Ise-Ekiti: a Case Study of Traditional Authority, Cultural Identity, and Socio-Economic Development.

Student: Morenikeji Dorcas Oluwole (Project, 2025)
Department of History and International Studies
Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State

Abstract

This study examines the interplay between traditional authority, cultural identity, and socio-economic development in Ise-Ekiti, a culturally rich Yoruba town in southwestern Nigeria. It investigates how traditional leadership, rooted in the monarchy of the Arinjale, has contributed to governance, conflict resolution, and community mobilisation for development. The research also explores how cultural identity—expressed through festivals, language, crafts, and oral traditions—reinforces social cohesion and economic activity. Using a qualitative approach and secondary data sources, the study finds that while modernisation and globalisation have challenged traditional structures, they have also spurred adaptive strategies among leaders and residents to preserve heritage. It concludes that the synergy between traditional institutions and modern governance offers a sustainable model for inclusive development. The findings underscore the need to integrate cultural values into modern policies to ensure progress that respects identity and tradition.

Keywords
Ise-Ekiti traditional authority modernisation cultural heritage festivals rural development
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