Iwara is an ancient historic town situated in mineral-rich

local government area A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a federated state, state, province, division (politica ...

of Atakunmosa East in the

Osun State Osun (; ), is a state in southwestern Nigeria; bounded to the east by Ekiti and Ondo states for 84 km and for 78 km respectively, to the north by Kwara State for 73 km, to the south by Ogun State for 84 km and to the wes ...

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

. Geographically, it is located at approximately in the South West, one of the six

geopolitical zones of Nigeria The Federal Republic of Nigeria is divided into six geopolitical zones, commonly called zones. They are a type of administrative division grouping the country's states, created during the regime of president General Sani Abacha. Nigerian econom ...

, within a forested, mineral-rich region. The ruling monarch of the city is known as the Awara.

History

The ancient Kingdom of Iwara was founded around c.1170 by Awara Ajila, the first monarch of the town. Awara Ajila was the first eldest son of Owa Obokun Ajibogun Aganiyeye Onida Arara (1150-1255), the founder and first Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijeshaland who was a son of Yoruba (Omoluabi) royal progenitor Oduduwa Olofin Aiye Hence, the Awara is a grandson of Oduduwa Olofin Aiye.

Monarchy

The ruling monarch of Iwara Kingdom is the Awara. As eldest son of Owa Obokun Ajibogun Aganiyeye, who was the founder of the Owa Obokun Adimula Royal Dynasty and Ijeshaland; the Awara holds a position of considerable socio-cultural and traditional prominence, ranking next to the Owa Obokun Adimula throughout Ijeshaland. According to historical records and oral tradition, the Awara's position as first son of Owa Obokun Ajibogun Orunaja Aganiyeye Ekun confers upon him significant power and reverence. The Awara is the head of all Loojas - Dukes & Lords (Olori Omododo) in Ijesaland. Notably, he is uniquely excluded from succeeding to the throne of the Owa Obokun Adimula, reportedly due to concerns that his ascension would concentrate excessive power in his hands. His Royal Majesty, the Awara of Iwara serves as Chairman of Ijesha South Traditional Council.

Geography and Economy

Iwara is approximately 20 minutes drive to Ilesa, the capital city of Ijeshaland, and about to Osogbo, the state capital of

. The town is bordered to the east by

Ekiti State Ekiti () is a state in southwestern Nigeria, bordered to the North by Kwara State for 61 km, to the Northeast by Kogi State for 92 km, to the South and Southeast by Ondo State, and to the West by Osun State for 84 km. Named for the Ekiti ...

and to the south by

Ifẹ Ifẹ̀ (, ''Ilé-Ifẹ̀'') is an ancient Yoruba people, Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria founded sometime between the years 1000 BC and 500 BC. By 900, 900 AD, the city had become an important West African emporium producing sophisticate ...

. Iwara and its sub-domains in Atakunmosa East are known for their rich arable land, natural mineral deposits, including gold, quartz,

tourmaline Tourmaline ( ) is a crystalline silicate mineral, silicate mineral group in which boron is chemical compound, compounded with chemical element, elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. This gemstone comes in a ...

feldspar Feldspar ( ; sometimes spelled felspar) is a group of rock-forming aluminium tectosilicate minerals, also containing other cations such as sodium, calcium, potassium, or barium. The most common members of the feldspar group are the ''plagiocl ...

biotite Biotite is a common group of phyllosilicate minerals within the mica group, with the approximate chemical formula . It is primarily a solid-solution series between the iron- endmember annite, and the magnesium-endmember phlogopite; more al ...

, and

columbite Columbite, also called niobite, niobite-tantalite and columbate, with a general chemical formula of , is a black mineral group that is an ore of niobium. It has a submetallic luster, a high density, and is a niobate of iron and manganese. Niobite ...

.Ajeigbe et al 2014, p.118.

References

*Tomori, M.A (accessed 2024)."The Emergence of Oduduwa and the origin of Yoruba Kingdoms of South-Western Nigeria" Macos Consultancy Publication. *Ajeigbe et al (2014). "Mineral Prospecting Potentials Of Osun State" European Journal of Business and Management, 6 (2). {{DEFAULTSORT:Iwara Osun State