Introduction

Welcome to the true story of a people whose existence defines unity and their nickname, "Ekiti Parapo," echoes it proudly. Welcome to the only city ruled by two Kings. Ikere-Ekiti, "a wonderland wallowing in an admixture of profound civilization and tenacious cultural learning ". Headline, a reputable Nigerian Newspaper which first ran this story described it as "an expansive city lucky enough to escape being choked by the mighty rocks that dots its western part". Ladies and gentlemen, this is the story of Ikere - a great city located on the southern part of Ekiti State in Nigeria.

Royalty is a rich literary and artistic tradition, which has influenced the development of cultures around the world. This is perhaps one of the reasons people have such a high regard for the institution of royalty. Royalty, with its rich history is one within a geographical location such as a city, or a nation. One King and one Queen in England, one King in Morocco, one in Norway, Argentina, Saudi Arabia and so on. But two Kings, otherwise known as "Obas" in Ikere-Ekiti! Oduduwa, the founding father of the Yoruba land established Ile-Ife, the traditional headquarters of the Yorubas. He never had a second or complementary King or Oba. There has never been two Oonis reigning simultaneously in Ile-Ife.

Battle-loving Aare Onakakanfo wielded tremendous influence in the old Oyo Empire, yet Oyo maintains one Alafin. Ibadan, the largest city in West Africa had always had powerful personalities. Among those in the beginning was Efunsetan Aniwura. Yet, Ibadan had never introduced two Olubadan.

Ogedengbe, the intractable warrior in Ijesa land, was a personality to behold. Ilesa never introduced two Agunlejikas because of him. Osogbo and Osun are almost synonymous. Ataoja, nontheless, is the only recognized Oba in Osogbo. There has always been one Oba (each city in Yoruba land), one Emir (Hausa land), and one Obi (Ibo land).

A look at history

"The first Olukere came from Ile-Ife and founded Ikere, much later, the first Ogoga, a hunter, left his base in Benin and came to Ikere on a hunting spree. Reaching Ikere, he went and stayed with the Olukere at his palace. As time passed by, the number of people bringing cases to the Olukere for settlement started increasing by the day until it reached a point when he could not do everything alone. He then asked Ogoga to go and stay at Iro to attend to the people on his behalf while he, the Olukere would continue with other traditional assignments. The Ogoga started carrying out the job assigned to him until he eventually attained the position of authority."

As ordained by tradition, Ogoga and Olukere usually meet once a year during the Olosunta festival. That day, Olukere wears his crown while the Ogoga merely wears a cap. Today, both Ogoga and Olukere are, in the best interest of the people, generally seen as the head. And both are on the government payroll.

Ogoga and Olukere live in two different worlds. The attainment of University Degree put Ogoga at the forefront while Olukere a very intelligent and one who fully understands the science of power sharing continues as the traditional head. However, one thing they both have in common is the skill to understand the desire of their subjects and of winning their confidence. If anything, they try not to subscribe to the idea of absolute monarch.

Ikere, in its uniqueness, remains a complex society, a little conglomerate in its own right. History reveals that the resident of Ikere had their origin from different towns and cities in Yoruba land.