Ejigbo, a major Yoruba town in Osun State, Nigeria, has a rich and storied history that dates back centuries. According to oral history, the town was founded by Akinjole Ogiriniyan, a descendant of the renowned Oduduwa.
Ogiyan, as he is often referred to, has deep ties to the ancient city of Ile-Ife. He is said to have left Ile-Ife, along with other prominent figures such as Akire, the founder of Ikire-Ile, and Oranmiyan, the founder of old Oyo, to establish his own settlement.
Ejigbo’s influence extended far beyond its borders, with several towns and villages coming under Ogiyan’s rule, including Ika, Igbon, Olosinmo, Ologede, Inisa, Aato, Ijimoba, Afake, Ilawo, Inisa Edoro, Isundunrin, Olla, Ado Ori-Oke, Ayegunle, Idigba, Ibogunde, Songbe, Olorin, Osuntedo, and Iwata.
In the 1830s, Ejigbo came under the protection of the powerful Ibadan army, when they moved to defend Osogbo from the Ilorin invaders. Detachments from Ejigbo assisted the Ibadan forces in several key battles, including the Osogbo, Ijaye, Jalumi, and Kiriji wars. Balogun Ajayi Ogboriefon, the leader of the Ibadan army in the Jalumi war, was a native of Ejigbo, hailing from the Akala compound.
Today, Ejigbo remains a vibrant and diverse community, where the Yoruba language is the predominant mother tongue. However, the town has also embraced other languages, with French, Dioula (from Mali), Ewe (from Togo), and Asante (from Ghana) all spoken by its residents.
The history of Ejigbo and its founder, Akinjole Ogiriniyan, is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people and the enduring legacy of their forefathers.
