History of Emure-Ekiti
Emure-Ekiti, a Yoruba town in the
Western part of Nigeria, is the
headquarters of Emure Local
Government in Ekiti State. Elemure
(the monarch of Emure-Ekiti) is one
of the Sixteen Beaded Crown Obas
(Kings) in Ekiti Land. The population
of Emure-Ekiti as at the 2006
National Census is 94,264.The
ancestors of the present Emure
Ijaloke, which is also known as
Emure-Ekiti can be traced back to
Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba
race. Emures relate through oral
report that Fagbamila Obadudu,
the progenitor of Emure was one of the sons of Obele. Obele was the
son of Oranmiyan who happened to
be the last son of Okanbi, the only
son of Oduduwa, the acclaimed
father of the Yoruba race.
Oduduwa
Okanbi
Oranmiyan
Obele
Obadudu
(Progenitor of EMURE-EKITI) It was
common in those days for kings to
instruct their sons to go out and
search for places to build their
own kingdoms. In that tradition,
Prince Fagbamila Obadudu was
bidden by his father to look for a
territory where he could settle with
his own people. He was sent forth
with blessings by the entire
Oduduwa royal family as he left
Ile-Ife. In addition, Prince
Obadudu was given the following
paraphernalia of royalty – a Beaded
Crown, a Sword (to win laurels in
battle), Fern Leaves, Akoko Leaves,
Atorin (cane), and a Giant Leather
Fan made of Tiger Skin. The Fern
Leaf is called Imu in Yoruba
language and the name of the town
was derived from the act of giving
the Fern Leaves to Obadudu – Imu
re re e o , meaning these are your
Fern Leaves.
Obadudu left Ile-Ife with many
followers, intent on carving a
kingdom for himself. He had many
temporary stopovers in diverse
abodes, before he finally settled at
a place called IGBO-OWA near
River Ose. The kingdom flourished
- a large settlement sprang up,
giving birth to a powerful kingdom.
Emures remained at Igbo-Owa for
some centuries, nevertheless, as
the popular saying goes, whatever
has a beginning must surely have
an end – Emure people had to
migra