Oranmiyan is an important character in Yoruba and Benin mythology. Though the youngest of Oduduwa grandchildren according to Ife oral tradition, he eventually became the most powerful and famous of them all. According to Ife’s list of kings compiled in Oonis Palace, Oranmiyan, the sixth Ooni of Ife had the singular honour of founding two existing dynasties of Oyo and Benin via two of his sons: Ajaka and Eweka.


Oranmiyan staff, located at Mopa along Arubidi Road, Ile-Ife is dedicated to Oranmiyan. On global positioning system, it is situated on an elevation of about 28 meters above sea level. The staff is the most spectacular antiquity in Ile-Ife and is believed to be one of the tallest stone sculptures in the south of the Sahara. It is a granite column of about 18feet (5.5cm) in height and about 4 feet square in width at the base. Several iron studs were driven into it. The belief is that it was erected on the spot where Oranmiyan was originally buried. However, an archaeological investigation has proven otherwise.

The iron studs on Oranmiyan staff had been interpreted at various times as a diary of events in the life of Oranmiyan as a warrior. Some believed it represents record of festivals in Ile-Ife. Chief Eredumi Akinyemi, Priest of Oranmiyan, believes that the iron studs represent the number of bullets fired at Oranmiyan during war of expansion.

According to Johnson (1921:146), the iron studs are suggestive to represent Hebrew letter Resh and Yod. Johnson further interpreted the 62 iron studs in the middle of the stone monolith to mean the number of years Oranmiyan spent to fight war of expansion, while the 31 iron studs on either side of the staff represent the number of years he stayed in Oyo and Benin respectively. However, a cursory look at the topmost part of the staff actually depicts a vivid picture of the sacred Aare crown.

The written character on the staff actually gave us a clue to the fact that Yoruba at a point in history had developed some forms of ancient writing that is evident in Ifa corpus (signatures) walls of Oluorogbo, Akire and Obalejugbe Shrines in Ile-Ife. Oranmiyan staff equally suggests that carving in stone is part of the artistic tradition in Ile-Ife. The concept and quality of the art demonstrates the richness and sophistication of Ife cultural tradition. The style and technique further reveals that Ife must have had knowledge of iron working long before the advent of Europeans.

Aside from Oranmiyan staff, Ore stone mud fish in National Museum, Ile-Ife is another example of Ife stone object with iron drilled into it. The number of iron smelting sites in Ife and its environ in the time past are physical evidence that the technology behind the combination of stone objects with the iron studs is indigenous to Ife. According to Johnson, it is on record that between 1884 and 1953, the stone monolith fell down on two occasions as a result of heavy rain storm.

The cultural significance of Oranmiyan staff lies in the fact that it is connected to the installation rites for Ooni of Ife and Alaafin of Oyo. In the past, before an Alaafin was enthroned or crowned, part of his installation rites requires that he must come physically to Oranmiyan grove for a very important rite and the ceremony of receiving sword of authority before he could be crowned as Alaafin. Thus, the rites symbolise his authority and legitimacy on the throne.

According to Ife oral tradition, corroborated by Chiefs Eredumi, Apata and Akogun, Yoruba Obas and Are Ona Kakanfo (Yoruba generalissimo) before going to war in the time past, usually come to Ife and offer sacrifices to the deity of Oranmiyan and the staff to ensure victory. Till today, people still come to pray before the staff. According to Chief Eredumi, it is believed that whatever prayer that is offered before the staff would be answered. The healing power inherent in the staff is what had been attracting visitors to the grove and this explains ritual items found in the vicinity of the staff. The associated festival to Oranmiyan staff is Olukere-mude celebrated in the month of April and Olojo festival celebrated in October.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/significance-oranmiyan-staff-ife-immovable-heritage-resource/amp/

Mods please FP. We need more of this on FP.

What's happening here?

Gc

God bless our tradition and heritage

Nice info..

Oni of ife
Olowu of Owu
Alaketu of ketu
Onipopo of Popo
Oramiyan of Oyo
Oba of Benin

I was forced to learn in at school that year

interesting...i love history

Nice one

Yoruba been fighting since day1

wow







am 👿 impressed

BUSHHUNTER:
Yorubas will consult that staff soon before waging war against the foolanis.

No one is waging war on anyone

Too many kids on Nairaland

You guys know nothing about what you are clamouring for

BUSHHUNTER:
Yorubas will consult that staff soon before waging war against the foolanis.

Ur real daddy

Wait oo lemme drop this here before you run with your story , oromiyan link to Edo is that oduduwa his alleged father was a run away Benin prince who was later requested by Benin chiefs when his father ogiso owodo died, but oduduwa already an old man sent his youngest boy oromiyan to replace him , and the oromiyan barely spent a year or two in Edo before running away back to his ppl because of cultural shock , but he already fathered a child by an Edo nobles daughter so he was free to leave!! And mind you Benin empire existed for centurues before this oromiyan episode!!

That staff looks like a long deek.

Legit lies

D one in LAUTECH logo

Viralmula:
Wait oo lemme drop this here before you run with your story , oromiyan link to Edo is that oduduwa his alleged father was a run away Benin prince who was later requested by Benin chiefs when his father ogiso owodo died, but oduduwa already an old man sent his youngest boy oromiyan to replace him , and the oromiyan barely spent a year or two in Edo before running away back to his ppl because of cultural shock , but he already fathered a child by an Edo nobles daughter so he was free to leave!! And mind you Benin empire existed for centurues before this oromiyan episode!!

We are tired of that argument

You guys should claim whatever you like


Let everyone respect each other opinions

RockHard:
That staff looks like a long deek.

So that's d only thing ur brain could fathom abi??

Efe42:
Please Bro I'm praying seriously to be selected among the successful candidate in chevron internship I applied this early but didn't get the invite all I'm is aking for the chevron internship program conducted by dragent I want to prepare so that I can study on time

For dragnet numerical reasoning, verbal reasonings and abstract reasonings,


Send a mail to goldengee9@gmail.com

tchidi066:
Oni of ife Olowu of Owu Alaketu of ketu Onipopo of Popo Oramiyan of Oyo Oba of Benin
I was forced to learn in at school that year

then Ewi of Ado, that is d seventh son, they are actually seven in number.

This staff looks like an erect dick.

Sorry I don't mean to insult your culture though

Viralmula:
Wait oo lemme drop this here before you run with your story , oromiyan link to Edo is that oduduwa his alleged father was a run away Benin prince who was later requested by Benin chiefs when his father ogiso owodo died, but oduduwa already an old man sent his youngest boy oromiyan to replace him , and the oromiyan barely spent a year or two in Edo before running away back to his ppl because of cultural shock , but he already fathered a child by an Edo nobles daughter so he was free to leave!! And mind you Benin empire existed for centurues before this oromiyan episode!!

The first Oba of Benin is the son of Oranmiyan.
Let that sink in.
Benin was just a town before the arrival of Oranmiyan.
The Oba system borrowed from Ile-Ife helped in expanding Benin dominion.

The late Oba of Benin concocted the Benin prince fiction because of pride.

Oh christ we still on this shit_

Xisnin:

The first Oba of Benin is the son of Oranmiyan.
Let that sink in.
Benin was just a town before the arrival of Oranmiyan.
The Oba system borrowed from Ile-Ife helped in expanding Benin dominion.

The late Oba of Benin concocted the Benin prince fiction because of pride.

Respect their opinion


We are tired of this Argument

Xisnin:

The first Oba of Benin is the son of Oranmiyan.
Let that sink in.
Benin was just a town before the arrival of Oranmiyan.
The Oba system borrowed from Ile-Ife helped in expanding Benin dominion.

The late Oba of Benin concocted the Benin prince fiction because of pride.

Go and sit down, if your oduduwa isn't falling from the sky he is coming down with rope like the undertaker, if not for sentiments u ppl will even claim he came from east in Igbo land since some of u are presently claiming Saudi Arabia, I do not argue with inconsistent ppl and I do not argue Edos greatness it speaks for itself , Edo does not need to shamelessly attach itself with other tribes to claim greatness.... So waka pass ozuor

Viralmula:


Go and sit down, if your oduduwa isn't falling from the sky he is coming down with rope like the undertaker, if not for sentiments u ppl will even claim he came from east in Igbo land since some of u are presently claiming Saudi Arabia, I do not argue with inconsistent ppl and I do not argue Edos greatness it speaks for itself , Edo does not need to shamelessly attach itself with other tribes to claim greatness.... So waka pass ozuor

Why are you getting emotional about this ?


You started this argument

Respect everyone opinion