OGBOMOSO PARAPO

WASHINGTON, DC METROPOLITAN CHAPTER

P. O. BOX 79789

Washington, DC 20013 

Ogbomoso Parapo, Washington, DC Metropolitan Chapter came into being as a result of discussion among Ogbomoso sons and daughters living in the Washington, DC in the summer of 1972 and was officially established in the summer of 1974.  Ogbomoso Parapo is incorporated as a non-profit organization in the District of Columbia.  

The organization’s basic objectives are to cater for the social, moral, cultural and financial needs of all members.  Notable contributions to the socio-economic development of Ogbomoso Township, in Oyo State, Nigerian are as follows: 

1.      Shipment of a 40ft container load of text books to Ladoke Akintola University and Ogbomoso Public Library

2.      Shipment of a 20ft container load of clothes to Motherless Home Center and Leper Colony Center at Ogbomoso.

3.      Scholarships to Ogbomoso natives attending Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso. 

Social events includes, annual summer picnics, where families and friends of Ogbomoso Parapo are hosted; participation in events that showcase Yoruba culture, for example the organization held a naming ceremony in conjunction with the African American Descendants Group (Oyo Heritage, Baltimore, Maryland) at the Museum of Arts, Washington, DC. 

Meetings:  The organization’s monthly meeting is held on the last Sunday of every month at 10:00 am.

 

Executive Officers 

President                                             Thomas Ajao                                    (202) 672 1475        

Vice President                                     Adegboyega Majolagbe                    (301) 589 2235

Secretary                                            Timothy Segun Afolabi                      (301) 439 3850        

Treasurer                                            Femi Akande-Elemoso                      (301) 754 6374

Social Secretary                                  Adeyinka Bamidele                           (410) 682 5373

Ogbomoso  - The Home of the Brave 

Like any history of a people that began before the invention of writing and printing, history was passed from generation by word of mouth.  Such history was bound to have some contradictions.  Ogbomoso’s history is not peculiar.  The name Ogbomoso itself is a contraction of the valiant act performed by a brave and young hunter named Shoun.  So any attempt to narrate the history of Ogbomoso would always refer the birth of a baby boy named Shoun.  This always raised so many eyebrows among the Chiefs in Ogbomoso.  Up until today, it is always a touchy issue.  This is so because people have sojourned in what we call Ogbomoso today before Shoun came.  For instance, many chiefs accredited Onpetu of Ijeru to have first settled in Ogbomoso.  Aresa Olugbon, Onikoyi and other War-Chiefs have settled in Ogbomoso long before Shoun came. 

At this point, it is necessary to understand the circumstances that surrounded Shoun’s birth and events that made him a paramount ruler of Ogbomosoland.  Shoun’s father was a hunter and he was an Ibariba man.  He came to Iresa on a hunting expedition.  There he met Aresa’s daughter whom he married.  They then moved to Igbo-Igbale the current Oja-Igbo in Ogbomoso.  Here they had a baby boy.  Messages were sent to Aresa that the new boy would be brought to Iresa for naming and blessing.  The Odu Ifa that surfaced was “Iwori Meji”, Ifa predicted that the new baby would be great and famous and would become a mighty king whose name and power would surpass that of Aresa and other chiefs in the Aresa’s kingdom.  Ifa went further that the special sacrifice should be made because the child would incur so many enemies that could thwart his destiny.  Aresa was pleased with the news; nevertheless he could not contain the fact that his grandson, fathered by an Ibariba, would become more powerful than him and his descendants.  Aresa then concluded that it was not necessary to bring such child to Iresa for naming.  Aresa then sent his envoy to Igbo-Igbale with the message “Ile gbogbo Ile owo. Awa o ma shin, Ki eyin o ma Shoun”.  Aresa instructed the envoy to make sure that the sacrifice was performed under the Iroko tree.  The envoy gave the name Shoun to the new baby. 

Shoun grew up to become a brave and valiant hunter.  He has special magic to become invisible.  Such prowess made it possible to hunt dangerous animals such as lions, elephants, leopards, etc.  During this time Alafin was at loggerheads with the head of Eso.  The Eso resided in the palace and they were the king’s guards.  The disagreement escalated and the chief of the Eso was dismissed from the palace.  The chief of the Eso sometimes called Elemoso did not take Alafin’s action slightly, he decided to fight back.  Elemoso organized Guerilla Warfare on market days or on special occasions.  Elemoso would strike and kill market women and children at random.  This created an uproar and fear in the minds of Oyo citizens.  The Alafin ordered his new Chief of the Eso’s to arrest Elemoso and bring him to Afin dead or alive.  This search went on for months; neither the Chief of the Eso’s nor other warlords were able to capture Elemoso.  Alafin’ looking for somebody who could bring Elemoso to justice, therefore sent his emissary to all the provinces as far as Benin, Dahomey, Egba, Owu and Ife.  All these were of no avail.  

Finally, somebody hinted Alafin about a young hunter named Shoun who resided in Igbo Igbale.  Immediately Alafin sent for Shoun.  When Shoun arrived at the Alafin’s palace, Alafin doubted whether Shoun could capture Elemoso.  Shoun urged Alafin to entrust him with the assignment.  Alafin finally yielded and Shoun with his invisible juju embarked on the campaign to capture Elemoso.  After several weeks, Shoun discovered Elemoso’s tactics.  During the day Elemoso would perch on the trees and descend during the night.  On one of the market days’ Elemoso climbed a tall palm tree very close to Oja Akesan. He was ready to strike as usual.  Shoun spotted Elemoso and before Elemoso struck innocent citizens, Shoun struck first with an arrow.  Elemoso fell and Shoun rushed to him, pulled out his sword and beheaded Elemoso.  Shoun took Elemoso’s head to the palace.  The news spread to all the Yoruba country about Shoun’s valor.  Immediately Alafin gave him clothes, beads, and a staff of office as War Chief and Bale.  So people came from far and near to see this young hunter who beheaded Elemoso.  As people came they nicknamed Shoun as “Ogbori Elemoso” This was contracted to Ogbelemoso, later to Ogbemoso and finally to Ogbomoso. 

Warriors and brave men and women populated Ogbomoso.  They were fearless and fierce in battle.  Many wars fought but none was able to capture Ogbomoso town ship.  Several war Chiefs rose to the rank of Are Onakakanfo in the Alafin’s Army.  For instance, Toyege and Ojo Aburumaku were distinguished Are Onakakanfo.  In recent time two famous Ogbomoso sons became Are Onakakanfo.  They were Chief Samuel Oladoke Akintola an orator, journalist and tactful politician who rose to the rank of the Premier of the Old Western Region of Nigeria; and Colonel Benjamin Adekunle a brave and dignified soldier, who became the Are Onakakanfo of Yorubaland after the Nigerian Civil War. 

Several War Chiefs, who either became dissatisfied with Shoun or disagreed with his positions in some military campaigns, joined the Oyo, Ibadan or Ilorin army.  One case in view was “Ibikunle the Mighty!”  He was a native of Ogbomoso and like many of the warrior-Chieftains of Ibadan, he defected the Ogbomoso army in protest of Bale Ogbomoso’s activities during Eleduwe’s War.  On arrival at Ibadan he went and lived with another war chief, Toki Onibudo.  This Chief was the Lord of all the area of Ibadan, which is still called Ayeye today.  In Toki Onibudo’s household, Ibikunle became the captain of the soldiers retained by Onibudo.  In this position, Ibikunle distinguished himself as a great soldier and was known as the “Lion of Onibudo’s Camp.”  As was the practice in those days, Ibikunle succeeded Onibudo after the latter’s death.  Ibikunle fought valiantly in many wars in which Ibadan troops were engaged.  By 1851, after returning from the Opin expedition in the Ekiti region, he was appointed the Balogun of Ibadan. 

In religious affairs, Ogbomoso has been in the forefront of Christian Ministry.  Ogbmoso is the center of the Nigeria Baptist Mission. 

LIST OF SOUN OF OGBOMOSO   1659 A. D. TO PRESENT 

1.      OBA OLABANJO OGUNLOLA OGUNDIRAN              1659 – 1714

2.      OBA ERINSABA ALAMU JOGIORO                              1741 – 1770

3.      OBA IKUMOYEDE AJO                                                   1770 – 1797

4.      OBA TOYEJE AKANNI  (Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland)    1797 – 1825

5.      OBA OLUWUSI AREMU                                                   1826 – 1840

6.      OBA JAIYEOLA ARE AROLOFIN ALAO                        1840 – 1842

7.      OBA IDOWU BOLANTA ADIGUN                                   1842 – 1845

8.      OBA OGUNLABI ODUNLARO                                          1845 – 1860

9.      OBA OJO ABURUMAKU ADIO                                         1860 – 1869

(Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland)

10.  OBA GBAGUNGBOYE AJAMASA AJAGUNGBADE I      1869 – 1871

11.  OBA LAOYE ATANDA ORUMOGEGE                               1871 – 1901

12.  OBA MAJENGBASAN ELEPO I                                           1901 – 1907

13.  OBA ADEGOKE ATANDA LAYODE I                                 1908 - 1914

14.  OBA ITABIYI OLANREWAJU ANDE                                   1914 – 1916

15.  OBA BELLO AFOLABI OYEWUMI AJAGUNGBADE II      1916 – 2/18/ 1940

16.  OBA LAWANI OKE ‘LANIPEKUN                                        10/16/1944 – 3/19/1952

17.  OBA OLATUNJI ALAO ELEPO II                                           1952 – 1966

18.  OBA OLAJIDE OLAYODE, II                                                 7/22/1966 – 7/1/1969

19.  OBA SALAMI AJIBOYE ITABIYI                                           6/4/1972 – 6/2/1973

20.  OBA OLADUNNI OYEWUMI AJAGUNGBADE III              10/24/1973 – PRESENT 

OGBOMOSO ANTHEM

 COMPOSED BY

LATE Mr. D. OLADELE AJAO

Former Senior Tutor, Baptist College, Iwo 

OGBOMOSO PATRIOTIC SONG