8°1′0″N 4°54′0″E / 8.01667°N 4.90000°E / 8.01667; 4.90000

Ila Orangun
town
Ila Orangun is located in Nigeria
Ila Orangun
Ila Orangun
Coordinates: 8°1′N 4°54′E / 8.017°N 4.900°E / 8.017; 4.900
Country Nigeria
StateOsun State
Government
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)

Ìlá Òràngún (or Ila) is an ancient city in Osun State, Nigeria, that was capital of an ancient city-state of the same name in the Igbomina area of Yorubaland in south-western Nigeria. Ìlá Òràngún is the more populous sister-city (and sister-kingdom) of Òkè-Ìlá Òràngún, located about 7.5 miles (12 km) to the north-east. The latitude and longitude coordinates of Ila Orangun are 8.019116 and 4.901962 respectively.[1] According to the information obtained from GeoNames geographical database, the population of Ila Orangun in Osun State, Nigeria is 179,192.[2]

It is the headquarters of the Ila Local Government Area. In addition to Ila Orangun, the other towns and villages in Ila Local Government Area include Abalagemo, Aba Ododo, Ajaba, Alagbede, Ayetoro Obaaro, Edemosi, Ejigbo-Orangun, Gaa Fulani, Oyi Ayegunle and so on.[3]

The people of Ila speak the distinctive dialect of the Yoruba language called Igbomina (or Igbonna).[4] A common traditional profession of the indigenes of the town is palm-wine tapping. This profession is referenced in one of the most popular songs and common sayings about the town of Ila. The proverb Ila 'o l'oogun, emu l'oogun Ila means "Ila has no special medicine or magical preparations other than palm-wine". A folk song also says Ila ni mi, ise mi o le/ti mo ba wa l'orun ope bi 'ofusia' ni i ri, which translates into English as "I am a citizen of Ila, my profession is very easy; if I am on top of a palm tree, I feel like I am upstairs in a multi-storey building.[5]"

Orangun Palace - Ila Eekun

Ila-Orangun is the home of the Osun state College of Education.[6] The African Heritage Research Library was established in 1988.[7]

The ancient town also has a Police Mobile Training School[8] The name of present king (Oba) of Ila Orangun is Oba Abdul Wahab Olukayode Oyedotun Bibiire I. Amongst the prominent clergy men (Muslim) in the town are Alhaji Jamiu Keuyemi, Alhaji Imam Hammed Solahudeen, Sheikh Azeem AbdulHameed, and Ustadh Lukman Ekundayo

Prominent Ila Orangun indigenes include Alhaji Adebisi Akande, Former Osun state Governor,[9] Tafa Balogun, former IGP Nigeria,Group Captain Atolagbe Adediji Pioneer Nigerian Airforce spokesman,Aisha Olajide, Engr. Jide Adeniji amongst others. Among the town's prominent sons are chief Bisi Akande, former Governor of Osun State during the first tenure of chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Tafa Balogun, former Inspector General of the Nigerian Police Force, and many professionals in science, the arts, and academia.

There are more than 197 compounds in the ancient town.

Climate

The rainy season in Ila Orangun is humid, oppressive, and cloudy, whereas the dry season is hot, muggy, and partially cloudy. The average annual temperature ranges from 63°F to 91°F, with lows and highs of 56°F and 97°F being extremely rare.[10]

Oral history of Ila-orogun in Igbomina dialect by Professor Rasheed Adeyinka a native speaker

References

  1. ^ "Where is Ila Orangun, Osun, Nigeria on Map Lat Long Coordinates". www.latlong.net. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  2. ^ "Population of Ila Orangun, Nigeria". Mongabay.com. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  3. ^ "List of Local Government Areas in Osun State - Finelib.com". www.finelib.com. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  4. ^ "Oba Abolarin: Oduduwa is our source". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2016-12-18. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
  5. ^ "Map - Ila Orangun - MAP[N]ALL.COM". www.mapnall.com. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  6. ^ "About Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun". Osun State College of Education. Archived from the original on 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  7. ^ "African Libraries and Archives". Africa South of the Sahara. USA: Stanford University. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Nigeria Police Force". www.npf.gov.ng. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  9. ^ "BISI AKANDE ON BISI AKANDE – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  10. ^ "Ila Orangun Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Nigeria) - Weather Spark". weatherspark.com. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
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