PAPALANTO: A BRIEF HISTORY

Papalanto is the intersection of Ilaro-Sagamu expressway and Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, it is some 22 kilometres to the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro. The settlement was known for its large sugarcane plantation. During the Àdùbí War (Ogun Àdùbí) of 1918, the ẹgba soldiers took refuge at Pápá Ìrèkẹ́ (Sugarcane field), they solely survived on sugarcane juice. The event was so significant that it became the inspiration behind Tunji Oyelana’s song; Ogun Adubi. The lyrics goes thus:

Ọgun mélo rè tọjú rẹ jà? Ọgun Àdùbí sójú mí jà.

Ìyá rẹ nkẹ́ lọ bí ewúrẹ́
Bàbá rẹ nké lọ bí àparò
Ìwọ náà n béé lo bí ìgalà
Omi ìrèké l’ẹ n bù s’ebẹ̀
L’ẹ n bù S’ebẹ̀ l’ẹtun fi n r’ọmọ

According to oral history, Adeitan and his wife Olaito first arrived at the settlement from Owu in the early 18th century, they had no child and lived alone on the woodland for many years. But one day, a young man called, Famuyiwa Adegoyinbo from Amororo Compound, Totoro Abeokuta joined them, after some years of Famuyiwa’s stay the couple adopted him as their son.

While Adeitan was hunting, his wife, Olaito specialized in selling different dishes with the assorted bush meat from the animals killed by her husband, travellers and traders would stop by to have a taste of her delicious meal, the spot was then called Ojú Ọja as the place continues to expand, Olaito’s popularity grew more and more, the place subsequently became Pápá-Olaito (Olaito’s village/Olaito’s Field) which was later corrupted to PAPALANTO, a name it has retained till today.

The town is now in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State. It commands a vantage point for trade, transportation and communication, and falls under the sovereignty of the Olowu of Owu Abeokuta, who installed its Oba, the Onipapa of Papalanto.