According to the 2006 population census, the Owo Local Government Area situated in Ondo State, Nigeria has a population of 222,262. Like every other African kingdom that has been colonised under the British laws, the Owo Kingdom was colonised in 1893, and became part of the Western region after Nigeria gained her independence in 1960. The Owo people played a very important role in the political system of the first republic of Nigeria. Later, in 1967, it became part of the Western State; the newly created Ondo State.
As a Yoruba city-state, Owo is situated in South-Western Nigeria, at the Southern edge of the Yoruba Hills, and at the intersection of roads from Kabba, Siluko, Akure, and Benin city. It is being said that the Owo Kingdom is situated halfway between the towns of Ile-ife and Benin city. Owo is being caught up between the two cities, and it is about 140 miles away from the latter, on the eastern border of Yoruba land.
The Owo Kingdom, the capital of a Yoruba city state between 1400 & 1600 A.D. traces its origin back to the ancient city of Ile-ife. It's being said that it was one of the sons of Oduduwa, who was the first ruler of Ile-ife that founded the Ile-ife and Owo Kingdom. Owo is situated between the two famous art centers of Ife and Benin. The city of Owo is much influenced by the city of Ile-ife because of this relationship, that it is clearly visible on some of their artworks. Likewise the Benin city, virtual independence from the neighboring Kingdom from them was maintained by the Owo people, that the transmission of courtly custom and culture flowed in both directions, that sometimes Owo people pay tributes as required. They also appreciate each other's skills. It's being said that the skill of Owo's ivory carvers were appreciated at the Benin court, and Benin rulers recruited Owo's artisans for their own royal workshops.
Owo being situated between the two famous art centers of Ife and Benin, the site pronounces both artistic traditions and important discoveries. Being greatly influenced by both cities, Ife's influence is clearly seen on some of Owo's artwork, and their heads have characteristics features in common like: modeled face, slanted eyes, vertical striations, and likewise the Benin city, that at the end of the 15th century, Owo became influenced by several factors by the Benin city. Factors like 'Religion' as they seem to practice similar religious activities, which is also quite obvious in their 'Iguwe' performance; 'Architecture' as they both have similar fluted walls; 'Politics' as they both adopt chiefly titles; 'Traditional Rulers' as they both use the same ceremonial sword; 'Sculpture' as their ivory carvings are difficult to dispute which city it originally belongs to; 'Regalia' as it is common in both cities, to mention a few. In addition, one of their common cultures is placing the wooden ram-heads in the ancestral shrines. Owo art has a historical and functional link between the ancient Ife and Benin arts.
The traditional ruler of the Owo Kingdom is Olowo, and the most recent Olowo is Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye 111, and he has been the Olowo since 2019. The palace of the Olowo is called Aghofen, and it is the largest palace in Africa, that it was declared by the federal government, a national monument. The Aghofen is said to have more than 100 courtyards called the 'Ugha', and each courtyard has a unique role that is being reserved to a particular god. Some courtyard were designed with quartz pebbles or broken pottery; pillars supporting the veranda; and roofs carved with statues of the king mounted on a horse or show with his senior wife. The largest courtyard is used for festivals and public assemblies.
From
the first part of this article, Owo is introduced as a town with a
local dialect, yet so rich in culture, traditions and antiques
Owo,
a local government area in Ondo state in Nigeria is situated in the
south-western region of the country. In ancient times, Owo kingdom
played highly significant roles in the politics of Yoruba city, as a
capital of this city and participating in the politics of the first
republic of Nigeria, in Nigeria.
LOCATION: It is located at the
southern edge of the Yoruba hills, particularly at the intersection of
the roads from Akure, Kabba, Benin city and Siluko.
Due to its
strategic location at the intersection of two great ancient traditions;
the Ile-Ife and Benin kingdoms, the antiques of Owo kingdom shares
features with those of that kingdom.
HISTORY: According to the oral
tradition passed down from generation to generation, the origin of Owo
can be traced back to the ancient city of Ile-Ife which is the
birthplace of Yoruba culture. It is further stated that the founders of
Owo kingdom were the sons of the Yoruba deity, Oduduwa who was known as
the first ruler of Ile-Ife as history had taught.
Back in the
80's, Owo kingdom came under British rule in 1893. After Nigeria gained
independence in 1960, it then became a part of the Western region. In
1967, it became a part of the Western state.
Later in 1976, it became a part of Ondo state which was newly created at that time.
SIGHTS:
*
Owo palace: Built during the reign of Olowo Irengenje in 1340, is
Aghofen, the Owo palace which sits on 180 acres of land. It is claimed
to be about twice the size of an American football field. It has about
1000 rooms and 100 courtyards, known as Ugha with each having specific
functions such as worship centers for a particular deity.
It
features courtyards paved with broken pottery or quartz pebbles, pillars
carved with statues of the king mounted on a horse or shown with his
senior wife.
* Owo museum of antiques: Serving as an historical link
between the indigenes of Owo, their past and their ancestors, the Owo
museum of antiques, located within the confines of the Olowo, the town's
monarch, depicts a humble and classical exterior yet holding a
collection of rich historical and archeological artefacts which
represents the early life of generations gone by.
Founded back in
the year 1968 mainly for the purpose of accommodating the antiques
which were formerly in the Owo palace but in recent times has become an
attraction site for inquisitive tourists and ethnographic (related to
study of human races and cultures) researchers. In addition to
preserving the antiques of the monarchical history of the Owo kingdom,
it also hosts the famous artefacts from the two great ancient traditions
of Benin and Ife. Owo museum of antiques, because of its strategic
location between these two traditions; Benin kingdom and Ile-Ife, it's
art shares features with that of these two kingdoms; Ile-ife and Benin,
thereby enriching its contents, potentials and value as a tourist
centre.
The antiques found in the museum are arranged into
three broad sections, namely; early civilization, archeological
excavations and exhibition gallery.
Owo museum of antiques is
a national museum that has many antiques, ranging from wood carvings,
bronze works, ivory carvings, and brass works. Over time, the Owo museum
of antiques has been preseved and maintained to serve as a place for
visitors to have a taste of the historical values and standards of the
indigenes of Owo and those of the neighbouring towns and villages.
*
Owo art work: Back in the 15th century, the shrines where these
terracottas were kept was destroyed, probably when Benin wanted to
triumph over Owo.
Then, in 1969, Ekpo Eyo, a known Nigerian
scholar and archeologist uncovered a in the Yourba city of Owo, where
he found those terracotta sculptures that dated to the 15th century.
The following are features of the Owo terracotta;
1. Parallel striations on the face
2. Raised edge of the lips
3. Overlap at the corner of the eyes
4. Parallel lines on the upper eyelids
The above features shows the similarities of Owo terracotta with that of Ile-Ife.
5. More carved eyebrows than that of Ile-Ife
*
Owo culture: There are many elements of the Owo culture that shares
similarities with that of Benin kingdom such as; chieftaincy titles, the
use of the modern royal regalia and crowns. Unlike the glass beadwork
used by other Yoruba royalty regalia, Owo kingdom, in similarity to the
Benin kingdom makes use of corals.
Economically, like every other ancient African society, the Owo Kingdom is deeply rooted in agriculture. They are involved in the farming if yams, maize, okra, pepper, cassava, cotton, and cocoa. They also have many commercial activities of which, block making, timber, and sawmilling, and soya beans processing plants are part of them. And for the 21st century situation, there are different modern banks spotted in the town like Wema Bank PLC, First Bank PLC, Skye Bank PLC, and, Omega Bank PLC, now known as Enterprise Bank LTD. Currently, there is a road development going on from the Emere junction up to Iyere exit. It's currently being expanded, and a new modern market is now opened in Owo Kingdom.
Sights that are tourist worthy are: The Owo Museum - founded in 1908, and the Tera Cotta Sculptures dating back to the 15th century.
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