A BRIEF HISTORY OF OGBOMOSO

FOUNDING:

Ogbomoso was founded in the mid-17th century as a walled town, and it became a minor outpost of the Yoruba Oyo empire until the beginning of the Muslim Fulani conquests of Oyo in the early 19th century.

NAME ORIGIN:

The name Ogbomoso is said to have originated from the phrase "ido eni ti o gb'Elemoso," which translates to "him who captured Elemoso." Elemoso was a warlord who was killed by Ogunsola, a skilled hunter from Ibarapa.

GROWTH:

The town attracted many refugees from other Oyo settlements and became one of the largest Yoruba settlements. It was a major commercial zone and was inhabited mainly by Yoruba farmers, artisans and traders.

CULTURE:

The inhabitants of Ogbomoso are predominantly Muslims and Christians with a sizeable number of traditionalists. The town is known for its wood artifacts and koso drums. The town also has a factory for producing shoes and rubber.

RELIGION:

The inhabitants are predominantly Muslims and Christians with a sizeable number of traditionalists. The presence of large number of Churches and Mosques attested to this assertion, hence, their God-fearing attributes. Despite the multiplicity in their belief and orientation as regards religion, there exists religious harmony and peaceful co-existence in Ogbomoso.