ILESHA AND HER IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOURS

ABSTRACT

This research examined the inter-group relations between Ilesha and neighbours. It interrogated the nature, typologies and dimensions of Ilesha’s relations with neighbours. It maintained that the environment and the needs of both people are what majorly triggered the intergroup relations in pre-colonial Nigeria. It also asserted that the 82 inter-group cooperation and integration during the period was a necessary and paramount step taken to tackle the critical societal and environmental problems. It is in this context that the study examined the historical origin of Ilesha and neighbours people. The people of Neighbours like every group in Nigeria have their traditions of origins. The study revealed that there are two precise versions to the traditions of origins of the Neighbours people. The first is the tradition of original settlers in Ile-Ife while the second is based on Oduduwa mythology. The first version stated that the Neighbours migrated from the cradle of the Yoruba race, Ile-Ife to their present abode in the 13th century. However, the study acknowledges that; tracing the origin of Nigerian groups is always very problematic. The origin of most, if not all of them is shrouded in myth, mystery and ideology. This tends to blur the line between myth, ideology and history.