Osogbo - History

History

According to tradition, In Ipole Omu, seven (7) rulers reigned before Olarooye in the following succession:

• Adefokanbale
• Aikanya
• Ogbogba
• Saso
• Luberin
• Laege – (Alias Adetuturinrin) father to both Lajomo and Larooye
• Lajomo
• Olarooye

During the reign of Oba Olarooye at Ipole, life became very unbearable because of incessant dry seasons. The then Ipole people became much dejected, worried and uncomfortable of their losses on their farms, domestics animals and human beings. The Oba Olarooye was worried and disheartened with the situations at Ipole Omu. He wanted emergency solutions to inevitable and uncountable losses. This was the time he ordered the chief hunter at Ipole in person of Timehin and his co-hunters to go on expedition and look for green pastures. Timehin and the other hunters courageously took up the challenge and moved out in search of better place for settlement. The expedition discovered River Osun.

Yoruba tradition claims many people fleeing the Fulani Advancement settled at Osogbo following the fall of old Oyo. As a result Osogbo increased in population largely due to migration from other Yoruba towns.

For want of more open place than grove and a more central location, Larooye and his people abandoned their settlement, including the already flourishing market and moved to Ode-Osogbo. At Ode-Osogbo, Larooye built his new palace at the present day Idi-Osun while Timehin built the ogun shrine now known as Idi-Ogun. Since then, Osogbo has maintained its function as an economic center.