IPETUMODU is one of the ancient towns in Yorubaland. Reliable traditions have it that isas ancient as Ile-Ife, popularly regarded as the cradle of the Yoruba race. One of such traditions states that the following three main dynasties have ruled in Ipetumodu.
- The Orunmila/Obatala/Igbo dynasty;
- The Akalako dynasty; and
- The Apetumodu dynasty
Orunmila and Obatala were believed to be colleagues of Oduduwa. Their group fought and drove away the Igbo aborigines of Ile-Ife who left their original homeland to settle at asite near the river sasa in Ipetumodu from where they came to invade Ile-Ife. Obatala and Orunmila later left Oduduwa at Ile-lfe and came to Ipetumodu to fight the Igbo settlers there. But the Igbo pleaded with them not to trouble them or drive them away from their new abode. Obatala was nicknamed “Osere Ma ‘gbo” which when translated to the Igbo language means “Ezema Igbo. Orunmila earned the title “Bara Ipetu, Ajana Ife” inspite of the pleading by the Igbo, they were finally driven out of Ipetumodu.
The Akalako dynasty was an off-shoot of the Orunmila/Obatala/Igbo dynasty. It was founded by Akalako, Son of Obatala. Akalako’s mother was Adetinuwe, daughter of Oduduwa, his brothers were Sunkungbade and Asosanyin. While Akalako ruled in Ipetumodu, Sunkungbade became the Olowu of Owu Ipole while Asosanyin who originally settled at Wasinmi near Ikire later migrated to ground Iseyin-Odan. These three brothers had crowns made of “Sese Efun” since they were children of Obatala (also known as Oosa Nla).
The Apetumodu dynasty was an off-shoot of the Akalako dynasty. This has been the Fagbemokun and Aribile till date.