'' When I was young I learnt that the Yorubas migrated into Nigeria from upper part of Egypt while some believe they came from Arab world and that Oduduwa was sent by Olodumare ( the Yoruba creator - god ) to establish the first land upon the waters that covers the earth, thus he founded Ile Ife which according to the Yorubas was the centre of the universe and the cradle of creation and civilization.
In secondary school days, my Yoruba Teacher, Rev. C S Mobolaji also told us that Oduduwa, the founding father of the Yoruba nation gave birth to a son called Okanbi, and Okanbi gave birth to seven children who founded the first seven kingdoms of the Yoruba land viz Alaafin of Oyo, Onipopo of Popo, Ooni of Ife, Onisabe of Sabe, Orangan of Ila, Oba of Benin etc.
However, Ooni of Ife is known to be the spiritual head of Yoruba nation before other Yoruba cities including Oyo challenged Ife supremacy, and when the central leadership changed from the Ooni of Ife to the Alaafin of Oyo and Oyo became the most powerful kingdom in Yoruba land and even in the West Africa throughout 16th and 17th centuries till early 19th century when the old Oyo empire collapsed.
I have never known until late recent that some historians came out with a story of supremacy between the Oba of Benin, Ooni of Ife, and Alaafin of Oyo that the Yorubas are even from Benin Kingdom and not Ile Ife, upper part of Egypt or Arab world as earlier claimed.
I'm not a historian but I don't think I can believe that because of its attachments. All I knew is that Benin Kingdom is part of Yoruba nation just like any other kingdom in Yoruba land. To be sincere, I want to know more about this. ''
- Yusuf Adeyanju Yisau, Comrade, Blogger & Social Commentator.
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