HISTORY OF YEWALAND (FORMERLY EGBADO)

YEWA (FORMERLY EGBADO) BRIEF HISTORY.

• Origin of Yewa People and Location of Yewaland in Ogun State.
• Languages and Professions of Yewa People.
• Yewa Council of Obas Roles in Peaceful Co-existence in Yewaland.
• Yewa River and its Significance to Yewaland.
• Yewa Think Thank and Notable People in Yewaland.
• Music and Cultural Heritage of Yewa People.

Location of Yewaland

The Yewa clan is a multi-ethnic, (Yewa (formerly Egbado). Tribe) multicultural diverse sub ethnic group of Yoruba people located in Ogun State, South west region of Nigeria with an estimated population figure of 1.8 million people spread across the present day five local governments of Yewa South, Yewa North, Imeko Afon, Ipokia and some communities in the present Ado-Odo Ota and Abeokuta North local governments areas of Ogun State. The Origin of the people is linked to the cradle history of Yoruba land of the popular Ile-Ife and Oyo traditions.

Origin of Yewa People:

The early Yewa settlers were great warriors, hunters and princes who were said to have migrated from Ketu, Ile-Ife and Oyo in the 15th, 16th and 17th Centuries. Another migration also took place in the 18th and 19th centuries as a result of Dahomey and Egba invasions of some Northern Yewa towns. These migrations of different groups largely resulted in settlements of independent kingdoms and chiefdom’s of diverse ethnic and sub-ethnic groups that constitute the various Yewa towns and villages.

Professions of Yewa People:

The Yewa people in the contemporary history, are predominantly farmers and traders largely found in the western part of Ogun State, Nigeria. It borders Lagos to the South, Oyo State in the North while its close location to the international Border of Nigeria and Republic of Benin in its Eastern border has considerable effect on international commercial activities. It must be mentioned that the area was a major slave trade route to the coast which made it subject of external attacks by slave merchants in their bids to force open the slave routes to the sea.

Languages of Yewa People:

Essentially, the Yewa people as a multi-ethnic language community consists the Sabe, the Ije (Ohori), Ifonyin, Eyo, Egbado, Ketu, Anago and the Egun speaking languages. On the Northern part of Yewaland are Ketu towns of Ijaka, Ijoun, Owode ketu, Igan-Alade, Egua, Tata, Ilara, Imeko, Afon, Idofa etc. In the South are the Yewa other towns of the Ketu and Ije (Ohori), Oja-odan, Obele, Pobe, Ibeku, Iselu while further south are the Ifonyin, Ikolaje, Ihunbo, Ilase, Ifonyintedo, Madoga etc. Located in the Eastern part are communities’ referred to as “Egbado”.

These includes Ilaro, Ibara, Ilewo, Imasayi, Imala, Ilobi, Ibese, Isaga, Iboro, Joga, Ayetoro, Idofoyi, Tibo, Keesan, Oke-Odan, Igan-Okoto, Sawonjo, Erinja, Igbogila, Ajilete among others. South of the Egbado are the Anago, Eyo and Egun people who settled in Ipokia, Agosasa, Ijofin, Maun, Tube, Ibatefin etc. Its people also includes the Egbado and Awori towns Ado-Odo, Igbesa, Ikogbo, Agbara, Alapoti etc.

Peaceful Co-existence in Yewaland:

Like other communities across the globe despite its multicultural orientation, the Yewa community has a relatively good history of peaceful co-existence among its people and neighbours, perhaps because of its well-coordinated community relations and high respect for native authority residual in the Obaship Institution and native authority which plays significant roles in native administration, native laws, peace and security including societal norm and values. A typical Yewa man is a symbol of a quintessential personality and a good example of Omoluwabi.

Yewa Council of Obas:

The Yewa Traditional Council otherwise referred to as “Council of Obas” is a veritable Institution in this respect. The complimentary roles the Council is playing in conflict management and resolution has great impact in enduring peace and peaceful co-existence in the Community.

The Council is headed by the Olu of Ilaro, who since 1993 became the President and Paramount ruler of Yewa land following a consensus agreement among the crown-heads of Yewa towns and Communities. The Council is currently headed by HRH OBA KEHINDE OLUGBENLE ASADE AGUNLOYE (IV) the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland.

Administration of Yewa:

The various sub ethnic groups that is today known as Yewa were administratively grouped under the Egbado Division of the then known Abeokuta province. In 1995, following a report of research conducted by the “Yewa think tank”, (a group of prominent educated elites and leaders of thoughts) it was unanimously resolved that the people formerly referred to as Egbado be forthwith known and called YEWA.

Importance of Yewa River:

The change according to Anthony Asiwaju was “motivated by the need to tackle an identity problem of correcting a double misnomer that had applied to the wider multi-ethnic and the particular sub groups formerly labelled as “EGBADO” and more significantly for self-determination of the entire people who not only share cultural but also geographical affinity over the Yewa River to explore new ground for Unity and Progress”

The Birth of Modern Yewaland:

The journey of modern day Yewaland started from the efforts of Egbado Consultative Council which existed between 1982 and January, 1994. The Egbado Consultative Council was presided over by Chief J. A. Ola Odebiyi and Alhaji Bolarinwa Abioro, both of blessed memory.

The Yewa Think Tank (YTT):

The group that came into existence in February, 1994 took over from the Egbado Consultative Council and has worked relentlessly, assiduously and with great zeal to ensure that notable and patriotic Yewa elites were brought together to champion the course of development in the then Egbadoland now Yewaland.

Notable Yewa People:

The pioneer members of Yewa Think Thank (YTT) include Chief (Mrs.) Ebun Akinola-Oyagbola, Professor Afolabi Olabimtan, Dr. S.A.J. Ibikunle, Deacon George Adekunte, Chief Alamu Alagbe, Alhaji Bisiriyu Popoola, Mr. Michael Adeleke, Chief Paul Olaosebikan, Chief Leke Fasina, Prince A. O. Oyekanmi, Chief (Major) Armstrong Ibikunle, Chief J.A.O. Odebiyi, Dr. Tunji Otegbeye, Mr. I. A. Babayemi and Chief Bolarinwa Abioro. Others are Professor Isaac Akinbode, Prof. Biyi Afonja, Professor Anthony Asiwaju and Professor John Aihonsu the curent President of Yewa Think Thank.

Yewa Cultural Heritage:

Significantly, the Yewa people are notable for their very rich cultural heritage. Its popular type of music includes Bolojo, Agasa, Ajangbode, Ponse etc. while the people are traditional worshipers of Egungun, Gelede and Oro cults.

Ref: Samuel Johnson, Anthony Asiwaju, Kola Afolayan and Fayomi Solomon Adebayo.