Igboho plays a significant role in the former Oyo Empire’s history. Although Oyo plays a significant role in Yoruba history, Igboho’s contribution to the Oyo Empire’s sustainability cannot be ignored or forgotten. Gbage’s departure from Ilesha marked the beginning of the Igboho people. After a struggle for the chieftaincy, Gbage’s younger brother was crowned Owa. In an attempt to bring about peace, the (angry) elder brother fled the kingdom.
Gbage Olabinukuro, the elder brother, left the Owa palace and established Ebiti, his own village. To this new residence, he was accompanied by all of his supporters, including hunters.
During that historical period, the ancient Oyo Empire was invaded by Fulani. They made Alaafin Ofinran and his people leave their home. Alaafin met Gbage, who had moved from Ilesha, when he arrived in Ebiti.
Alaafin Ofinran observed that Gbage was a strong, charming man who possessed great strength when fighting or hunting. The relative calm and tranquility of the settlement astounded Alaafin Ofinran. After that, he asked who the head was—usually referred to as Baale—and Gbage was asked to meet with Alaafin.
It was Gbage who greeted him. Alaafin Ofinran informed Gbage that he was searching for a place to call home for himself and his entourage. Gbage assured him that he would assist, as he was familiar with the area from his hunting trips. After that, they set out to find a location for the Alaafin and his sizable group to settle. After Kishi, they arrived at a river (Sanya), where Alaafin’s wife gave birth to a baby boy named Tella Abisipa, or a child born on the path.
Upon arriving at the center of Igbo-Oba, which is still known by that name today, the oracle informed them that they would be staying there. Two birds were fighting on a tree beneath which they were all sitting when the herbalist was performing a divination. One of the birds was an Igbo bird (Eye Igbo), and the other was an Oyo bird (Eye Oyo). After the two birds were killed, Ifa was offered their blood as a sacrifice. The names Igbo-oyo and Igboho were derived from these two birds, Igbo and Oyo. It was purported that Alaafin Ofinran was interred there.
The arrival of Alepata (back to Igboho) with all those so-called spirits made the Alaafin to change his name from Gbage to Alepata and ever since then, they referred to Alaafin Abisipa as the king that arrest spirits (Oba-Amoro). Alaafin Abisipa eventually left for Oyo-Ile with all his entourage while Alepata and his hunters accompanied him. They were in Oyo-Ile for about three years when crisis erupted in Igboho, Alaafin now told Alepata to go back to Igboho to become their leader and ever since then Alapeta have become the head of Igboho till date.
Following the deaths of approximately four Alaafin in Igboyo, Tella Abisipa, who was born near the Sanya River and later became an Alaafin, declared his desire to bring the Oyo Empire’s seat of government back to Oyo-Ile. But the Oyo-mesi did not want him to return, so they brought some of the deformed and disabled people from the palace to Oyo-Ile. When Alaafin’s emissary arrived, the disabled people pushed the emissary away by posing as spirits and telling him, “This place is not your home. Go back.” Eventually, Alaafin sent Alepata and his hunter-like companions, Okere, Emo, and Iloko, to investigate the spirits’ mystery.
Eventually, Alepata and his hunters went with Alaafin Abisipa to Oyo-Ile along with the whole retinue. After a crisis arose in Igboho during their roughly three-year stay in Oyo-Ile, Alaafin instructed Alepata to return to Igboho and assume leadership of the group. To this day, Alepata has served as Igboho’s head. Igbope-Baale, Modeeke-Ònà Onibode, Booni-Ibabooni, Iyeye-Baale, Ago-IgiIsubu, Okegboho (smallest quarters)-Onigboho, Jakuta, Waala, Idi elegba, and Akitipa are a few more of the quarters in Igboho.
