Title: Oranmiyan: What is in a name? Osile Oke – Ona, Egba’s Involvement. Author: Oba Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso Number of Pages: 212 Publisher: Pumark Nigeria limited Reviewer: Qasim Olalere Akinreti
In Yoruba mythology, a name is given to symbolise circumstances of birth in a home, posterity, sense of character and projection into the future. In Oranmiyan: What is in a name? Osile Oke- Ona, Egba’s Involvement, written by Oba Dr Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso, the word Oranmiyan and Oranyan are used interchangeably to underscore the intonation of the Yoruba dialect of undiluted Oyo and other forms of Yoruba language. It also reinforces the connection of both Oyo and Ile-Ife to the story line. The 212 page book is divided into two main chapters, which trace the origin of the Yorubas and Egba. Appendix takes major segments of the book providing basis for the authenticity of the Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, the Osile Oke Ona’s storyline. Pointedly too, it acts as the major plank of the title of the book. The chapters are sub-divided into the following headings: Brief history of Oke – Ona Egba, Mythological Kings, Queen of Sheba, A Lesson for Yoruba Leaders from Yoruba history. Others are Oranmiyan Movement, Traditional Heritage, A Lesson from Japanese History, Nigerian Women Award, Biography of Chief Mrs Bisoye Tejuoso, A Brief Citation of Oba Dr Adedapo Tejuoso, and Photo Panorama. The heights of the book are locked in the sub-headings on, Oranmiyan: Ile Ife Involvement, Oranmiyan: Oyo’s Involvement, Oranmiyan Oko’s Oke Ona Egba’s Involvement. The last part of the content are extracts from a book “Omoluwabi, And the King Praise God” and lastly, “Kings’ Day of Praise”. The book will go down in history as a compendium linking tradition and modernity to underscore the mythology surrounding the status of Oranmiyan in Yorubaland. Oranmiyan was the progenitor of the Oko, present day Oke Ona Egba.He reigned in Oko and moved the seat of government of Yorubaland there for a while, pages 37 and 179. The obelisk monument in Ile Ife had resemblance with the Washington monument obelisk. That the Alafin of Oyo, Alake of Egba and Owa Obokun of Ijesaland and other major Obas in Yorubaland cannot properly be installed until the sword of state was brought from Ile Ife, page 50. 1903 landmark event on the clarification of 22 great obas wearing of beaded crown in Yorubaland finally put in perspective the authority of the Ooni of Ife , as the undisputed leader of Yoruba obas as well as the pre-eminence role of Ile Ife as the spiritual head of Yoruba nation, page 71- 78 makes an interesting read. The Yorubas link to the Middle East, precisely Egypt was noted by two distinct features, the writings on scroll in the holy bible in reference to the Egyptian writings of hieroglyphics page as well as “Ife Marble” sculptures and those seen in the Egyptian court of the British museum, page7, 8 and 46. It is noteworthy that this historical publication equally substantiated Oranmiyan as a king in Ile Ife, Oko in Egbaland, Oyo Ile, and Oyo Ajaka, with influence on the entire Oyo Empire in the days of yore. These claims support Reverend Johnson’s record on Yoruba history, pages 14 and 179. Page 56 to 66 is an expose of the founders of Yoruba nations from Oduduwa, to Oranmiyan, the remarkable roles of Moremi; the two sons of Orayan, Ajaka and Sango were exhaustively highlighted. Going by the analysis of the book, the Egba roots were traced to 5th August 1830, when warriors and their families settled in Abeokuta under the Olumo rock. A lesson for Yoruba leaders from historical perspective is quite instructive for new crop of leaders, who must eschew bitterness and be united for the common good of the people, page 86 to 88. The story of Oranmiyan movement revived by the Rauf Aregbesola, the present Governor of Osun state brought into the fore the achievement and focus of king Oranmiyan in Yoruba history . This consummate in the six point agenda of the Oranmiyan group namely, banish hunger, poverty, unemployment, promote functional education, restoring healthy living and enhance communal peace and progress. The absolute love and commitment to a race by good leadership are great lessons the Yoruba land could learn from Japan, who had almost the same attributes with the Yoruba nation. With Yoruba people level of education and civilisation in all spheres, the author believes, his beloved race can make it. For his passionate love for her late mother, an industrialist par excellence, Oba Dr Adedapo Tejuoso, the Osile Oke Ona Of Egba, devoted a chapter to eulogise her mother, the Iyalode of Egbaland, late Mrs. Bisoye Tejuoso, the first woman industrialist in Nigeria, “…. an enterprising woman, wealthy in her modest form, respectable and living a comfortable life…”. If one had listen to the lyrics of evergreen songs of legendary Chief Dr Ebenezer Obey in the 70’s, the apt description and contributions of madam Tejuoso would be well appreciated on pages 102- 109. To further justify the title of the book, the celebration of Oranmiyan festival brought into fore the cherished cultural heritage of an average Yorubas. Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade’s goodwill message on the celebration of Oranmiyan festival contextualised this essence “….. no one can celebrate Oranmiyan without reference and obeisance to the Opa Oranmiyan domiciled in ile ife, the source…the underpinnings of our civilisation, history and cultural heritage have been the tradition of tolerance, openness to new ideas, respect for ancient wisdom, intellectual pursuit and abhorrence of violence. The Yoruba people are loving testimony to the noble tradition of blending the old and the new.” (page 139-143). There lies the traditional heritage of the Yorubas of the South western Nigeria and beyond. The language is simple, fluid and self explanatory. It helps the reader to follow the sequence of historical facts and reinforced the authority of the author as a quintessential Yoruba Oba imbued with candour and grace of royalty. His use of proverbs, or local idioms of Yoruba Language, pieced with appropriate translation in English, enhanced the quality of the publication for children yet unborn to tap from Oba Adedapo Tejuoso’s, logical analysis and writing prowess. As a medical doctor and traditional ruler of note, he has surely raised the bar in contributing his quota to the literary world. Here, effective use of pictures, both coloured and black and white, to sign post and enhanced the quality of the publication. The opening coloured picture on the covered page lifts up the beauty of the book, while the relevant pictures therein confirm the uniqueness of the book. The quality of the print and lettering generally are commendable, and makes the book pleasurable to read. However, anyone genuinely interested in the authentic story of Yorubaland and the pre-eminent role of Oranmiyan in annals of Yoruba, must get a copy of this book, read and digest the rich contents. It is a classical work of arts which generations of Nigerians and more importantly historians and researchers will found worthy of reading and for research work on Yoruba history.
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