Eguguoju

Eguguoju was the Alaafin who temporarily moved the headquarters of the Oyo Empire to a desert place, Iju Sayan, which he named Oyo Ighoho. Eguguoju was the son of Ofinran, the king who died in Kusu, a place in which Oyo people were encamped on their way back to their city, after the raid by Nupe aggressors. Eguguoju, on observing two quarreling birds, named Oyo and Igbo had interpreted their struggle as tenacity, vowing not to succumb to any military power in his new capital. The capital city he built, Ighoho became the resting place of four subsequent Kings of the Yoruba nation before the seat of government was returned to the ancient capital.

Contributor:
Tope Apoola
Profession: Writer