In the aftermath of the fall of the Oyo Empire to the Fulani, the Yoruba kingdom was thrown into disarray. The inhabitants of the old Oyo dispersed and sought new settlements throughout Yoruba land. Fleeing southwards in search of new homes, the Oyos began settling among the Ifes in 1834.
These Oyo settlers were soldier-farmers, hardy in battle and industrious in the fields. Having lost all their possessions in their hasty flight, they started life in Ife by taking on menial jobs to eke out a living. The reigning Ooni of Ife, Oba Akinmoyero, was said to have welcomed them warmly.
The Oyos began cultivating various food crops on farmlands granted to them by their Ife hosts. Many of them were even recruited into Ife’s weak army, and their bravery helped extend Ife’s territory to Alakowe, its present boundary with Ilesa. Prior to the arrival of the Oyos, Ijesha land had extended to the present location of the Ooni’s palace, which is why the palace area is still known as Enuwa (Enu Owa) today.
Ooni Akinmoyero granted the displaced Oyo an expanse of land to settle outside the walls of Ife. The place given to the Modakekes was home to a species of bird called Ako (Stork), hence the origin of the appellation AKORAYE (The stork found a space). It was also customary for the storks at the location to chirp and sing the rhyme “Mo-da-ke-ke-ke-ke,” which was often heard by the Ifes, and it was decided that the new settlement would be called MODAKEKE.
