The story of modern day Ikoyi’s started with Ikoyi, one of three siblings from the same mother who migrated from Ile Ife (pre-historic ) to go and form ,jumpstart and/or begin their own territory or domain in other parts of the world. According to old Yoruba tradition,adults princes who may or may not have gone through certain professional training such as (farming skill,haunting,fighting,ifa priesthood and many more)Leave their father’s Territory,domain or kingdom to go and sow their royal oath in other part of the world.
Just as the male cups of a lion pried lives after acquiring survival skills to sustain in the wild and maintain his own newly formed pride,Yoruba princes are expected to act similar.
Igbon,Iresa and Ikoyi
With Igbon as the eldest,followed by Iresa and Ikoyi as the youngest,were three princes from the same mother who left there father’s kingdom in Ile Ife to go and form their territories and/or kingdom in the old Oyo empire.The stories of Igbon Iresa and Ikoyi are intricately linked together
Thus,The popular sayings‘Olugbo ni egbon ,aresa ni o tele,Ikoyi ni Aburo won. Igbon became the first olugbon of Igbon ,Iresa became the first Aresa of iresa land and Ikoyi became the first Onikoyi of Ikoyi in the old Oyo empire.
In modern time Igbon is still located few kilometers north of ogbomoso ,Iresa is about nine kilometers to the east of ogbomoso and Ikoyi Ile is located about 10 kilometers west of Ogbomoso. Infact,Ikoyi Ile can be find off the road between ogbomoso and igbeti road in the orile local government of Oyo state.
Adigun Ikoyi,who became the first Onikoyi of ikoyi was said to have many sons who migrated to form the scattered Ikoyi territories or domains across Nigeria and west Africa including settlements in
- Lagos,
- Kogi
- Ekiti
- Osun
- Ondo
- Kwara
- Ogun, and even across Benin / Togo
It is said that all these Ikoyi domains/territories across Nigeria and west Africa are all linked in some way or the other as evidenced when all of them come together during the annual esho day celebration in Ikoyi -ile.
The story of Ikoyi and Imoba land (Ikoyi territory in Lagos )
Oba Adeyemi Onikoyi was a paramount ruler of Ikoyi-ile sometimes in the 1700’s,a powerful warrior who fought and won many battles. At one time doing his reign he sent his soldiers (the Eso’s ) to a battle,then ,Ogeegemi Oyele, an ifa priest (known as babalawo in Yoruba land consulted ifa for predictions about the battle being fought because Oba Adeyemi was experiencing some troublesome feelings in his spirit or soul. Ogeegemi Oyele confirmed to Oba Adeyemi that ifa said his feelings are right, that his mind needs to be troubled because some of his officers are coming back to Ikoyi-ile to launch a mutiny. This battle wearied officers planned to get back to Ikoyi-ile ,kill Oba Adeyemi,take over his throne and /or government,thus,ifa advise Oba Adeyemi Onikoyi to abdicate the throne for a sojourn to an unknown land or territory with lots of water where he will end up becoming more wealthier and influential,thus the journey of Ikoyi and imoba land started.
Oba Adeyemi journey to Ikoyi And imoba land
An old image of ido side of the lagoon
Coming soon the detail story of the encounter of Oba Adeyemi and his entourage with “Awon ebora ninu iju ikeremisi”,their first encounter with the lagoon at ido, their beautiful crossing of the lagoon in a colorful boat regatta at the Breathiest of the Oba of Lagos and their final crossing of the mekuen river (odo Mekuen)to the obalendede area of Ikoyi and imoba land
The story and travail of ancestor monarch Muti Onikoyi
After their settlement in Ikoyi and imoba land,Oba Adeyemi Onikoyi used to travel to and fro mekuen river (odo mekuen) every five days to attend meeting at the iga (palace) of the Oba of Lagos.On one of this trips from his fortress in the forest of imoba to a more cosmopolitan isale-eko, he met Efunluyi, the only daughter of oloye (chief) Aromire-meku, one of the wealthiest Isale eko land owner.
Oba Adeyemi eventually married Efunluyi who begat him the legendary warrior Muti Onikoyi of the great Onikoyi dynasty of Ikoyi and imoba land.
Our great monarch and warrior ancestor Muti Onikoyi fought and won many battles including that against the British imperialist and segregationists
The attempt by the British imperialist to push the indigenous black people out of there lands in imoba land to other places including isale eko (Lagos island) was pushed back by Oba Muti onikoyi.
This segregation attempt by the British made Oba Muti Onikoyi to re strategized his battle plans; since he spent so much time In Lagos island and 2 kings are not permitted to be in the same domain (iga) by Yoruba culture,he returned his crown back to Ikoyi Ile his ancestral home,and became an Idejo chief known as “Ogalade Idejo”.
Has an ogalade Idejo chief of Lagos island (Isale eko) ,he was able to re-structure and re -organize his army(The eso’s) to resist the imposition of the British segregation laws an their attempt to push out the people of Ikoyi and imoba land. Thus,the representation of the Onikoyi’s has a member of the inner circle of the Isale eko royal dynamics.
The Ola-Idewu Onikoyi Family branch 