CONTINUINATION OF THE HISTORY OF ARAMOKO EKITI
ARAMOKO EKITI: WHERE FOOD CAN NOT BE COOKED IN THE OPEN
IN CONTINUINATION OF THE HISTORY OF ARAMOKO EKITI
Aramoko Ekiti is an ancient town known for many taboos
Aramoko-Ekiti is peaceful, neat and rich in culture. As one walks down the streets one could hardly find a piece of paper on the ground while the beautifully architectural designed Oba’s palace is decorated with many artifacts and with captivating wall murals of different artistic drawings.
In the town, according to tradition, immediately a new king is installed, he and one of the chiefs who actively participated in the business of electing him must on the very day become arch enemies. “It is in our tradition that the newly-installed monarch must not see eye to eye with this particular chief who was part of the selection and installation processes of the new Oba. It is a tradition and that is how we met it.
But things have changed due to religion. “Today we have modified the system. This chief and the newly installed monarch would exchange prayers and shower blessings on each other before they finally depart and would not see eye to eye again for the rest of their lives. We have stopped all these manner of curses and replaced it with prayers and blessings.
No exposure of plantain and no roasting of yam
In other neighbouring towns and cities where it is a common a practice to open carry bunches of plantain across the streets or roast tubers of yam or cook food in the open with the smoke going up. However, in Aramoko-Ekiti these are forbidden.
It is a taboo for anybody to parade the streets of Aramoko with a bunch of plantain, it must be in pieces. Unlike other Ekiti towns like Ikere, Iyin and Ifaki, it is against Aramoko tradition to roast yam for sale”.
And, these forbidden practices make the town be peaceful and untainted. “The town is peaceful, silent and everybody goes about doing his own business.”
It is hard to know where Oba Alara stands when it comes to religion as he copiously quoted from the Bible, Quran and some traditional sources as he spoke. In fact, placed before him was a copy of the Holy Bible, the Quran and artifacts that represent the traditional institutions.
Aramoko comprises of four quarters, 1.Isao quarter led by High/Chief Asao, 2.Oke-Oja quarter led by High/Chief Ogboni 3.Ijowa/Isasa quarter led by High/Chief Asasa/Sajowa 4.Anaye quarter,the real place of birth any monarch in Ara.