The Ijebu 's of Ogun State
The Ijebu are situated at the extreme west of Ogun State, with their land area
originally extending beyond the existing boundary of Ogun State into the
neighbouring Lagos, Oyo, Osun and Ondo States. The Ijebu thus rank among the
internally administratively partitioned sub-ethnic groups in Nigeria. The historical
linkage of the Ijebu with the rest of Yoruba group is also indicated by such
settlements as Owu-Ijebu and Ijebu-Ife. In the riverine area of Ogun Waterside,
communities such as Abigi and Ebute-Oni have more in common with their
environmentally close Ilaje neighbours in the Okitipupa area of Ondo State.
Even in the core area of Ijebu, the features of fission and fusion are also present. The
independence of Ijebu-Igbo vis-à-vis Ijebu Ode is well known. Ogunba, in his
published research, identified five successive waves of immigration of dominant
groups. According to this study, the earliest period of organised state system appears
to be that of the Agemo. This was chronologically followed by the Olu-Iwa, the Ijebu,
the Olode, The Oko and finally, the Obanta or Awujale dynastic groups.
Thus, in spite of the use of ‘Ijebu’ as a common ethnic cover-name, there is an
overwhelming evidence of intra-group stratification and fusion.