The Yoruba-speaking people of Kogi state are often referred to as the Okun. Although some parts of Ekiti and Kwara states also speak the Okun dialect. However, the Yoruba from other states like Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Lagos, and Ondo usually say that the Okun people are not originally yorubas but history states that they are Yoruba.The Okun land comprises of different groups like Bunu, Ijumu, Owe, Oworo, and Yagba people comprises six(6) different local governments which includes Ijumu, Kabba/Bunu,Yagba East, Yagba West,MopaMuro and Lokoja local government area. The Okun language is spoken in the Kogi West Senatorial District and are up to 20% of Kogi state population.
“Okun” is a part of greeting among these group of people and can also signify “sorry”, “hello” or “Well_done”.The Okun people speak different dialect like Owe, Iyagba, Ijumu, Bunu and Oworo. Although, they all understand each other and share common culture and history. However, these dialects are not the real Yoruba language but can be understood by the people of Ile Ife.
The Okun people were formerly based in Kwara State until 1991 when there was the creation of Kogi, Nasarawa State,Ekiti State, Osun state, Taraba state, Jigawa state, zamfara State, kebbi State ,Yobe state ,Delta State and Eboyin State. On the creation of these states by the former president Ibrahim Babangida,the Okun became major part of Western Senatorial District of Kogi State.While they were in Kwara State they were in Oyi LGA and were known as the Kabba people.
His royal majesty, Olu Anthony Bamigbaiye Idowu (Olu Adde of Ekinrin _Adde) stated that according to history,their forefathers migrated from Ile Ife.They were three brothers who were hunters,the older one is Gbede, the second is Yagba and the youngest is Ogidi and that is why they have three(3) major districts in Okun land. They have the Ijumu kingdom,the Gbede and the Yagba group which is now known as yagba land. Initially ,the three brothers settled in Adde before they separated.
The hunter later moved his elderly wife known as iya agba (older mother)to northwestern part of Owe and named it odo iya agba meaning place of older mother which now known as Yagba districts. This district house three LGA which are; Yagba East, Yagba West, and MopaMuro.
In the Okun land, it is said that every indigene of the land must have an Oriki (Eulogy). Oriki means one’s crown, heritage, and inspiration. It is a praise song and attribution to a person. It serves as an identity and tells a lot about a person. Chief Olojo Johnson Aribide of Ekinrin added that One’s oriki signifies the town and family a person comes from. It makes one proud, happier, comfortable, and welcomed.
The Okun Men dress in Agbada and Fila while the women dress in their Iro, buba and gele. Their attires are usually made from adire and aso oke. To display the rich Okun culture, an attire was recently made for the Okun people. This attire was made from aso oke and has a mixture of four(4) colors. These colors include, green, blue, white, and brown. This aso oke attire can be worn for special events like weddings and traditional festivities. Their local dish is pounded Yam and egusi with lots of iru(locust beans) and palm wine. Adun and itowo are also known to be very common and popular snacks among these people. Their major occupation includes farming, hunting, palm wine tapping, and trading.
In Okun land, there are various festivities. One of these is the yam festival. The yam festival is usually celebrated in June. During this period, the first yam would be harvested and celebrated.Farmers usually brings the first yams from their farms for display and those with the biggest yams are often admired. During the celebration, masquerades dance around the town with a huge crowd carrying the yam. Furthermore, the yams are cooked or roasted with the supervision of the women around after which the Kings and top chiefs of the land eats the yam before it is declared okay to be consumed by everyone. Moreso, according to tradition, it is unacceptable for anyone in the community to eat the new yam before the celebration. This period also serves as an opportunity to thank God for a bountiful harvest and ask for abundant rain for the next farming. This festive season which is usually in June serves as a new year for the Okun people. Therefore, every Okun person (home and abroad) is expected to come home for this celebration.
The Okun land has so many prestigious tourist places. Some of these places include The Akoba Hill, Iowa Hill, Nike Art Center, and Obangogo Hills. People from different parts of the world often visit these places. This has in one way or the other brought development and increase to the Okun land. The Okun people are known to be very welcoming, peaceful, and accommodating people. Okun land is indeed a place to be.
— Moses Sarah Opeyemi, a 300-Level Mass Communication Student of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Ayingba, Kogi State.
