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Akutupa Kiri

Akutupa Kiri
Town
File:Akutupa Dispensary.jpg
Akutupa Kiri Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 8°0′27″N 6°0′24″E
Country	Nigeria
State	Kogi State
Population  (2006)
• Total	65,000

Akutupa Kiri (Akutukpa) is a town in Kabba/Bunu Local Government of Kogi State in central region of Nigeria and is situated at 8°27′N 6°24′E, shares borders with Aiyetoro Kiri in the East, Suku in the West, Taki in the South, Apaya River and River Niger in the far North.

Geography and agriculture

Akutupa Kiri lies in fertile land, the vegetation is savannah with grass and dotted tress. of which is broken by masses of grey granite. It is spread over an extensive area, being surrounded by mud walls 18 miles in extent. Palm-oil, cashew, cassava vegetables and yam are the chief articles of trade. It lies below Oke Kiri (Kiri Hilltop) The town depends on River Pakuta, and Efin River Dam for its water supply, which is not always dependable.

History

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Akutupa (Odoja Ogbinmirin) has her origin from Kiri. Two brothers were said to have left Ejuku Yagba in the long past (sometimes in 18th Century) and settled where finally came to be known as Kiri. "Ejuku yagba ki me tigha, ma t’abu wo kiri" is a common expression in Kiri. As the people multiplied and replenished in the land over forty (40) settlements, Akutupa evolved as the seat of the traditional headship of Olukiri of Kiri whose palace was at Oke-Kiri (Hilltop) long before the coming of the Oyibo (the whites) to Nigeria. All that one could tell of the history of Akutupa before the advent of British rule in Nigeria came through oral history passed from generation to generation as there was no written account of anything in Kiri before the white men came. The palace of Olukiri was moved from Oke Kiri to Akutupa at the foot of Oke Kiri during the reign of Olu Aba(1924-1927). It from then became mandatory that any Olukiri should move to Akutupa. Akutupa was first located at the foot of Kiri hills (Oke Kiri). As the Olukiri’s palace was at the top of Kiri hills, Akutupa played host to visitors to Olukiri and/or Kiri. The only market in Kiri then was called Erinko and was located at Akutupa. Akutupa was very liberal, accommodating and greatly hospitable. Families of many people in smaller settlements moved and settled in Akutupa. Among brave and famous heroes that fought for the protection of Akutupa during the Nupe (ANIPE) war were Balaro, Mehini, Asenu and Olu Menu. Olu Keseunku, who reigned as Olukiri for eleven years, dug very large and deep pits round Akutupa during the Nupe raids to prevent Akutupa from been raided. With the emergence of civilization, Akutupa relocated from the foot of Okekiri to her present location around Pakuta and Efin rivers in 40’s. Olunda Aliu, the Olukiri of Bunu, who reigned from November 20th, 1941 to January 22nd, 1957, led the movement of Akutupa from her original location to the present place. Akutupa people are very hardworking, honest and loving. Main occupations are farming, hunting, trading, weaving of very special ceremonial clothes, palm-wine tapping, palm oil production, guinea corn wine production, (etin eka) and basket weaving also existed to some extent. Main foods are Iyan (Pounded Yam), Eka (Cassava flour), beans in various forms (Olele, Akara (Beans cake) etc) and plenty of Bush meat.

Ajon was the main annual festival. Season recreation/relaxation activities were wrestling, agbo, aro, ayo etc. music for various occasions where mainly agbelege, sakara agangan, ogele (ape) kuti or unlegbe borrowed from Kupa is practiced as a form of masquerade and used on a very special occasions like the installation or funeral of an Olukiri, and also used to threaten and suppress evil in the community. From the coming of the whites to Nigeria, Akutupa became the seat of administration of Bunu native authority as the Olukiri of Kiri became the district head of Bunu and this was known and addressed as Olukiri of Bunu. Akutupa housed the N.A. court, a Rest-house, police barracks, an N.A. dispensary, Sanitary Inspector’s office, office of the Forest Guards and only the primary school in Kiri. The first set of Akutupa indegenes to receive formal western education in the forties includes Late Gabriel Mosiko Orunpaiye, (late police office and a chief) Jerome E. Mosiko (now the Olukiri of Kiri), Lot Baiyere (now a chief), Jonah Olowosaiye Orunpaiye (now late) Edward Pagidi Apena (now late) etc. following later was Prince Adam Owolohun Aliu. All of those pioneers who completed their primary had to do so outside home as school at Akutupa was only at the lower primary level. At one time or the other, God has always raised a few patriots in Akutupa who would take up responsibilities of the progress and development of the of the community. During the Olunda Aliu’s era (40s and 50s) which was a turning point in the modern development of Akutupa, some eminient patriots include Prince Hon. Rapahel Oyenibi Orunpaiye, Prince Chief Jacob Olorunnipa Baiyegbe, Chief Abraham Benibade, Chief David, Chief Michael Mokikan etc. After Akutupa relocated to her present site, more Kiri villages moved to settle at Akutupa at one time or the other and were regarded as Akutupa citizens. This period saw Lehi, Sado, Girro settling at separate location at Akutupa. From the late 50s to about mid 60s, a number of educated Akutupa citizens used the opportunity of proximity

Notable people

The city is the birthplace and home-town of several famous Nigerians, including:

References

1. Chief S. O. Braimoh; Lectures on the History of Akutupa, December 2009.