Why men from dis Nigeria community no dey marry fair-skinned women

Yoruba pipo no dey do discrimination for who dem wan marry, weda na black or fair-skinned pesin. But for Ugbo town, wey dey Ondo State, southwest Nigeria, one kain tradition dey - dem no dey gree make dia men marry fair-skinned women.

Many historians believe say Ugbo pipo na from Ile-Ife dem first start dia life bifor dem kon move settle for wia dem dey now.

But di main question wey pipo dey ask be say - why e be say for Ugbo dem no dey marry fair-skinned women?

Di mata no start today, and as we dey tok about Ugbo land, we no fit forget di role wey Moremi Ajasoro play for dis tradition.

Di question na - wetin join Ugbo and Ile-Ife wey make Ugbo dey prevent dia men from marrying fair-skinned women?

Na dis question carry BBC Yoruba go Olugbo palace to tok to Oba Ọba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan, so im go fit explain dis tradition.

Wetin happun between Ile Ife and Ugbo pipo?

Oba Akinruntan yarn say e get time wey Ugbo warriors dey carry Ile Ife pipo as prisoners. Dem say Moremi Ajasoro, wey be fine woman from Ife, dey among di pipo wey Ugbo warriors capture.

As Moremi fine well-well, she kon become wife of di Olugbo during dat time, and dem even born pikin togeda.

But e no tey, Moremi run comot from Ugbo back to Ile Ife. She go tell Ile Ife pipo about di secret weapon wey Ugbo warriors dey use, wey dem dey call 'Kanako'. Dat na wetin Ugbo warriors dey take defeat dia enemies fast-fast.

Becos of dis betrayal, Ile Ife pipo win di Ugbo pipo for battle. But for Ugbo, dem no eva forgive Moremi. Na why dem see Moremi as pesin wey betray dem, and dem swear say dem no go gree marry fair-skinned women again for dia land, becos dem believe say fair-skinned women fit betray dem like Moremi.

"Di tradition no affect women wey bleach"

Olugbo explain say di tradition no dey tok about women wey bleach. E dey refer to women wey naturally dey fair-skinned, like Moremi.

"Moremi na fine fair-skinned woman wey betray our ancestors, and dat betrayal na wetin make us no dey marry fair-skinned women.

"Even now, di tradition still dey strong for Ugbo land. We no go eva gree marry fair-skinned women," di traditional ruler tok.

Moremi Ajasoro: heroine or betrayer?

For Ile Ife, dem dey see Moremi Ajasoro as strong woman wey her name don spread well well. But for Ugbo, dem dey see am as traitor wey leak dia secret give enemy.

Dem dey celebrate Moremi evri year for Ọlọjọ Festival for Ile Ife, and her statue wey dey dia na one of di tallest for Nigeria. E dey represent Moremi as heroine wey save Ile Ife from enemies.

But di one wey dey Ugbo different well well. For Olugbo palace, statue of Moremi dey kneel down, dey beg Olugbo make e forgive her.

For Ugbo, dem dey do Moremi festival evri October, but instead of to celebrate her, dem dey flog her statue becos dem believe say she betray dem.

Di tradition still strong today

Even wit civilization, di Olugbo yarn say di tradition still dey intact. Ugbo men no dey marry fair-skinned women. E say di story na reminder for dem to protect dia land from betrayal.

For Yoruba land, dem dey tok say if pikin no sabi im history, e go fall for di same pit wey im ancestors fall. Na why di Ugbo pipo hold di Moremi tori tight as warning and lesson.