commissioned at Irewe in 1990 by Rear Admiral Babatunde Elegbede accompanied by Raji Rasaki {then Governor of Lagos State}.

                                      EUROLOGY{ ORIKI }

Omo Edinnio kun sun , tokun awo pupa         Omo Olukonmi omo ole ojoba

Nmese ednni ti ba-edun si were loko     Omo Asewun ma pegan,omo apegan 

                                                              ma fun obinrin je     

Omo Osolu Omo Ojube                                Omo Agog Ide ti ba aja leru

Omo asun fo 'run la                                       Omo Egungun ile aja leru

Omo ateni gbade                                           Omo egungun ile abaso funfun

Omo atipile joye                                            Omo oro'je omo oro mu

Omo alaran ko je 'fe otu                                Omo oro ke yumuyumu

Lore Omo Ogun omo ota                              Omo Osolu Ile-irewe