Meet Òrólè and Olósùnta- The Twin Warriors of Ikere People

By Amuda Emmanuel

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.

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