Modakeke, Nigeria

History

The founding of Modakeke is intimately and closely linked to and intertwined with the internecine wars that ravaged Yorubaland in the 19th century. The wars saw the collapse of the old Oyo Empire, and establishment of new settlements across Yorubaland in this period and time. Modakeke was thus established on a virgin land in 1845. The name, Modakeke, was not just a conjecture; it was derived from the chirpings of a nest of storks around the site of the new settlement. The appellation, Akoraye, is a contraction of “Ako ri aaye” (Storks find ample space).

Modakeke, from its founding in 1845, grew rapidly as more war displaced Oyos poured into the new settlement. Its people did not waste time before they fanned into the forests, tilling the soil and recording bounteous harvest. The absence of government attention predicated Modakeke's struggle for self development.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Akinmoyero was said to have received them well. They started growing and producing different types of food crops on farmlands given to them by their hosts. A good number of them got recruited into Ife’s army and it was through their gallantry that Ife had its territory extended to Alakowe, its present boundary with Ijesa land.

Prior to the arrival of the Oyos, Ijeshaland extended to the present location of the Palace of the Ooni of Ife. This is why the Palace area is known as Enuwa (Enu Owa) until today.

From the History section of Modakeke on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.