I remember telling somebody I am from Idepe-Okitipupa,she said that is not possible that I can only be an indigene of either idepe or okitipupa, (to her this two are different community). I did try to convince her that this name is a compound name (i.e Idepe-Okitipupa) or names that can be use interchangeable for this same kingdom (JEGUN’S KINGDOM).
The community was originally know as IDEPE. The name Okitipupa originated from the fact that the community has hills with a unique red colour. The colonial emigrants that find their way to this community were amazed seeing red hills hence they refer to Idepe the red hilly community which was then interpreted into Yoruba (Ikale dialect) word okiti(hills) and pupa (red). OKITIPUPA.
The part of the town specifically called Idepe today is the part where early settlers inhabited then.
IDEPE or OKITIPUPA apart from being central town,both politically and economically to the entire south senatorial district of ONDO STATE is very rich in culture and history. The town has been so far rule by great men and the town has been rule by EIGHTEEN(18) OLOJAS/OBAS (KINGS) till date.. The first ruler called OGUNDUBUJA whose the famous Ogundubuja high school is named after,ogundubuja a direct son of larogbo of akotogbo (a Bini prince) that founded the town AKOTOGBO in irele local government.
The following starting from ogundubuja are the names of the olojas/OBA of idepe -OKITIPUPA
1. OGUNDUBUJA
2. MONIKENEHIN
3. RABIYE
4. LAGBOJA
5. JAPINROYE
6. ALARO
it is on record that Alaro had 3 sons that constitute the three RULING HOUSE and they are (1)AKINJOLOKUN that consists of the okeraye’s, loni’s,and egun liha’s (2) MOGHOJAYE the fathers of the people refer to as the ajagbale’s (3)IRETOLU the father of the abusoro’s
7. AKINJOLOKUN
8. MOGHOJAYE
9. IRETOLU
10. ADEROLOYE
11. FABIYE
12. ADETUWO
13. LAJUNE
14. OBAMONIRE
15. AKINNUBI
16. AKINDELE
17. ENIKUNEMEHIN
18. OBA ADETOYE OBATUGA
Lockdown inspired research….
Fafeyiwa O. Bodunrin.
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