I checked an old manuscript about oduduwa and an alternative pronunciation of his name is odu'uwa.

how that became oduduwa is yet to be discovered.

Its simple the Spiritual head has its place and the Political head has its place.

You have to go to the source to see the spiritual head but Ile-Ife lost prominence and was not relevant in the Politics of Oyo empire

Oba Aderemi (The first African Governor in the British Empire and Commonwealth) and Sir Winston Churchill at a meeting in London

I agree more with Olumota and somewhat with saxywale. Below is my own findings regarding our Yoruba heritage:

1. 2 schools of thoughts as to the origin of our people, although both agree to a common factor - Lamurudu; and to that Yorubas came out of Arabia
    - Either from Mecca: Lamurudu having 3 sons (Oduduwa, Gogobiri & Kukawa, the later 2 being founders of the Hausa tribes)
    - Or from Yarba people who were early Arabian settlers between Egypt and Abyssina; and migrating inwards within Africa, passing through Sudan.
Of course, there are other romanticized versions of Oduduwa climbing down a rope from heaven to found ALL humanity – black or white. Of course we all realise by now this is incorrect.

2[b]. Lineage of Yoruba people:[/b]
    - Lamurudu begat Oduduwa (+ 2 others, see above)
    - Oduduwa begat an only child/son, Okanbi (aka Idekoseroake)
    - Okanbi begat 7 children who can now be rightly referred to as the fathers of the 7 main Yoruba tribes, as follows (Owu, Alaketu, Benin, Orangun, Onisabe, Olupopo & Oranyan).
The Sabe & Popo people are now located in Benin Republic & Togo.
Contrary to saxywale, Oranyan WAS the last of the 7 children of Oduduwa. He only became prominent due to his intelligence, as history tells us.

3. How Oranyan (aka Odede) became important (the last shall be the first, etc, ): Oduduwa settled in Ile-Ife after migrating from Arabia/Egypt. He lived and raised his family there, following the spiritual rites of worship with idols passed on from his grandfather. Hence Ile-Ife, at the time, became known as the capital of Yorubaland. Upon his death he bequit his wealth, clothes, etc to his children according to birth. When it came to Oranyan, nothing was left except land. He got the land and he devised to charge rent from his elder brothers in order for them to remain on his (Ile-Ife) land. Hence the saying “Alaafin lo ni le”. More on this later.

4. The separation of Oranyan from Ile-Ife: As history goes, Oranyan decided to return to Mecca/Arabia to avenge his grandfather, Oduduwa. He set out from Ile-Ife. Before he left, he entrusted the royal treasures, charms, traditions and spiritual rites to his trusted servant Adimu. Because Ile-Ife was the seat of early Yoruba spiritual worship and the location of the initial gods passed down from Lamurudu, whoever ruled it was thought to be the leader of the Yoruba.
Oranyan set out on the journey with his brothers, reaching to the mouth of the River Niger. A fight ensured between them which caused them to separate. Hence, the separation (yet relative proximity) of the Benins, Sabe, Popo, etc, , to their current day locations. Oranyan on advice from the King of Ibaiba, followed a snake until it stopped at a place called Oyo Ajaka (proof of which can be found in ancient Yarba maps, from English explorers Clapperton and the Landers).

Oranyan made his abode here in Oyo Ajaka. Oranyan remained ruler of Ile-Ife from the distance, often communicating with his servant Adimu regarding rites and worship and whenever he required something from the (his) treasury. Adimu, on the other, in the absence of his master Oranyan, had gained importance in Ile-Ife as he was constantly consulted for spiritual matters across all the Yorubas. One can fairly say that Adimu the high priest is the ancestor of all the Olorisas to the Kings across Yorubaland. Therefore, the role of Adimu is not a tribal one but an overall Yoruba nation one.
Oranyan died in Oyo, but he has a grave in Ile-Ife, as is the usual Yoruba tradition to send back the remains or parts of the deceased to his ancestral land.

5. The current day Yoruba tribes of Nigeria:  (Note the phrase “…of Nigeria”, as there are other Yoruba tribes across Africa in Sierra Leone, Benin, Togo, and some parts of Ghana).
The current day Yorubas of Nigeria are divided into 4 descendants of Oranyan –
a)  Ekun Otun, found west of Oyo, to the right of River Ogun all the way to Iberekodo, comprising Saki, Iseyin, Eruwa, etc… These descendants are called the Ibarapas in general.
b)  Ekun Osi, found east of Oyo, comprising Kihisi, Igboho, Ilorin, Irawo, Iwere, Ogbomoso, the Igbonas, etc… These descendants are generally referred to as the proper Yoruba tribes, being closely linked to settlement of Oranyan, and maintaining the purity of the language and rites as performed in his days.
c)  Ibolo, comprising Ede, Iresa, Ofa, Oyan, Okuku, Ikirun, Osogbo, Ilobu, Ede, Ejigbo, etc…
d)  Epo, comprising Iwo, Ilora, Fiditi, Awe, Ago Oja, and much more recenty Ibadan, Ijaye and the Egbas

So, what about the other people we call yorubas today in Nigeria – the Ijeshas, the Ondos, Ekitis, Ijebus, Aworis, etc…? Well this is a discussion for another day.

In conclusion, one can make the following summation:
- Oduduwa settled in Ile-Ife and became (as it were) the first Ooni of Ile-Ife.
- The Alaafins (of Oyo) are true and direct descendants of Oduduwa. For the kings with direct lineage to Oduduwa, this is important for deciding kingship. However, it is important to note that in some other yoruba traditions, kings do not have to be direct descendants by lineage, as in the case of Ile-Ife, who allowed Oduduwa (a foreigner) become King over them.
- After the departure of Oranyan to Oyo, he continued his royal reign in Oyo, becoming the Alaafin of Oyo as well as the Ooni of Ile-Ife at the same point in history, and quite rightly so, being the grandchild of Oduduwa.
- Upon the death of Oranyan in Oyo, the decision had to be made regarding the impractically of having a “long distance king” ruling from Oyo. So, a custodian was appointed to preside over Ile-Ife, and who better than the descendants of Adimu, who were already well respected at the time being the Olorisas, and keepers of the rituals, treasury and oratory of the gods. And anyway the Ile-Ife people were never known to be big on hereditary kingship – whoever was fit and able was welcome to lead.
- Thus, it is my submission that the Oonis of Ile-Ife have been the descendants of Adimu the Olorisas instead of being direct descendant of Oduduwa. The Oonis became viewed as brothers to the Oranyan descendants only because such is the Yoruba tradition (family are the people we grow up with in the same household – including servants).
- Therefore, the Alaafins of Oyo are the paramount kings and rulers of the yorubas. However, the Oonis of Ile-Ife (the “chosen’ ancestral home of Oduduwa) are also important in Yoruba culture being the custodians of all things spiritual and traditional, in particular the gods and ceremonial artifacts. 

Who is therefore number 1? I humbly submit that they are both very important depending on how it is considered. For direct lineage to Oduduwa (the Alaafin); for custodial priviledges to Yoruba gods, traditions and artifacts (the Ooni).
The British (as it was in their own tradition), recognized lineage as meaning supremacy and legitimacy, preferring to sign treaties with the Alaafin. However, as is true even today, money talks, and the custodian of the treasury wields enormous power too. He could decide to holdup any traditional rights of passage which are important to the yorubas, hence the reason why other Yoruba kings are usually linked to the Ooni because they require from him access to certain traditional paraphernalia.

* Personally, I am an Ekiti woman.

In response to Saxywale's remark of 06 Nov:
ADELEKAN (OLUBUSE I)- He was the first Ooni to travel outside Ile-Ife to Lagos in 1903 when he was invited by the then Governor General (colonial) to settle the dispute involving Elepe of Epe. All Yoruba Kings including the Alaafin left their respective thrones as a mark of respect for the Ooni. They returned to their respective stools after Ooni returned to Ile-Ife from Lagos. The British monarch, and Yoruba descendant in diaspora recognize how big and importance the post of the Ooni is,
the dispute that he went to give his ruling on was whether the Oba Elepe of Epe was entitled to wear a crown which was earlier refused by Oba Akarigbo of Remo.
It was the Ooni that was also invited by Harvard university in march, 2008 to give a lecture on the sacred knowledge, sacred power and performance of the Ifa divination as it is used in West Africa and the African Diaspora. the President of Benin republic, Dr Thomas Boni Yayi who is a prince from the royal court of sabe also paid homage to the Ooni at ile ife last december.
If Alaafin was the biggest, why then is that all Obas have to pay homage to the Ooni before they are crowned including the Alaafin himself,

-------------

My personal belief is that Adelekan (olubuse I), the then Ooni of Ile-Ife, was the only one best equipped to respond on issues of tradition and culture, being historically the custodians of such (Olorishas). The paramount King/ruler, and hence descendant of Oduduwa (Alaafin) is the king and does not have to know all the culture or history, he has subjects dedicated to that duty.
The same is true of the invitation of the Ooni of Ile-Ife to Harvard to clarify matters of Ifa traditions (being historically descendant from the high priests / Olorisas.
The President of Benin Rep paid homage to the land of his ancestors and not directly to the Ooni as the ruler of the yorubas. I believe he could be pardoned if he forgot that in fact he is blood relatives with the Alaafin of Oyo, both having the same great, great, great grandfather Okanbi, son of Oduduwa.

As it turns out today seems to me the day to comment on history.

So, what does history tell us:

- Oduduwa had 7 grandchildren (Owu, Alaketu, Benin, Orangun, Onisabe, Olupopo & Oranyan).
- The ancestors of the Ooni of Ife are not among this list (contrary to other schools that said Oduduwa had 8 grandchildren).
- Benin is clearly a direct descendant of Oduduwa.
- The Ooni is clearly not. The Ooni is a descendant of Adimu, the Olorisa custodian of traditional rites.

The comment made by Oba Sijuade on the visit of the Oba of Benin to Ile-Ife is clearly delusional (",  I am happy to welcome back my son and brother to the land of our ancestor Oduduwa". The Oba of Benin gave a very wise response back saying in other words, who is the son of who?

Although much loved across Yorubaland and highly respected in Nigeria, I think the Ooni of Ife is causing confusion and trying to distort history. And in his defense, I do not believe this is done on purpose. It is just because there is not one agreed authority on the history of yorubas.

Infact, the Oba of Benin is a blood relative of the Alaafin of Oyo, both sharing the same grandfather (Oduduwa) and father (Okanbi). The Ooni is no blood relation of the 7 tribes, although yoruba tradition and culture have elevated him to the position of kinship, as is common with the yoruba's loose family attribution.

------

Another comment, regarding the response of the Alaafin of Oyo in 1903, saying that his elder brother needed to comment on certain tradition rites. this does not allude to his acceptance of the ooni of Ile-ife as superior to him, but more as a show (and quite rigthly so) of division of labour and portfolio management. It could also be attributed to the yoruba tradition of not commenting first if there is one more senior in age than one. the Ooni of Ife at the time was older in age than the Alaafin of Oyo of the day). If the later is the case, then I would say the Alaafin acted in naivity in trying to be respecful to elders. And espcecially not in present day Nigeria were any lapse will be taken away promptly and will be miscontrued as surrender.

thanks for the education yasminija, the best post i have seen in nairaland

this is nice

interesting

Some of you need to sit with the elders in your community and learn your history. Just because you are educated does not in any way make their knowledge irrelevant to your philosophical understanding of who you are and what your identity is. I cannot believe that people are sourcing unauthentic Yoruba history from the web to authenticate their own identity and history. Shame!

@topic,

Forget the influence of the colonial government and politics, the pre-colonial history as told through ages of oral tradition has it that Ife was the sipiritual (Ori or Head) seat of Yoruba people. Odu Ifa is a spiritual oracle and so I would expect, for God's sake, that if it spoke of any principal land then that land would be Ile-Ife. Ife has power over Yoruba rituals and deities. It is not out of place that Ooni was invited to give lecture on Ifa. . .he was in the proper role doing that.

Oyo is the seat of Yoruba political power. The army, the cavalry, the generals, the prime minister, the hunters, the Sovereign Crown, the slaves, the vaults, . . . . all these should expectedly be under the control of the custodians at Oyo. Aare Ona Kakanfo is the Generalismo of Yorubaland and the title is rightly under the Oyo custody.

It is unfortunate that the rivalry between Ladoke Akintola and Obafemi Awolowo was allowed to spillover into politics and that the Oyo kingdom was made to pay a price for its support of Akintola. . .but that's just a speck of event in the total timeline of Yoruba history and should not in any way become a marker around which the history is rewritten.

I must remind that the existence of a Yoruba spiritual throne and a political throne side by side and in rivalry is nothing new in our total past. Our founding father emigrated out of the Kushite culture. . .and back in their glory, precisely in Upper Egypt, there was a King named Akhenaten. I talked about him in one of my posts a while back. Some of the Egyptian Kings were elevated to the status of god. . .they were believed to have divine powers. Akhenaten was one of such. There had always been two Egypts - Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt. Lower Egypt was the military outpost and Upper Egypt was the spiritual and Sovereign seat. The King was the Sovereign power and god and so the two powers were invested in one person and in one location.

In our case, Ooni of Ife is the Spiritual power, the god. Alaafin is the Sovereign power, the Crown. In expanding Yoruba political empire, the duty will always, as it had been for ages, fall upon him. In expanding Yoruba philosophy and religion and customs, the Ooni will forever hold that responsibility.

nice job yasminija and negro.

To any averagely learned, it is generally known from elementary Yoruba history that Oduduwa had only one child, Okanbi, and he Okanbi had seven or sixteen children, depending on your source of information. In either case "Oranmiyan" the founder of both Benin City and Oyo Alaafin is the eldest son while Owa Obokun of Ijesaland is the youngest of all, but the bravest, most accomplished and the most favoured child. Ooni of Ife was never mentioned as one of the Yoruba Royal Family. So, riches, political fame and all that of Ooni of Ife from 1954 (when Ooni Adesoji Aderemi was made the Governor of Western Region by the Awolowo Adminisration (thereby combining tradition with politics), cannot undo the history or obscure the truth about the Yoruba race.

Alaafin of Oyo or Oba of Benin should be the rightful leader, if age is the yardstick, and if heroic act, it will be Owa Obokun of Ijesdaland and not Ooni of Ife (the custodian of the sacred shrine -"abore" in Yoruba Language). Ife remained the cradle of the Yorubas, but Ooni of Ife has no traditional or political authority in the Yoruba heirachy. The primacy in Yoruba land therefore can only be contested amongst the three unique known Oduduwa descendants with Alaafin of Oyo topping the list.[/pre]

In response to the long awaited conclusion by YasmiNija concerning how the Egbas and Egbados came to existence, I happen to be a prince of one of the towns occupied by the great grandchildren of Alaketu. When Alaketu left to find his own settlement just like his other sibllings, he went towards the area now known as the border between the rep of Benin and Nigeria.Towns in this area toay include Imeko, Ilara, Ijoun,Ijale-Ketu,Tobolo, Aworo to mention a few. Even though these towns are constitutionally in Nigeria, there are widespread of both the Nigerian and the rep of Bennin currencies in circulations there and both languages are also spoken there. And according to histoy, most obas before coronaton had to go and pay homage to the Alaketu as their uncle King ( I don't know if that is still done today), In all, Alaafin has been said by records o be the had of all Yoruba Kings and we must not orget that as Adimu is the man in chagrge of te Yoruba dieties, he is a vry imprtant figure too in the Yoruba circle as n Oba and I repeat, no Oba can become without consultations with these dieties and no one understants these dietes other than the Adimula himself. One thing I know as a decendant of the gentle Alaketu is that we can live together as brothers and sister in pace and harmony. Oduduwa a gbe wa o!!!

I love coming back to read this thread, cos am a lover of tradition

thank you all for sharing your knowledge with us on nairaland. @YasmiNija and @Negro_Ntns , i really appreciate ur contribution.
Can just imagine my day with nairaland.

i believe the paramount leader of yoruba is the alaafin of oyo and that need to be respected on that basis,,even the alaafin acccording to history is one of the descendant of oduduwa and new trend cannot erase that

Really good thread!

Interesting, mo gbadun tireedi yi gan ni aka n tun ka ni.

This thread is quite nice, Eni se bi oyo laan ri oyo o se bi baba eni kan. Ife has always been a village from time immemorial and its still largely a village, if not for OAU, that place would almost look like a ghost town compared to Abeokuta, Ibadan, Ilesa etc.

The Alaafin remains the paramount ruler, while the Ooni is the Paramount Priest, and in almost all cultures if not all when there is such a separation of powers, the King comes first. All the Kings respect Ooni, because of his status as the tribal priest, So ooni should also respect others.

Over the years, he has carried himself as bigger and better that others, while we were small in ife, we call him Ooni of London, because he is never around and collecting money from people like Odili, Ikimi and bestowing traditional titles on them is a show of shame, and he is rubbishing the traditions he is supposed to uphold.

And just for some clarity, Oranmiyan did not establish the Benin Kingdom, the Bini and yoruba people predates oduduwa, while there has been no record (i have not heard of any) of a dynasty of the yoruba people b4 the ascendancy of oduduwa, there are numerous records of a dynasty (the ogisos) for Bini b4 the coming of oranmiyan.

That makes me wonder what kind of leadership structure they had b4 Oduduwa, where there Kings or Just strong chiefs controlling different areas like a fiefdom.

Thanks for pointing this out, the Bini kingdom existed long before the coming of the yorubas. Binis believe that Oduduwa was the banished bini prince Ekaladerhan who stayed in Ile-Ife after being falsely accused of being responsible for the barrenness of Ogiso Owodo's wives. The death of Ogiso Owodo without any other male sons left the Bini kingdom without a king and prompted the search for their lost prince. Ekaladerhan would not return to Bini, and the binis were without a king for so long, the death of the stand-in led the kingmakers back Ekaladerhan who gave the bini chiefs a task. He gave them some lice and asked the chiefs to return in three years with the lice and then they would get an answer. Chief Oliha kept the lice in the hair of his slave and returned to Ekaladerhan after three years. The prince was impressed with how Oliha cared for the lice and relented sending his son Oranmiyan to bini. Oranmiyan encountered resistance from Irebor, son of the late stand-in king who was chosen by his father to succeed but rejected by the people because he was not royalty. Only an ogiso can succeed. The animosity Irebor demonstrated to Oranmiyan led Oranmiyan to return to Ife but not before naming Igodomigodo land Ile Ibinu, and impregnating Princess Erimwinde, daughter of the Enogie of Ego. The child born out of that brief affair was Oba Eweka.

rabzy link=topic=125398.msg7269714#msg7269714 date=129145
5482:

This thread is quite nice, Eni se bi oyo laan ri oyo o se bi baba eni kan. Ife has always been a village from time immemorial and its still largely a village, if not for OAU, that place would almost look like a ghost town compared to Abeokuta, Ibadan, Ilesa etc.

The Alaafin remains the paramount ruler, while the Ooni is the Paramount Priest, and in almost all cultures if not all when there is such a separation of powers, the King comes first. All the Kings respect Ooni, because of his status as the tribal priest, So ooni should also respect others.

Over the years, he has carried himself as bigger and better that others, while we were small in ife, we call him Ooni of London, because he is never around  and collecting money from people like Odili, Ikimi and bestowing traditional titles on them is a show of shame, and he is rubbishing the traditions he is supposed to uphold.

And just for some clarity, Oranmiyan did not establish the Benin Kingdom, the Bini and yoruba people predates oduduwa, while there has been no record (i have not heard of any) of a dynasty of the yoruba people b4 the ascendancy of oduduwa, there are numerous records of a dynasty (the ogisos) for Bini b4 the coming of oranmiyan.

That makes me wonder what kind of leadership structure they had b4 Oduduwa, where there Kings or Just strong chiefs controlling different areas like a fiefdom.

^^OK, you are one of those who believe that Bini or "Ile-Ibinu" is the Original home of Oduduwa and Yoruba's are descendants of the "Benin Prince" Oduduwa, I will not argue against your assertion or account.

I will use your own assertion and reading of history to affirm the supremacy of Ile-Ife and the Yoruba Children of Oduduwa over Benin or Igodomigodo as you called it.

You -and those who seek to reverse centuries of Royal and spiritual Yoruba history- accept that Oduduwa and his son Oranmiyan were Bini Royalty who hold both spiritual and royal authority over the Bini people; right?

Then Bini people should pay obeisance or homage  to Ile-Ife, the "new home" Oduduwa moved to during his lifetime. I believe failure to accord Ile-Ife and Yorubas that singular honour is dubious, hypocritical and disingenuous. 

If the Binis accept Oduduwa as their heir king and ancestor and they accept Oranmiyan as his rightful heir apparent and owner of the Bini throne, why do we have a Bini Oba(yoruba word) getting crowned without the express permission of the Ooni of Ile-Ife and the Yoruba People?

Although I do not buy that "anchor baby" Story about Oranmiyan hurriedly impregnating Enogie of Ehor's daughter to give the Binis Oba Eweka but even if we accept that;

How does it translate to the supremacy of Eweka over Oduduwa and Oranmiyan; Eweka's Grandfather and Father respectively?

I mean, since both Oduduwa and Oranmiyan were still alive when Oba Eweka was born, and Oduduwa according to your account actually sent Oranmiyan back to Bini, then it should hold that the seat of Oduduwa at Ile-Ife should have a superior position over that of his grandson at Ile-Ibinu. It's just common and cultural sense for it to be so.

If Oduduwa moved to Ife and sent his son Oranmiyan back who then renamed their former abode "Ile-Ibinu" before moving back to Ile-Ife then that suggests that they've found a new seat for their spiritual and Royal authority.

It's like how King Djoser [ 3rd dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh} moved the seat of the old Kingdom and the royal capital of Egypt to Memphis, where he established his court and employed the services of the great Imhotep to start those great structure and pyramids. Who dared question his spiritual authority and the supremacy of his new city? It seems no one even remembers the name of the old kingdom city anymore. I can't find it. I digress.

So, since Oduduwa subsequently continued his royal lineage at Ile-Ife, All Binis should have either moved to Ife with their king [not uncommon in those days] or at least pay homage to his new seat. He is king "god" afterall and the custodian of Bini culture. Right?

I think Binis should have a re-think and recognize the supremacy of the Ile-Ife throne the same way Oduduwa did? Princes ought to pay homage to the seat and throne of their fathers. abi no be so?

Ife should be the spiritual home of the Bini Obas and their subjects.

All Yoruba's and direct descendants of Oduduwa the "Bini King" deserve that respect from our Bini subjects. It's just right. Right?

If you don't understand Yoruba history, do not bother to discuss it.

Alaafin is the NO1 Oba in Yorubaland. No ifs no buts.

Try to read before you open your mouths.
Google is also there for you.

Besides, he is also the only Nigerian OBA recognized by the British monarchy. Just by the way sha.

You dey piss me off

Kilode?!:

^^OK, you are one of those who believe that Bini or "Ile-Ibinu" is the Original home of Oduduwa and Yoruba's are descendants of the "Benin Prince" Oduduwa, I will not argue against your assertion or account.

I will use your own assertion and reading of history to affirm the supremacy of Ile-Ife and the Yoruba Children of Oduduwa over Benin or Igodomigodo as you called it.

You -and those who seek to reverse centuries of Royal and spiritual Yoruba history- accept that Oduduwa and his son Oranmiyan were Bini Royalty who hold both spiritual and royal authority over the Bini people; right?

Then Bini people should pay obeisance or homage  to Ile-Ife, the "new home" Oduduwa moved to during his lifetime. I believe failure to accord Ile-Ife and Yorubas that singular honour is dubious, hypocritical and disingenuous. 

If the Binis accept Oduduwa as their heir king and ancestor and they accept Oranmiyan as his rightful heir apparent and owner of the Bini throne, why do we have a Bini Oba(yoruba word) getting crowned without the express permission of the Ooni of Ile-Ife and the Yoruba People?

Although I do not buy that "anchor baby" Story about Oranmiyan hurriedly impregnating Enogie of Ehor's daughter to give the Binis Oba Eweka but even if we accept that;

How does it translate to the supremacy of Eweka over Oduduwa and Oranmiyan; Eweka's Grandfather and Father respectively?

I mean, since both Oduduwa and Oranmiyan were still alive when Oba Eweka was born, and Oduduwa according to your account actually sent Oranmiyan back to Bini, then it should hold that the seat of Oduduwa at Ile-Ife should have a superior position over that of his grandson at Ile-Ibinu. It's just common and cultural sense for it to be so.

If Oduduwa moved to Ife and sent his son Oranmiyan back who then renamed their former abode "Ile-Ibinu" before moving back to Ile-Ife then that suggests that they've found a new seat for their spiritual and Royal authority.

It's like how King Djoser [ 3rd dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh} moved the seat of the old Kingdom and the royal capital of Egypt to Memphis, where he established his court and employed the services of the great Imhotep to start those great structure and pyramids. Who dared question his spiritual authority and the supremacy of his new city? It seems no one even remembers the name of the old kingdom city anymore. I can't find it. I digress.

So, since Oduduwa subsequently continued his royal lineage at Ile-Ife, All Binis should have either moved to Ife with their king [not uncommon in those days] or at least pay homage to his new seat. He is king "god" afterall and the custodian of Bini culture. Right?

I think Binis should have a re-think and recognize the supremacy of the Ile-Ife throne the same way Oduduwa did? Princes ought to pay homage to the seat and throne of their fathers. abi no be so?

Ife should be the spiritual home of the Bini Obas and their subjects.

All Yoruba's and direct descendants of Oduduwa the "Bini King" deserve that respect from our Bini subjects. It's just right. Right?

There isn't much evidence to support the position that Oduduwa came from Egypt, Sudan or Saudi Arabia as suggested by some historians including Egharevba. The account by Oba of Benin (Erediuwa) appears to be more logical.

Points
1. Oduduwa trekked from Mecca to Ife in 30 days (is that really possible)
2. Too many inconsistencies with regards Oduduwa's origin (Egypt, Sudan, Saudi)
3. After the death of Ogiso Owodo of Igodomigodo (Bini), there was no new Ogiso because his only son escaped after being given a death sentence
4. When Oduduwa got to Ife, there were Yoruba people from Ugbo of Ilaje origin there as well. The ruler was known as Oreluere and there are oral traditions that support at least 5 rulers before Oreluere
5. Following the death of Ogiso Owodo, there were reports in Igodomigodo that his heir was sighted in Ughoton. The Edion (elders) then sent a search party after him until they got to Ife.
6. Oduduwa confirmed that he was Ekaladerhan but that he couldn't return to Igodomigodo as Ife was his new home and he was too old to travel
7. Oduduwa promised to send his grandson only if the Benin chiefs could pass a test which they did. Chief Oliha was the leader of the delegation
8. Oduduwa sent Oranyan to Benin and there are no reports or accounts that suggest that Oranyan conquered Igodomigodo
9. Oranyan was in Ile Ubinu for a few months (and not decades as stated by someone). If he was there, then he would have been King but it was his son Eweka who became the next king after the last king (Ogiso Owodo)
10. Oranyan would become the first Alaafin at Oyo Ile


The only way the people at Benin would have accepted a grandson of Oduduwa without being defeated in a military campaign is if they accepted the right of Oduduwa to the throne. I agree with you that since the monarchy at Benin derived from the King at Benin, then Benin should acknowledge the superior status of Ife.

ola olabiy:

If you don't understand Yoruba history, do not bother to discuss it.

Alaafin is the NO1 Oba in Yorubaland. No ifs no buts.

Try to read before you open your mouths.
Google is also there for you.

Besides, he is also the only Nigerian OBA recognized by the British monarchy. Just by the way sha.

You dey piss me off

He wasn't the only Nigerian Oba recognised by the British; neither was he the only Yoruba Oba recognised by the British. Besides, we do not need the British to confirm any part of our history.

The issue of who is the paramount ruler can only be tested by strength. In the beginning, Oyo was the strogest state in Yoruba land but Oyo was sacked in the early part of the 19th century and was no longer a powerful state. By the time the British arrived, Ibadan was the strongest state in Yorubaland but the British probably negotiated with a weak Alaafin because it would have suited their purpose. Afterall, Oyo was in no position to offer any resistance to the British. The only states which were able to offer resistance were Ibadan, Ijebu, and maybe the Ekiti.

Since military strength is no longer relevant, Ife becomes the only relevant state because it offers spiritual guidance for the Yoruba. Whether the Ooni is the son of a slave is irrelevant since the Yoruba are patrilineal, the Ooni has just about the same legitimacy as the Alaafin and the other Yoruba kings.

Although I do not buy that "anchor baby" Story about Oranmiyan hurriedly impregnating Enogie of Ehor's daughter

anchor babies don suffer sef.

^^^^

Ok. But, Alaafin appoints the Aare Ona Kakanfo. The generalisimo!

Katsumoto:

There isn't much evidence to support the position that Oduduwa came from Egypt, Sudan or Saudi Arabia as suggested by some historians including Egharevba. The account by Oba of Benin (Erediuwa) appears to be more logical.

Points
1. Oduduwa trekked from Mecca to Ife in 30 days (is that really possible)
2. Too many inconsistencies with regards Oduduwa's origin (Egypt, Sudan, Saudi)
3. After the death of Ogiso Owodo of Igodomigodo (Bini), there was no new Ogiso because his only son escaped after being given a death sentence
4. When Oduduwa got to Ife, there were Yoruba people from Ugbo of Ilaje origin there as well. The ruler was known as Oreluere and there are oral traditions that support at least 5 rulers before Oreluere
5. Following the death of Ogiso Owodo, there were reports in Igodomigodo that his heir was sighted in Ughoton. The Edion (elders) then sent a search party after him until they got to Ife.
6. Oduduwa confirmed that he was Ekaladerhan but that he couldn't return to Igodomigodo as Ife was his new home and he was too old to travel
7. Oduduwa promised to send his grandson only if the Benin chiefs could pass a test which they did. Chief Oliha was the leader of the delegation
8. Oduduwa sent Oranyan to Benin and there are no reports or accounts that suggest that Oranyan conquered Igodomigodo
9. Oranyan was in Ile Ubinu for a few months (and not decades as stated by someone). If he was there, then he would have been King but it was his son Eweka who became the next king after the last king (Ogiso Owodo)
10. Oranyan would become the first Alaafin at Oyo Ile


The only way the people at Benin would have accepted a grandson of Oduduwa without being defeated in a military campaign is if they accepted the right of Oduduwa to the throne. I agree with you that since the monarchy at Benin derived from the King at Benin, then Benin should acknowledge the superior status of Ife.

.

Good added points! Thank you!

Is now up to our Bini relatives to accept the facts of history and complete their search or search no more. Ile-Ife is their spiritual home, The home of their lord, progenitor and King.

Erediauwa Omo Noba Nedo Uku Akpolokpolo should do the needful and bring his subjects under the cultural and spiritual authority of Ile Ife. Oduduwa (Ekaladerhan) will be proud.

Oduduwa trekked from Mecca to Ife in 30 days (is that really possible)
2. Too many inconsistencies with regards Oduduwa's origin (Egypt, Sudan, Saudi)

I too have issues with the Mecca-Arabia origin story, my suspicion is that some section of the old Yoruba nation migrated from an Islam influenced region of Africa and the real story got lost or embellished due to the limitations of oral history.

ola olabiy:

^^^^

Ok. But, Alaafin appoints the Aare Ona Kakanfo. The generalisimo!

Yes he does.

The Alaafin = Political head

Ooni = Spiritual custodian/head

They should embrace those roles, they are both important and needed.

I will argue that those different roles and duties are a testament to the depth, quality and complexity of the Yoruba Civilization. We separated "church" and "state" before Thomas Jefferson.

^^^^
Funny you.

ola olabiy:

^^^^
Funny you.

LOL, No be true?

Oduduwa might have lived in Mecca at a time when Islam was not in existence there