Meet Òrólè and Olósùnta- The Twin Warriors of Ikere People

Ikere-Ekiti, the second largest city in Ekiti State of Nigeria and popularly knows as IK LONDON.

Ikere is the only town in Ekiti State that has a Local Government Area without ant other subordinate towns or Villages.

A town of the twin warriors of people.

A town endowed with magnificent hills, including Òrólè and Olósùnta . The town is located between Ado-Ekiti (the capital of Ekiti State) and Akure (the capital of Ondo State).The gateway to Ekiti Land.

• Òrólè and Olósùnta Hills of Ikere

These two hills are located at Northern and southern parts of the town "Ikere Ekiti" respectively. They are both steep-sided hills. These two hills are the largest hill so far in Ekiti state.

These are good resort centres for Tourists to visit and see for themselves what God has done in Ikere and for the State of Honour, Fountain of Knowledge. There are deities in charge of these two hills. Both are worshiped accordingly. In line with the belief of the people of this town the Olósùnta and Òrólè deities reside in the hills respectively.

Both deities are credited with some feats such as provision of children to barren women and protection of Ikere from warfare.

They are believe to be responsible for the welfare of the town.

Ikere Ekiti is usually described as the only unconquered town in Ekiti during the popular inter-tribal wars.

•OROLE BABA OKE

"Òrólè baba Òkè": Òrólè, the king of the heights

History has it that, a long time ago, when Orole (“Oro-Ile” meaning “story of the land”) was known to be a low-lying rock out crop, the people of Oyo Kingdom rose up to attack Ikere Kingdom. The people of Oyo Alaafin wanted to capture and sell the people of Ikere to White men as slaves.

Just before the Oyo soldiers gained entry into Ikere’ enclave, they became very tired and hungry and decided to stop and take some rest on a small yam plantation where Orole was located.

They dug out yam tubers they found on the farm and feasted on them. As they stood up to attack the enclave of Ikere, the Orole began to rise out of the ground(while they were still on it) and before they realised what was happening, the were carried up to a height of about 1000 ft. Orole rose into a gigantic inselberg, so big and steep they couldn’t descend it.

It was told that they tried escaping from the trap by tying their clothes together in pieces to use as ropes, but it amounted to futility.

They decided to commit suicide by jumping off the inselberg.

Every year, the people of Ikere-Ekiti offer sacrifices to Orole Inselberg in order to continue enjoying its protection.

•OLOSUNTA ORUN IKERE

“Olósùnta òrun Ìkéré”: Olósùnta, the heavens of Ikere Land

Sometimes in the past, when the people of Ikere worshipped the massive Olosunta Inselberg as a god, another conflict took place again between the kingdoms of Oyo Alaafin and Ikere, in which the soldiers of Ikere fled before the Oyos and their leader ran into a cave. Since capturing a leader during war meant the end of a battle, the Oyo warriors found the cave but feared to enter the stygian hole. They even tried setting the cave on fire by using dried palm fronds, but their efforts were in vain. This was how the war ended.

Every year a festival of remembrance called “Jóná Olosunta”” takes place in Ikere land to commemorate the Ikere warriors who died in the battle against Oyo kingdom.

As part of the sacrificial rites, palm fronds are tied together and lit up- this is known as Òtifon. Snails, chicken and goat are also served as sacrifice to Olosunta rock.

Only the Olú–Ìkéré is allowed to make sacrifices to the rock.