• Oba Akinruntan reveals how fair in complexion woman betrayed town, necessitated taboo

Yoruba people are a race that doesn’t discriminate when it comes to marriage and other inter-religious and social interactions. Both male and female Yoruba people are not known for segregation or discrimination when choosing life partners.

Notwithstanding, in the same Yorubaland, there is a section that forbids marrying ladies who are fair in complexion.

The men of Ile Ugbo of Ese Odo Area in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have been prohibited from marrying non-indigene ladies who are fair in complexion.

Historians and cultural think-tanks believe that Ugbo people started their early lives in Ile-Ife before they moved to their present location in Ugbo town.

Revealing how marriage to ladies who are fair in complexion became a sacrilege for Ugbo men in an interview, the traditional ruler of the town, Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan, said the age long tradition is linked with a legendary Yoruba queen and folk heroine, Moremi Ajasoro and the ancient town of Ile-Ife.

He said the town outlawed marrying fair in complexion ladies after Moremi allegedly betrayed the town and leaked the secret of their powers to Ile-Ife warriors.

Akinruntan explained that Ugbo is part of the Yoruba race, adding that there was a time when the Ugbo kingdom used to enslave the Ile-Ife people and it was difficult for the male warriors of Ile-Ife to rescue their people from their attackers.

He said Moremi was one of the slaves that Ugbo warriors took when they attacked Ile-Ife but due to her beauty, she became a wife to the then traditional ruler of Ugbo kingdom.

Oba Akinruntan said, “Olugbo was the husband of Moremi and she gave birth to a child for Olugbo. Moremi later ran away from Ugbo and the kingdom used her child for sacrifice. Moremi was a spotless fair complexioned woman and there was no man that would set his eyes on her and would not like her.

“In the olden days, many women that were being enslaved were married to warriors, and Moremi, being a beautiful woman, was picked by the then monarch of Ugbo.”

He explained that the reason why Ugbo don’t marry fair in complexion women has to do with the relationship between the then Olugbo and Moremi Ajasoro.

“Moremi betrayed us by running away from the palace and revealing our secrets to the Ile-Ife people. That is the reason why we don’t get married to fair complexioned ladies again,” he maintained, adding that, “Ile-Ife people tried to confront Ugbo warriors but it was not successful.”

The monarch further said, “Moremi spent many years in Ugbo and secretly investigated why Ugbo warriors were more powerful and fierce than those in Ile-Ife. She revealed the secrets behind the powers of the Ugbo warriors and how they journey very fast using some charms. After telling the Ile-Ife people our secret, it was then the Ile-Ife warriors conquered Ugbo warriors.

“This is why the Ile-Ife people regard Moremi as a courageous woman but we regard her as a betrayal in Ugbo land. This is why we stopped getting married to women who are fair in complexion because of what Moremi did to us. To our forefathers, Moremi was a betrayal and that was why they mandated us not to get married to fair complexioned ladies and strange women again. This culture is still effective in Ugbo.

Fair in complexion women are in two types. Women who are naturally given birth to be fair in complexion, we don’t get married to them. They are different from women who bleached themselves.

“Ugbo children could be fair in complexion and could be married but we are prohibited from marrying women who are fair in complexion and are not from the Ugbo kingdom.

“There is now civilisation and our sons and daughters are scattered all over the world but those of us who are based at home and are aware of this history will never marry a fair in complexion non-indigenous woman.”

Contrary to the statute of Moremi which is being adored annually by Ile-Ife indigenes, the portrait of Moremi in Ugbo palace is knelt down and pleading with Olugbo for mercy.

The Point learnt that in October every year, the Ugbo people mark Moremi festival whereby they flog the portrait as punishment for betraying the kingdom.