KIRIJI

ORIGIN OF KIRIJI FEUD

There were two sisters’ towns in that mountainous region that served as fortress for the Ekiti kingdoms. The first and the oldest was called Imesin- Poole now Imesi-Ile founded about nine hundred years before by an ace PRINCE OWA JALORUN. The second is called Imesi Igbo Odo and is of more recent history.

BETWEEN IMESI IGBO ODO AND IMESI-ILE

Imesi Igbo Odo is settled in a large trough between the hills of Imesin. There ,Prince Fabunmi lived. As all others in  town, the prince hailed from Imesi-Ipole) now Imesi-Ile) from one  of  three  ruling houses. Quest for an independent kingdom had taken them away from home.

Ojoke  market at Imesi Igbo Odo was a five -day market. Men, women, farmers ,hunters and various people throng the arena every five days to buy and sell right in front of the palace where  Prince Fabunmi’s uncle  was King. Opposite the palace was the  Ajele’s court. The Ajele Oyepetun( an Ibadan) was notorious.

On a certain market day, Fabunmi was celebrating Erinle Festival. He had sent his wife to the  market to plait her head and bring palm wine for the ceremony. Falola, as the wife was called, went to the  to do her husband’s bidding was everyone’s favourite.

On that fateful day, the Ajele was short of stock,yam,corn, palm oil, pepper and wine to feed his large promptly, he sent six messengers into the market to raid the place and pile the spoil in his store as usual

Like lightening, the messengers descended on the market and ordered everyone to carry his  or her ware  to the Ajele’s court. Falola, having plaited her head and got the palm wine to make her husband festival, was hounded together with others to the Ajele’s court. Her beauty and newly plaited head was not lost  on the Ajele who seized the jar of palm wine as well as the  woman. In full glare of the market women, Falola was forced into the inner recess of the Ajele’s court where the small god assuage his lust.

News reached Fabunmi of this  contemptuous affair with his wife and with his matchet flashing in his hand  dashed to the Ajeles court. Only the desperate screams of the Ajele was heard from within. Fabunmi came out later with matchete dripping blood. He had beheaded and dispatched the  Ajele.

Aare Latoosa heard about the incident nine days later and sent one white calabash through a powerful mission to Imesi Igbo Odo to fetch for him (Fabunmi obdurate head). The emissaries had barely delivered their messages when  Fabunmi struck again! Two heads he had severed from the messengers’ neck and these he sent gifts to Aare Latoosa. To Latoosa, the humiliation was complete.

Fabunmi knew he had murdered sleep, and that as such he himself cannot sleep. He knew he had  stirred a hornet’s nest and therefore he himself dare not rest.  After  severing the  last two heads from their Ibadan carriers, he has proclaimed War! Kill Ibadans, kill all Ajeles.

That very night he travelled to  Ekiti and Ijesha kingdoms in order to declare war against Ibadan  Oyos.

That was the cause and the beginning of Ekiti/ Ijesa Parapo  war against oyos  ,also known as Kiriji war that lasted for (16) sixteen years .