Itapa Ekiti is a town in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The town is traditionally ruled by the Owatapa. Itapa is also the name of a goddess historically worshipped in Ife, and her festival—Utaale—is held for thirty days. She continues to be revered by the Ooni of Ife and his people.
Foundation Legend and History
According to oral traditions:
- Amowa and Elepe, sons of Oduduwa, left Ile-Ife with their mother and two companions, Elemo and Baaro, who were all hunters.
- Elepe settled at Osin, one of Itapa's farms, and became the first Olosin of Osin.
- Another brother settled at a farm called Ijelu, later becoming Elejelu.
- Gods such as Elutapa and Orisa Itapa are still worshipped today, with priests known as Ayaya and Aworo Orisa Ilawe respectively.
- Elemo founded the Remo quarter, and Baaro founded Egetun.
- Over time, more people settled with them, and the heads of quarters acknowledged Owatapa as the paramount ruler.
Royal Sunrise and Sunset
List of the Owatapa of Itapa Ekiti
- Owa Amowa
- Owa Muaro (son of Amowa)
- Owa Jejeke
- Owa Ponrokun – Moved the palace to its current location
- Owa Yioye
- Owa Abaradudu
- Owa Awadieruasola
- Owa Arawamokunrin – Overcrowding led to settlements in Egosi and Ila
- Owa Agiriyoyo
- Owa Akitipa-Obibo
- Owa Ijimgbere Oke
- Owa Edun Alaye
- Owa Iboun
- Owa Ajakobijagba
- Owa Okekorokoro ni kin ma gun on
- Owa Agodisoro
- Owa Okogirigiri ni ki nwon ma di on
- Owa Ogogu – Involved in the Ogun Yinmomo war with Egosi and Ikole
- Owa Amerijoye – Allied with Ata of Iye; both settled at Aiyede
- Owa Arowogbadamu (Reigned 1876–1891) – Captured during Ibadan war and brought back from Lagos
- Owa Ola I (1891–1921)
- 1900: First meeting of Ekiti Obas Pelu-Pelu
- 1901–1902: Methodist Church introduced
- 1915: Ekiti and Ondo merged under Ondo Province
- 1917: African Church introduced
- Owa Ademiloye I (1921–1929)
- 1921: National Census
- 1922: First Methodist Church building at Isalu
- 1922: Islam introduced by Pa Ojakanrinkan
- 1923: Methodist School granted
- 1924: Ifaki–Ikole motor road completed, Catholic Church introduced
- Owa Ali, Atobatele I (1929–1942)
- 1929: Methodist School opened
- 1934: Itapa–Ijelu road constructed
- Owa Ojo, Ola II (1943–1973)
- Owa Amuda Adeyeye Ali, Atobatele II (1987–2009)
- Reigned for 22 years, from 17 April 1987 to 29 December 2009
- Owa Makanjoula Ajaja, Ph.D., Ilufemiloye Ola III (2011–present)
- Ascended: 25 November 2011
- Staff of office: 31 March 2012 by Gov. Kayode Fayemi
References
- Glorious Itapa Ekiti on Facebook(https://facebook.com/GloriousItapaEkiti)
- Royal Family of Ademiloye, Itapa Ekiti, Nigeria on Facebook(https://facebook.com/AdemiloyeRoyalFamily)
- Website about Itapa Ekiti and the reigning monarch