Ìlá Òràngún (or Ila) is an ancient town in Osun State, and was a capital of an ancient city/state of the same name in the Igbomina area of Yorubaland in south-western Nigeria. Ìlá Òràngún is the sister-town (and sister-kingdom) of Òkè-Ìlá Òràngún, located about 7.5 miles (12 km) to the south-east. It is the headquarters of the Ila Local Government Area.

Understand

People

The language of the people of Ila is a distinctive dialect of the Yoruba language called Igbomina (or Igbonna). Most of the indigenes commonly engaged in the traditional profession of palm-wine tapping, which is known with the town since its existence. This profession is referenced in a common sayings about the town of Ila. The proverb Ila 'o l'oogun, emu l'oogun Ila means "Ila has no special medicine or magical preparations other than palm-wine". A folk song also says Ila ni mi, ise mi o le. Ti mo ba wa l'orun ope bi 'ofusia' ni i ri, which translates in English as "I am a citizen of Ila, my profession is very easy; if I am on top of a palm tree, I feel like I am upstairs in a multi-storey building."

Go next

• Oke Ila Orangun, about 14 min southeast of Ila Orangun
• Osogbo, about 1 hr drive southwest of Ila Orangun
• Offa, about 41 min Northwest of Ila Orangun