A lecturer of the Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Prince James Oludare Arinloye, recently presented his book, “Imesi-Ile: The ancient capital of the Ekitiparapos (a journal of historical journey) Volume One,” to the public in Osogbo Osun State capital.
Arinloye, who was highly elated for the success of the project, said it took him 45 years to complete.
He added that he decided to write a book on the history of Imesi-Ile town, as part of his contribution as an indigene of the ancient town, which he described as the capital of the confederacy of towns and villages in Yorubaland, otherwise known as the Ekitiparapos.
He pointed out that history writing must not be left exclusively to historians alone, adding that the presentation of the book itself was historic.
He said: “I commenced work on the book exactly 45 years ago. The journey started in 1976 as a primary school pupil in Imesi-Ile.
“Today is historic. It is a day of history because I am presenting to the world a book that highlights the historical journey of Imesi-Ile, that once served as the capital of a confederacy of towns and villages in Yorubaland.
“I have written more than 10 academic books, apart from journals, but none of them was of direct benefit to my community (Imesi-Ile). So, this publication is a token of my contribution to community development being an indigene of Imesi-Ile.”
Also speaking, a former Secretary to the Osun State Government (SSG), Elder Folorunso Oladapo Abiona expressed happiness and satisfaction over the publication and its presentation.
As the chairman on the occasion, Elder Abiona described the author as a true son of Imesi-Ile and a historian par excellence.
Elder Abiona, who pointed out that the Holy Bible and Qur’an are read worldwide because of the efforts of some people to document events in book form, lamented the inability of the black race to document and publish its own history.
According to him, “our situation as a people has been in a mess because writers of history are no more. Why is the black man not writing down his history? Anytime I see Africans putting pen on paper, I feel happy.”
Elder Abiona also lauded the focus, doggedness and knowledgeable inspiration of the author, who painstakingly concretised important happenings about Imesi-Ile in the book.
Echoing similar views, the Arojo of Irojo, Ilesa, Oba Moses Olusegun, who represented the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, criticised the alarming rate at which Yoruba norms, values and cultural heritage are going into extinction.
Oba Aromolaran berated Yoruba elite for being the enemies of the race.
While commending the doggedness and resilience of the author in putting the book together, the Odole-Owa of Ilare-Ijesa, Oloye Tope Abiola, lamented the poor reading culture of the people.
Abiola stated that “we should not allow the social media to kill the culture of reading books.”
He then enjoined the government to make Literature in English and languages compulsory subjects in secondary and post-secondary schools in the country.
Abiola described the book as a well-researched document that should be embraced by the state government and the National Library.
Dignitaries at the event include Mr Folusho Aderogba, who reviewed the book and described it as a must read, not only for the people of Imesi-Ile, but for the entire Yoruba race.
The Oyoyo of Imesi-Ile, Oba Enoch Ademola, was represented by Elder Kayode Omole at the occasion.
A legal luminary, Mr Ojo Williams and a former permanent secretary in the Osun State civil service, Sir Olusoni Oni, were among those who saluted the persistence and courage of the author for the project.
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