ABSTRACT
Tlie Ekiti proper are located chiefly in the Ekiti Division of Ondo Province, extending into the Ilorin Division of Ilorin Province. Accord ing to Johnson the name Ekiti refers to the hilly nature of the country in Ekiti Division, the word meaning ‘mound*. The Owo-Ifon, Imere and Akoko groups are found in the Ono Division of Ondo Province, and the Akoko may extend into the Kukuruku Division of Benin Province, where there is an Akoko District. TTie Ctoo-Ifon and Akoko are said not to regard themselves as Ekiti, the Akoko especially being a group of mixed origins. Talbot*s Ekiti ‘sub-tribe* also includes Ohdo, Ikale, Idanre and Mahin, which on the evidence of Fadipe and others are here grouped separately under Ondo, (see below p.62)(l)
Population estimates are as follows:-
Weir gives estimates (c.1934) of the total population of five of the 16 Administrative Districts into which Ekiti Division is divided, as follows:-
Rowling^ gives estimates (c.1949) for certain districts of Ekiti and O n o Divisions as follows:-
Walsh gives estimates (c.1934) of the number of Ekiti Proper in the following districts of Ilorin Emirate:-
On their eastern boundary the inhabitants of Ekiti Division have intermarried with Yagba (see below p.71) and Tapa (Nupe) and on their southern with B i m . There are numbers of Bini settled in Akure and Ikerre. Igbira farm in the north-eastern part of Ono Division.
