Ayinrin Alamuye, otherwise called Amuye Tobatele, is a town in the southwestern part of Ilesha, Osun State. Alamuye was founded by Baba Alamuye, which was also the founder of Amuye Faforiji.
Summarily, Alamuye is a vassal state to Amuye Faforiji. Alamuye is mostly known for her unique river of Odo-Oko (also Amuye or Omi Amuye), located in the northern end of the community.
There is much uniqueness about this river, which in turn has gained significance over time and contributed to the significance of the community in terms of inter-and intra-communal relations.
Especially in Ijeshaland, every community has its own peculiarity, like Odo-Oko is to Alamuye; Arake Festival is to Igangan-Ijesha. This article seeks to examine the prevailing belief of the peopling of Alamuye
It is taboo to kill Odo-Oko fishes and anybody that does this may suffer the wrath of Alamuye (the progenitor of the land). Odo-Oko never knows dryness before, it is the only river that serves the community in all activities.
For an instance, Omi Ayinrin, another river in Alamuye, is only used at the factories during oil palm production, but Odo-Oko is used for drinking, cooking, and also oil palm production.
Several communities around Alamuye covet this river, and even some of the neighbouring dwellers move to Alamuye during the period of oil palm production in order to benefit from the river.
According to oral tradition, the Odo-Oko River was more revered in and around the community in the past than these days. Festival was held periodically (perhaps annually) for Amuye, and the river goddess blessed the community.
On the other hand, the counterpart, Ayinrin River also gave warnings to the head of the community (which in turn informed the community through a traditional public relations officer- Town Crier) when people littered her surroundings.
Sometimes, Ayinrin River, unlike Odo-Oko, drowned persons in order to serve as warnings to others (this is still a current happening in Alamuye).
Why killing the fishes of Odo-Oko is a taboo is yet unknown, but it is inarguable that this should have been a measure utilized to prevent the river from drying-
it is believed that when water creatures are fished, the water gets dry quickly (a situation that happens to Ayinrin River yearly).
Odo-Oko has never known aridity for once since its birth, or since it was ritualized (I was never told something about the ritualization though).
Though there are many small rivers that never dry during the notable seasons (dry and raining seasons), the opposite feature of the Ayinrin River, which passes through the community, deserves in-depth attention.
Ayinrin River is the direct opposite of the Odo-Oko River: creatures in the former can be fished, as different from the latter.
Odo-Oko symbolizes love, peace, unity, harmony, and collectiveness. The peopling of Alamuye during the Ikodo Festival, collect themselves to clean the rivers.
Every individual comes out with his own needed instrument- broom, shovel, cutlass, rake, and others to clean the river. Songs are chanted and people work in merriment and happiness.
Mostly at the end of the activity, people meet at the Orisa of the Babaloja of Amuye Tobatele to chant prayers for themselves, and the community at large.
Notably, the last Loja of Amuye Tobatele was Chief Clement Oyebode Faforiji, uncle to the renowned politician, Hon. Bayo Faforiji.
The uniqueness of Odo-Oko has diverse interpretations and remains an element of symbolism. It actually deserves ultimate examination.
Citation: Faforiji Tadese. Odo-Oko in Ayinrin Alamuye: Features, Taboos, and Other Revered Rituals. (July 27, 2021). Tadexprof. Retrieved from https://tadexprof.com/2021/07/odo-oko-in-ayinrin-alamuye-features-taboos-and-other-revered-rituals/
External Link: BL- CMB
