History Of Osogbo

 

One of the most accepted history of Osogbo can be traced to 1670 AD. As History had it, It all started with the journey of a famous hunter called Olutimilehin, who hails from Ipole-omu not far from Ibokun. Olutimilehin came across a local Dam while he was in hunting in a place called Gbonmin, around Oke-Baale area ( part of present day Osogbo ) .

Due to the water scarcity facing his community he went around to see if the dam will be capable of sustaining his people. Olutimihen was sad because the dam cannot sustain his community. In his quest Olutimilehin found a stream called Okrokro, which he traced its source to River Osun ( part of present day Osogbo ) . Olutimilehin went back to his community and inform the king, Larooye Gbadewolu of his findings. The king and his subjects later moved to settle at the flood plain and built his first palace later Known as Ile - Osun. 

Overtime Larooye and his subjects engaged themselves in farming activities in their new found land. History learn that One day as they were clearing the bush for cultivation they incidentally fall a tree, damaging the Indigenous industry of the spirit world. A voice was heard from the river saying "Laro! Timehin! You have broken my dyeing pots".

Other voices from the spirit world were heard saying! "Oso-igbo pele o, Oso-Igbo rora o. (Oso-igbo we cormistrate with you). Later Larooye got to know the name of the spirit Queen as Oso-igbo (widely believe to be the goodies of River Osun). This is why the Osun goddess was, and is still regarded as the spiritual mother of Oba Larooye and all the succeeding Ataoja (King of Osogbo). History also has it that Larooye and his subjects move to the upper terrace in the plain which they later called OKE Ohuntoto at the present day Osun Groove. 

 As King Larooye community population grows the groove and their already flourishing market was abadon as they moved to Ode-Osogbo after the usual Ifa devination. The abandoned market centre and the iledi ohuntoto are today important historical monuments in the Osun grooves. At the Ode-Osogbo, Larooye built his new palace at called Idi-Osun while Timehin built a Shrine known as Idi-Ogun. Larooye and his subjects discovered that their new settlements was a centre where footpaths from Oyo, Ekiti, Ijesa etc converged.

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JACOB ODULATE, The Man Who Invented ALABUKUN Powder Over 100 Years Ago

 JACOB ODULATE, The Man Who Invented ALABUKUN Powder Over 100 Years Ago!

Alabukun, one of the oldest drugs in Nigeria and even  is still very relevant and popular today. However, not many know the Jacob Odulate aka Blessed Jacob, a Nigerian pharmacist, inventor and entrepreneur and  the brain behind the brand that has remained relevant selling in all parts of Nigeria, Benin republic, Cameroon, Ghana and some parts of Europe.

1. Jacob Sogboyega Odulate aka Blessed Jacob was born into a polygamous family in 1884.

2. He was originally from Ikorodu in Lagos State but later moved to the neighbouring Ogun State.

3. At age 14, he trekked for three months from Ikorodu before reaching Abeokuta to establish himself.

4. Blessed Jacob managed to create a brand from what served as his consulting room and workshop in Abeokuta. His modest headquarters was at the Sapon Area, not far from where he later built his famous three-storey building in Ijemo Agbadu.

5. In 1918, he invented the legendary Alabukun powder which is now a hit in the world’s most populous nation and in other West African nations.

6. He sent his children to study at some of the best universities in Durham, Newcastle, United States of America and London. e.g Mrs. Folake Odulate (later to become Chief. Mrs. Folake Solanke) who is the first female lawyer in Nigeria to wear the silk and she also became the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). In 1966, she established the first law firm by a Nigerian female at Ibadan, Oyo State and named it Alabukun Chambers in honour of her great father.

7. Apart from making the drugs, the energetic Blessed Jacob also produced other brands like Alabukun mentholine, other preparations and an annual journal called Alabukun Almanac which was widely distributed in Abeokuta and eventually all over Nigeria between the 1920s and 1950s.

8. He died in 1962 at age 78.

We thank God for his life

©️ Aare Babatunde