Prince Fagbamila journeyed to Oba after consulting the Ifa oracle and settled there for nine
uears as a temporary abode. Obe-Ile, near Akure, the Ondo State capital, thus became anotehr Emure transit tow as some people
were left behind by Prince Fagbamila, when he moved to settle at Igbo-Owa.
Igbo Owa means "the Forest of the King." He finally arrived and settled in Igbo_owa in the
years 1300 AD for about four decades. The descendants of Prince Fagbamila remained in Igbo-Owa town. Records showed that Emure
people lived abundant lives and were prosperous in Igbo- Owa kingdom. However, after its tremendous expansion, between 1300
and 1771 AD, the Igbo-Owa Kingdom began to experience a decline. The surrounding towns and villages over which they wiedled
power and dominion became too pwerful for the central kingdom to control.
The Princes were deployed as administrators over subordinate towns and villages to help in
collection royalties and maintaining law and order.
The central administration became weak and eventually in 1779, the Emure Kingdom in Ogbo-Owa
collapsed. Notable ones among Igbo-Owa towns and vilalges under Emure kingdom were Irn, Odo-Emure, (now known as OdoEmure
Agbado), Ado0Ani, Oba, Upinmi and Ikun to mention just a few.
The cracks on the walls of the Igbo-Owa kingdom in 1770 led to the disintegration of Emure
Kingdom as some of the people decided to elave the central kingdom to found a new place of abode. During the journey to a
new settlement, a few of the elderly persons could not go further due to tiredness hence they declared that "they had reached
home" which in Yoruba parlance means "ati de le." The place where they settled then is the present Emure Ile.
Emure kingdom had been governed under a code referred to as the Native Law and customs and
it was a well structured administration in place that emphasized dividion of power.
At the head of the administration in the kingdom was the King who was regarded as the lord
of the community. The chiefs make up the judiciary council, headed by the King.
There was also the military that protected the kingdom from invasion and was responsible
for presecuting wars for the expansion of the kingdom.
The administrative headquarters of the town was the Palace of the King which is located centrally
in the community.
EMURE TRADITIONS, CULTURE AND FESTIVALS
Emure
kingdom takes after Yoruba traditions, culture and festivals as can be witnessed in the race. There are particular times of
the year when certain festivals and traditional practices are observed; few amongst these traditions include:
a) ILUYONWA: His Royal
Majesty's Yam festival makring the beginning of our calendar year celebrated in September.
b) AIREGBE: Maiden
group dance marking the glorious transformation to puberty stage.
c) ILEODUN: Annual
festival for only male indigenous adults to observe.
d) ERO: Festival
celebrated to mark graduation from (Gbamo) age group to adulthood.
e) OPA-OGURU: An exercise
to correct misconduct in the society.
f) IPON: Used
to detect mysteries.
g) ETINTIN: Females'
celebration with white clothes carrying small native pots of water from Aro brookm holding pealed whips.
h) OGUN: Festival celebrated in honor of ogun, the god of iron.
i) EGUNGUN: Festival
celebrated in themonth of April every year to honr the king by all the quarters.
DEVELOPMENTS IN EMURE KINGDOM
Emure
kingdom continues to witness tremendous changes within the last few decades of our settlement at the present site. These changes
are results of the people's determination and hardwork. Emure Ekiti which is the main town and Headquarters of Emure Local
Government Area, there are 98 villages and settlements within the domain.
At the present time, the schools are in dire need of being rebuilt and several infrastructure
must be set in place to enable our children an opportunity for self improvement.
The tourist attractions for visitors are the historic Ose and Oguru hills.
