The History of Ile-Oluji and Ondo.

Oduduwa also known as Olofin had vassals in many places such as Ekun and Epe (a village so named as a result of the abundant palm trees (ope) there and about 16 kms North East of Ondo. At Ekun, two men, Sunwen (as he was later known was Oduduwa’s brass-smith and Akasa (his priest) were

The history of Ilorin: the Yoruba link

The suzerainty of the old Oyo Empire on Ilorin, in the 17th Century was directly influenced by Alaafin Ojigi’s interest to save the Igbomina Yoruba area that had been turned slave reservoirs by the Nupes. He established the first administrative structure to coordinate the scattered settlements later known as Ilorin. The first of the Oyo

Ifa concept of Obatala in Yoruba history

According to Ifa oral tradition the first Oba (king) of the Yoruba Nation was Oduduwa from the elision Odu (womb) dudu (black) iwa (character) meaning the Invisible Source of Character. The word black in relationship to the word womb is a reference to the invisible or hidden mystery of Creation. The name Oduduwa suggests someone

History of Oro: the Igbomina stock

The whole nine generic communities of Oro came into being as a result of a bloody chieftaincy dispute that erupted in old Oyo Empire. With this bloody dispute, a lot of people lost their lives, thus; a man called “Olakanmi” escaped from the Royal palace with some members of his family, friends, loyal warriors as

Derin Ologbenla the founder of Oke Igbo

 Derin Ologbenla the founder of Okeigbo was a warrior from Ile-Ife whose trade was to prosecute war on behalf of the poor and the oppressed. It was through one of his efforts to liberate people that he founded what we know today as Oke-Igbo. Although, no official date could be given as when precisely

The Brief History of Egba

The story of Abeokuta, the abode of the Egbas, started with their liberation from the sovereignty and over Lord-ship of the Alafin of Oyo Empire, to which the Egbas hitherto belonged. The Liberation took place between 1775 and 1780, under the leadership of Lisabi, a resident of Igbehin, but who was born in Itoku. He

The Brief History of Iseyin

Iseyin, an ancient city in Yorubaland is rich in history, culture and tradition. This richness is evident partly in the socio-cultural relations displayed by the people of the City, and in the tuneful, didactic panegyrics commonly used to describe and hail it. Although there are many versions of Iseyin history, here is one commonly adopted

Short history of Ijaiye

After the defeat of Ilorin by Ibadan in 1840, rivalry between Ibadan and Ijaye grew. In Ibadan the population had increased to over 60,000 by 1851. The Oyo Yoruba had come to dominate the political life of the town, and a political system gradually evolved which was well suited to military expansion . There was

Igboho Period in Oyo History

The Alafin in Exile: A Study of the Igboho Period in Oyo History Robert Smith (1965). The Journal of African History, “>Volume 6, Issue 01, March 1965 pp 57-77 http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?aid=2775052

The brief history of Ikale people

In about 1502, there was a development in Benin Kingdom, Oba Esigie was on the throne and since succession to the throne was from father to son, he was worried that he had no male child who will ascend the throne after his home call. He married many wives so as to produce a male

A Short History of Modakeke

Modakeke is a town in Osun State, South West Nigeria, with a population of close to three hundred thousand people.The Modakekes are also known as the “Akoraye” and have a history of valor at war and are prosperous farmers. With the fall of the Oyo Empire to the Fulani, the Yoruba kingdom was thrown into

A Brief History of Okuku

Like many other Yoruba towns, Okuku has an ancestral link with Ile-Ife, the cradle of life in Yoruba mythology. Oladile the founder of Okuku was a direct descendant of Oduduwa and one of the four brothers who left Ile-Ife at the same time: the others being Alara, Ajero and Orangun. As was the pattern in

Igogo Festival in Owo

Six hundred years ago, Olowo, the King, fell in love with Orensen, a very beautiful woman. Unfortunately for the King, she was a goddess who could not live with a human. She was forbidden to see women pounding spices, draw water, or throw a bundle of wood to the ground. Because of his love for

The Short History of Ira

The founder of Ira was Laage, who happened to be the first Onira. Laage was a hunter who came from Oyo to hunt in the surroundings of Fere. He and his people were at Fere for a long time. It was the need to move closer to Oya’s grove that made them found the present

Itan ilu Eko(Lagos): the Ife and Benin divergence

ITAN ILU EKO Written in 1914 by Omo-oba John B Losi Headmaster of St. John Evangelist school. ‘Before relating the history of Lagos, we must at the outset draw attention to the first settlers in the neighborhood of lagos of those descendants we shall give full detail. The first man that built Iseri and settled

We know Benin history, don’t write it for us – Prince Akenzua tells Ooni of Ife

IN recent times, issues on Yoruba-Benin historical relationship have been nothing but hot and characteristically, disputatious. Controversy seems to trail every account. But no side of the debate would bulge. Prince Edun Akenzua, one of the sons of the late Oba Akenzua of Benin says the main reason for the mistrust by the two ethnic

Brief History of Ibadan

Going by the historical accounts in the outline history of Ibadan by late Oba Isaac Akinyele, Ibadan was founded in the 16th century at a time when there was no title of Aare Ona Kakanfo. Lagelu, the Jagun (commander-in-chief) of Ife and Yoruba’s generalissimo, left Ile Ife with a handful of people from Ife, Oyo

Ago that became Oyo and Oyo empire

The ancient Oyo Empire, established by the Yoruba people, controlled a wide area between the Volta and Niger and rivers by the mid seventeen century. The capital of the state was moved from old Oyo (Katunga) in 1930s and the Alaafin (Lord of the palace) of Oyo kingdom still reside in the city. Population: (1995)

ORUNMILA

Orunmila is the god of knowledge. As it is told, Oludumare sent Orunmila to the earth many years before he sent Obatala and Oduduwa. During that time the earth was covered with water. Orunmila spent 400 years on earth without food. Orunmila opened his mouth once a year and gained nourishment from the air. After

IKEJI WARRIORS, IJESA/EKITIPARAPO ARMY AND KIRIJI WAR TRIUMPH

Kiriji War was the decisive war that prevented Ijesas and Ekitis from being subjugated by the Ibadan bullies. It was the war that put an end to all manners of wars and semblance of wars in Yorubaland. It is a war that restored the dignity of certain parts of Yorubaland. Kiriji War was a battle