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A Haven of Natural Wonders
History of Ado Awaye
History of Ado Awaye
Ado Awaye migrated from Òyó ilé in 1370 AD under the reign of Alaafin Oluaso, the 7th Alaafin. The king had several wives with 1492 children, only two of the children were qualified to become Alafin after his demise. These two princes were not born to the same mother, the first had a mother of Otta origin while the younger one had a mother of Oyo origin, the name of the first prince was Kooyi, and the younger prince was Onigbogi. Onigbogi refused to allow his elder brother, Kooyi to become a king, he insisted he was the rightful person for the throne after the demise of their father. The rift led to an argument and it was taken to the elders to decide, the elders supported the younger prince because his mother was from Òyó origin. When people of the land asked the elders the reason why they chose the Younger prince and not the elder prince, their reply was "Òyó ló mèsì" meaning that it is Òyó that knows the answer. That was what formed the name "Òyómèsì" today.
Prince Kooyi was not happy about the elders' decision, he furiously took his entourage and his household to go back to his mother's hometown in Otta. On their journey, they discovered that there was a smoke on top of the mountain and they were surprised at what could have brought such smoke to the top of the mountain, he went to the mountain to check. He met a group of people called Awori, who happened to have come there as a result of the Dahomey war. Those people discovered that he was a prince, and they asked him where he was going and he narrated the story to them, and since they did not have a king, they pleaded with him to stay with them and become a king over them. He agreed to their pleading and that brought about the name "Adó". He was made the king and became the first king of Adó Àwáyè in 1500 AD.
There was a set of people who were deserted by war, their leader ran for his life to Ado and tried to hide on the mountain but his enemies outsmarted him and shot him. The people on the mountain came down when they heard the sound of a gun. They saw the man on the ground and treated him and the man abode with them until his people heard that he was still alive; they came for him and when they saw each other, they said "Àwáyè" meaning we live. They settled down in the lower part of the land.This was how the name "Adó Àwáyè" was formed.
The origin of "Alado ni babalawo Alaafin, Alaafin ni baba Alado" (Alado is Alaafin priest while Alaafin is Alado father)
After Prince Kooyi had been made king of Adó Àwáyè, there was a man who escaped from his hometown to Adó Àwáyè because he wanted to become chief priest in his hometown. When he told the king that he was an herbalist and left his hometown because he did not want to become the chief priest, the king was very happy and encouraged him to become the chief priest of Adó Àwáyè; that was how he became what made him leave his hometown in Adó Àwáyè.
There was a problem in Òyó ilé, things were not going as smoothly as they used to be and King Onigbogi was not happy. He consulted the oracle and he was told to look for his brother, Kooyi who was the rightful owner of the throne to seek his forgiveness. Alafin Onigbogi sent his guards to look for Prince Kooyi and the guards got to a place near Adó Àwáyè, they were told that he had become a king of Adó Àwáyè.
They met with King Kooyi and told him about their ordeals and the king sent his priest, Asaloye to Alaafin to resolve the matter. It happened that Alaafin's wives were finding it difficult to conceive; when Asaloye was leaving for Òyó ilé, he took the water in the Iyake lake along with him which was used as herbs and was given to the Alaafin's wives, nine of them conceived once and had their babies in the space of nine months. King Onigbogi was very happy and told his brother to come and officiate the Òyó empire to the ifá dynasty. Since that day, anytime they want to crown Alado, Alaafin must be there, and before Alaafin can be crowned, the inquiry must be made from Alado. Since that day, the saying has been commonly used that Alaafin ni baba Alado, Alado ni Babalawo Alaafin. (Alafin is the father of Alado, and Alado is the priest of Alaafin)
Ìyá Aláró (Tye and dye) lake
Ìyá Aláró (Tye and dye) lake
The suspended lake in Òyó State is called "Iyake Suspended Lake"
It took its name after a woman who had no child and loved playing with children. Some set of people abuse her because she has no child and do not allow their children to go to her again...She cried to Oke-Ado and entered the lake. That was the end of her life and that is why they named the lake "Iyake Suspended Lake"
Iya Alaro Lake is also found on the mountain of Oke Adó. It took its name after one woman who had only one child and the child was killed by some people, she left without anyone's knowledge and threw herself into the tie and dye lake. Her people looked for her tirelessly until they found her dead body on top of the lake on the third day. The proverb has been commonly used for anyone who travels without informing anyone that "Ó lo bí èmí ìyá aláró" meaning the person went like iya Alaro's life.
Iyake Suspended Lake
Iyake Suspended Lake
A suspended lake is a bottomless lake that is found on top of a mountain in Adó Awaye. The tree that grows from this bottomless lake is a mystery, and this tree commonly decomposes yearly once it decomposes, the water is said to be healing water, that it works for everything it is used for with faith.
This lake does not have a depth and everyone who had dared to check the depth of the lake never returned. It was said that some tourists from Europe came to test the dept of the lake, only 1 of them who did not go with them into the lake survive it. There is a small hole around the lake that is called "agbomofunyake". This hole always has water in it and if anyone who is angry puts a leg into the hole, the hole will open wide and swallow the person into the Iyake lake. Because one can not know when the lake is angry, the hole became a sacred hole that no one dared to put legs in till today.
The Elephant Tree
The Elephant Tree
Not far from Iyake River is the elephant tree, this tree took the shape of an elephant. It is said that the tree was a protective one on the mountain and it is use as a cover shed, not until it fell down and on touching the ground, it take the shape of Elephant and up till today, the tree is still at the spot it fell and with the resemblance of Elephant
Ishage Boulder
Ishage Boulder
In ancient times, whenever enemies came to attack those who dwelled on Oke Ado mountain, they would push rocks down against them for defense and which is the only option to fight back, and there was a time when they were pushing down rocks, there is this particular rock that refused to roll down, got to a flat surface and stood, no one was able to push this rock since then and from that time, no war that comes to Oke Ado ever passes Ishage Boulder. The place has been known as the place of prayer ever since then, it is said that whenever anyone touches this rock and asks anything, it will be done by faith. The rock is now one of the tourists center of attraction for visit
There is also a cave located on Oke Ado mountain which we were unable to check when we visited the place because we were already tired by the time we got to Ese Kan Iku.
King ADEMOLA OLUGBILE FOLAKANMI said that the cave could accommodate five hundred (500) people at once.Ese kan iku is a sloppy place to enter. it is the end of the second segment of Oke Ado. The end of the first segment is at Iyake Lake.
The Feet of the Elders
The Feet of the Elders
The feet of the elders are the footprints of those elders who sojourned on Oke Ado mountain in ancient times.
The footprint is also known as "ojú abó" or "ojú olo", the place where they used to put their food whenever they wanted to eat.
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