Moremi Ajasoro was the wife of one of the ancient heroes of Ile ife. Probably Oranmiyan. She was a woman of great beauty and virtue, and had an only son named Ẹla or Oluorogbo.
It happened that the city of Ìfẹ́ was at one time in a state of frequent commotion and unrest, owing to the repeated raids of a tribe of people called the igbos. This continued for a series of years. The Ìfẹs attributed this affliction and distress to the displeasure of their gods, because those that attacked them from the igbó territory appeared not to be human beings, but gods or demi gods, consequently, the Ìfẹ́ felt they could not withstand them, and so these raiders use to make way with easy plunder, including their valuables, with their women and children. For this, they propitiated and called upon their gods for help, but received no response.
Now, this Moremi, fired with zeal and patriotism was determined to do whatsoever she could, to free her country from this calamity. She was resolved to find out what this igbós really were, and how to fight them. To this end she repaired to a stream called Esinmirin, and there made a vow to the deity thereof, that if she was enabled to carry out her plans, they proved successful, she would offer to the gods, the most costly sacrifice she could afford. Her plan was to expose herself to the raider and get caught, and be taken to their country where she could best learn their secrets. But she said 'if I perish, I perish'. At the time of the next raid she undertook to carry out her plan, she was caught by the igbos and taken to their country; and being a woman of great beauty, she was given up amongst others, and sundry booty to their king. Her beauty and virtue soon won her a place in the country and the confidence of the people. She became familiar with with all their customs, and learnt all their secrets: then she also learnt that those who were such objects of the terror to her people were mere men, who covered themselves from head to foot with Ekan grass and bamboo fibers, making them appear extra human, and are nicknamed Eluyare.
She extracted from her husband also the secret of attacking them successfully. 'If your people know how to make a torch and have the courage to rush amongst them with lighted torches, they cannot stand that.'
Moremi feeling she was now conversant with everything amongst the igbos, having disarmed any suspicion they may have entertained of her as a captive, suddenly escaped one day to her native land, and by making use of the secrets she had learned, freed her country for ever from the raids of the men once their terror. It remained now for her to fulfill her vows.
She repaired to the stream with her offering of lambs, rams, and goats for sacrifice, but the god would not accept any of these.
She then offered a bullock, which the god also refused to accept, then she prayed the priests to divine for her what would be acceptable; this was done, and the God demanded for her only son.
She then gave up her only son in sacrifice to the gods in the fulfillment of her vows. The Ìfẹ nation bewailed her loss and promised to be her sons and daughters, for the loss she had sustained for the salvation of her country.
Oluorogbo however, when supposed to be killed, was but half dead: he afterwards received and rose again and made a rope with which he climbed up to heaven: and all Ìfẹs to this day have a full hope that he will come again to this world, and reap the full hope that he will come again to this world, and reap the full reward of his good deeds.
We may discern in this legend a confused idea of the story of Jephtha, and that of the Blessed Virgin and her Son perverted. Ọranyan was the father of all Ọ̀yọ́s or Yorùbás proper, and two renowned sons, Ajaka and Sango, both of whom succeeded him in turns, and both of whom became famous in Yoruba history, and were defied after death.
