User talk:Omoledm

The origin of Makeke is conjectural. It has no documentary or historical records to buttress claims and assertions. However, there is a consensus that Makeke took its cradle from Ile-Ife many years ago. Its founders were said to have left Ile-Ife on provocation and settled at Ile-Ibinu which, on the advent of the Europeans in Africa, was called Benin.

By the fifteenth century, dynastic struggles erupted among the dwellers and the ancestors of Makeke decided to relocate their settlement from Ile-Ibinu to the northern parts of the region. This was during the reign of Oba Ozolua of the Benin Kingdom. In the course of migration, Makeke ancestors inadvertently encountered myriads of hardship, frustration and losses. They were attacked by several hostile communities, and they had to take temporary settlements in Imoga and some other unspecified places. This account further posited that the ancestors of Makeke left Imoga and settled sparsely around the popular pond called Ereshia in The choice of this site resulted from a hunting expedition to the area during a season of acute water scarcity. The hunters, who went in search of a ceremonial bird called Aava (partridge), discovered that the pond did not dry up in the advent of a severe harmattan. The news was spread home, and Makeke ancestors decided to establish settlements in the area named Okesi. The decision to settle around Ereshia was to surmount the perennial water scarcity often witnessed at Imoga.This assertion was contested by another version of the story which claimed that Makeke did not at any time settle at Imoga before proceeding to its present location. The account maintained that Makeke broke away from Imoga in the course of migration from Ile-Ibinu and established an independent settlement around Ereshia in 1641. Hitherto, Imoga and Makeke were united and addressed as Oma. Unfortunately, power tussles that generated among the leaders broke up the Oma community into two camps with the majority advancing towards the west to establish Oma-Oga. This was the initial name for Imoga. The smaller group that went eastward founded Oma-nukeke, a name that gave rise to Makeke. Till date, the two communities are still commonly referred to as OmBetween 1816 and 1845, some quarters of Makeke were forced to relocate their settlements to the highlands of Uresi, a few kilometres from Ereshia. This decision was to suppress incessant attacks from invaders and shun the tribute imposed on the community as mark of loyalty to the Benin kingdom. Consequently, settlements like Egborimi, Afebunu, Ereshiaoku, Osege, Afikpesi, Okuodua, Afivioba, Oshokunu, Unuafe-Ishenova, etc were established. Unfortunately, however, these settlements were dispelled during the reign of Oba Abagha (1848 – 1888) for fear of invasion by slave raiders from Nupe Kingdom. These slave raiders were regarded, in local parlance, as Ewetakpa. Some of the inhabitants relocated their settlements to Odo-Ova areas of Uresi, while the others left for places like Somorika, Ukpilla and other unknown destinations. Oba Abagha relocated with his immediate family to Onyia-Ovuru, a highland in the north of Uresi.

At the close of the 19th century, some of the displaced persons returned to Uresi. Subsequently, previous settlements were re-claimed and new ones established. Oba Abagha returned with his immediate family from Onyia-Ovuru and settled at Odu where he built his palace (Eregua).

The ancient settlements at Uresi aided the growth of the three major quarters in Makeke namely, Odu, Ileteju and Ajoyo. Odu, which was in existence during the era of Uresi, had its earliest settlements at Okesi and Olla. Later, other settlements like Afolie, Afeso, Edokuya, Enwa, Afenareme, Oguwor, Afobada, Afenwaga, and a host of others were established. Ajoyo, Ifeh and Ileteju were not established until about 1940 and 1958 when individuals started migrating from Uresi to these locations at piecemeal.Onyia-Oza was believed to have been founded by the ancestors who left Uresi for Somorika during the reign of Oba Ekuafe (1713 – 1735). These ancestors, who settled among the inhabitants of Somorika, attacked the once dreaded Ogbe community and destroyed its security device. This adventure was a feat, and it generated revered conflict between the aborigines of Somorika and their Makeke sojourners.

Makeke sojourners were perceived as threats to the sovereignty of the aborigines. Consequently, the indigenes of Somorika persuaded the displaced ancestors of Makeke to attack Onyia-Oza, a hilly encampment that could serve as hide-outs for Makeke warriors during an encounter. The aggressive Makeke ancestors invaded Onyia-Oza, disposed the inhabitants (called Ozala) of their land and settled in the area. They named the place Onyia-Oza, literally meaning the hill of Ozala. Today, Onyia-Oza is a settlement of Makeke. Its dwellers have since established links with their kindreds in other parts of the community. Oba Abagha, who ruled Makeke between 1848 and 1888, was a resident of Onyia-Oza.