The Origin of Iyawo

Long time ago in Yoruba land, a beautiful princess and daughter of the first king of Iwo town named Wuraola were in the quest of getting herself a patient, tolerant and well mannered husband .

  Strong and good looking men, the likes of Sango, Ogun and others had already had already travelled to Iwo town to seek the hand of Wuraola in marriage but left with no wife but uncontrollable anger, Wuraola has been rude to everyone of them.

 In fact, she hurled insult and curses at her suitor which made them all leave on the sane day they arrived in the town of Iwo because they couldn't tolerate her bad behaviors.

  Orunmila set out to Iwo land, he had already consulted Olodumare, the supreme being, through Ifa.

 Olodumare revealed to Orunmila that he must be patient with Wuraola and endure her behaviours no matter how bad they are in order to succeed in the quest of marrying Wuraola.

When Orunmila got to the palace of the king of Iwo,he was greeted with a hiss and scornful look by Wuraola. The unperturbed Orunmila smiled and returned her greetings with kind and sweet words and also presented gifts to the king.

 Orunmila stayed in Iwo for seven days which can be described as nothing but a hell on earth. Wuraola didn't serve Orunmila water let alone food. She insulted the goodness out of  Orunmila but he stayed calm and smiled at her.

  He even smiled when she used her Opon Ifa ( divination board) as firewood and she took her pouch

(Api Ominijekun) from him though Orunmila boiled with rage, still, he didn't show it and leave Iwo according to the instructions of Olodumare.

  On the sixth day of Orunmila's staying Iwo Town, the king of Iwo gave Wuraola in marriage to him after concluding that he is a patient, kind and tolerant man suitable to marry his daughter.

Meanwhile, Wuraola bad behaviors were planned to test her suitors so as to get her a husband with good manners and temper. She was a lovely ,caring and well behaved lady. Orunmila was glad that he heeded the instructions of Olodumare and on the seventh day, he and Wuraola journeyed back to his town.

Orunmila was welcomed and praised by his towns people by his achievement. When they asked him about Wuraola ,his wife, he responded, "Iya ti mo je ni Iwo" (My sufferings in Iwo) .That was how wives became know as Iya- Iwo ( sufferings in Iwo) and now Iyawo.