Isanlu Isin or Isanlusin is an ancient town in Igbomina

Igbomina

The Ìgbómìnà are a tribe of the Yoruba people occupying the north-central portion of the Yoruba region of southwestern Nigeria....

-Yoruba

Yoruba people

The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...

 land of Kwara State

Kwara State

Kwara State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Ilorin. The primary ethnic group of Kwara State is Yoruba, with significant Nupe, Bariba and Fulani minorities.- History :...

. It is one of the prominent towns in the Isin

Isin, Nigeria

Isin is a Local Government Area in Kwara State, Nigeria. Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State was created from the old Irepodun Local Government Area in 1996 with the headquarters at Owu-Isin...

 Local Government Area of the State. Isin

Isin, Nigeria

Isin is a Local Government Area in Kwara State, Nigeria. Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State was created from the old Irepodun Local Government Area in 1996 with the headquarters at Owu-Isin...

 Local Government Area of Kwara State was created from the old Irepodun Local Government Area in 1996 with the headquarters at Owu-Isin. At the earliest time of Isin settlement, there were about 36 villages, but due to a series of external attack from the Nupes, Fulani and Ibadan, most of these villages have either been decimated or have fused with stronger and well fourtified ones. Today, notable towns in Isin are Isanlu Isin, Ijara Isin, Owu Isin, Iwo, Oke-Aba, Oke-Onigbin, Alla, Edidi, Odo-Eku, Oba, Iji, Pamo, Oponda, Igbesi, Eleyin, Kudu-Owode, to mention but few. Collectively, these towns are today located in Isin

Isin, Nigeria

Isin is a Local Government Area in Kwara State, Nigeria. Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State was created from the old Irepodun Local Government Area in 1996 with the headquarters at Owu-Isin...

 Local Government area of kwara State. The present ruler of Isanlu Isin also referred to as Olusin, is Oba Solomon Oluwagbemiga Oloyede.

Location

Isanlu Isin is located at Latitude 8° 14' 0" North, Lontitude 5° 5' 0" East as displayed on world map, coordinates and short location facts. To the north of Isanlu isin and Isin

Isin, Nigeria

Isin is a Local Government Area in Kwara State, Nigeria. Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State was created from the old Irepodun Local Government Area in 1996 with the headquarters at Owu-Isin...

 towns as a whole are Igbajaland, Oraland and Ireland; to the west are Ajasse Ipo

Ajasse Ipo

Ajasse Ipo is an ancient town in Igbomina-Yoruba land of Kwara State. Ajasse Ipo is sometimes spelt as Ajase Ipo and is also known as Ajasse or Ajasepo. It is one of the prominent towns in Irepodun Local Government Area of the Kwara State...

 and Oro; to the east are Oro Ago, Olla and Osi in Ekiti LG; while to the south are Apaland, Arandun and Omu-Aran.

History

There are three versions of the traditions of origin and history of Isanlu-Isin.

The first version accredits the founding of Isanlu-Isin to a certain hunter named Laberindo. He was said to have migrated from either Oyo or Ife

Ife

Ife is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria. Evidence of inhabitation at the site has been discovered to date back to roughly 560 BC...

. The reason for leaving his former abode is not clear. What is clear however is that he was instructed by Ifa to settle where he could find ‘Osan Ilu tree’ at this place also, he was to see a deer run away from him. In wherever these two conditions are fulfilled, there Ifa instructed him to reside. These were fulfilled at the present site of Isanlu-isin, hence, he founded the town there.

The second version says that Isanlu Isin was founded by Aina Orimadegun, from the Agbedegbede ruling house of Ile-Ife (one of Ife ruling house till date). He was said to have left Ife

Ife

Ife is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria. Evidence of inhabitation at the site has been discovered to date back to roughly 560 BC...

 because he was refused to celebrate the Egungun festival. This he claimed Ifa had instructed him to do. For refusing his celebration of the egungun festival, Aina migrated from Ife. A source, however, added that Aina was already an Oba at Owa near Ife before his migration.

The third version says that Aina migrated from ife

Ife

Ife is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria. Evidence of inhabitation at the site has been discovered to date back to roughly 560 BC...

 at the time of Universal dispersal of Princes to found their kingdoms, who were given emblems of royalty such as Crowns, Swords and Staff. He left in a group of other obas, these were, the Ajero of Ijero, Alara of Ara, Elekole of Ikole, Orangun of Ila, Olupo of Ajasse Ipo

Ajasse Ipo

Ajasse Ipo is an ancient town in Igbomina-Yoruba land of Kwara State. Ajasse Ipo is sometimes spelt as Ajase Ipo and is also known as Ajasse or Ajasepo. It is one of the prominent towns in Irepodun Local Government Area of the Kwara State...

, Alaran of Arandun. Specifically, On leaving Ife

Ife

Ife is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria. Evidence of inhabitation at the site has been discovered to date back to roughly 560 BC...

, Aina first settled with his relative the Olupo of Ajasse Ipo

Ajasse Ipo

Ajasse Ipo is an ancient town in Igbomina-Yoruba land of Kwara State. Ajasse Ipo is sometimes spelt as Ajase Ipo and is also known as Ajasse or Ajasepo. It is one of the prominent towns in Irepodun Local Government Area of the Kwara State...

, from there he migrated eastward and settled at Ade. While the Alaran led by Esikin Olomu, who tradition possessed the magical club called Ogbo settled southeast of Olusin’s settlement in what is known as Omu-Aran until 1931 when Alaran departed Omu-Aran because of some misunderstanding to found Aradun. After a shortwhile, Olusin left Ade to Ajagbo. Once again left Ajagbo and migrated northward to Igbole. At Igbole, successive Olusin was said to have gone to Oyo for Investiture as an Oba with the title of Olusin (i.e. the Olu of Isin). From Igbole, Olusin migrated upnorth to found a new settlement at Owa, he however moved northwards to a new settlement known as Oke-Agbon, which is a few Kilometers from the present site of Isanlu Isin. He later moved finally to the present site of Isanlu-Isin to head the conglomerate of villages who voluntarily chosen to come under Olusin’s hegemony. A source which is widely accepted today states that Ologba was actually the first to arrive. For arriving first, the Olusin accorded the Ologba the position of the highest chief, next only to the Olusin. Soon However, the Ologba receive a message from Isehin his home town that his father was dead and that he has been chosen for investiture as the Oba of Iseyin. Prior to this time however, the Ologba had put to the family way, a daughter of the then Olusin, who was thought to be barren. This woman had children for the Ologba. Thus Ologba set off to Iseyin with his wife and children. On his arrival, he was told that contrary to tradition, an Oba of Iseyin could not marry from outside the town. What was more, an Oba cannot have a first son born to him by such a woman. For this, he was not crowned as Oba. With great anger, he left Iseyin. His brother Asanlu and his sister, left Iseyin in simpaty with hin to Isanlu. The trios are known oral tradaition, as ‘omo iya meta’ meaning 3 of the same mother. On arrival, Olusin refused Ologba and his entourage a stay and encourage him to move northwards. This the Olusin did for two reasons;

1. His appearance terrified Olusin because he appear as a warrior and having experienced series of challenges on his way to Isanlu from Ile-ife by Nupe, Ibadan and Fulani warriors that Ologba may turn against him one day and depose him. And

2. The aggression Ologba brought from Iseyin may be transfer to him if he allowed Ologba to stayed with him again.

Ologba being a man of peaceful character departed from Olusin and settled at the present location of Isanlu-Isin. Further facts reveal that Laberindo case surfaced several years after Ologba have settled in present day Isanlu. When Olusin eventually joined Ologba at the present Isanlu site, Ologba seeded to him the number one position and agreed to be Olusin’s subject. Asanlu’s intent was to return home (Iseyin) after this. But Ologba persuaded him to remain with him. Not desirous of leading his elder brother, Ologba relinquished his number two position to Asanlu, while he became number 3.

Thus to this day, Ologba is regarded as the owner of Isanlu. Asanlu on the other hand being the eldest of them all agreed that the title of Asanlu should be on rotational basis between his descendants on one side and the descendants of their sister who later married to Oke-Epa. The title of Ologba is being rotated between the 3 descendant of Ajayi (the first Ologba) i.e. Akerepete, Ayokemoye and Owinni till this day.

Cheiftaincy

The position of chiefs in Isanlu isin is engender by the fact that the grading and thus seniority of Chiefs and sharing of amenities is done according to when a particular chief arrive the town. Olusin retained the first position, second position was transcended to the Asanlu while Ologba occupied the third place.

The next chief to arrive was the Alagemo family from Oluyi. The Alagemo occupied the forth position, he moved into Odo-Ona and settled with the Ologba.

Subsequent arrivals included Asaba. Who was a brother of Aina from Ife

Ife

Ife is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria. Evidence of inhabitation at the site has been discovered to date back to roughly 560 BC...

. He settled very close to Aina at Okose.

Odee came next from Iloo his original homeland.

The last to arrive was the Isolo group, with Aro heading a section and Alaa heading another.

The various settlements with their appointed chiefs (usually the eldest or a philanthropist in the family) thus became wards in Isanlu Isin up till this day.

Oriki

Oríkì

Oríkì

Oríkì, or praise poetry, is a cultural phenomenon among the Yòrùbá-speaking people of West Africa.- Oríkì Characteristics :Oríkì varies in length depending on whether it's the name given to a child to describe the future portents of his or her life or a recital of the accomplishments of a person's...

 or praise

Praise

Praise is the act of making positive statements about a person, object or idea, either in public or privately. Praise is typically, but not exclusively, earned relative to achievement and accomplishment...

 poetry

Poetry

Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...

 of some compounds in Isanlu Isin include:

IMOORO

Omo ori oloye, Omo Ayobi-ere

Ogbelenje Ori asa

Ologun gangan lori esin

Oropa tontibon, oretu tagbeltagbe

Oko borokinni san Anike, Oko winjobi

Opa baba mesin lese, oko Kapola

Sasa eniyan niferu lehin bee sinile

Taja teran nifeni loju eni

Tanifenilehin, bikosomo eni

Omo Aworinde, Omo Ajisola Ogun

Asorogun bi igi Obobo

Omo Onibedo, Oluju oja, abaja girimolode

Omo ogede gbepado sebi egungun

Patako efon kakaka nisaja lenu

Omo, Omo dunmoye, Omo Ajigbotifa

Omo amowe be isin ape lomi be eja

Omo aleniloye, Omo ile maakun

Omo Oluju oja, omo mumu aro

Mumu aro ekan tobe, ekan esin kokan teniyan

Omo Amosi oku obo,

Omo akutan geri esin

Namu ebi meji loro,

Namu ibabimeji apakan mo

Omo Olomugo egba,

Omo ariyan wogun,

Obun emara, obun mara tan,

Kotun mon na Omo Olowo eyo

Amosi, Omo Oloja ti won ki mugba na

Jebete ni won nfina tiwon

Kiki penkuku lodo oro

Omo Oba Akikanmekun lomugo

Omo Adifa gberu,

Omo eleja gbagba loro

Omo eleja akuugbe.

OKE-EPA, OKE-SANLU and ILE-OLOGBA (These 3 compounds have the same oriki

Oríkì

Oríkì, or praise poetry, is a cultural phenomenon among the Yòrùbá-speaking people of West Africa.- Oríkì Characteristics :Oríkì varies in length depending on whether it's the name given to a child to describe the future portents of his or her life or a recital of the accomplishments of a person's...

 because they are families of the same mother)

Egba omo Lisabi Iyanyan afinran maje bi

Mo sipe mo saaloo kihan mu ita yinmi ni ile asanlu

Igi pelebe ni han gbe lemi lowo ni ile baba wa

Ofere owu ni han mu sa tokun oro nile Asanlu.

Iyanyan nimi afinran mo je bi awa lomo igi kan gogoro,

Omo igi kan gagara yoya dina lesa nile Asanlu ee

Jeki eru elesa lo ko ko jeki wo fa elesa naa tokoo bo;

Oyaju iyawo lole loo ko iyun wa igba yawo lole di igba ide odogba lan ja.

Omo okun lesa awon to yawo a maa kode,

Awon ti o yawo a maa ko awon baba ti yiyawo,

Tai yawo ni o koyun merindinlogun mo da somo lese moda somo lowo,

Mo niu yoku kanti omo keke ti kaa mi oko yin mi oko yin ran-an-mi,

Owo okuta ogbagi dun-un joko. Bo fun ni lowo a fun mi lomo.

Oun naa lo fun mi lomo agbe se ye.

Song:

Ewee gboun oroo (2x) Ita nke yunmu yunmu,

ewee gboun oro, egbo abee gbo oo (2x)

Ha leko sebu oo egbo abe o gbo oo

Solo:- Ita o (All) Oro (2x)

Solo:- Asanlu Oro nbo ooo

All:- Oro Oro akee oro

Solo:- Ologba Oro nbo ooo

All:- Oro Oro akee oro

Solo:- Abi o somo oro ni le yi mo oo

All:- Odede lawa ao bi esu oooooo

Ita oooo, Oro oooooooooo...

Tourist Attraction

Tourist attractions include:

1. Atti Falls

2. Agbasin Shrine

3. Egungun

Egungun

Egungun is a part of the Yoruba pantheon of divinities. In the indeginous religious system of the West African tribe of that name, the spirit is of central importance...

 (Masquerade) festivals

4. Oba palace and many other attractions.

Annual Festival

Major festivals in Isanlu isin include:

1. Traditional festivals e.g. Egungun, Paaka, Agbasin, Oro, Oya, Ogun and new yam festivals.

2. Christian

Christian

A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...

 festivals e.g. Christmas

Christmas

Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...

 and Easter

Easter

Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...

 celebrations

3. Moslem festivals e.g. Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha celebrations

4. Isanlu-Isin day

Isanlu isin community may have abandoned many of their culture most especially the traditional festivals because of foreign religions.

Schools and Institutions

1. Bowen University (Pre-degree campus)

2. Isanlu Isin Comprehensive College

3. Baptist Grammar School, Isanlu-isin