In my previous post, I began an article on Nigerian mythologies and focused on a community in Ondo state; Igbegunren. Igbegunren is presently a community in Ilaje local government. Prominent achievements include the first community to produce the first medical Scientist in Nigeria. It is also a community that holds on to their culture and beliefs.
Ayela’s entire story while he was searching for a colony is also embedded in a praise poem below:
One who met the Masquerade it lead him
He met the Iroko tree it danced with him
Ayela met the Yeti inside the bush
He met the Lion who hunts down animals and eats them
It carries the tree for him
Ayela’s Adventures and Life
Ayela also met Temusin, the Hunter who was thrilled at seeing not just a simple subject, but a prince of Ile-Ife. Ayela planted his Stick of Bones and it grew on the third day. He named the settlement “Egungunren” (The bones grew). Temusin decided to rename it as “Ilu Igbegunren” (The land where the bones grew). Ayela settled there with his brother and married Lupere.
The marriage was childless for many years, and on the consultation of the oracle, he was told to marry another wife. She was called Mayomi. From then on, Ayela started having children and many wives. A story accounts that he had a hundred wives while others maintained that he had a total number of six wives and few concubines. In his praise, he is referred to, as “the man who uses one hen to marry a hundred women”
So, today, there are many families who claim to be descendants of Ayela and they are the bearers of the Kingship title Oba Oroolo of Ugbo.
His wives and children from the first to the last are as follows:
- Lupere: Oluwajimiren (M), Moghojure (F), Agwefuhi (M), Demehin (M), Agwe (M), Agwekunmefun (F), Agwegbemi (F).
- Mayomi: Leegha (F), Agwekonle (F), Oto (M), Etikon (F), Ojatula (M), Egbayelo(F)
- Maseghunwa: Rese (M)
- Mejiesene: Fase, the first male child of Ayela
- Eemowa: Omasogbe (M), Ayeghan (M), Ole Ogidiyanmgbo (M), Ole Kekere (M), Ajoyisigbemi (Ajoyisi) (F), Yeye Agbotele (M)
- Aribi: Ayeehonubokan (F), Gan-Angan (M).
Nigerian Mythologies: Ayela’s Praise Poem
In honor of Ayela, his descendants also sing a praise poem. It reveals in details, the mightiness of Ayela:
The son of Olukohi Oroolo
I salute you OrooloI salute you, King of Ugbo,
The brave one
The child of the greatest has come
The son of the earth
The one that never disappointsHe who uses the sword to collect gifts
Ayadiyaala The greatest
The intermediary of Ogun
The son of the snake has comeHe who used one hen to inherit a hundred wives
Olukohi I salute you
I salute you King of UgboThe greatest
The intermediary of Ogun
He who uses the sword to collect gifts
Also, he ensured that his children stayed independent and strong. Their praise goes thus:
We are not traitors
Betrayal is not what we are
We do not collect other people’s things and claim it as ours
Nigerian Mythologies: The Imole Mythology
Imole are spirits that live in water. They were of four kinds; Imole Olotu, Imole Erebe, Imole Arayelu and Imole Opelima. People claimed that Ayela had at some point, summoned them during special celebrations.
Ceremonial sacrifices lasted up to five to seven days before they appeared. One of the most powerful of these gods is Imole Opelima. Then, he was very popular for swirling around the people. Then, when it was time to go back to his home, he took with him a human. In all truth, the spirits were also a terror to the people.
The Eje Mythology
In Igbegunren, Eje is the god of Yam. Eje’s messenger, Arubeji was regarded as an emblem of heaven. This was simply because of his celestial attributes. Also, there was usually so much to do when the festive season began. Before they appear, they had series of festivals and sacrifices. The aim of this was simply to prepare for their coming. In addition, there is also usually no sound of drums. In the instance where there are drums, the players are killed by the god. Subsequently, the festival begins.
The women and men all work together to bring in the new yams and pound them. Also, the most accepted meal of the god Eje is Okra. Along with the pounded yam, it is then placed in his shrine. The beliefs of the people are that the gods come down along with other ancestors to have a feast at the shrine.
