Owo

For other uses, seeOwo (disambiguation).

Owo Ọ̀ghọ̀ Ọ̀ghọ̀ Ìmàdẹ̀
LGA
A "Welcome to Owo" signpost
Owo
Coordinates:07°11′46″N05°35′11″E
Country	Nigeria
State	Ondo State
Government
•Olowo of Owo	Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III
Area
• Total	395 sq mi (1,024 km2)
Elevation	1,130 ft (344 m)
Population (2006)
• Total	222,262
Time zone	UTC+1(WAT)
National Language	Yorùbá

Òwò

Total population
~425,700 (2011)
Regions with significant populations
Ondo State- 425,700 ·Owo Local Government: 258,230 ·Ose Local Government: 167,470
Religion
Christianity·Yoruba religion·Islam

Short story of Owo in Owo dialect by a native speaker

Owois alocal government areainOndo state,Nigeria.Between 1400 and 1600CE,it was the capital of aYorubacity-state.Thelocal governmentarea has a population of 222,262 based on 2006 populationcensus.

History

In theiroral tradition,Owo traces its origins back to the ancient city ofIle-Ife,the cradle ofYoruba culture.Oral tradition also claims that the founders were the sons of the Yoruba deityOdudua,who was the first ruler of Ile-Ife. The earlyart-historicaland archaeological records reinforce these strong affiliations with Ife culture.Owo was able to maintain virtual independence from the neighboring kingdom ofBenin,but was on occasion required to give tribute.The transmission of courtly culture flowed in both directions between theBeninand the Owo kingdoms. The skill of Owo's ivory carvers was also appreciated at the court ofBenin.During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Benin's rulers increasingly utilized insignia made fromivory,and imported Owo's art objects and recruited itsartisansfor their own royal workshops. There were other notable artworks that can be evidently supported.

Owo came underBritishrule in 1893. After Nigeria declaredindependencein 1960, it was part of theWestern Regionuntil 1967 when it became part of theWestern State.Owo and its indigenes played significant roles in the politics of the firstRepublicin Nigeria. In 1976, it became part of the newly createdOndo State.

In June 2022, at least 50 worshipperswere killedin amassacreat St. FrancisCatholic Church.

Culture

Owo has the largest palace (Aghofen) inAfricawhich was declared as a nationalmonumentby the federal government, and is also a cultural landmark in NigeriaBuilt byOlowo Rerengejenin the 14th century, the palace had as many as 100 courtyards (Ugha). Each courtyard had a specific function and was dedicated to a particular deity. The largest, said to have been twice the size of an American football field, was used for public assemblies and festivals. Some courtyards were paved with quartz pebbles or broken pottery. Pillars supporting the veranda roofs were carved with statues of the king mounted on a horse or shown with his senior wife. The current Olowo isAjibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III.

Economy

Owo is an agricultural center involved in the growing and trade ofyams,cassava,maize,okra,peppers,cocoa,andcotton.There are, however, other commercial activities in the town including but not limited totimber,sawmillingandsoya beanprocessing plants as well as blockmaking businesses.

The town is dotted with branches of banks includingFirst BankPlc,Wema BankPlc,Polaris BankPlc,Enterprise BankLtd. (formerly Omega Bank Plc),Access Bank Plcetc. The city is witnessing a dramatic change due to expansion of its road network, particularly dualization of the main road beginning from the Emure junction up to Iyere exit. A new modern market is now open in Owo.

Geography

Owo is situated in southwestern Nigeria, at the southern edge of the Yoruba Hills, and at the intersection of roads fromAkure,Kabba,Benin City,and Siluko.Owo is situated around the halfway point between the towns ofIle IfeandBenin City.

Archaeology

The Owo site was first excavated in 1969–1971 byEkpo Eyounder theauspicesof theDepartment of Antiquitiesof the Government of Nigeria. Due to Owo's location between the two famous art centers of Ife and Benin, the site reflects both artistic traditions. Important discoveries includeterracottasculpturesdating from the 15th century. TheOwo Museum,founded in 1968, houses many of these artifacts.

Climate in Owo

In Owo, the dry season is hot, muggy, and partly cloudy whereas the wet season is warm, oppressive, and overcast. The average annual temperature fluctuates between 65 °F (18.3 °C) and 89 °F (31.6 °C), rarely falling below 59 °F (15 °C) or rising above 94 °F (34.4 °C).

For hot-weather activities, favoring clear days with temperatures between 75 °F (24 °C) and 90 °F (32.2 °C), the "best" time to visit Owo is from somewhere around early November to mid-February.

Traditional rulers

• SirOlateru Olagbegi II(1941–1968 and 1993–1998). Dethroned in 1968 and reinstated in 1993.
• Adekola Ogunoye II(February 1968 – November 1992)
• Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III(1999 – April 2019)
• Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III(since 12 July 2019)

Gallery

• 
  Olowo of Owo in ceremonial attires during the Igogo festival.
• 
  Owo ivory artefact
• 
  Welcome to Owo signpost
• 
  Urban Water Kiosk, Oke Mapo, Owo
• 
  Roundabout Statue, Owo
• 
  St. John Unity Secondary school, Owo
• 
  Sir Olateru Olagbegi Civic Centre, Owo

See also

• Federal Medical Centre

References

Bibliography

• Smith, Robert Sydney (1988),Kingdoms of the Yoruba,(Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 3rd ed.).
• Weisser, Gabriele (2008),Das Königtum der Owo-Yoruba: Zwischen Mythologie und Geschichte,(Hamburg, Kovac). (The kingdom of the Owo-Yoruba: Between Mythology and History).