Ilobu

Ilobu is a town in Osun State, south-western Nigeria, and the administrative headquarters of the Irepodun Local Government Area. It lies in a sparsely forested area bounded on the north by Ifon-Osun, on the south by Okinni, on the east by Oba and on the west by Erin-Osun, and it is watered by the Ojutu, Erinle and Konda rivers and a few other streams. The 2006 census gave a population of about 30,825. Ilobu is a large arts and crafts centre, known for metal crafts, blacksmithing, weaving, painting, sculpture, leatherwork and adire, the tied and dyed cloth. The annual Erinle festival, held around September, honours the river deity Erinle and is a rallying point for natives of the town even though most residents are now Muslims or Christians. The town is ruled by the Olobu, who is chosen by kingmakers and governs through a chain of senior chiefs headed by the Bara.