Moremi Ajansoro

The Ayaba Moremi lived in the 12th century, hailed from Offa, and was married to Oranmiyan, the heir to the king of Ife and founding father of the Yoruba people, Oduduwa.

Moremi is one of the brave women we have in Yoruba land. Moremi got married in Ile-ife. She had a son named Oluorogbo. 

Story revealed it that, the Igbo tribes always disturb the people of Ile-ife. Then always wage war against them annually, in order to take them as a slave. The Ooni of Ife as at that time was not pleased with the evil occurrence. As the king was not pleased, so also the chiefs and the elites were not happy. This made Moremi think of how she could help Ile-ife in the situation.

Moremi made up her mind to give it whatsoever it takes to know the secret behind the strategies that the Igbos are using to take them captive. 

The story have it that, Moremi visited Esimirin for potent power. She pleaded with Esimirin river to assist her in going to Igbo-land, in order to know the secret behind their power. It was learnt that she promised Esimirin river that, if he can assist her; she is ready to give whatever Esimirin whatever he requested. Esimirin river accepted to assist Moremi in her quest.

After the approval from Esimirin, Moremi made her plans known to the king. The king beseeched her not to embark on such dangerous trip, but Moremi was adamant to the plead of the king. 

Therefore, Ooni made the intentions of Moremi known to his chiefs. The chiefs also warned her the her plan was very dangerous for anybody to think of such. Moremi says that she had made up her for the journey. 

She is said to have been taken as a slave by the Igbo and, due to her beauty and Esimirin's help, married their ruler as his anointed queen. After familiarizing herself with the secrets of her new husband's army, she escaped to Ile-Ife and revealed this to the Yorubas, who were then able to subsequently defeat them in battle.

When the Igbos came as usual to take them captive, they met them well prepared for the Igbos and it didn’t take them much time to overcome the Igbos because they are aware of their strategies through Moremi.

Following the war she returned to her first husband, King Oramiyan of Ife (and later Oyo), who immediately had her re-instated as his queen. Moremi returned to the Esimirin River to fulfill her pledge. The river demanded she sacrificed her only son, Oluorogbo. The demand was inconceivable and Moremi pleaded with the god for a less terrible offering. But in the end, she kept her promise and paid the price. The offering of Oluorogbo to the river god grieved not only Moremi but the whole kingdom of Ife.

When Moremi died, the people of Ile-ife show their appreciation by idolizing Moremi and her child, Oluorogbo, and there is Moremi and Oluorogbo festival in Ile-ife till today. 

The Edi Festival is said to have then been started as a means of celebrating the sacrifice the princess made for the people of Yorubaland. Furthermore, a number of public places are named after her in contemporary Nigeria, such as Moremi High School and the female residence halls at the University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University.

In 2017, Oba Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ile Ife, Osun State, erected a statue of Moremi in his palace. The statue is the tallest in Nigeria, displacing the previous holder of that record (a statue in Owerri, the Imo State capital). It is also the fourth tallest in Africa.