Iwoye-Ketu
Iwoye-Ketu | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Nigeria |
| State | Ogun State |
| Local Government Area | Imeko Afon |
| Government | |
| • Type | Monarchy |
| • Ooye | Joel Ademola Aremu |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 25,000 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
Iwoye-Ketu is a town located in Imeko Afon, Ogun State in southwest Nigeria.[1] The community, which shares a border with Benin Republic on the west and Iwajowa local government area of Oyo State on the north. It is renowned for its production of cotton.[2][3]
History
Oral tradition says that the own of Iwoye-Ketu can trace its origins to the ancient city of Ile Ife, the origin of Yoruba people and the cradle of Yoruba culture. The traditional rulers of the city were the sons of the Yoruba deity, Oduduwa as he was the first ruler of Ile Ife.[4] In mythology, Iwoye-Ketu was created by Olumu, a legendary king and pioneer traditional ruler of the town who migrated from Ile Ife.[1] Olomu migrated to Iwoye Ketu with three major items: a crown, a staff called "Opa Ogbo" and his deity called "Orisa Oluwa".[5]
Description and culture
Orisa Oluwa traditions unusually forbids the use of umbrellas and pig farming because pigs are dirty. Due to the honour and respect the community have for the deity, strong protocols were developed around avoiding the use of umbrellas.[6] It is not illegal to own an umbrella or for people who live in the town to use one outside the locality. The punishment is not clear as it just does not happen. It is suspected, but not known, that visitors to the town would be forgiven for breaking this taboo.[1] Aboriginal custom also prevents pig farming[5] however the local farms are agrarian and the local university is the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB.[1]
The border is such that some residences have some rooms in one country and others in another. All the shops are willing to the currency of Nigeria or the currency of Benin and stocks of imported products such as rice, wine, perfume and car tyres are readily available.[1]
Geography
Iwoye-Ketu is located in Ogun State southwestern Nigeria. It is inhabited by eight ethnic-groups, including Egun, Hausa, Igbo, Fulani, Igede, Ohoi and the Yorubas.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e Moshood Adebayo (21 September 2014). "Iwoye-Ketu: Town on the Nigeria-Benin border where umbrella is forbidden". The Sun. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "N54b cotton farming…A revolution under threat". The Nation. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Ogun monarch laments neglect of Iwoye border". The Punch. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
- ^ Ile Ife, Nigeria (ca. 500 B.C.E.- ), Blackpast.org, Retrieved 8 August 2015
- ^ a b "Iwoye-Ketu: Community Where It's Taboo To Use Umbrella". Information Nigeria. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ Gbenro Adeoye (7 March 2015). "Community where it's taboo to use umbrella". The Punch. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ Christian C. Ozor (24 November 2014). "Somewhere in Nigeria called "Iwoye-Ketu"". HovaBuzz. Retrieved 24 July 2015.