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 durability 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 realm. Gbage Olabinukuro, the elder brother, departed the Owa palace and established Ebiti, his own hamlet. To this new residence, he was accompanied by all of his admirers, including hunters.
During that historical period, the ancient Oyo Empire was invaded by Fulani. They made Alaafin Ofinran and his people leave their house. Alaafin met Gbage, who had moved from Ilesha, when he arrived in Ebiti. Alaafin Ofinran said that Gbage was a strong, charming man who possessed great strength when fighting or hunting. The relative calm and tranquility of the community 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.
After Kishi, they arrived at a river (Sanya), where Alaafin’s wife gave birth to a newborn boy named Tella Abisipa, or a child born on the route. Upon arriving to 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 battling 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 slaughtered, 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 alleged that Alaafin Ofinran was interred there. Following the deaths of around 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. The Alaafin changed his name from Gbage to Alepata upon Alepata’s arrival (return to Igboho) and from that point on, people referred to Alaafin Abisipa as the monarch who arrests spirits (Oba-Amoro).
Eventually, Alepata and his hunters went with Alaafin Abisipa to Oyo-Ile along with the whole retinue. After a conflict 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.
