THE GROWTH OF MARKET IN IKARE AKOKO:
A CASE STUDY OF OSELE OF OSELE MARKET
(1840 TILL PRESENT)
BY
OGUNGBEMI TEMITOPE MEMUNAT
BEING IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF
REQUREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR
OF ARTS (HONOURS) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HISTORY AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES,
UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, ILORIN.
MAY, 2011.
i
CERTIFICATION
This long essay has been read and approved as
meeting the partial requirement of the Department of
History and International Studies, University of Ilorin,
Ilorin, Nigeria.
____________________
Dr. S. Y. Omoiya
Project Supervisor
_________________
Date
____________________
Dr. Sam Aghalino
Head of Department.
_________________
Date
____________________
External Examiner
_________________
Date
ii
DEDICATION
Dedicated with love and devotion to Almighty Allah,
to my wonderful parents, my siblings, my fiancé and me
– and what the future holds for me.
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
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i
CERTIFICATION ..
..
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…
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ii
DEDICATION
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iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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iv-v
ACKNOWLEDEMENT …
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vi-vii
GLOSSARY..
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viii
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CHAPTER ONE
1.1
OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
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1-3
1.2
SCOPE OF WORK
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3-5
1.3
METHODOLOGY…
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5-6
1.4
CONCEPTIONAL FRAMEWORK
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6-7
1.5
LITERATURE REVIEW …
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7-10
FOOTNOTES
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…
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11-12
CHAPTER TWO
…
…
EARLY BEGINNINGS – 1840
2.1
HISTORICAL ORIGIN OF IKARE AKOKO.
13-20
2.2
THE ORIGIN OF OSELE MARKET
…
21-26
2.3
GOODS & SERVICES AT OSELE MARKET
27-30
2.4
SOCIO – CULTURAL ORGANIZATION
…
30-32
2.5
ECONOMIC ORGANIZATION
…
…
32-33
2.6
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
…
…
33-34
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35-37
FOOTNOTES
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iv
CHAPTER THREE – 1900 - 1960
3.1
THE IMPACT OF COLONIALISM ON
IKARE 1900-1960
3.2
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38-40
…
40-44
IMPACT OF OSELE IN THE ECONOMY
OF IKARE
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3.3
OSELE MARKET IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD 44-46
3.4
EFFECTS OF ROAD TRANSPORTATION
ON OSELE MARKET. …
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…
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46-47
3.5
GUILD IN OSELE MARKET …
…
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47-51
3.6
OSELE MARKET, THE OTHER IKARE MAINLAND
MARKETS AND THE IKARE ECONOMY …
52-56
FOOTNOTES
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….
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57-59
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1
GENERAL IMPACT
…
…
…
…
60-61
4.2
ECONOMIC IMPACT
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61-63
4.3
POLITICAL IMPACT
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64-65
4.4
SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACT
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65-66
CONCLUSION
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66-68
FOOTNOTES
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69
BIBLOGRAPHY …
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70-73
v
AKNOWLEGEMENT
Glory be to Allah the most glorious and the most
merciful. I glorify Allah for granting me the strength and
wisdom in carrying out this work.
My profound gratitude also goes to my supervisor,
Dr. S. Y. Omoiya for his understanding and co-operation
throughout the course of this study and my stay in
school. I also tank all other members of staff in my
department notably Mr. Jide Ige, Mr. Ibrahim Bashir, Dr.
Olaoye, Dr. Adebayo, Mr. Lemuel Odeh for their affection
throughout my stay in the department.
I cannot but express my love and sincere gratitude
to my parents for being so special for their love, care,
understanding, moral and financial support that got me
through my study in school. You are one in a million –
and to my siblings Lukman, Asimiyu, Sheriffdeen and
Muhammad Jamiu whom in all profound of.
vi
My special gratitude also goes to my fiance – Alhaji
Abdulateef Ibrahim for his support, I love you fiercely.
I am very grateful to my friends whose love,
understanding, concern friendly criticism and laughter
got me through this study – Aisha, Kafayat, Bashirat, to
my classmates and those who made my stay in Ilorin
pleasurable – Mr. Abdulrafiu Medupin (Brother – in – law)
for her loving encouragements, care and his lovely wife
and concern others whose name are too numerous to
mention.
My appreciation would be
incomplete
without
thanking Allah once again for his protection, steadfast
love and for keeping me ALIVE!
vii
GLOSSARY
Asoju – Oja – Market representative
Oja – Market
Iya Oja – mother of the market.
Olori Obirin – head of market women
viii
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
A market is a site where sellers and buyers
assemble daily or specific days to exchange goods and
services. Markets are not only important as centers for
the exchange of goods, ideas and fashions but also
perform significant social and political functions in the
community.
Moreover,
exchange
and
subsistence
activities were and still are integrated into market
systems.
It is important to identify the factors which enable
markets to expand. These are namely.
i.
The volume and value of goods and services
transacted (food products, sundry provisions and
herbal products) determine the size of the market
in quantitative terms.
ii.
Geographical location of the market which allow
access from various directions.
1
iii.
The number and social status of the groups
engaged
in
exchange,
which
influence
the
composition of the goods and services traded1.
All these factors are present on Osele market which
is the subject of this essay. The concept of market is
appropriate to early as well as to move recent times. That
market can contract and that future trends are more a
matter of speculation than of accurate prediction.2
During the pre-colonial period, market used to be
located at the centre of the town whereby, people from
different parts of the community came to buy and sell
varieties of goods (as it is today). In the course of the
marketing activities among the people some events which
warrant historical investigation take place.
Undoubtedly, Osele market is not only one of the
most famous markets in Akoko but one of the most well,
attended market in Yoruba land. This is for the choice of
Osele market for this study. This study therefore aims at
2
examining the factors of growth of this famous Akoko
market with a view to bringing out the elements and
substance of its growth and importance.
The extent to which Osele market attracted traders
not only from Akoko land but also from other places to
bring out how it had contributed to the inter-group
relations among the people in the pre-colonial period.
Furthermore it must be stressed that there is no gain
saying in the assertion that Osele market attracted
traders from Akoko and yorubaland.3
1.2 SCOPE OF WORK
The study that make up this work is the topic of the
work. The topics of the work has been chosen carefully to
describe and analyze the development of the markets
from the simplest periodic markets though the retail and
large specialized markets in Ikare. It also deals directly
3
with the development expansion and stability of Osele
market which is the case study of work.
The first – part of the work deals with the general
information of the study of the work. The second parts
deals with the origins and development of Osele market.
The chapter also deals with the goods and services
in Osele market. The third chapter dates 1900 – 1960 it
starts by showing the significance of the colonial rule on
the development of Osele market. It then goes on to
examine the expansion and control of Osele market. This
chapter also deals with the impact of the market guild on
Osele. They are the social and political elements behind
the market functions and developments .The Forth part
of the study dates 1960 to present here the significance
of the Akoko North East Local Government is examined.
This part also shows the importance of Osele market in
relations to the other Ikare markets and Ikare economy.
4
The work concludes with the importance of market in the
growth of the Ikare economy.
1.3 METHODOLOGY
The use of both secondary and primary sources are
valuable tools for the historical construction of the study
in this work. In gathering information for this work, I
greatly made use of the oral information from the market
traders who were both men and women but mostly
women. Their information were chiefly on the origins,
establishment and development of Osele market and the
spread of other Ikare markets.
An amount of time was also spent collecting such
basic data as the names. Location and types of market
from the Akoko North East Local Government Secretariat
market section.
It is with this material that I can best understand
the validity of the oral information. I also made as mush
5
as
possible
use
of
published
and
unpublished
newspapers were also useful.
The markets have been showed to provide a vital
link in the chain of distribution and that it involves very
large daily involvement of people and goods and they
fulfil important social and political function and the lives
of the people.
1.4 CONCEPTUAL FRAME WORKS.
The topic of this “the Growth of market in Ikare. A
case study of Osele market” institutions in Ikare. The
emergence of the present network of market is examined
in light of natural, social and economic environment of
the area. It will be proper to analyse the characteristics
and processes of trading associated with markets.
A distinction between periodic and daily market
necessary preliminary step in the analysis of market
types, distribution and economic functions It will be
6
argued that local exchange needs were important in the
creation of local markets8. The basic aims of most
household are to secure the products needed to maintain
their customary standard of living. All societies have an
economic system in that provide material goods to satisfy
biological and social needs. This study traces the origins,
distribution and developments of markets In Ikare. It
considers their present day importance in the commercial
change system relative to other institutions and examine
the functional area relationship resulting from market
activity.
1.5 LITERATURE REVIEW.
There are considerable materials on the topic of this
study. A very important text that I have made use of is
B.W. Hodder and U.I Ukwu: Markets in West Africa.
Hodder illustrates on the origin and organization of
markets. He also looks at the non- economic function of
7
markets, the impact of the colonial rule on trade and
markets and shows the economic function of periodic
market4. The distributive chain included a multiplicity of
links where there were opportunities in this sphere, most
women having view alternative employment possibilities
due to lack of specialized skills are induced to trade to
make
money.
Trading
by
women
as
Hodder
has
suggested was not a nineteeth century phenomena, it
was a occupation which women had been engaged in long
before 19th century and that to the market women trade
is a way of life and that not all women traders are
interested in making profit.
There is no evidence to conclude as Hodder did that,
this female predominance in rural marketing may date to
conditions of internal insecurity in which it was unsafe
for men to move away from their farm while women
enjoyed relative immunity for attacks5.
8
Archival materials which prove indispensable to the
study is that of Ondo Prof. file No. 3271/2/ Annual
report on Akoko District, J. H. Beeley intelligence report
on Akoko District CSO 26 file No. 29669 and also Ondo
Prof. file No. 523/vol. III. They give useful information on
the activities and importance of women in the society and
gives an insight to the development of markets in Ondo.
In unpublished theses and books, references were
made to the market. However, the views are worthy of
note as they provided a veritable source of information to
complement the oral information supplied in the study.
For Instance, S.B. Ogundena made partial reference to
the origin of Osele market to the activities of Ezele, a
Benin chief and trader who traded in Akoko in the 11th
century. However, in he original version that Osele
market was established by a man bearing “Osele” who
had come to settle at Ikare. He later called for the
establishment of the market.
9
Information collected during the oral field works
deals with activities of women in the development of
markets especially Osele market. The role of markets,
market organization, market guilds and the interaction of
the market women with Local Government officials.
O. Ekundare in his An Economic History Of Nigeria
1860 – 1960 sees a market as a distributive chain
through
which excess
goods
produce
gets
to
the
consumer. He also takes a look at factors responsible foe
expansion of a market.6
Other materials that provided useful information for
the successful completion of this work were government
files on “markets”. The files generally gave rules guiding
the establishment organization, control, allotment of
stalls and sanitary conditions of markets. Laws of the
market are to ensure market peace and order as well as
to ensure on effective and smooth running of
market7.
10
the
FOOT NOTES
1.
A.G. HOPKINS, An Economic History of West
Africa, (London, Longman, 197) P.5.
2.
Ibid, P.5.
3.
M.O. Oyewole (aged 69) “Significant social
change in Ikare since the beginning of Osele
market”? (Unpublished Long Essay submitted
to the department of History, Ondo State
University, June 1986) P.1.
4.
B.W. Hodder and U .I. Ukwu (ed), Market in
West Africa (Ibadan university Press, 1969),
P.24.
5.
Hodder and Ukwu, Markets, OP. cit. P.6.
6.
Oluyemi Ekundare, An Economic History of
Nigeria 1860 -1960, (London, Methuen, 1973)
,P.49
11
7.
Government Publication, Akoko North East
Local
government
Administration, P.B
8.
Hopkins, Economic
12
file
on
market
CHAPTER TWO
2.1 HISTORICAL ORIGIN OF IKARE AKOKO
Ikare is a town in Akoko area of the Northeastern
part of Yoruba land and it is the present administrative
headquarters of the Akoko North-East Local Government
Area of Ondo State. The town is about 96 kilometres form
Akure, the capital of Ondo State, the town with annual
rainfall of 0.6 metres in the forest area and spreads
towards the grassland1.
Ikare is located between latitude 70 and 7.290 north
of the equator and longitude 50 and 60 east of the
Greenwich meridian2. In terms of geographical extent
Ikare shares common boundary with four major Akoko
towns. To the north of Ikare is Arigidi, it is bounded in
the south by Akungba. In the west and east, Ikare is
bounded by Ogbagi and Ugbe respectively. Thus, Ikare is
locatrf at the centre of Akoko, one of the reasons which
make it to attract people from various Akoko towns and
13
villages who occasionally came into the town to settle
permanently in search of what they could not get locally
in their towns as this study would reveal later.
The town enjoys a relatively humid temperature for
the better part of the year except between December and
March.
Thus,
Ikare
people
have
always
taken
predominantly to farming, the main crops are kolanut,
yam, maize and cocoyam. Farming is combined with
hunting and animal husbandry traditional industries
also are not lacking, dyeing and weaving being the most
prominent3.
More than 80 percent of Ikare women in the precolonial period were said to have been involved in
weaving thick clothing called Kijipa.
Generally, the Yoruba people of the south–western
part of Nigeria did not possess writing ability until the
introduction of western education during the period of
14
Colonial
rule.
This
opportunity
was
through
the
European Christian Missionaries.
Thus, the historical account of origin of lkare is
shrouded on oral traditions just like most other Yoruba
towns and villages. Nevertheless there are two different
versions of the origin of lkare.
Various postulations have been made concerning
the origin and initial settlement of lkare .But all sources
agree that the people emigrated from Ile-Ife . A version
even Claims that the founders of lkare. Oka. Iboropa.
Owo left Ile- Ife at the same time in the twelfth century
AD. While not controvert this claim. It is who led one
version of the traditions of origin claimed that the first
group of settlers emigrated from Ile-lfe under the
leadership of Batimilehin, who finally settled at Oke- Ola.
The period of settlement in the fourteenth century
A.D.4 According to this version, the Ikare emigrated from
Erunwa quarters in Ile-lfe5.
15
Batimilehin migrated with
his family and other friends. After man years of Journey,
which took the people through Ifon, Ikere Ekiti.
With
brief stop over at Iluomoba. The people later moved north
eastwards through Imesi, and settled in a transit palace
called Okagba, very close to present day Ikare6. Ikare it
was written in past record that Batimilehin was the first
Olukare of Ikare7.
Yet another version, which is believed to be widely
accepted, claims that the ‘’Ikare’’ was derived from an
event which took place in the period of early settlement
around the fifteenth century A. D, when the two groups
came together under different leaders8. The two leader
were close friends
power.
One
but as a result of a power struggle for
poisoned
the
other
and
consequently
emerged as the leader of the two groups. Thus, is said to
mean ‘’Ika Ore’’ meaning ‘’wicked friend ‘’ or the ‘’
wickedness of a friend; or the wickedness of a friend’’
16
The second version also claimed that the Ikare
people settled at an area called Ikare, they belonged to
emigrant from Ile-ife. The 600 years journey from Ile-lfe
took them through the area initially mentioned. They
finally settled in Okorun very close to present day Ikare.
The version stated that Agbaode, one of the leaders of the
period eventually became the first Owa- Ale. The
Olukare’s are:

Batimilehin

Atiba

Akire

Alila

Ajaguna

Mohmoh
The other hand Alila reign was said to have
witnessed
series
of
wars.
He
was
succeeded
by
Entimogbo Ilekalu l, Atampa. Ilekalu ll. Ata Alegbe,
17
Oloura Ola. Ajagunan Mohonh l and Adu. Jubril, Adu
Jurbil ruled the town between 1956 and 1976, and when
he joined his ancestors, the incumbent Oba Akadiri
mohmoh did not succeed him until 1984.
It is pertinent to note that the two principal versions
of origin of Ikare have generated much controversy
affecting the early settlers and the basis of rulership in
the town. Thus, Olukare family and athe Owaa Ale family
claim to have founded the first settlement in Ikare.
However, a comparative analysis of traditions of
Origin in other Yoruba towns such as Ikere –Ekiti reveals
that such items or issues are not uncommon. In each of
these two, there existed an earlier ruling house, which
has now been relegated to the background in the scheme
of things and allowed to hold chieftaincy titles performing
religious functions9.
A plausible explanation for the kingship issue an
power struggle in Ikare. There is no denying the fact
18
perhaps the Olukare, initially led the people to Ikare .it is
likely that this group wanted to loose leadership but
migrants settled it. Local praise which as ‘’Ewi’’ for
Olukare such which compare him with kings of other
domains.
OMO Olukare Alila
Omo Arote moru
Omo Olukare Alila
Omo Arogun Mosa
Omo Arote Moru
Omo Adapa eye ni gbangba
Omo Oluke Meji tako tabo
Omo Bodunjo
Omo Atudi Aleseju Bo mi
Gbugbo na
Anu kan so ko Ekiti so ko Akoko
O hun kee keruku gbagbo
Ari yee, O dio.
19
Meaning
The Great king
Who killed bird with the shadow
None is like him
No tree can with stand the tempest
Like the Iroko
There
is
no
doubt,
however,
however,
that
documents tendered at the, beginning of British colonial
rule pointed to the Olukare as the sovereign ruler, in
cause of both Ikare Ekiti an Ado Ekiti, which were cited
above the leaders of migrants who assumed new titles
and
have
since
political
leadership
replaced
the
indigenous rulers of the premigrants period, this to a
large extent, has influenced recent development in the
town10.
20
2.2 THE ORIGIN OF OSELE MARKET
The word market has of course a great number of
meanings, referring to many things and ideas, and the
same can be said of the Yoruba word “Oja”11.1The
characteristics and functions of markets embrace for
more than this simple statement would suggest;. A widely
held theory about the origin of market institutions is that
market develops because of the individuals resulting in
the necessity for local exchange and the establishment of
local markets. The search for the origin of markets is
fruitless as the quest once undertaken by political
philosophers for the origins of states12.
The precise origin of the Osele market can only be
traced through oral information. According to Osele
market was founded by the original founder. (The
Olukare of Ikare)13. After the settlement, he created the
market as a trading place. The market was established in
about 600 years ago after which the settlers migrated
21
from Ile-Ife14. Before the actual establishment however,
Ifa oracle thereby related that no other animal or human
must be used but pig. A pig was therefore used to
perform the sacrifice establishing the market15.
Along with the use of pig, Esi concotions were
buried around the four corners of the market to lure
market attendants. At the middle where the pig was used
is the shrine called Orisa Osele. This shrine is still being
worshiped till today. The head worshipper of the Orisa is
the Aworo Orisa Osele – the chief priest of Orisa osele, he
alongside with other prominent women and amen of
concern worship the Orisa once in a year16.
The name Osele was therefore claimed to be coined
from the word “O sele” meaning “it has happened” or “we
have finally settled”. They said to praise themselves of
their firm settlement17.
They later completed the establishment of the
market. The Osele market was the first market in Akoko.
22
The date of the attendance was fixed for very nine-days,
market, in this way, Osele market was made to be unique
and it stood out as the major market in and around
Akolo in it earliest time18.
Another factor of Uniqueness of the market was the
“Agbesun” meaning the “market eve”. The Agbesun
served as a kind of relief period before the market day for
the travelers or other people from a far. This enabled
them to be firmly prepared in the night before the actual
market day, so that they cooled easily secure a
comfortable place for themselves. These set of traders
include the Owo, Nupe, Yagba, Benin and Ekiti. As a
result of Agbesun, they co – interacted and became
familiar with the Ikare people and among other groups
who came for transaction19. The women hibernated
among the Ikare people as a result of which led to
intermarriages
and
inter-group
relations
themselves not to talk of using one as sacrifice20.
23
among
There is yet another version which claims that a
man called Osele who had existed before the death of
Agolo in round 1717
(a hero among the Ikare people)
brought about the idea of establishing a market n Ikare.
That it would enabled the far away people to bring their
goods for sales at Ikare21. The man Osele had the ability
of bringing people together. A wealthy and charismatic
man who people swarmed around. He was not a native of
Ikare, he was traced to Ayere in the present Kogi State 22.
Osele and his family (or people) had come to settle in
Ikare for farming and other economic activities.
He settled at Okoja (the street that it inhabits Osele
market). On his call for a market, the chiefs and other
natives thereby consulted the king (claiming to be
Agbaode group) who sanctioned that ifa be consulted
before the sitting and
prospect of the market. The Ifa
oracle related that a human being be used as sacrifice to
appease the gods of the land. The community heads
24
thereby put heads together as to who the victim would
be. And as usual in the Yoruba land, natives are hardly
used for sacrifice of such but an alien. As a result of this,
it was agreed among the chiefs that Mr. Osele, the man
who had forwarded the proposal for the market, be used
as sacrifice and data was fixed for the performance of the
sacrifice23.
Over night, they dug a pit at the centre of the
proposed market place and put many dangerous and
harmful objects inside the pit after which mats were
spread over to make an altar. They carefully put a seat
on the laid mats aid decorations. On the day of the
sacrifice, Mr. Osele was made the chairman of the
occasion who was the sit on the entrapping alter. The
man sank as he was about to sit, the people who had
already prepared to complete his death began throwing
objects at him until he died24.
25
All other necessary rituals were made and he was
left to be buried in the pit. His tomb remains the shrine
at the centre of the market being worshipped during the
Osele festival. They named the marker after him and ht
chief Aworo was appointed to carry on with the spiritual
needs of the market. And the song usually sing.
“Osele Omope Enikan Owa”.
From the foregoing accounts of historical origins of
the Osele market, it may be in fenced that the market
was established between the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries as apparently observed from two of these
accounts. Also, ritual and sacrifices were performed
before the actual sitting and establishment of the market
as related from Ifa Oracle. Osele market has been parts of
the sources of Ikare to fame in Akoko land.
26
2.3 GOODS AND SERVICES AT OSELE MARKET.
From the early beginnings of the Osele market, it
had been classified into the rural periodic day. The
market is a nine day periodic market commonly referred
to by the market women as a 9- day market. Osele
market is a very popular market in Akoko land. On
market days there are thousands of people from all over
the country to sell and buy in the market. Often the
market population overflows into the road, making it
extremely hazardous to drive a car through it.
A market in this sense, has been defined as an
authorized public concourse of buyers and sellers of
commodities meeting at a place more or less strictly
limited or defined at an appointed time25. Market in
which buyers and sellers are in free intercourse with on
another, the prices of the goods, tend to equalize easily
and quickly.
27
Extreme congestion and defaming noises caused by
endless haggling over process were the most common
characteristic features of Osele market on the market
days. The market attracts a lot of buyers and sellers,
people come from Owo, Benin, Ekiti, Kogi etc. The market
also attract a lot of people from the Northern Part of
Nigeria, who come on market days to buy kolanuts in
bulk. Goods and commodities are brought into Osele
market from towns and villages of Benin, Kogi, Ekiti26.
Most group of commodities and good that come into
Osele market are organized in trade guilds, each of which
had some kind of recognized heads.
There is some specialization of activities among
market women, specialization within the market was a
traditional feature of the Osele market, and this in itself
does tend to bring about some degree of commodity
specialization. Specialization of commodities is a feature
of the market and was carried out to such and extent
28
that separate stalls and spaces were allocated to sellers
of pepper, fish, cassava, rice, textiles and manufactured
consumer items.
In the early years of the establishment of Osele
market,
the
market
was
famous
for
its
cordial
relationship between buyers and sellers. The relationship
was famous so cordial that buyers buy goods on credit
(though it had long since no longer been encouraged), it
had helped in the growth and expansion of the market.
All price variation of course express the operation of
a vast number of factors such as rainfall, yield crop
variety, supply, demand, transport, storage capacity, diet
habits and to an extent, price changes are controlled or
at least influenced by extraneous factors over which the
market women or market committee have little or no
control.
The large numbers of traders selling in the market
and the small margin of profit mad at each transaction
29
with which most of them seem to be contented suggested
that there had been a liking for trade as an activity
among market women. Moreover, for a host of reasons
these market women traders provide a service which
could not be given in shops or stores.
2.4 SOCIO- CULTURAL ORGAISATION
The Ikare had many traditionl fastivlas. Paramount
among these was e which was called Oro festival in some
other Yoruba towns Women were not allowed to see the
celebrants and it was believed that Gidigbe protected the
town from external attacks.
There was Aringinya festival, celebrated by Ifa
devotees. During the festival, virgins danced naked to
Aringinya. This signifies their readiness for marriage.
Hence they received blessings from the goddess of
procreation.
This festival is still celebrated in the town.
30
Another significant festival was Ijeroba, the annual
new yam festival during which the King would eat the
new yam for the first time in the year, it was a toboo for
any trader to bring new yam to the market before the
King had eaten the new yam. Ijeroba also served as the
occasion when the Ling displayed the crown which he
brought from Ile-Ife.
Ikare also has its own share of secret cults such as
the Ogboni cult, a common traditional cult was ancestors
from
heaven
who
had
come
back
to
resolve
misunderstandings among the people and bless them.
The masquerades, clothed in palm fronts, danced round
the town and they were showered with gifts. Sometimes
wearing ferocious look could become fearful terrifying,
chasing people all about the streets.
The appearance of masquerades was usually an
annual event but when occasion demanded, Seru was
employed for specific atonement. Another aspect of
31
ancestral worship was made to departed ancestors. While
the introduction of western education, this aspect of
lkare socio cultural life is diminishing in importance
gradually.
2.5 ECONOMIC ORGANISATION
In terms of economic activities, the people of Ikare
are predominantly farmers planting cash crops such as
cocoa, coffee Kolanuts and food crops such as cereals ,
yams, cassava. The people of Ikare have both himstead
farms (OKO Etile) and long distant farms in places like
Arimogija, imesi. Emure ile, Aba Dauda and soon.
The Osele market (subject of this study) serves as
the major market at which the people of Ikare offer their
goods and services for sale and also procure goods which
they could not produce locally. There is a tradition which
claims that the popular Osele market in IKare owed its
origin-land name) to the activities of Ezele, a Benin Chief
32
and trader who traded with Akoko in the sixteenth
century. He was said to have been a popular and
prosperous trader and the representatives of Oba Benin’s
trading interest in Akoko. He opened a trading centre at a
site which later became Osele market. Over the years, the
market developed into an important commercial centre
where the Nupe.
Ilorin and Benin traders as well as
traders from nearby towns and villages transacted
business. The market has been singled out as one of the
factor for the economic growth of Ikare and Akoko as a
whole.
2.6 POLITICAL ORGANISTION
According to oral tradition, the people settled in
family clusters among these hills and later appointed
family heads. Thus settlements were made around the
family unit with extended members of a family settling
close to one another in compounds.
33
The eldest man in the clan was usually the head,
later, the town was gradually divided into quarters by the
Oba for effective administration. A Chief who was
selected by the people of the quarter and confirmed by
the Oba, headed each quarter.
Power was delegated to other Chiefs by the Oba,
thus the Chiefs were charged with the responsibility of
settling cases. Because the Oba had always been in
contact with the various clan leaders it was not difficult
to establish a hierarchy of authority among them. The
Oba presided over most of the town meetings especially
those of the traditional high Chiefs and the community
council that is Igbimo made up of the later and the lesser
Chiefs and elders. The king was not only the only the
head of the settlements but was also the personification
an reincarnation of all his ancestors.
However, the Oba could not make lawa or take any
decision on matters fundamentally.
34
FOOTNOTES
1.
S.O.
Animasau,”
Write
up
of
Ikare
“National
Concord, Saturday 22nd December, 1984.p.5
2.
Ibid, p.5
3
M.O.Oyewole,”Significant Social Change in Ikare
since
the
Beginning
of
the
20th
Century”(Unpublished Long Essay submitted to the
Department of History,Ondo State,University ,June
1986) p.1.
4
J. O. Dada ”Refugee in 19th Century Akoko”
(Unpublished
Long
Essay
submitted
to
the
Department of History, Ondo State, University,
June 1986) p.5
5
Oral Interview with Oba Akadir Momoh(Olukare of
Ikare)
6
Oyewole,”Significant Social change in Ikare”
7
Oral Interview with S.K.A.Adedoyin.
8
Ibid.p.6
35
9
V.Olotu “The History of pre – colonial Ikare”
(unpublished
long
essay
submitted
to
the
Department of History, Ondo State, University,June
1989)
10
Ibid, p.5
11
B.W.Hodder and U.I.Ukwu,market,op.cit p.19
12
A.G. Hopkins, Economic History op. cit. P.5.
13
Pa James Akinola (aged 90) a community leader in
Okoia street, Ikare.
14
Oba Akadr Saliu Mohmoh (aged 77). The Olukare of
Ikare Akoko at His palace in Ilepa.
15
Ibid P.2
16
Mr femi Alohun, a retired history teacher (aged 72)
17
Ibid P.5
18
Folusho Aminu and Kolawole, Akoko land: History
nad distinguished people (Ibadan Lizab Nigeria
Ltd,1997) P.13
19
Ibid P.14
36
20
Ibid P.14
21
Oba S.K.A. adedoyin the Owa Ale of Ikare .At His
palace in Okorun.
22
Chief Sasere of Okoja (aged 80) in Ikare
23
Ibid P.5.
24
Oba S.K.A. Adedoyin. OP. cit.
25
B.W. Hodder and U.I. Ukwu, markets, OP. cit. P.19
26
Madam Adebisi Mariam
37
(Iya Oja).
CHAPTER THREE
3.1 THE IMPACT OF COLONIALISM ON IKARE 19001960
The period of Colonial rule in Ikare can be described
as a crucial period in the history of the people because of
major agencies of change which entered Ikare since
1900. Factors of an economic nature was another major
agency of change in the Society Since 1900.The new
pattern of economic activities created new occupational
opportunities for the people. Farming, as in the precolonial period remained the dominant Occupation of the
people but it became more lucrative. New cash crops
such as coca, coffee and tobacco were introduced.
Subsistence crops like corn, beans, Yam, cassava. Pepper
and fruits became more profitable. All these gave greater
incentive to farmers. While the agricultural community
became increasingly commercialized and monetized, they
remained as technologically backward as ever the
38
primitive back –breaking hoe and cutlass culture still
dominated among the farmers. The significant distortion
brought about by cocoa and other cash-crop cultivation
on
the
societal
economy
with
the
progressive
transformation of the time-honored system of land tenure
and land use1. Up to the introduction of cash crop
farming, the dominant principle guiding and tenure was
that of communal ownership either by whole community
or extended family. Under this system, Land could not be
alienated permanently to or by any individual However, a
the
commercial
ethos
and
grasping
individual
engendered, by grasping individualism engendered, by
cash crop economy became firmly established, influential
and financially ambitions elements in the community
began to appropriate vast acreages of farmland for their
own exclusive use and the expense of the weaker and
less aggressive members of the community2.
39
Apart for arming people engaged in petty trading –
serving as middlemen between trading companies and
consumer in case of European goods, and producer in
the case of agricultural products. With respect to the
later, there emerged a group of traders known as
produce. Buyers who usually buy cash crops for the
farmers. The produce buyers became very wealthy.
Prominent among the produce buyers of the period were
people like Fele Ogunjobi, Oria-Banjoko Akeredolu,
Momoh, Orungbemi and some others. These people
acquired
substantial
wealth
as
a
result
of
their
participation in the trade in cash crops3.
3.2 IMPACT OF OSELE IN THE ECONOMY OF IKARE
The importance and significance of Osele market in
the Ikare economy cannot be over emphasized. Right
from its existence, the markets has been making great
40
impact Ikare as a community and even individuals. This
impact is reflected in many ways.4
The Osele market make business traders in the
market are allocated shops in such a way as to facilitate
easy identification and location of goods. 1 the market is
divided into sections. The traders who sell similar line of
goods are located together in shops. For instance, there
are section where yam is sold, the section where live
chicken are sold, other section include the provision
section.5
The
sectionalisation of
the
market make
consumers to have easy access to any commodity or
goods of their choice without any difficulty in locating the
area where such goods are available.
The
management
of
the
Osele
market
also
encourage more people, especially women to engage in
trade.6 As indicated earlier, the rents levy on each shop
in the market are so love and affordable that people with
little amount of money could easily pay for a shop and
41
establish any business of
their choice. The highest
amount of money collected on a shop (LOCK UP) to
traders between 180 and 400 naira monthly, while the
large open and junior open area rented to people at the
rate of 80 and 20 naira monthly depending on the
location. This low rent attracts many who wish to engage
in trading.
At Osele market, there are fixed prices on goods and
commodity. The markets is known for its operation of
market price which allows for common price on similar
goods. In order to minimize distortion and to prevent
unnecessary increase in prices of goods by some greedy
market women, any bulk carried into the market is
svrutimlised.7 By this prices of goods contained in such
bulk must have the same valve in terms of price with
similar goods in the market. This the traders therefore
enjoy increased sale as people prefer to go to the market
42
to buy knowing fully well that the prices of the goods in
the market are cheap and stable.
Besides, the Osele market also serves as a source of
revenue for the Akoko North east local government.8
Though the shop rent is low, local government provide
facilities for the traders in he market. For example, roads,
latrine and some other essential facilities through the
revenue generated.
Another impact of Osele market on the economy of
Ikare is that it has been able to encourage the
development of financial organisation9. Osele market
acted as the catalyst that led to the establishment of an
arm of the Ifesowopo cooperative society drew majority of
its members from the traders in the market10. This
organization assist the market women in relating their
financial
burden.
Although
the
market
women
contribute money to the pursue of the organization.
43
do
As it were, Osele market has been able to impact
positively on the economy as well as the well being of the
people of Ikare. A side functioning as an avenue of
carrying out economic activities, it has also been able to
have social impact on the whole of the town.
3.3 OSELE MARKET IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
In the pre-colonial period, traders from various
places would not bother so much about the risks and
rigors involved in trekking such long distances to get to
the Osele market in order to buy or sell waves. There
existed about four main trade routes in Akoko even
before the adventure of the Nupe in Akoko.
Akoko had always traded among themselves apart
from their trade with others outside the Akoko nation11.
Osele market was not just neighborhood along side
Arigidi, Oka, Ayere, Kabba, Supare, Irun and others.
44
The important routes were the trade routes starting
from Arigidi passing through Ikare, Ogbagi anf Irun to
Ekiti. It was the route the Ekiti trader usually used12.
The route starting from Arigidi through Afa, Oyin
passing through Omuo and truncating at Kabba or
beyond towards Bida. This was the routes Nupe trader
used for their trade with Akoko people.
While the third route to Osele market in Ikare
Akoko passing through Akingba, Oka, Oba and Owo
joining the rote from Benin at Okeluse. The rooth starting
from Oba in the southern part through Ikun, Afo, Ipe and
to Isua where it splits into two, one going to Ibilo in the
north passing through Ise, Auga, Ikakumo and Ikaram13.
This made Osele market gained popularity among
the market then in 16th century. Moreover, Osele market
paved opportunity to some villages, towns and cities to
construct road which led to their villages. Also Osele
45
market contributed to the development of most cities
include, Owo, Ose and some other places.
3.4 THE EFFECTS OF ROAD TRANSPORTATION ON
OSELE MARKET
The construction of roads to link Ikare with other
places constitutes an important legacy of British colonial
rule. In pre-colonial times, as pointed out earlier, the
town
was
linked
by
bush
paths
(routes).14
The
introduction of road transportation had great effects on
the development of the Osele market. The introduction
helped the free movement of the carriers of goods and
commodities from the producing centre to the market.15
Those goods that had formerly been handled down along
a chain of intermediaries from one area to another were
now moved in longer distances. The road transport
system
increased
the
movement
passengers.16
46
of
goods
and
They have increased mobility, quickened economic
development and served other important social functions
in the society. The Ikare-Owo road was constructed in
1922 and opened to traffic in 1927. The construction of
Ikare – Arigidi-Okeagbe road begin in1928 was opened to
traffic on 1931 while the Ikare-Ado Ekiti road was begun
and completed in 192717.
With the building of roads including the whole
complex
of
modern
communication
systems,
the
movement of people into the market became very easy.
These greatly facilitated the expansion of the Osele
market, there was an increase in trading activities and
they had important and eventually decisive effects on the
growth of the market.
3.5 GUILD IN OSELE MARKET
Osele market had been a well- organized market
since the beginning of the early trading activities in the
47
market. Though Osele market was built on a public land,
with power vested in Sasere, the ruler of the area, the
real power of the market is vested in the Herb sellers,
who had been the first settlers and traders in Osele
market. They are referred to as the market elders. They
are also the oldest trade guild in the market with a lineal
system18.
Before the arrival of all the various commodities
sellers in Osele market, the Herb- sellers were the only
traders in Osele market. After the Osele market became a
registered market and was declared a public market in
1840, under the colonial administration, other traders
began to settle in Osele with different kinds of goods in
which they were organized into trading guilds, marking
the 33 trading groups in the 1930s to 1960s.
During this period, the herb- sellers were the
dominant group in the market they had come to be
recognized as market elders and market heads. They
48
head all the trading guilds in the market and were
referred to as the market chiefs. They committed the
affairs and welfare of the market to them.
There is a market association that heads all the
trade guilds in Osele market and this association is made
up
of
market
elders
of
the
herbal
section.
This
association is recognized by the council19.
In the association, there is the Iya oja
(mother of the market) she is the oldest woman in the
market. She settles all market and trade disputes. She
also gives consent to traders aspiring to sell in Osele.
There is the Asoju oja (market representative) she
represents the market in all activities and on important
occasions, she sees to the smooth running of all the
trading guilds. She is the representative of Osele market
in the Local Government for administrative purposes.
49
There is the Olori obinrin (head of all market
women) From all market traders, whenever she wishes,
on behalf of the market master.20
There are the recognized elders and heads of the
market association from the time Osele market became a
registered market. They have duties and responsibilities
to the market. They sees to the day- to- day running of
the activities in the market, they are also responsible for
organizing all market days, the collection of taxes and
rents, they settle all trades and market disputes and
most of all, they organize, the various traders in market
into trade guilds and each of these trade guilds or
association
have
heads
or
chairperson,
who
is
responsible for the day–to-day administration of their
associations. In essence there were 33 trading guilds or
trading sections in Osele market as at this period. The
guilds were and still known as Egbe (section).21
50
There were groups of textiles sellers, food stuffs
sellers, pepper sellers etc. Each of these groups with its
head, meet within themselves. On several occasions the
whole bodies of the trade guilds meet together–members
and heads. Important matters are referred to the market
association (elders).
Some of these various trade guilds heads have been
largely responsible for regulating the supply of some
basic food items, thereby creating artificial scarcity and
higher prices with a view to increasing the profit margin
of their members.22
The position of the trade guilds in the market is in
their precise location. The extent to which they have been
successful is correlated with the extent to which they
have been able to cultivate and exploit various economic
and social relationships as well as with the degree of
their
operational
flexibility
structure.
51
within
the
marketing
3.6 OSELE MARKET, THE OTHER IKARE MAINLAND
MARKETS AND THE IKARE ECONOMY
Osele market is an indigenous institution. This
indigenous market is distinct in many ways from the
modern established in recent years. The market is not
only important as a centre for the exchange of goods,
services and money but also perform significant role in
the Ikare economy as a periodic general market. The
market days take place nine day periods. The local people
refer to these periods using the term 9 day or 9 – 9 day
market23. On market days, it opens as early as 8.00 in
the morning to 6.00 in the evening.
Osele is one of the multi–purpose markets in Ikare
which sells the widest range of goods including Herbal
products to textiles, food – stuffs, sundry provisions and
pottery to hard wear and so on. The organization of the
market gave the consumers a sense of specialization. The
52
basic aim of most households is to secure the products
needed to maintain their customary standard of living.
Osele market is specialized in supplying certain
particular Herbal products and local food – stuffs. What
ever the origin of a rural periodic market an element of
specialization is necessary for its survival24. People know
which market to visit for their specific purchases. This
specialization in Osele had resulted in thee emergence of
part–time and full–time traders to serve a predominantly
large population in the Ikare mainland. It is reasonable to
state that the threshold population is necessary to
sustain the market. If a society could survive without the
need for exchange, the market would be redundant.
It is important to note that the local exchange needs
were important in the creation of markets in Ikare
mainland. Osele as a periodic general market function
party as a wholesale and redistribution centre, which
53
supplies daily markets in Ikare such as Jubilee, Oja Oba,
Oja kore and so on.25
These markets depend on Osele for the daily supply
of goods and food products for their markets. These
markets operates in Ikare mainland as daily markets.
The dominant economic function of periodic market
is the collection, bulking and distribution of local food
products and Herbal products in bulk. Local food- stuffs
such as maize, cassava, yam beans, yam flour, Kola,
Pepper tomatoes, Okra etc.
All these are brought into Osele by the women
traders – with all these ranges and varieties of goods and
products, majority of the population in Ikare(Household
consumers and Daily markets retailers) depend on
traders in Osele who sells goods that these customers are
interested in.
At the Osele market, there are various trade guilds
based on the nature of articles of trade, there is the Garo
54
sellers trade guild and others. They play significant roles,
specializing in one or two particular commodities, they
assist customer in buying, collecting and bulking foodstuffs and other products for customers and to some
extent help
in transporting goods
to
other Lagos
mainland market sites. The members of these groups
(trade guilds) promote a sense of communalism among
other market traders and their customers.
Osele as a recognized market had made local
exchange possible and more encouraged and facilitated
the perpetuation of social relationships and public order
among all the various types of markets in the Ikare
mainland. Markets in the Ikare mainland are organized
around a powerful hierarchy of traditional market
leaders, who maintain strict supervision over all the main
market in the Ikare mainland (Osele, Jubilee, Oja Oba,
Oja Kore etc). This tradition still remains the single most
effective mechanism for resolving conflicts and enforcing
55
discipline among the thousand of Ikare mainland traders
who are in daily competition.26
Prices of goods and commodity in Osele are
determined largely by haggling. All price variations of
course express the operation of a vast number of factors
such as rainfall. Yield, crop variety, supply demand,
transportation. Storage capacity changing diet habits and
t occurrence of festivals.
Osele as a periodic market operated in Lagos with
as much regularity and as disciplined organization. It is
difficult to assess the value of trade in the traditional
sector as a proportion of the total commercial activity in
Ikare, however a substantial percentage of the city’s
wealth can be founded in the indigenous market. The
market system encouraged keen competition which
helped to lower price level, stimulated the use of available
resources and kept cash in constant circulation.
56
FOOTNOTES
1.
NAI, J.H. Beeley ,Intelligence report on Akoko
District CSO 26 file No 29669.
2.
Ibid.
3.
Folusho Aminu and Kolawole, Akoko land:History
and Distinguished people(Ibadan Lizab Nigeria
Ltd. 1997) p.35
4.
Oral interview with the chief priest of Osele deity
at his resident in Okoja on the 3rd of January,
2011
5.
Ibid
6.
Oral interview with Mr. Femi Alohun
7.
Oral interview with Mr. Femi Alohun
8.
Oral interview with Bisi Ajana, Akoko North East
Local Government, information department, Age
45, 8th December, 2010
9.
Oral interview with Yusuf Muhammad
10. Oral interview with Yusuf Muhammad
57
11. NAI, J. H. Beeley Intelligence report on Akoko
District CS0 26, file No. 29669.
12. Folusho
Aminu
and
Kolawole,
Akoko
land:
History and Distinguished people (Ibadan Lizab
Nigeria Ltd. 1997) p.33Oral interview with Oba
S.K A. Adedoyin the Owa Ale of Ikare at His
Palace in Okorun on the 19th of November, 2010.
13. Oral interview with Chief Sasere of Okoja (aged
77) in Ikare on the 30th December, 2010
14. NAI, Ondo Prof. file No. 3271/2/ Annual report
on Akoko District.
15. Akomolafe, “Akoko under British Rule” pg 22
16. O. Ilesanmi – Population and settlement patterns
in Akoko (unpublished ) Nsukka 1964, P: 15
17. V. Olotun, “The
(unpublished
History of pre-colonial Ikare”
long
essay
submitted
to
the
department of history, Ondo State; University,
June 1989)
58
18. Oral Interview with Chief Sasere of Okoja (aged
80) in Ikare, 19th December,2010.
19. Madam Adebisi Mariam,Iya Oja
20. Ibid.
21. Ibid.
22. Ibid.
23. Ibid.
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid.
26. Ibid.
59
CHAPTER FOUR
GENERAL IMPACT
Every society needs a market for its economic
growth, markets are necessary for the flow of need
satisfying goods and services from the producers. Thus
all societies must provide for needs of their members to
enhance standards of living through business. The
creation of a convenient place where buyers and sellers
meet face to face to exchange goods and services such
Osele market becomes necessary.
The impact on markets such as Osele market on the
social, economic, political, and cultural spheres of a
commonly are varied and cannot be over emphasized.
Markets are necessary for the enhancement of the
social, political and economic development of the Ikare
community in many varies ways1.
The advent of Osele market in 1840 created a
meeting point for buyers and sellers to exchange their
60
goods and services in the community. Members of the
community were able to earn decent living improving
their standard of living, prior to the creation of Osele.
The market being the major destination for buyers
and sellers to converge in Ikare township provides a large
number of stalls for rent to traders to house their share
and for the transaction of their business2.
The convenience factor created by the situation of
the market within the community thereby affording
people and services needed without much difficult. Prior
to the creation of Osele market producers and consumers
in Ikare had to journey to bordering to trade such as
Oka, Akungba, Arigidi, Isua and Oyin3.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
The market has considerably improved the quality
of life of the people in Ikare community. Trader within the
market
has
also
brought
61
about
considerable
improvement in the economy of the community that is
evidenced in better standards of living of the inhabitants
and
also
creates
financial
independence
and
empowerment as skilled and semi-skilled craftmen. With
the improvement on their financial status the indigenes
can afford to free children from farm activities and sat
them to school to be educated4.
Which is obvious in the improvement of health
services and practices. The market has also provided
opportunities for employment to people who otherwise
would
have
been
jobless.
The
local
government
authorities employs cleaners, security, revenue collectors
while shop owners employ the services of sales persons,
as well as security.
The local regulatory bodies also for goods and
services supplied in term of health quality, processing
methods and storage procedures; which ensure improved
living conditions. The market as stated above serves as
62
the major revenue earner for the local government
authority?
Osele market boosts small scale manufacturing and
industrialization in Ikare community. Osele market
provides a ready made outlet for goods and services
produced by the small manufactures. This is obvious by
the situation of so many small scale industries within
Osele and the community5. Osele market serves as a
source of raw materials for the production of the small
scale industry.
Osele market also boosts small scale agriculture, it
provides an outlet for the disposal of farm products by
small scale farmers in Ikare and its environment. Traders
in Osele markets also form co-operative societies formal
or informal, whereby members involved save or donate
certain amounts periodically6.
63
POLITICAL IMPACT
According to the oral tradition, the people settled in
family dusters among these hills and later appointed
family heads. Thus settlements were made arroud the
family unit with extended to members of a family settling
close to one another in compound7.
A chief who was selected by the people of the
quarter and confirmed by the Oba, headed each quarter.
Power was delegated to the chiefs by the Oba, thus the
chiefs were changed with the responsibility of setting
cases. Because the Oba had always been in contact with
the various clan leaders it was not difficult to establish a
hierarchy of authority among them.
The Oba presided over most of the town meetings
especially those of the traditional high chiefs and the
community council (that is, Igbimo) made up of the latter
and the lesser chiefs and Elders. However, the Oba could
64
not make laws any decision on matters fundamentally
affecting the town
SOCIO- CULTURAL IMPACT.
Osele market promotes socio- cultural development
within the Ikare community As the market witnesses the
patronage of a very diverse group of people from all over
the state. The bringing about interaction of people from
varied background and cultures. In Osele market we
have the Fulani/Bororo, the Igbo, the Hausa, and Yoruba
traders to name a few.
The exchange of goods and services for money
opens up various avenues for cultural interactions and
hence
cultural development and respect for people
cultures. Since the market place is populated by traders
who contumely migrate from far and wide to play their
trade such as new fabrics, food and services, methods
and processes are exchanged.
65
The
stall
owners
in
the
market
also
form
associations and societies under whose banner they
formulate and implement policies to improve the market
new
friendships
acquire
new
experiences
and
disseminate information.
CONCLUSION
The number, location and size of the Osele market
had changed to suit the need of the population, but
majority of the consumers in Ikare still depend on traders
in Osele. On market days, the market is full of thousands
of people from all over the country. There is a saying
about this OJA OSELE LO MO PE ENIKAN OWA O. i.e,
the absence of anybody from the market, does not have
any impact on market trade. The existence of Osele
market in the Ikare mainland as in any other place, no
doubt is a function of economic force of the law of supply
and demand.
66
The Osele market woman and their organization
contributed to the management of the markets through
their representative in the council’s market committee
and through petition which they send to the council’s
office.
The importance of the Osele market has been
emphasized
almost
to
the
point
of
exhaustation.
However, more are still not mentioned. It is not repetition
to mention here again that the market afforded the
Akoko, particularly Ikare, the opportunity of interacting
with non-natives which culminated in eventually intermarriages, among other things.
Moreso, important festivals and celebration were
brought to the fore on Osele market day. The most
umportant Egungun (Masquerades) in Ikare woukd come
to the market place, dancing to entertain people while
people would be showering it with gifts.
67
Osele market meant more than a mere trading
centre in its earnest time. People on the farm camps and
villages around. Ikare always came to relax on the Osele
market
day.
Some
might
even
came
for
a
mere
sightseeing. There was no weekend, Osele day was a
premier day. Much importance was attached to the
market. People did greeted “O to san” meaning; it is nine
days ago we’ve met last, retaining to the last market day.
Lastly, the choice of Osele market as theme of this
study is an attempt to investigate deeply into the
economic past of Akoko people. Although the study does
not claim all in – all in the economic past of the people
but will serve as a foundation to be built upon and as
such it would be filling a major vacuum in the history of
Akoko land as well as a modest contribution to the
existing literatures on Akoko history.
68
FOOTNOTES
1.
Oral interview with chiefs Sasere of Okoja ( aged 77)
on the 11th of October, 2010
2.
Oral interview
from Mr. femi Alohun, a retired
teacher in history (aged 68), Ekan Quarters, Ikare
Akoko on 11th October, 2010
3.
Oral interview with Oba S. k .A. Adedoyin the Owa
Ale of Ikare Akoko aged73), his chamber on the 11 th
October. 2010.
4.
Oral interview with Owa Ale of Ikare O p. Cit.
5.
Oguntomisin G. O , Yoruba Towns and cites P. 24
6.
Oral interview with Femi Alohun OP. Cit.
7.
Oral interview with Ale of Ikare on
11th October,
2010.
8.
Ibid P. S
9.
Oral interview with chief priest of Osele deity at his
Okoja resident, on 11th October, 2010.
69
BIBLIGRAPHY
A.
PRIMARY SOURCES (INTERVIEW)
1.
Oba S.K.A. Adedoyin the Owa Ale of Ikare, (aged 73)
at his Palace Okorun quarters, Ikare Akoko on 2nd
December, 2010.
2.
Oba Saliu Akadir Mohmoh IV, the Olukare of Ikare
(aged 74), at his Palace on the 19th of December,
2010.
3.
Chief James Akinola, the head of Osele Compound
in Ikare.
4.
Chief Sasere of Okoja, at his residence, on the 5th of
November, 2010
5.
Chief Oni Ajagunna, the Chief Priest of Orisa Osele
L/A 53, Ilepa, Ikare Akoko, on 6th of October 2010
6.
Mr. Femi Alohun, A retired teacher in History, (aged
63), N/A 17, Ekan Quarters, Ikare, on the 2nd and
17th of October 2010
70
7.
Madam Bisi Ajana, A Prominent market woman
(aged 75), A/13. Okela, Ikare Akoko on the 12th of
October, 2010
8.
Mrs. Adebisi Marriam, the Iyaloja of Osele Market
(aged 62) at her residence, Okela, Agbo Quarters,
Ikare, on 24th of October, 2010
B.
SECONDARY SOURCES (THESIS)
1.
Akomolafe, C. O. “Aspect of Akoko History”. A
Research
work
presented
to
the
Academic
Community of University of Ife (OAU) and Ondo
State
College
of
Education,
now
College
of
Education, Ikere Ekiti.
2.
Akomolafe
C.
(unpublished
O.
B.
“Akoko
A.
Thesis
under
British
submitted
to
Rule
the
University of Ife, 1971).
3.
Oyewole M.O. “Significant Social Changes in Ikare
since
the
beginning
71
of
the
20th
century”
(unpublished
long
essay
submitted
to
the
Department of History, university of Ado-Ekiti June,
1986.
4.
Oshodi T.W., “The History of Ikare in the precolonial era (unpublished long essay submitted ti
the Department of History, Ondo State, University,
now University of Ado – Ekiti (UNAD), June 1989.
5.
Olotu V. “The Advent and Growth of Christianity in
Ikare, (unpublished long essay submitted to the
Department of history, Ondo State, University, new
University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD), June, 1989.
C.
ARCHIVAL MATERIALS
NATIONAL ARCHIVES IBADAN
1.
Ondo Prof. file No. 3271/2/ Annual report on Akoko
District.
2.
J. H. Beeley intelligence report on Akoko District
CSO 26 file No. 29669
72
3.
Ondo prof. file No. 523/vol. III.
D.
BOOKS
1.
Folusho Aminu and Kolawol (1997) Akokoland
History and Distinguished People, (Ibadan, Libzab)
2.
Felix Olufemi Lowen (2004) Omo Oloko Meji: Tako:
THE HISTORY of Ikare, Her Monarch, Her People.
(Lagos: Zion Network Communications (Ltd).
3.
G. O. Oguntimisin (2003). Yoruba Towns and Cities,
Vol. 1. Ibadan Bookshelf Resources Ltd.
E.
NEWSPAPER
1.
Prince Toyin Adegbite “Re Write up on Ikare”. Daily
Times Thursday Feb. 14th, 1985.
2.
S.O. Animasaun “Write up on Ikare” National
Concord, Saturday 22nd December, 1984 p.5
73