History of OFFA - With surprising facts The Olalomis

As part of Kwasutrend spirit of trends we will be enlightening our Readers on various part and culture of the Institution in Diaspora.

Well lets start with the Olalomis the Alanama omo Oloffa.

OFFA is a major town in South West of the Niger in Nigeria. It is located in the South Eastern part of the Kwara State. The town was founded by a hunter: Olalomi Olofagangan, sometimes in the 14th century. The people of OFFA are descendants of Oduduwa and speak Yoruba, one of the three major languages in Nigeria. History has it that Olofagangan left Oyo and settled in several places until he finally arrived at the present location of OFFA.

Olofagangan was a hunter and his first settlement was near a river called Maika. As a frontier town in the old Oyo Empire, OFFA featured in intra and inter-tribal wars and defended itself against the Nupes and the Fulanis. Olofagangan died at OFFA Eesun in the course of his migration. OFFA as a town was eventually derived from Olofagangan: a name formed from the weapons Olalomi Olofagangan utilized for his hunting activities. The weapon is a bow and arrow called OFA in Yoruba language. Olofa was regarded as the head of the people of Ibolo dialect (accent) of the Yoruba language. Ibolo dialect speakers comprises of people of the surrounding towns and villages within the state of Kwara, and the neighboring Osun State.

The people of OFFA celebrate a host of annual festivals including Onimoka and Egungun, Onimoka, the most famous of these festivals is celebrated by OFFA people, gathered at the town square, to witness a blindfolded man slice a yam tuber into two equal parts, with miraculous precision. A high point during the festival is a ceremonial wrestling contest between the Olofa and Eesa – one of the chiefs. Another important aspect of the Onimoka festival is the celebration of Moremi deity. Legend has it that Moremi was married to the Ooni of Ife from conquest. Olofa offer prayers for peace and prosperity, perform rituals, and make offerings to the spirit of Moremi.

Egungun (Masquerades) festival is celebrated with youths in colorful masks and robes entertaining the people by making rounds at various locations in the town. They are rewarded with cash gift for the performance.

Offa town has always provided a safe heaven for all, irrespective of the tribe, place of origin or religion. The liberal, peace loving and hospitable nature of the indigenes accounts for the tremendous growth in the population of the immigrants in the town over time. Offa people are highly enterprising and the people engage in farming and commerce.

Education is the main industry of Offa people. Tertiary institutions in the town include the Federal Polytechnic, Kwara State College of Health Technology and Nigeria Navy School of Health Science, School of Basic Studies, and National teachers Institute. There are also two upcoming Private Universities.

The Egunguns also offer praye opprs and blessing to their benefactors and the town in general and their eulogy goes thus

"Iyeru Okin Omo Olofa Mojo Olalomi

Omo abisu Joruko ijakadi loro toffa toffa

Ija kan ijakan ti won nja lofa

Olalomi oju talose

Osoju ebe lala

Ibasoju oloko, iba lawon

Omo 'laare Omo su re ikan o gbodo ju kan

Bi kan ba ju kan nile olofamojo ogun lon'da ni ile baba wan

Omo omaka, omo osa oje ba mi ki anomo

*Ki Olorun Bawa Da Ile Iyeru Si, Amin, Asee*

And Majorly we have over 45% students of the great Institution KWASU from this part of the country...