A Unique Tribe

In around 1502, there was an improvement in Benin Realm, Oba (King) Esigie was on the high position and since progression to the lofty position was from father to child, he was concerned that he had no male youngster who will rise the lofty position after his home call. He wedded many spouses to create a male kid. The hunch was that a few powers were behind his not having male youngsters. One of his spouses considered and self-isolated.

He brought forth a male kid in the first part of the day however around then, many individuals had gone to their work environments. Naturally, the male youngster ought to rule after him. Before he could be made an Oba (Ruler), certain ceremonies were to be performed. They set up everything: crown, sekere (An instrument comprising of a gourd encompassed by a net of globules.), horsetail, and dabs as a sign of an Oba (Ruler) before the kid.

Towards night, when individuals were getting back from their different work environments, one more spouse of the Oba brought forth a male youngster and individuals were blissful, and began jubilating to proclaim in the new Oba (Lord). News presently came that a male youngster had been brought forth the Oba toward the beginning of the day however kept in mystery Abodi in neighborhood tongue (That name in the end turned into his name and an illustrious bit till date).

The two male youngsters were experiencing childhood in the royal residence. This caused the Oba to predict issues with regards to who will climb the lofty position after him. He currently encouraged the senior male youngster to go across Owena Waterway to lay out his own realm.

Abodi left for certain Bosses in Benin and came toward the western side of Owena. He originally settled at Arogbo-Ile Town. While leaving the spot, he asked Larogbo (One of the bosses) to assume responsibility for Arogbo-Ile town. He continued to Irele town and settled there for some time.

This first Abodi is called Abodi Jabado. He ruled for a significant stretch prior to joining his predecessors. His child, called Tufewa ruled after him. Individuals who were with the Abodi were called Abodi individuals. The settlement of Abodi in every one of the spots he settled was called Ikoya. Tufewa went to Ile-Ife town to become familiar with the craft of administration since he didn't become familiar with the complexities of castle organization in Benin.

It was likewise recorded that Esigie sent him to Ooni (Lord of Ile Ife) in Ile-Ife. He was there for a very long time. Toward the finish of his third year, the Ooni gave Abodi beatitudes. He made him stoop in a circle set apart with white chalk and requested that he complete these customs in his realm. Abodi returned home with this chalk. This prompted the utilization of white chalk (Efun) which is utilized to make engravings or imprints on the ground (meaning) Ikale in the neighborhood vernacular.

The Bosses that went with him from Benin and those that went along with him later were given areas to oversee. These bosses were called Olojas. They were given acknowledgment as Obas (Lords) in 1979. In the mean time, Abodi gave them titles and they were capable to him. Today, generally they are independent in the organization of their areas. There was no time that the Ikales were nine or their rulers were nine. Yet, the possibility of Ikale "mehan" (Nine districts of Ikales' Town) came during the pioneer period. The reasons were most popular to the provincial bosses. Ajagba town, Ujosun town and Akotogbo town were controlled by the Benin confederation. Two reasons were progressed for cutting out the three:

(I) They communicated in Benin language

(ii) They were excessively far off from Ikoya organization.

One necessities to say that assuming the frontier aces had perceived the beginning of the Ikales, they could never have cut out these three region and put them under Benin Organization.

Initially, we had: Larogbo (Leader) of Akotogbo Town, Oluhogbo (Leader) of Ujosun Town, Ahaba (Leader) of Ajagba Town, Laragunsin (Leader) of Iyansan Town, Odogbo (Leader) of Omi Town, Olofun (Leader) of Irele Town, Halu/Lapoki (Leader) of Tribute Affirmative Town, Jegun (Leader) of Idepe Town, Obagberume (Leader) of Igbodigo Town, Lumure (Leader) of Ayika Town, Orungberuwa (Leader) of Erinje Town, Olura/Oloto (Leader) of Igbinsin Town, Rebuja (Leader) of Osooro Realm, and Onipe (Leader) of Ubu Town.

A portion of the rulers referenced above are offsprings of other Imperial Dads. For instance, Jagun is a posterity of Larogbo, and Rebuja is a posterity of Lumure. Because of an absence of contact, Onipe Town was lost to Ijebu region. Today, notwithstanding the previously mentioned Obas (Lords), we have Norogun (Leader) of Ayede Town, Olu (Leader) of Igodan/Pkunmo Town, Majuwa (Leader) of Morubodo Realm, and Orofun (Leader) of Iju - Odo Town.

Ikoya (avoid adversaries) Realm is vital throughout the entire existence of Ikale improvement.

Abodi Jabado was approached to move out and tracked down his realm. Esigie provided Abodi with all the gear of office. Blade (Uda) was forgotten about. Oba Esigie was mistaken for whom to give; either Oba Abodi or Orogbua. Oba Esigie then called his royal residence bosses to believe whom to be given the blade. The royal residence bosses made two of them to challenge for the "Uda" (Blade). The blade was hurled for them to get.

Simultaneously, Abodi grasped the handle while Orogbua held the cutting edge. Orogbua's hand was cut and Abodi won the challenge and had the "Uda". Oba Esigie advised Abodi to utilize the sword to avoid assaults, animosities and abuses. As such, the uda was given to Abodi to avert adversaries (ki o fi ko iya) To affirm this, Abodi is the main Oba that bears the designation, "Ogun Olugba uda" (Deserving of the blade).

Anyplace Abodi settles is called Ikoya (avert adversaries). He got comfortable Atijere, Tribute, Eko. It was Abodi Kugbayigbe who came to establish the present Ikoya. Ikoya is a moving settlement alongside its civilization, culture, customs, morals and standards.

Back then, there was a great deal of human penance. Just the relations of Abodi were saved. Outsiders were typically utilized for these penances. This made them move from Ikoya Realm since that time, to remain at Ikoya was among life and passing. The Ikales in light of their great organization, their neighbors dreaded them. There were two occasions when they had conflicts. Alake needed to supersede Onipe. Onipe approached Abodi and the power of Alake had to withdraw. It was not straightforwardly among Alake and Ikale. It was later that Alake found that Abodi helped Onipe yet Abodi had proactively created some distance from that point. Ondos Town and Ikales battled wars however not with the whole Ikale but rather for certain locale like Affirmative, and Irele having limits with them. In every one of these conflicts, Ikales generally arose triumphant in light of the fact that the whole Ikale battled as a unit.

In one of the conflicts, the Ondo Town champions were conclusively directed which prompted the quick demise of the then Osemawe who couldn't stand the loss (O si igba) serious self destruction.

Aside from outside wars, Ikales had struggles under the surface among Osooro and Idepe and Ayeka. We had no conflict with the Ilajes, Ijaws, and the Ijebus. The conflict we had with Larogbo was an extremely basic one where Erinje was terribly impacted which made them conceal in a spot called Aluma. Aside from this, there were no serious conflicts like Kiriji and others.

The current chieftaincy titles rehearsed in Ikale were brought by Abodi Tufewa when he went to Ile-Ife. The primary arrangement of Ijama were Lisa, Jomo, Petu, Sasere, Odunwo and Isowa, headed by Lema. They were laid out in all Ikale regions continuously Abodi. In most Ikale regions today, these six bosses structure the authority of Ijama. In certain towns, they are Egharepara. Ijama was ousted in 1919 yet revived in 1930's on the grounds that Ijama is the organ of organization. The progressive arrangement is Oba - Ijama - Ijoye - Omoja.