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Ilara-Yewa
ILARA
Motto:  ILARA OGUDO ALEWILESE
Ilara-Yewa Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 7°38′N 2°52′E
Country	Nigeria
State	Ogun State
Government
• Local Government Chairman and the Head of the Local Government Council	Prince Tosin Adeluyi
Area
• Total	1,210 km2 (470 sq mi)
Population  (2006 census)
• Total	200,000
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
3-digit postal code prefix	111

Ilara-Yewa is a main Border town in Imeko-Afon LG area Ogun State in the west of Ogun State, Nigeria Ilara-Yewa a town with two Countries, a gateway town to Imeko-Afon local Government,Ilara-Yewa bordering Republic of Benin. to Ogun State and to Nigeria, Ilara is located about 91 kilometers North-West of Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun State. {{ latitude 72 25°N and Longitude 24 50°E||It geographical stands on the 600 feels (i.e. 183 meters) above the sea level. coordinates {{}}.

How Ilara-became a Town within the two Countries

After the Berlin Conference in 1876, when the West African land was demarcated by the Colonial Masters, the French Colonial Master came to Ketu ask the people to follow them. Meanwhile, the Ketu's had earlier been conquered by Dahomey in 1886 but was restored when they reached to French Armies who restored Ketu in 1893 under protectorate though the war ended in 21 February – 4 October 1890. As a result of this, the people spared no time to give their consent to French. The flag was hosted. The French colonist asked if there were other communities which made them to reached out Ilara during the reign of Regent Alaba Ida the then Alaketu in 1893-1894. She selected some of her chiefs to accompany the colonial Master to Ilara. However, the Ilara people were unwilling to following the French Colony. To signify their interest or displeasure, the flag of French and British was hosted and that the people should choose the flag of country they wish to follow. The then Baale Aseje stood up to choose British flag because they had previously consulted the Oracle (IFA) who instructed them to go with British flag. The Alaketu delegates were furious about the decision of the Ilara people and decided that,since Ilara had chosen to follow British as against the wish of Alaketu the prescribing authority over Ilara, the British flag will be hosted at her backyard. That is why Ilara was divided. Quarters in Ilara that falls in Benin Republic: Isaro quarters, Idoti quarters, Idosan quarters, Otesu quarters, Fanigbe quarters, Igbaka quarters, Segbeluku quarters, Igbo-Igo quarters, Orisa Gbongbo quarters, Isako quarters, Igbo-Ogudo, Igboigo quarters and host of others.

Location

Ilara-Yewa, a main Border town in Imeko-Afon LG area Ogun State, a town with two Countries, a gateway town to Imeko-Afon local Government, to Ogun State and to Nigeria, Ilara is located about 91 kilometers North-West of Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun State. A town laid on the latitude 72 25°N and Longitude 24 50°E. It geographical stands on the 600 feels (i.e. 183 meters) above the sea level.

Migrated

ILARA-Yewa is an offshoot community of Ketu, a town situated in the present day Benin Republic. History has it that, Ketu people migrated from Ile-Ife under the leadership of the first son of Odua/Oduduwa(Alaketu) to found the Ketu Kingdom. Odua was the progenitor of the Yoruba race. It was this Alaketu who inherited the Crown of their father- Oduduwa after his death. He came with the crown to found Ketu Kingdom. The original settlers of Ilara migrated together with Alaketu from Ile-Ife and settled at Ketu. These people are from Ilemu quarters in Ile-Ife. According to history, there people are brave hunters.

Oduduwa and the line of Alaketu

{{|Ketu (Benin)}} Omonide, Oduduwa's favorite wife, gave birth to Sopasan, the father of the future crowned kings of Ketu. Sopasan was the first to leave Ile-Ife with his mother and crown. He settled at such temporary sites as Oke-Oyan and Aro. At Aro, Soposan died and was succeeded by Owe. The migrants stayed for a number of generations and broke camp in the reign of the seventh king, Ede, who revived the westward migrations and founded a dynasty at Ketu.

People

Ketu

References

These people under the leadership of Aduitan, Baba Obosu, Ogbe and Dosunmu to mention but a few let ketu in search of wild-life viz, Antelopes, Elephants and the likes. On getting to the forest they killed an Eliephant as they rip open the stomach of the Elephant they found “Ose Sango and Edun Aara” They were amazed and as well afraid of the turn of events as such they consulted Ifa the oracle who told them not to eat the Elephant but buried it and settled in the place. The Elephant was buried in the forest and they called the name of the place Ogudo and the forest was called Igbo-Ogudo (Ibiti Ogun ni ki ndo abi Tedo) ----- meaning : the place where ogun(god of iron)said I should settle.

Language

Ile-fe/ketu

Ilara Ogudo Traditional Religion and Deities

The traditional cultural activities predominantly among Ilara people are typical of the Ketu speaking people, In term of traditional religion virtually all the major deities of the Yoruba i.e Ogun, Sango, Osun, Ifa, and others are being worship in the community. However, the Aagbona, Ogun-Oko, Ogun-Imasa, Orisa-Gbongbo are peculiar to the community. The Aagbona is the central shrine. The Ogun-Oko is symbolized by a heavy Stone place upon the three wooden pillars at the major junction in Ilara, (Kanga Ilara Benin side),from this point the Iwe-Odun cultural dance kick off to the other part of the Town. The orisa Gbongbo equally falls to Benin side and located along a major road to Kobejo. It is taboo to pass along the street without paying homage to it. Yet, people must neither stand upright or bent down while paying the homage. So passer-by singing its praise bending and standing upright rhythmically along the Orisagbongbo shrine site.

Annual Cultural Activities

Among the annual cultural festival are:- Oro,Gelede,Bolojo, Iwe cultural Dance,Kete, Sakara, ere Olode,Egungun. The Egungun (masquerade) festival kick off with “Agan”night(usually on Friday). The following Saturday witness the Egungun parade from their ggroove “Igbo-Igbale or Igbo-Oje” located at the outskirt of the Town round the major street of the town in a long single queue. In case of Oro festival, the women are forbidden to come out throughout the day of the festive usually three Saturdays in a Year. The Iwe cultural dance is organized by men and women of the same age group to entertain the community on a chosen day of the year. Common attire is chosen and worn on the day. Men use black horse tail (IRU ESIN /IRUKERE DUDU) for the dance while the women dig it with locally made hand fans.

Religion Harmony

There is mutual understand between the adherents of the three religious worshipers in the Town,they co-habit without any fracas. The Methodist Church Nigeria was the first Church in town around 1915 the mission established the Primary School in 1935. Followed by Catholic Mission of St.John Catholic Church which equally established School known as St.John Catholic School in about 1957 and Christ Apostolic Church in 1971 then other Church follows. The Muslim community came in some years later and the first chief Imam was Kazeem from Igbaka quarters.

Ruling Houses

The original settlers of Ilara migrated together with Alaketu from Ile-Ife. To settle at Ketu.these people are from Ilemu quarters in Ile-Ife. According to history, these people are brave hunters. Ilara had maintained the affinity with Ketu until ketu lost Ilara to the British protectorate as a result in boundary demarcation. Alaketu of Ketu from time immemorial is the prescribed Authority over the Oloola of Ilara chieftaincy matters in towns and the villages of the Ketu speaking people. The town has tow Ruling houses before, but later the elders in the town met and agreed that the ruling houses should increase to four. The names of the Ruling houses are:-Isako Olisagu Ruling House,Idogbede Ruling House, Otesu Ruling House, Faningbe/Igbaka Ruling House,

Economy

Due to its location of the town the people of Ilara are mostly traders who engage in international trade between Nigeria/ Benin. Farming is another economic activity.The vegetable is a mixture of Savannah belt and sparse forest. The climate is tropical with rainy season commencing around March and ending in November. The soil is fertile, Tomatoes, cucumber, Golden melon,Cocoa,Cassava are grown in large quantities,and other crops like pepper, Maize, groundnuts, Yam, Vegetable, Cashews and Teak-timber.

Education Institutions in Town

The Town has two public Secondary Schools namely:Community High Ilara, established in 1980 and Muslim high School Agbogi, Ilara. The Town has two Community based Secondary the project been financed solely from the funds locally generated:United Christian College Ajegunle Ilara, the first of the school are currently writing WAEC,Ajoda Community Grammar School Oke-Ode, Idi-Seen Ilara, We have four public primaries School,namely Methodist Primary School Ilara Ata-Ijoun Road, St John Catholic School Ilara, Muslim Primary School Ilara,Community Primary Ilara Atan-Efun, Ilara. Both Methodist and Catholic Primary School are split into Schools School I & II. The Town have have two Community Owned primary school still awaiting government takeover they are Oloola community Primary School Ilara,and Ilara-Ogudo Community Primary School Isokia, Ilara. There are two Government Approved Primary and Secondary School in Ilara they are: Iranlowo Oluwa Nursery & Primary School, Living Grace Nursery & Primary School, Fatokun Memorial College Ilara and Living Grace secondary School, Ilara. There are other private schools both Primary and Secondary School that are still at various stages of Government Approval. There are two Primary Schools in Benin side of the town Ecole Primaire Scolaire du Benin Kanga, Ilara and Igbo-Ogudo, Ilara. One Secondary Schoold CEG Ecole Secondaire du Benin Kobejo Road Ilara.

Staple food

The Ilara people are fond of "Amala" locally called "Oka" (made from cassava flour)"Tuwo" locally called "Lagba" (made with maize flour), Pounded Yam, Eko, The popular among the Yoruba are taken with the stape. however "Opoporu" soup commonly called "Obe Oodun" is peculiar to the people and the soup is common especially during the festivals. The "Efo-Yarin/Efo-Iyanrin/ Agumata" is the people choice especially when they are to eat"Eko"Imoyo, is prepared by slicing raw Tomatoes,Onions, Peppers mixed with locust beans(Iru)smoke fish or meat,groundnuts Oil add salk to taste, is better serve with Eko. Sopo, Abonda,Kagin,Kekere etc.