Interesting facts about EGUN people – Femi Olatunji

The Egun people are an ethnic group located majorly in Lagos and Ogun state.The people are found in Badagry, Yewa ipokia areas of Ogun state.
They are also located in some parts of the Republic of Benin.

The Egun people are also referred to as Ogu. The Egun people share similarities with the Yorúbás owning to the fact that during 17-18th. The Dahomey Empire was under the Oyo Empire rule, thus strengthening the relationship between both tribes.

Origin: According to oral history, the people were settlers in the old Dahomey, presently known as the Republic of Benin. They’re descendants of those migrated from whydah,Allada, and weme, which are now part of the Republic of Benin. Thus, as a result of the Dahomean war that occurred during the 18th century.The people were said to have migrated to Badagry as early as the 15th century due to the need for security.

ADVERTISEMENT

Badagry served as the auction point for slaves captured during the inter-village welfare.

Leadership: The people of Egun have an established monarchial institution. They call their traditional rulers Akram. This has its root from its historical migration from the ketu kingdom in the 15th century. From the previous De Wheno Aholu Akran Gbaofe down to the present De Wheno Aholu Akran Menu toyi 1, the stool was produced 17 Akrans.

The town is divided into the right quarters. Each quarters is named by each of the seven white caps chiefs, while the eight quater, from the De Wheno Aholu comes from, is administered directly by the crown. The adjoining mainland districts are administered by their respective traditions rulers some of which are Alapa of Apa,Onilogbo of Ilogbo-Eremi,Aholu GbediteAyaton of Ajido,OniworoIworooba of Ibereko.

Language: Although the people belong to the Yorùbá tribe of Southwest in Nigeria,they speak a distinct language from the main Yorúbá in its land. They have varities of dialects, which include Thevi,Xweta,Seto, and Tiki. Gun is the main language spoken by the indigenes.

Food: common native food to the Egun includes pap(locally called Ekor) and stew,Ewa agoyin,Benin red stew,peanut sauce, and vegetable soup They also have similar Kind of food with the Yorúbás, which include Eba, semo Dudu e.t.c

Festivals: The traditional religions of Badagry are associated with various festivals. Celebration of festivals and dances such as Avohumide, Zan gbeto, olokun-hunga,kabuto(Egungun) oro, igunuko, Akogun and others where the use of the traditional drums and And variety of raffia based costumes are prominent means by which people rekindle their traditional heritage.

The Badagry festival (an annual event) is the most prominent of all their fests. The festival is organized by the African Renaissance Foundation (AREFO). The events reflect the significance of the ancient town during the slave trade era.

Occupation: Due to their location of coastal lagoons and creeks, fishing remains their main occupation. The majority of the indigenes are into fishing, coconut processing, and salt production. Others are involved in farming and trading.
The state government established fish farms in the area and a fisher training school at Yovogan Badagry.

Education: The Egun people could be regarded as those who held the cradle of Western civilization because of the introduction of Christianity to Badagry in 1842.

The first primary school in Nigeria. Religion:The people practice Christian and Islamic religion. The people believe strongly in their traditions despite the introduction of other religions. They worship the supreme Being (Jiwheyewhe mawu ose) through gods like Ogun (god of iron) and Heviso (god of thunder). The Egun people also worship olokuna water deity, which is usually appeased for abundant fishes. Elegba, which is the accursed Satan, is also worshipped by the people around March or April.

Clothing: The Egun traditional attires are precious to them. They wear their clothing on important occasion. They believe that the type of clothes worn by a man depicts his personality and social status.
They have a wide range of material used to make clothes. The most basic being is the hand wooven ones, which is a hand loomed clothes of different patterns and colours sewn in various styles.

The Egun people are warm and welcome lots of tourist to their land with unforgettable history and culture.The use of condom As a method of birth control is perceived as a taboo. This is due to their long-held traditional belief.
Náwe my Egun people, meaning hi my Egun people
Mukothu àfónuti meaning good morning
Mukothu àfónuti àjitó meaning good morning, father
Mukothu àfónuti àjino means good morning, mother.