Modakeke is a town in Osun State, South West Nigeria, with a population of close to three hundred thousand people.The Modakekes are also known as the “Akoraye” and have a history of valor at war and are prosperous farmers. With the fall of the Oyo Empire to the Fulani, the Yoruba kingdom was thrown into confusion and the inhabitants of the Old Oyo were dispersed and started new settlements all around Yoruba land.Fleeing southwards in search of new abodes after the fall of the Oyo Empire, the Oyos started settling among the Ifes in 1834. As the Romans of old, they were soldier-farmers. They were hardy as soldiers and industrious as farmers. The major areas and streets in Modakeke are: Oke Otubu,Aranse Olukoola,Oke Ola, Alapata,Ade Owo, Oke D O, Akarabata,Oke yidi, Iraye St ,Esuyare quarters,Bosa st,Ayansola, Ogbadore. Though they observe every public holiday in Nigeria. One “special day” dear to their hearts is AKORAYE DAY. It is celebrated on the last saturday of december. myspace/awololastripes (copied from this website) HISTORY (2) Modakeke is located in the tropical forest, South West of Nigeria. It is about 45 kilometres from Osogbo, the Osun State capital and 90 kilometres from Ibadan, the capital of Oyo a neighbouring state. Also the headquarters of Ife East Area Office is about 75 kilometres from Ore, Ondo State. The founding of Modakeke in 1845 was as a result of the fall of the Old Oyo Empire as a result of Fulani invasion. Many people migrated southwards to look for settlement, among them were those that came to Ile-Ife. The name Modakeke was adopted after consultation with oracle which directed them to go to Ebu Alako near Oke-Owu where they met a swarm of Ako (Stork) birds. The name derives from the cry of the storks in a large tree Mo-da-ke-ke-ke-ke, and where “Ako ri aaye duro si” now know as Modakeke Akoraaye and since the founding eighteen traditional heads known as ‘Ogunsua’ had ruled the town. POPULATION Modakeke town is a growing semi-Urban centre which is developing rapidly. Suffice to say that it is also experiencing a rapid increase in population. This increase in population is attributed to natural increase and immigration of people to the town. According to 1991 census, Modakeke population was put at 60,735 although the figure appears questionable because of the natural and other factors identified necessary for population growth. Modakeke, the Oyo sub group of the Yoruba, mainly inhabits Ife East Area Office, Modakeke-Ife with influx of large number of people from various ethnic groups across the country, e.g. The Igbos from Eastern Nigeria, Hausa from the North and Igbiras from Kogi State form the bulk of the Labour supply for farm work to the local farmers. OCCUPATION Many economic activities take place within the Ife East Area Office, which include, trading, carpentry, Motor mechanic, blacksmith, lumbering etc, but the major one being agrarian. Agriculture and forest resources form the backbone of the economy in Modakeke. The Area is well known for food production and cash crops. There are various location of fruit orchard in Modakeke and its environs. Modakeke is endowed with various spices of woods which promote lumbering activities in the town. There are numerous valuable natural resources found across Modakeke and its environs, which include – Steel depot at Afijagba, and Odo-Okun, Granite at Oke D.O., Koola and Adesiyan all these resources are in abundance but yet to be tapped. The Modakekes are known nationwide as one of the highest producers of cash crops such as Cocoa, Kolanut, Palm Oil etc. PEOPLE AND CULTURE Ife East Local Government Area Office, Modakeke-Ife was created as a child of necessity following the recommendation of Chief Olabode George committee set up by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to broker peace between the people of Ile-Ife and Modakeke Communities. The Area Office formally took off on 1st April, 2002 and made up of what is historically known and addressed as Modakeke Akoraye. The Area Office Modakeke-Ife is centrally placed amidst the neighbouring towns and villages that comprised the defunct Oranmiyan Local Government in Ife Land. There are numerous towns and villages in the Area Office. Some of them are: Alabameta, Koola, Odole, Ajagunna, Doya, Asabi, Ijugbe, Awoye, Aba-Oke, Olooyo, Fagunwa, Asarogun, Oyan, Aba Lemomu, Jatina. However, Ife East Area Office shares boundaries with Ife Central, Ife North, and Ife East Local Governments. Hence, it has three political wards. The indigenes of Ife East Local Government Area Office, Modakeke-Ife are predominantly Oyo speaking people bounded with the same custom and culture. However, non-indigenes from all parts of Nigeria and foreigners reside in the Area Office, living together in harmony. Yoruba and English are the languages of the people for official and business transactions. The Area Office is endowed with a highly literate and articulate populace who constitutes a virile and productive workforce. Traditionally, the people of the Area Office are very hard working farmers while some engage in other commercial activities such as Soap making, Palm kernel crushing, Feed mills, Sawmill etc. The Area Office have a rich cultural heritage which is eloquently demonstrated in all areas of their lives. To read about the war fought by Modakekes back in the day with Ife’s or even most of the issues faced by them,Please read the following: Modakeke and Ife conflict by Modakeke progressive international articles by Modakeke progressive international articles by modakeke.org
Posted on: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 10:22:17 +0000
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