Language & Culture
The Ekiti is a sub-group of the Yoruba , and indeed their ancestors migrated from Ile-Ife, the spiritual home of all Yoruba . The local dialect is spoken with slight variations in the different communities, but this does not prevent Ekiti indigenes from understanding each other. Christianity, Islam and traditional religions are all practiced.
The people of Ekiti are culturally homogenous and speak a special dialect of Yoruba language known as Ekiti. The dialect however varies across locations, e.g. Otun people (in Moba land) speak a dialect close to that of the Igbominas in Kwara and Osun States; the Oke-Ako, Irele and Omu-Oke people speak a dialect similar to that spoken by the Ijumus in Kogi State. The people of Efon Alaaye also speak a similar dialect to that of the Ijesas of Osun State. Although slight (and in very few locations, somewhat wide) variations exist in the local dialects, the Ekiti people understand each other and communicate pretty well.
Politics here can offer surprises, with voters not always following their relatives at the polls. This, given the Ekiti sense that they must struggle for recognition within the Yoruba camp, is perhaps not surprising. In the Second Republic the Ekiti favoured the party of the South-West, the UPN. The Third Republic saw them stray somewhat, giving three seats to the NRC.
In the Fourth Republic, now more secure perhaps with their own state, the electorate returned to the fold, as it were, embracing the AD to the turn of two out of three Senate seats, all six House seats, the governorship and 22 out of 26 state assembly jurisdictions. The PDP managed a senator and three state assembly seats, while the APP had to settle for a lone representative.culled from ekiti.com
Otun Ekiti is the Headquarter of Moba Local Government Area in Ekiti State. It is located to the North of Ekiti State. It is a nodal town which shares boundary with Kwara State to the North and Osun State to the West. History Of Otun Ekiti Tradition has it that the Oore emerged from the Okun Moba (Moba Sea) in the present coastal area of Lagos with a Calabash containing water in his hand, beads around his neck and a beaded crown on his head. It is also a fact of history that the people of Otun under the leadership of Oore have settled in different places at different times, including Moba near Mushin in Lagos and passing through Ile-Ife before they finally settled at their present location. Some of the places they passed through after Ile-Ife included Akure, Oke Olodun, and Ipole before moving to the present site over 400 years ago. The movement from Ipole (about six kilometers away) to settle at the present site was due to scarcity of water. Water supply was so problematic at Ipole...
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