History: 35 Amazing Facts About Ijebu

Ijebu (also known as Jebu or Geebu) was a Yoruba kingdom in pre-colonial Nigeria. It formed around the fifteenth century.

According to legend, its ruling dynasty was founded by Obanta of Ile-Ife.

The King of Ijebu (right)

The kingdom was one of the most developed in the region with a complex and highly organized government. The capital was at Ijebu Ode where the Awujale had his palace. Counterbalancing the Awujale was the Osugbo (known as the Ogboni in other parts of Nigeria), a council of all free born men that acted as the kingdom’s courts. The Osugbo was divided into six groups based on rank, the highest being the iwarefa, whose head the Oliwa was the second most powerful figure in the nation. Also powerful was the Olisa who could be described as the mayor of Ijebu Ode. Like many African societies, Ijebu was also divided into three age ranks and these groups each had their own leaders. The Kingdom is made up of several towns that stretches to parts of Lagos State and borders Ondo State. These towns includes Ijebu-Remo, Ijebu-Igbo, Ijebu Imota Ikorodu, Epe, Ijebu Waterside, Iwopin, Lekki in Lagos State, Ijebu-Imushin, Ijebu-Ife, Apunren, Erunwon, Isonyin, Ososa, Odogbolu and Ago-Iwoye.

The state rose in power in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries mainly due to its important position on the trade routes between Lagos and Ibadan. The kingdom imposed sharp limits on trade insisting that all trade through the region be conducted by Ijebu merchants. The monopoly brought great wealth to the kingdom, but also annoyed Europeans.

In 1892 the British attacked Ijebu in response to its barriers on trade. The British were successful and occupied the capital, burning the meeting hall of the Osugbo. The British army employed Maxim guns, according to the soldier-adventurer Frederick Lugard. In defending himself against charges of excessive death rates in Uganda from his own use of the gun, he stated: “On the West Coast, in the ‘Jebu’ war, undertaken by Government, I have been told ‘several thousands’ were mowed down by the Maxim.”

For several years the capital was occupied by British troops as the kingdom was annexed to the colony of Southern Nigeria. Today, it constitutes one of the traditional states of Nigeria.

The Ijebu kingdom was governed by a king and his group of elders, who usually were men of a higher status and of considerable influence. The council governed the region and had representatives of further devolved councils who no longer have any power. Since the invasion of Lord Lugard these councils have continued to meet and advise the Obanta, their power, however, is largely ceremonial since the establishment of British Rule in their protectorate. The elders were known to represent their various villages and the will of the people and are now not such a significant part in the ceremonial process.The elders were all given individual titles and the lead elder was given the title prince, although he was never to inherit the kingship, except in special circumstances. The traditional belief was similar to that of the Chinese Mandate of Heaven.

The current king is Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale

1. Ijebus were the first to settle in Lagos and Ibadan.
2. Ijebus were the first people to have had contact with the Europeans in the 14th century.
3. Ijebus were the first to be educated through Western education.
4. Ijebu is the largest Ethnic group in Nigeria (wow!!!)
5. First people to manufacture gears of wars in the history of Nigeria.
6. First people to contend the slavery extortion in their region.
7. The first people to invent money made from cowry shells, later made Coins called “PANDORO”, which became acceptable through Africa and Europe.
8. Ijebu is the only tribe in Nigeria that has its origin from the Biblical days.
9. According to the Biblical account; the Jebusites were a Canaanite tribe who inhabited and built Jerusalem prior to its conquest by King David.
10. Ijebu was the first indigenous CLERK to the European Missionaries.
11. The European observers found Ijebus more intelligent than other groups in Nigeria.
12. When Oduduwa was blind, an Ijebu King (fifth Awujale) was the one to provide remedy to restore his sight.
13. Ijebus are known as socialites, people if high integrity & handwork.
14. Ijebus were the one to raise agitation for emancipation from Colonialism.
15. Ijebu King (Orimolusi) was the second Oba appointed by the Colonial Masters for the London conference in 1957 to negotiate the Nigerian Independence.
16. Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the first individual in the modern era to be named Leader of the Yorubas (Asiwaju Omo Oodua)
17. The richest black woman in the world, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, is an Ijebu woman from Ikorodu, Lagos (waterside Ijebu).
18. Ijebu man was the first Nigerian to play in the English premier league in the early 60s.
19. Ijebus are famous with Egungun, Agemo, jigbo, Ileya festivals etc.
20. Mike Adenuga, an Ijebu man from Ijebu-Igbo, was the first Nigerian to single handedly own Oil, Mining and Telecommunication (GLO).
21. Ijebu man, late Haruna Ishola, was the first musician to perform outside the shores of Nigeria.
22. Ijebu men,Chief S. O. Shonibare & Chief Shakirudeen Olarewaju Kazeem (Shokas) were the first Nigerians to own private individual housing estates (called Shonibare estate in Lagos. And Shokas Estate/Bobagunwa Castle) of about 40 mansions in Ijebu-Igbo.
23. Ijebu man, late Chief Kuti (Abusi Odumare) from Ijebu-Igbo was the first Nigerian to be banned from building further houses in Lagos having owned about 100 storey buildings in Shomolu and Ebute Meta!
24. Also an Ijebu man, Chief Isamosta Ashiru from Ijebu-Igbo, was banned from building further houses in Ibadan having owned 99% of houses on Ososami street, Ibadan (left and right)!
25. Ijebu man, late Chief Abayomi Adeyemi also from Ijebu-Igbo, was the first Nigerian contractor to build about seven housing estates for Federal Govt. He has about 60 personal houses in Lagos alone!
26. Unbelievable, a man of Ijebu origin was enthroned as Olubadan of Ibadan land, Ijebu l’oko Ibadan
27. An Ijebu woman (a potter), Bilikisu Significant was traced to the Biblical Queen of Sheba as wife to King Pharaoh
28. Ijebu has a major farm settlement that generated hundreds of millions of naira through palm oil processing (Apoje Farm settlement in Ijebu-Igbo) for the government.
29. Ijebu has produced so many musical icons like Haruna Ishola (Ijebu-Igbo), Y.K. Ajadi (Ijebu-Igbo), Popular Jingo (Ijebu-Igbo), Batuli Alake (Ijebu-Igbo), Wasiu Ayinde Marshal,  K1 (Ijebu-Ode), Adewale Ayuba (Ikenne), Musiliu Haruna Ishola (Ijebu-Igbo), Kolade Onanuga (Ijebu-Ode), Salawa Abeni (Ijebu-Ode), Wale Thomson (Ijebu-Igbo), etc.
30. The first black man to publish an indigenous Bible with dictionary and concordance was an Ijebu man (Rev. Dr. Basil Kayode Balogun ) from Ijebu-Igbo.
31. The Doyen of Theatre, Late Chief Hubert Adedeji Ogunde, was an Ijebu man from Ososa
32. Ijebu nation has more than 15 tertiary institutions which include OSU/OOU, TASUED, Babcock, Hallmark, South-West, Kinston (Universities), Grace, AAP,  Gaposa, Oscotech, Pogil (Polytechnics), Tasce (Coll of Edu.), etc.
33. Do you know that Ijebu land (Ijagun) hosts the 1st university of education in Nigeria?
34. Do you know that Ijebu nation share one-third of entire Lagos state starting from Ikorodu to Ketu, Somolu, Palmgrove, Oshodi, Yaba, Epe, Ikeja, etc.
35. Do you know that the Itshekiris (Delta state of Nigeria) are Ijebus?
What a great Nation!

The Regional capital is Ijebu Ode!!

The Commercial capital is Sagamu!!!

The Spiritual capital is Ijebu Igbo!!!!
Lastly, The Paramount ruler & Awujale of Ijebu land is the longest reigning traditional ruler in the history of Nigeria—-57 years, 06 months.

Compiled by Hafiz Sonaike from Lagos