Modakeke
Modakeke is a town in Osun State, South West Nigeria,[1][2][3] with a population of close to 500,000 people.The Modakekes are also known as the "Akoraye" and have a history of valor at war and are prosperous farmers.
History
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The Oyo Empire due to internal conflicts among the senior chiefs, fighting among themselves over the Sango Throne, the Yoruba kingdom was thrown into confusion and the inhabitants of the Old Oyo were dispersed and started new settlements all around Yoruba land. Fleeing southwards in search of new abodes after the fall of the Oyo Empire, the Oyos started settling among the Ifes in 1834. As the Romans of old, they were prosperous soldier-farmers. They were hardy as soldiers and industrious as farmers. Having lost all their possessions in their hasty flight, they started life in Ife by doing menial jobs to enable them eke out a living. The reigning Ooni of Ife, Oba Akinmoyero was said to have received them well. They started growing and producing different types of food crops on farmlands given to them by their hosts. A good number of them got recruited into Ife’s weak army and it was through their gallantry that Ife had its territory extended to Alakowe, its present boundary with Ilesa.
Prior to the arrival of the Oyos, Ijesha land extended to the present location of the Palace of the Ooni of Ife. This is why the Palace area is known as Enuwa (Enu Owa) until today. There were a lot of powerful men in Modakeke like the late balogun and baale raji orire ikoyi eso who was Baba bosa he owned bosa Street in Modakeke, there was Akanbi onigbinde he was a warrior, there was lasisi ijori who was from Modakeke and ibadan, there was adewale ishola, there was oba raji animasun who was a wealthy king,there was ademiguin olabisi who was in Modakeke war and deafted 20 man in war he lived in ibadan, there was the baale of ile oba compound in 1956 he was powerful to and many more.
Ooni Akinmoyero gave the displaced Oyo an expanse of land to stay 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 most of the time heard by the Ifes and it was decided that the new settlement would be called Modakeke.
Modakeke men are usually known as disciplined and highly trained warriors. People from Modakeke are called Modekeans . One unique thing about the people of Modakeke is that they have their own traditional song which goes sa abada ni elu fun Modakeke lo ti wa, sa abada sa abada sa abada sa bada, sa abada ni elu fun Modakeke lo to wa. It is played with a drum called bembe .
Notable people
References
- ^ "10 die in Nigeria village clashes". The Guardian. 7 March 2000. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ^ Okafor, Theresa (June–August 2001). "Ethnocentrism in Africa". UN Chronicle – via Questia (subscription required) . Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ^ Falola, Toyin (1999). The History of Nigeria. Greenwood Press – via Questia (subscription required) . p. 33.