Oba River

The Oba River (Yoruba: Odo Ọba) is a river in Oyo and Osun States in Nigeria. It is the main tributary of the Osun River. The landscape varies from wooded savanna in the north to rain forest in the south. The river is heavily polluted. Most of the people who live along its length practice farming and fishing.

The Ọba River is named for the goddess Ọba, one of the wives of Shango, the Yoruba god of thunder. His other wives were Ọshun and Ọya.[1] According to legend, Ọshun tricked Ọba into cutting off her ear and adding it to Shango’s food, saying it would please him. When Shango found out what Ọba had done he, furious, screamed and Osun and Oba fled frightened, turning into the two rivers. That is why the meeting point of the Osun and Oba rivers is so rushing.[1]

The Oba River is the main tributary of the Osun River. It rises about 15 kilometres (9 mi) north of Ogbomosho in Oyo State.[2] The river flows past Ogbomosho, where it is dammed.[3] The Ogbomoso Reservoir on the Oba River was completed in 1964, covers an area of 137.6 hectares (340 acres) and has a storage capacity of 3,520 megalitres (124×106 cu ft).[4] The dam is fed by the Idekun, Eeguno, Akanbi Kemolowo, Omoogun and Yakun streams, and has a catchment area of 321 square kilometres (124 sq mi).[5]

The Oba continues south from the dam until it joins the Oshun River just above the settlement of Odo Oba. Settlements along its course from north to south include Apo, Iluju, Obada, Mosunmade, Otuokun, Bale, Olori and Olumoye. The river receives a left tributary just downstream from Obada and another left tributary to the south of Olori. The second tributary flows past Ife Odan.[6] The Ọba River joins the Ọshun River in a series of rapids.[1] The two rivers meet at the northern end of the Asejire Reservoir.[6]