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HISTORY OF ÌBÒGÙN BALÓGUN

ÌBÒGÙN BALÓGUN is a Yoruba speaking town in Ifo ̣̀ local government area of Ògun State, Nigeria. The people of Ìbogun Balógun are predominantly farmers, hunters and warriors. Ìbogun Balógun was founded by Balógun Àjuwọ̀n, a hunter and an indefatigable warrior, who fought many wars for the Owus. He is one of the refugees from Òwu Ìpóólé. Òwu Ìpóólé is the first settlement after Ìlé-ife ̣̀. Oduduwa commanded that another settlement should be founded outside of Ile-ife for his grandson, Ajíbọ́̀ṣ̀in Asunkúngbade,́ whom his daughter Iyunadé bore for Ọ̀batálá. Hence the song: "Òwu la kọ́̀dá o, bí ẹ̀ délé ẹ̀́ be re wó o, Òwu la kọ́̀dá o, bí ẹ̀ dé’fe ̣̀, ẹ̀ katan wo " meaning (Òwu is the first to be founded, inquire from Òwu and read the history in Ife ̣̀).

History has it that the Òwus were thrown into dismay after the fall of their domicile by the allied forces of Ìjẹ̀bú, Ifẹ̀ and Ọ̀̀yọ́̀ in 1826. The Owus ran out of their heavily fortified city as a result of food shortage, escaped through their southeastern gate in groups, and spread out across Yoruba land. However, Balógun Àjuwọ̀n, who fought heavily was among the main body of Owu refugees who marched across Ogun river, and finally arrived at Ago Owu, Abeokuta to begin a new life.

Oral traditions states that Balógun Àjuwọ̀n, according to practice, made a consultation with Ifá oracle one day to access hidden knowledge about his life. Ifá instructed him to leave Abẹ́̀okúta for one of his hunting forests (now Ìbọ̀gun), that if he migrated to the forest, he would become more fulfilled, and his name will not be forgotten. Prior to this period, Balógun Àjuwọ̀n had been hunting for animals such as elephants, deers, antelopes, apes and other wide animals in Ìbogun forest. He had a hut in the forest, which is where Ìbogun Balógun is located today. There he rested, slept and preserved his meats. Shortly after Balógun Àjuwọ̀n acted upon the instruction of Ifá, and migrated to the Ìbogun Balógun of today with his family alongside Ògúnkanmí and others. Although there is no certainty that Balógun Àjuwọ̀n was the first hunter to settle in Ìbogun. However, available evidence tend to suggest that the Balógun Àjuwọ̀n had settled long ago before the emergence of other settlements in Ìbogun.

ÌBÒGÙN is a collective name for all the villages founded in the same Ìbogun. ÌBÒGÙN was derived from the name Ìbọ Ògún (to appease Ògún). The name came about when other hunters who also settled in Ìbogun Forest realized that they migrated from the same source. They came to an agreement to create a central Ògún shrine which will serve as the meeting point for all the hunters; where they kept their guns and appeased Ògún before they set out for their hunting expedition. As a result, a place was consecrated in Ibògùn Balógun. It is from this central Ògún shrine that other hunters went to establish their own shrine in their various villages, and always offer the yearly sacrifice. This added Ìbọ̀ Ogún to all their villages whom were named after the name of their founder. Gradually, the name Ìbọ̀ Ògún transformed into that Ìbògùn that we have today.

Balógun Àjuwọ̀n, a notable and well respected warlord is well respected among other warriors and hunters. His mystical powers earned him the first Olú ọ̀dẹ̀ of Ibogun. History revealed that he sunk in Balógun Àjuwọ̀n, and an akoko tree sprouted from the spot where he sank. Ìbogun Balógun shared boundary with Ọ̀dẹ́̀yẹ̀mí, Adína, Akíọ̀dé, Ọ̀láogún, Súlọ̀lá and Fáshína; and extended beyond Agbọ́̀mábiwọ́̀n market and Ìbogun Comprehensive High School Ẹ̀gbẹ́̀dá.