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 settledContinue reading “Itan ilu Eko(Lagos): the Ife and Benin divergence”
Category Archives: History
Egungun
Egungun is part of the Yoruba pantheon of divinities. The Yoruba religious system is sometimes referred to as the ‘Yoruba Religion’ or simply ‘Orisa Worship’. In the tradition of Orisa and ancestor worship, the Egungun represents the “collective spirit” of the ancestors. Ancestor worship or reverence is everywhere in traditional Africa and Egungun is partContinue reading “Egungun”
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 ethnicContinue reading “We know Benin history, don’t write it for us – Prince Akenzua tells Ooni of Ife”
Origin of Ibadan land
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. This timing coincided with the period when some eminent adventurers migrated out of Ile-Ife to found their own settlements accordingContinue reading “Origin of Ibadan land”
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)Continue reading “Ago that became Oyo and Oyo empire”
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. AfterContinue reading “ORUNMILA”
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 battleContinue reading “IKEJI WARRIORS, IJESA/EKITIPARAPO ARMY AND KIRIJI WAR TRIUMPH”
OGEDENGBE AGBOGUNGBORO
The late Chief Ogedengbe Agbogubgboro, the Generalissimo of Ekiti Army was born at Atorin, a village about twenty kilometres from Ilesha in the now Atakomosa East Local Government areas. This was his mother’s village; his father’s village was Oke-Orisa which is about the same distance from Ilesha and in the same present day Local GovernmentContinue reading “OGEDENGBE AGBOGUNGBORO”
The Yorubas
The first obvious answer to this question is that the Yoruba are a nationality, numbering over 25 million, the majority of whom live in the South Western part of Nigeria in West Africa. Obvious as this answer is, it is not wholly explanatory, and certainly, it is not without its own controversy. The Yoruba areContinue reading “The Yorubas”
