Iwoye-Ketu

Iwoye-Ketu is a town primarily located in Imeko Afon, Ogun State in southwest Nigeria with its western portion in Benin.[1] The community shares a border with the Iwajowa local government area of Oyo State on the north. It is renowned for its production of cotton.[2][3]

Iwoye-Ketu
Autonomous community and Town
Iwoye-Ketu is located in Nigeria
Iwoye-Ketu
Iwoye-Ketu
Location of Iwoye-Ketu in Nigeria
Coordinates: 7°33′24″N 2°44′59″E
Country Nigeria
StateOgun State
Local Government AreaImeko Afon
Government
 • TypeMonarchy
 • OoyeJoel Ademola Aremu
Population
 (2006)
 • Total25,000
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)

History

Oral tradition says that the town of Iwoye-Ketu can trace its origins to the ancient city of Ile Ife, the origin of Yoruba people and the cradle of Yoruba culture. The traditional rulers of the city were the sons of the Yoruba deity, Oduduwa as he was the first ruler of Ile Ife.[4] In mythology, Iwoye-Ketu was created by Olumu, a legendary king and pioneer traditional ruler of the town who migrated from Ile Ife.[1] Olomu migrated to Iwoye Ketu with three major items: a crown, a staff called "Opa Ogbo" and his deity called "Orisa Oluwa".[5]

Description and culture

The local farms are agrarian and the local university is the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB.[1] However, Orisa Oluwa tradition forbids pig farming because pigs are dirty.[5]

Local tradition also prohibits the use of umbrellas. Due to the honour and respect the community have for their deity, strong protocols were developed around avoiding the use of umbrellas.[6] It is not illegal to own an umbrella or for people who live in the town to use one outside the locality. The punishment is not clear as it just does not happen. It is suspected, but not known, that visitors to the town would be forgiven for breaking this taboo.[1]

The border is such that some residences have some rooms in one country and others in another. All the shops are willing to accept the currency of Nigeria or the currency of Benin, and stocks of imported products such as rice, wine, perfume and car tyres are readily available.[1]

Geography

Iwoye-Ketu is located primarily in Ogun State southwestern Nigeria, with its western portion in Benin. It is inhabited by eight ethnic-groups, including Egun, Hausa, Igbo, Fulani, Igede, Ohoi and the Yorubas.[7]

References
  1. Moshood Adebayo (21 September 2014). "Iwoye-Ketu: Town on the Nigeria-Benin border where umbrella is forbidden". The Sun. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  2. "N54b cotton farming…A revolution under threat". The Nation. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  3. "Ogun monarch laments neglect of Iwoye border". Best Naira News. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  4. Ile Ife, Nigeria (ca. 500 B.C.E. –) Archived 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Blackpast.org, Retrieved 8 August 2015
  5. "Iwoye-Ketu: Community Where It's Taboo To Use Umbrella". Information Nigeria. 8 March 2015. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  6. Gbenro Adeoye (7 March 2015). "Community where it's taboo to use umbrella". The Punch. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  7. Christian C. Ozor (24 November 2014). "Somewhere in Nigeria called "Iwoye-Ketu"". HovaBuzz. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
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