The Ìkál (Yorùbá, Nigeria) Migration Theories and Insignia

Abstract

Ìkàl is one of the several dialects spoken by the Yorùbá of Nigeria (Adeoye 1979:5). The name also refers to the people who speak the dialect. This subgroup is made up of fourteen communities in the southwestern part of Ondo State of Nigeria. They share boundaries with the Ìlàjẹ, Ìj Àpì, and Ìj Àrògbò to the south; Òdígbó Local Government to the north; Edo State to the east; and Ògùn State to the west. Ìkàl communities include Ìkyà, Òde-Ìrèlè, mn, Igbódìgò, Àyèká, Ìdèpé (Òkìtìpupa), Òde-Aye, Erínjẹ, Òṣóòró and Ìgbìnsìn-Ọlt. Others are Àkótógbò, Àjàgbà, Ìyànsàn and Ijù-ṣun. These last four communities were formerly grouped under the Benin Confederation. Traces of Edo language and culture show very clearly in their ways of life. Òṣóòró is a conglomeration of Igbótako, Ìlútitun, Iju-Odò, Iju-Òkè, Erékìtì, and Òṣmtṣ towns. The Ìkál also have kindred communities in parts of Ògùn State, viz., Ayédé, Àyílà, Aràfn and Moblrundúró.While some Ìkál communities claim direct descent from Ilé-If, others claim Benin, or Ugbò descent, and a few others elsewhere. Oral tradition confirms that there were migrations from If Oòyè before the Benin contact of the sixteenth century, which tend to link Ìkál dynasty to Ọba Esigie (Bajowa 1992:3). In an interview with Chief M.A. Fabunmi, he narrated the If version of the Ìkál migration from Ile-If.