User talk:Badetule

Excerpts from the book: The Nation, The Town and The King by Prince ’Jide Adetule

YORUBA NATION Most people who live in the South West of the great Rivers Niger and Benue in Nigeria, part of Dahomey (now Benin Republic) and other areas on the West African coast are Yarba, locally pronounced Yoruba or Yooba, while people in the north of these two great rivers are mostly Hausas. They are people of mixed blood, Negro and Hermitic. The name after Ham, second son of Noah and they are the original natives of Northern Nigeria. The other major tribe in the north are the Fulanis (the immigrants of North African stock). The two tribes fuse to form the Nigeria’s Hausa/Fulani hegemony. The East of the Niger is occupied mostly by the Igbos, regarded by most scholars and historians as a ‘stateless’ society because the region did not evolve and develop a centralized political institution. Egalitarian Igbo live in small self-contained lineage group of villages that stifles, strangulate and suffocate social stratification and assimilation unlike their Yoruba counterpart. The Igbos or Ibos are the purest Negro Stock, but claim to be Nigerian-Jews. The huge lacunae archaeological remains of Igbo Ukwu and oral traditions as well as the paucity of historical evidences have made one remember the importance of Nri Kingdom as  the cradle of rich Igbo materials culture as well as the oracle and Arochukwu cults that are found elsewhere in the heart of igbo land. The Igbo people maintain one of the largely republican and decentralized political organizations based on clear units in Africa. The large swamp, no doubt, contributed to a large extends the natural obstacles of expansionist schemes. Both judicial and decisions are handled in congresses and from Igbo philosophical dispositions, ruling happens in collegial framework as against absolutionist power. The absence of these in Zionist culture has considerably altered the authenticity of Igbo Jewhood. The Federal Republic of Nigeria The Federal Republic of Nigeria contains more than 250 ethnic nationalities. The most prominent and obviously dominant Nations are the Yorubas, Ibos and Hausas and Fulanis. Among the minority ethnic Nationalities are the Efiks, Ijaws, Ibibios, Tivs, Jukuns, Kanuris, Igalas, Nupe and others. The Yoruba, the atlas of black educational sophistication has a long and ancient history dating back to 1000 BC.

History, which is defined as the totality of  human activities in the past, a systematic records of past human experiences in different areas of Endeavour such as politics, economic, military exploits, social, cultural, religion, etcetera. The presence of these has characteristically confirmed the existence of the Yoruba Nation several years ago. As far as historical memory of man can extend, the Yoruba Nation has mixed and pluralistic origin, a product of progressive assimilation of periodic archaic waves of migrants that evolved a common language and culture on the West African coast. In the olden days, people could not read or write and no written history were left for posterity. The Legends, our fore-parents and ancestors left behind unpenned documents, which make us rely heavily on the account of oral history of distant past handed over from generation to generation. We also know the past by historiograhically study the ancient artifacts. Archaeologists examine and study remains of such archaeological treasures as utensils, pottery, arts, paintings to determine their origin and dates of existence. Most of these relics are buried in the belly of the earth. They are exhumed, cleaned, analyzed, dated and kept in museums of antiquities to equip man with the knowledge of history. Yoruba history is also a product of archaeological studies. It is very dynamic in content and context and can be studied scientifically in its true nature. Many years before the arrival of Europeans, archeological evidence indicates the use of artistically and technologically advanced cast iron. Yoruba nooks and terracotta’s were already in place, but since there were no written records from the very beginning to establish these claims, it is imperative to rely on generational oral tradition and histories, which in some cases have produced some kind of conflicts and cast doubts of the origin. Yoruba history is not an exception. Records are not only kept to assist the weakness of memory but guide to the future, there is always a kind of meeting point and equilibrium at the end of the journey to harmonies the areas of differences.

ORIGIN OF YORUBA NATION The history of the Yoruba Nation is known from Legends, folk-tales, myths and praise songs. The younger generation is fast losing their sense of cultural affiliation, as they embrace the heat of western civilization. The source of Yoruba history edited by Prof. S. O. Biopic not only opinionated but factually believed that first, there exist among the Yoruba numerous original Legends, which agreeing in tracing descent from Oduduwa and did not refer to an immigration from elsewhere. They believed that King Oduduwa was the son of Olodumare and let down on chains from heaven. Dr. Samuel Johnson wrote that all the various tribes in Yoruba Nation trace their origin to Oduduwa and the city of Ile-Ife, the Capital and most ancient City in Yoruba land. The origin of the Yoruba Nation involved in obscurity and Ile-Ife was regarded as the home, sacred, the source, fountain of all and the Holy City. Herodotus, the Father of History said there were five ancient cities in Africa between 3000 – 1000 BC of which one was Ile-Ife”. The inhabitants were said to be amphibides, half man and half ape. Ife is the earliest stage in the development of Yoruba culture towards the end of the first millennium. There is yet another school of thought, the archeological school represented by Prof. Leo Frobenius, a German Archaeologist, was convinced that Yorubas are products of archaeological studies and discoveries. He has referred to Ile-Ife as the probable site of the “Atlantis” and the ruling King, the Ooni, as the highest pagan ecclesiastical authority in the Yoruba land from who alone the power of giving crowns. The Yorubas are rare distinctive race with rich culture, highly urbanised communities and developed political systems that hinged around centralised Monarchies in each town/city. This greatly fascinated the early European colonial masters on reaching Yoruba territorial region. There are two schools of thought prominently deduced for the origin of the Patriarch King Oduduwa, the great Legend, from whom all powers and Yoruba authorities resided. He is the first and foremost a priest, semi-god and the King of the race. He held absolute political power and sceptre branch out from him to all Yoruba Kingdoms. The first story of Oduduwa (Odu to da iwa) simply called Oodu’a, a cosmogonic myth was that he was a son of Olodumare or Olorun (Lord or God), the Supreme Being. In other to populate the earth from primordial water, he was let down on chains from heaven with a handful of soil, a cockerel and a palm nut. Oduduwa put the soil on a portion of the vast marshland and the cockerel spread it. He planted the palm nut and from this process, animals and human beings began to flourish. The place was held as the cradle or birth place of human race. It is named and called ILE-IFE, which literally means House of Love. Ifa theology also lay credence to the fact that the creation of mankind arose at the sacred city of Ile-Ife and was the first of Yoruba cities. This story, however, looks more of a fairy tale by moonlight to some people even among the Yorubas and has been sharply criticised as incredible by non-Yorubas. Although we were not there, but the myths surrounding history is a matter of belief by the mathematical probability. There is no certainty in history, some beliefs are only more credible than others. OBA (King) ODUDUWA (The progenitor of Yoruba Nation) One of his notable wars was that of the battle he fought with the Arabia people. He conquered the King of Mecca and subsequently settled there to become their political head. King Nimrod was a Christian and the practice in those days and even with some religious bodies today was to carve or paint images in the likeness of Jesus Christ, Mary (Mother of Christ), Angels and some notable Prophets. The Arabian people misconstrued these practices as idol worshipping. They named the priest Asara and the followers Nazarene, after Nazareth, where Jesus Christ was born. The truth is that Jesus Christ has absolutely nothing to do with idols. This is probably partly responsible for the different modes of worshiping between Christians and Muslims till today. Priest Asara had a son by name Braima, who was commissioned to sell these paintings and carved objects, erroneously called idols. Having been indoctrinated, Braima hated selling these paintings. When selling them he cried out aloud who wants to buy falsehood? When he grew up, he destroyed and cut them to pieces.

One day he left the axe hanging on the neck of a huge carved human shape object. When he was asked who damaged them, he said they should ask the object. The men told him that the object could not speak. He replied; why then do you worship things that can not talk? He was put to death, as a result of which war broke out between the Muslims and the supporters of King Lamurudu. In the ensuring melee, King Lamurudu, some of his followers and children were killed in the battle for supremacy. There is no single link today between Yoruba Nation and city of Mecca rather than the yearly Muslim pilgrimage that Yoruba Muslims attend. This is purely on religious ground. Again, this is probably why some people doubt the migration of Yorubas from Mecca refers to as the East.

CHAPTER TWO THE FINAL SETTLEMENT Oduduwa, the progenitor of Yoruba people led the remnants of his father’s family, supporters and peasant followers out of Mecca. The exodus of Yorubas from Mecca left no traces of their earlier existence possible in two ways. Mecca was not their original country home and secondly, the Yorubas flee for safety of their lives on dangerous religious war that gives no room for remembermalia. Every trances of their earlier settlement were religiously wiped out. Critics of the Yoruba Nation have always hid on the theory that history can not trace their previous existence in Mecca. The convoy traveled from River Nile valley westwards through Sudan and along the Savannah belt. Their first place of stop-over in Africa was called Yarba, the name from Yoruba or Yooba was said to have emerged. Three of Oodu’a cousins Kukawa, Gogobiri and Kisra were left with pocket of people on their way towards the Atlantic and carved human shape object. When he was asked who damaged them, he said they should ask the object. The men told him that the object could not speak. He replied; why then do you worship things that can not talk? He was put to death, as a result of which war broke out between the Muslims and the supporters of King Lamurudu. In the ensuring melee, King Lamurudu, some of his followers and children were killed in the battle for supremacy. There is no single link today between Yoruba Nation and city of Mecca rather than the yearly Muslim pilgrimage that Yoruba Muslims attend. This is purely on religious ground. Again, this is probably why some people doubt the migration of Yorubas from Mecca refers to as the East.

CHAPTER THREE THE FINAL SETTLEMENT Oduduwa, the progenitor of Yoruba people led the remnants of his father’s family, supporters and peasant followers out of Mecca. The exodus of Yorubas from Mecca left no traces of their earlier existence possible in two ways. Mecca was not their original country home and secondly, the Yorubas flee for safety of their lives on dangerous religious war that gives no room for remembermalia. Every trances of their earlier settlement were religiously wiped out. Critics of the Yoruba Nation have always hid on the theory that history can not trace their previous existence in Mecca. The convoy traveled from River Nile valley westwards through Sudan and along the Savannah belt. Their first place of stop-over in Africa was called Yarba, the name from Yoruba or Yooba was said to have emerged. Three of Oodu’a cousins Kukawa, Gogobiri and Kisra were left with pocket of people on their way towards the Atlantic and the greatest among Ile-Ife women of her time, but had no issue, because of unconditional love she had for her husband and wanted someone of Oduduwa descent to preserve the Kingdom, inherit his wealth and the throne. She decided to marry for him, Osara or Osa, who gave birth to a male child called Okanbi. Okanbi gave birth to seven children that founded seven Yoruba Kingdoms. They constitute the bedrocks and pillars of the Yoruba Nation. Their Royal blood-line inheritance still exists in the Yoruba Nation. Oodu’a was reputed to be very intelligent, tall, handsome and strongly built. He soon provided the people of Ile-Ife strong leadership they had longed for. He gave them sense of belonging, equity, quick dispensation of justice and well organised state matters. He used his military expertise to checkmate and frustrate the menace and frequent raids by the Raffia warriors that had terrorized the Ile-Ife community for years. When the position of leadership was badly needed, he was picked by Ifa Oracle and the people unanimously accepted and elected him as the Oba of the race. ODUDUWA (The Statute of the Legend depicting his royal paraphernalia) Obatala was not pleased on the decision to elect Oodu’a Obatala was not pleased on the decision to elect Oodu’a as the King; he solicited Esu’s support to be King. When Oodu’a travelled, there was power struggle among who would act or serve as the King in his absence. The power tussle erupted tensely between Oodua’s eldest son, Okanbi and Obatala on one hand, Obatala and Esu Lanroye on the other hand. Obatala claimed that Oodu’a usurped the throne, but his complaint was quickly rebuffed, that it was ifa oracle that chose Oodu’a as King. He enticed Esu with the whole palm trees in the community, but strangely Esu rejected the offer and referred Obatala to Agboniregun if he wanted to be King at all cost, since he was convinced that Ifa oracle elected Oodu’a as King. Esu, widely known as spoiler later proclaimed himself King to frustrate Obatala. He was regarded as a mad person and there was no way a lunatic like Esu could become King anyway, confusion enveloped over the land. The stage was set for a show down between him and Obatala. In the ensuing tussle for supremacy Obatala won and ordered Esu’s house demolished. The people reluctantly made Obatala acting King, but not without stiff opposition from womenfolk, Osara and her son. Okanbi gave him a good fight to no success. Oodu’a eventually returned, but Obatala refused to vacate the throne, Oodu’a subdued him without shedding a drop of blood. Obatala eventually vanished from Ile-Ife. Oodu’a was loved and highly respected. He taught Ife people military strategies that thwarted enemy’s incursions, he also taught them how to plant cotton and make dye clothes. He advised them to live together in peace and harmony with their neighbours. He did not hide his intention to go back to Mecca and avenge his father’s death. However, illness resulting in death robbed him of his long desire victory. Nevertheless, Oodua’s legacy as a strong, victorious legend and descendants of over 40 million Yoruba people today marked him as one of the greatest progenitors ever created.

THE GREAT LINEAGE Before Oodu’a died, ordinarily he was expected to hand over the throne to Okanbi, his eldest son. He, on the advice of Ifa Oracle, handed over the Kingship to his grandson Oranmiyan, the youngest of Okanbi’s seven children, who Princess Iyun Omonide bore for him. Oodu’a himself crowned Oranmiyan in the presence of his father, Okanbi and elder brothers and sisters. North withstanding, all the children became seven crowned Obas in various parts of Yoruba Nation. They are: •	Olowu (Asunkungbade) of Owu, son of the first daughter of Okanbi who founded Owu Kingdom •	Alaketu of Ketu, surnamed Sooropasan son of Okanbi’s daughter who founded Ake and Ketu (some part are now in Benin Republic), Imeko, Idofa, Igan and Alade •	Oba Ado of Ibinin, founded the great Benin (Edo) Kingdom •	Orangun of Ila, founded Ila and Igbomina Kingdoms •	Onisabe of Sabe, founded Sabe in Benin Republic •	Olupopo of Popo, founded Popo Kingdom, Egun, Aganyin, Ajase, Ajara, Sakete, Pobe, Anogo, Gaa and Aigbe. •	Oranyan (Oran mi yan), the last born, founded Oyo Ile, Ahoro Oko, Ikoyi, Ile Igbo, Iresa, Oyo and Oyo Ajaka that extended to Nupe Kingdom. AFRICAN-AMERICANS: Yoruba connection The sequential evolutionary trend and development of the African-Americans span nearly five centuries. The contention among historians is ploughed on the premises that Africans had contacts with the Americas prior to the Europeans dreamt of it. A testimony to this was rooted from linguistic, anthropological, botanical and archeological evidences. Africans were present on American soil in pre-Columbian era. The Nobles, Traders and Monarchs in Africa used their subjects and captured men and women from wars expedition that plague the Continent as domestic helps and farm labourers, but later sold them for economic purposes. The entire West Africa coastlines and the inter-land mass were swept like locusts in human trade. They were cartel into slavery to the extent that an estimated of 10 million Africans believed to have left their Continent of abode unwillingness in chains. The numbers sadly included those who perished in the great passage either by throwing them into the seas to lighten the weight of the ships or killed while fighting for their freedom or died as a result of illness. Freedom is sweater than honey, but slaves had neither freedom nor honey. There were stages of punishment reserved for any slave that made an attempt to run away, they were cruelly treated and reduced to less than human being. Resistant was very dangerous for slaves and so many resigned to their fate. This was sordid agony of slaves during the barbaric era in the history of mankind.

Of all the sub-linguistic tribes in the West African sub-region, the Yoruba people more that anything else assisted their fellow compatriots into slavery. This was largely due to inter-tribal wars of hatred and quest for supremacy among the Yoruba Kingdoms. Some of the slaves were not so lucky to escape from the claws of slave dragons, while some gained their ultimate freedom on the ‘platter of gold’. Bishop Ajayi Crowther, the first black Bishop in Anglican Communion from Osogun Village, Nigeria was in the latter group, but he never set his eyes again on any member of his family. It is not accident of history that the Yoruba cultural influence spread life hurricane across the Atlantic to the Americas. No thanks to European slave hunters that violently captured and marched Yoruba captives on over-crowded slave ships bound for the Americas. Slave wars launched by the Kingdom of Dahomey against some of the Yoruba Kingdoms and slave wars between the Yorubas themselves made slaves casualties available for transportation to the Americas side by side with their culture. Yoruba slaves were sent to British, French, Spanish and Portuguese colonies as well as the New World and in a number of these places Yoruba traditions survived very strongly and significantly. For instance, in Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, and Trinidad, Yoruba religious rites, beliefs, music and myths are evidently displayed with pride. The Yorubas are called Anagos in Haiti; Afro-Haitian religious activities give Yoruba rites and beliefs an honoured place within Catholism in Latin America. The pantheon also includes numerous deities of Yoruba origin. In Brazil, Yoruba religious activities are called Anago or Shango, also in Cuba and Puerto Rico they are designated Lucumi. The Oonirinsa is regarded as a mini-god in Cuba. Slavery in the United States was quite different from other colonized regions. The language and culture were whipped and beaten out of the Yoruba-African captives. The great language of liberty and freedom Yorubas are noted and used to were perilously denied. The slave masters forgot that the good God that gives life at the same time gives liberty. The slaves received death penalty for practicing their birthright cultures. Today, things have monumentally changed. Yoruba religion has undergone a phenomenal surge in popularity and interest in the Americas. Santeria is an adaptation of Yoruba and Ifa in Catholicism, which came to the United States first with Puerto Ricans in the forties and fifties and then with the flooding of the Cuban refugees in the sixties. The major Yoruba deities have survived virtually intact along with a complex rites, dances and myths of Yoruba origin. In the recent years, Africa-Americans travel to their Yoruba Nation for cultural festivals like Osun Oshogbo, Olokun and get to know from where their cultural values derived from. They should be given the necessary information needed to teach their siblings that they are people with culture and did not drop from sky. Infact, such places like Oyotunji village in Beaufort, South Carolina; the Descendants of the Yoruba in America Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio; Ile Ori Ifa Temple in Atlanta GA and the African Paradise in Griffin, GA are places where Yoruba culture, custom and religion are been practiced and given ample opportunities to the Yorubas in Diaspora unhindered. Apart from Chelsea, New York City has the largest concentration of slaves and their sweat fundamentally built what is today constituted the bedrocks of the world known trade, economic and social center. The City now housed a great number of Yorubas. It is reclamation of lost religion, self-awareness and unlimited power of evolution that Yoruba people have far-reaching impact on the survival of the African-Americans. The Yoruba stands out as a people of common descent and uncommon characteristics that succeed in establishing, sustaining strong and flourishing values that had produced and are still producing individuals that are renowned globally. Regardless of the buffetings of the changing times and a national political environment that had sometimes been decidedly hostile to them at home. The place of the Yoruba in the African-Americans cosmos remains indelible and infallible.

STATE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS The contemporary issues of the African-Americans community today ranks among the first degree groups and by far constitutes the largest concentration of the blacks in North America as a nation within a bigger nation and translates them beyond Yoruba lineage. Analytically, African born Americans produced a number of firsts in various fields of Science, Medicine, Sports, Educational, and occupy high posts in the American Society, which of course do not reflex their numerical strength and less appreciative of their roles in nation building. If the African-Americans are supposedly not discriminated against today, ironically, they continue to marginalize themselves in the scheme of things in many areas such as education, politics and economic advancement. They have the best of opportunities that any group or race in the world today could boast of. There are two Continents (Africa and America) at their beckons. African-Americans, no doubt, are separated by over 8000 miles of water yet they are bounded by over 12% human capital of over 400 years of history. For African-Americans to affirm their pride and sense of ancestry they should start learning to speak and write Yoruba language, adopting Yoruba cultural heritage including but not limited to their mode of dressing, bear African names such as Omowale, Bamidele, Adedeji, Adeyemi, Adeola, Ajayi, Taiwo, Kehinde, Ojo, and so on. They should take scientific advantages DNA presents to link them with their roots and also study Yoruba language in Elementary Schools, High Schools, Colleges and Universities. The crops of Africa leaders in Diaspora should do more to knit with their roots. They should explore more of the dynamics action of the former leaders. Their actions are now inevitably conflictual to the dreams and aspirations of the twentieth century African leaders.

Above information is for enlightenment of general readers and Yorubas all over the whole world.

About the Author: Prince Jide Adetule is management guru, a public relations pratitioner, a professional banker and author. He was born in Erijiyan-Ekiti to the family of His Royal Highness Oba (King) Amolese Adetifa Ajako Adetule (AAAA) of Ogbegun Ruling House. He obtained his first degree in Business Admninstration from the pretigious University of Lagos, Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Management from yet another highly rated University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a doctoral student of International Business Administration. He also has certificate in Advanced Public Relations from the Nigerian Institute of journalism, Lagos. He is a member of serveral professional bodies among which are the Nigerian Insitute of Management, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the Nigerian Union of Journalists and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. He is also a member of the Nigeria-Isreali Association. He is a prolific writer and columnist on contemporary issues and widely travelled. Amongst his hobbies are traveling, tourism, gardening and making friends. He is married to Princess Rachael Olubola Adetule, also an author and the marriage is blessed with three lives - Prince Deji Adetule, Jr, Princess Yemi Adetule and Prince Deola Adetule, Jr II

Prince Jide Adetule [badetule@yahoo.com]

Excerpts from the book: The Nation, The Town and The King by Prince ’Jide Adetule
YORUBA NATION Most people who live in the South West of the great Rivers Niger and Benue in Nigeria, part of Dahomey (now Benin Republic) and other areas on the West African coast are Yarba, locally pronounced Yoruba or Yooba, while people in the north of these two great rivers are mostly Hausas. They are people of mixed blood, Negro and Hermitic. The name after Ham, second son of Noah and they are the original natives of Northern Nigeria. The other major tribe in the north are the Fulanis (the immigrants of North African stock). The two tribes fuse to form the Nigeria’s Hausa/Fulani hegemony. The East of the Niger is occupied mostly by the Igbos, regarded by most scholars and historians as a ‘stateless’ society because the region did not evolve and develop a centralized political institution. Egalitarian Igbo live in small self-contained lineage group of villages that stifles, strangulate and suffocate social stratification and assimilation unlike their Yoruba counterpart. The Igbos or Ibos are the purest Negro Stock, but claim to be Nigerian-Jews. The huge lacunae archaeological remains of Igbo Ukwu and oral traditions as well as the paucity of historical evidences have made one remember the importance of Nri Kingdom as the cradle of rich Igbo materials culture as well as the oracle and Arochukwu cults that are found elsewhere in the heart of igbo land. The Igbo people maintain one of the largely republican and decentralized political organizations based on clear units in Africa. The large swamp, no doubt, contributed to a large extends the natural obstacles of expansionist schemes. Both judicial and decisions are handled in congresses and from Igbo philosophical dispositions, ruling happens in collegial framework as against absolutionist power. The absence of these in Zionist culture has considerably altered the authenticity of Igbo Jewhood. The Federal Republic of Nigeria The Federal Republic of Nigeria contains more than 250 ethnic nationalities. The most prominent and obviously dominant Nations are the Yorubas, Ibos and Hausas and Fulanis. Among the minority ethnic Nationalities are the Efiks, Ijaws, Ibibios, Tivs, Jukuns, Kanuris, Igalas, Nupe and others. The Yoruba, the atlas of black educational sophistication has a long and ancient history dating back to 1000 BC.History, which is defined as the totality of human activities in the past, a systematic records of past human experiences in different areas of Endeavour such as politics, economic, military exploits, social, cultural, religion, etcetera. The presence of these has characteristically confirmed the existence of the Yoruba Nation several years ago. As far as historical memory of man can extend, the Yoruba Nation has mixed and pluralistic origin, a product of progressive assimilation of periodic archaic waves of migrants that evolved a common language and culture on the West African coast. In the olden days, people could not read or write and no written history were left for posterity. The Legends, our fore-parents and ancestors left behind unpenned documents, which make us rely heavily on the account of oral history of distant past handed over from generation to generation. We also know the past by historiograhically study the ancient artifacts. Archaeologists examine and study remains of such archaeological treasures as utensils, pottery, arts, paintings to determine their origin and dates of existence. Most of these relics are buried in the belly of the earth. They are exhumed, cleaned, analyzed, dated and kept in museums of antiquities to equip man with the knowledge of history. Yoruba history is also a product of archaeological studies. It is very dynamic in content and context and can be studied scientifically in its true nature. Many years before the arrival of Europeans, archeological evidence indicates the use of artistically and technologically advanced cast iron. Yoruba nooks and terracotta’s were already in place, but since there were no written records from the very beginning to establish these claims, it is imperative to rely on generational oral tradition and histories, which in some cases have produced some kind of conflicts and cast doubts of the origin. Yoruba history is not an exception. Records are not only kept to assist the weakness of memory but guide to the future, there is always a kind of meeting point and equilibrium at the end of the journey to harmonies the areas of differences. ORIGIN OF YORUBA NATION The history of the Yoruba Nation is known from Legends, folk-tales, myths and praise songs. The younger generation is fast losing their sense of cultural affiliation, as they embrace the heat of western civilization. The source of Yoruba history edited by Prof. S. O. Biopic not only opinionated but factually believed that first, there exist among the Yoruba numerous original Legends, which agreeing in tracing descent from Oduduwa and did not refer to an immigration from elsewhere. They believed that King Oduduwa was the son of Olodumare and let down on chains from heaven. Dr. Samuel Johnson wrote that all the various tribes in Yoruba Nation trace their origin to Oduduwa and the city of Ile-Ife, the Capital and most ancient City in Yoruba land. The origin of the Yoruba Nation involved in obscurity and Ile-Ife was regarded as the home, sacred, the source, fountain of all and the Holy City. Herodotus, the Father of History said there were five ancient cities in Africa between 3000 – 1000 BC of which one was Ile-Ife”. The inhabitants were said to be amphibides, half man and half ape. Ife is the earliest stage in the development of Yoruba culture towards the end of the first millennium. There is yet another school of thought, the archeological school represented by Prof. Leo Frobenius, a German Archaeologist, was convinced that Yorubas are products of archaeological studies and discoveries. He has referred to Ile-Ife as the probable site of the “Atlantis” and the ruling King, the Ooni, as the highest pagan ecclesiastical authority in the Yoruba land from who alone the power of giving crowns. The Yorubas are rare distinctive race with rich culture, highly urbanised communities and developed political systems that hinged around centralised Monarchies in each town/city. This greatly fascinated the early European colonial masters on reaching Yoruba territorial region.There are two schools of thought prominently deduced for the origin of the Patriarch King Oduduwa, the great Legend, from whom all powers and Yoruba authorities resided. He is the first and foremost a priest, semi-god and the King of the race. He held absolute political power and sceptre branch out from him to all Yoruba Kingdoms. The first story of Oduduwa (Odu to da iwa) simply called Oodu’a, a cosmogonic myth was that he was a son of Olodumare or Olorun (Lord or God), the Supreme Being. In other to populate the earth from primordial water, he was let down on chains from heaven with a handful of soil, a cockerel and a palm nut. Oduduwa put the soil on a portion of the vast marshland and the cockerel spread it. He planted the palm nut and from this process, animals and human beings began to flourish. The place was held as the cradle or birth place of human race. It is named and called ILE-IFE, which literally means House of Love. Ifa theology also lay credence to the fact that the creation of mankind arose at the sacred city of Ile-Ife and was the first of Yoruba cities. This story, however, looks more of a fairy tale by moonlight to some people even among the Yorubas and has been sharply criticised as incredible by non-Yorubas. Although we were not there, but the myths surrounding history is a matter of belief by the mathematical probability. There is no certainty in history, some beliefs are only more credible than others.One of his notable wars was that of the battle he fought with the Arabia people. He conquered the King of Mecca and subsequently settled there to become their political head. King Nimrod was a Christian and the practice in those days and even with some religious bodies today was to carve or paint images in the likeness of Jesus Christ, Mary (Mother of Christ), Angels and some notable Prophets. The Arabian people misconstrued these practices as idol worshipping. They named the priest Asara and the followers Nazarene, after Nazareth, where Jesus Christ was born. The truth is that Jesus Christ has absolutely nothing to do with idols. This is probably partly responsible for the different modes of worshiping between Christians and Muslims till today. Priest Asara had a son by name Braima, who was commissioned to sell these paintings and carved objects, erroneously called idols. Having been indoctrinated, Braima hated selling these paintings. When selling them he cried out aloud who wants to buy falsehood? When he grew up, he destroyed and cut them to pieces.One day he left the axe hanging on the neck of a huge carved human shape object. When he was asked who damaged them, he said they should ask the object. The men told him that the object could not speak. He replied; why then do you worship things that can not talk? He was put to death, as a result of which war broke out between the Muslims and the supporters of King Lamurudu. In the ensuring melee, King Lamurudu, some of his followers and children were killed in the battle for supremacy. There is no single link today between Yoruba Nation and city of Mecca rather than the yearly Muslim pilgrimage that Yoruba Muslims attend. This is purely on religious ground. Again, this is probably why some people doubt the migration of Yorubas from Mecca refers to as the East. THE FINAL SETTLEMENT Oduduwa, the progenitor of Yoruba people led the remnants of his father’s family, supporters and peasant followers out of Mecca. The exodus of Yorubas from Mecca left no traces of their earlier existence possible in two ways. Mecca was not their original country home and secondly, the Yorubas flee for safety of their lives on dangerous religious war that gives no room for remembermalia. Every trances of their earlier settlement were religiously wiped out. Critics of the Yoruba Nation have always hid on the theory that history can not trace their previous existence in Mecca. The convoy traveled from River Nile valley westwards through Sudan and along the Savannah belt. Their first place of stop-over in Africa was called Yarba, the name from Yoruba or Yooba was said to have emerged. Three of Oodu’a cousins Kukawa, Gogobiri and Kisra were left with pocket of people on their way towards the Atlantic and carved human shape object. When he was asked who damaged them, he said they should ask the object. The men told him that the object could not speak. He replied; why then do you worship things that can not talk? He was put to death, as a result of which war broke out between the Muslims and the supporters of King Lamurudu. In the ensuring melee, King Lamurudu, some of his followers and children were killed in the battle for supremacy. There is no single link today between Yoruba Nation and city of Mecca rather than the yearly Muslim pilgrimage that Yoruba Muslims attend. This is purely on religious ground. Again, this is probably why some people doubt the migration of Yorubas from Mecca refers to as the Eas.THE FINAL SETTLEMENT Oduduwa, the progenitor of Yoruba people led the remnants of his father’s family, supporters and peasant followers out of Mecca. The exodus of Yorubas from Mecca left no traces of their earlier existence possible in two ways. Mecca was not their original country home and secondly, the Yorubas flee for safety of their lives on dangerous religious war that gives no room for remembermalia. Every trances of their earlier settlement were religiously wiped out. Critics of the Yoruba Nation have always hid on the theory that history can not trace their previous existence in Mecca. The convoy traveled from River Nile valley westwards through Sudan and along the Savannah belt. Their first place of stop-over in Africa was called Yarba, the name from Yoruba or Yooba was said to have emerged. Three of Oodu’a cousins Kukawa, Gogobiri and Kisra were left with pocket of people on their way towards the Atlantic and the greatest among Ile-Ife women of her time, but had no issue, because of unconditional love she had for her husband and wanted someone of Oduduwa descent to preserve the Kingdom, inherit his wealth and the throne. She decided to marry for him, Osara or Osa, who gave birth to a male child called Okanbi. Okanbi gave birth to seven children that founded seven Yoruba Kingdoms. They constitute the bedrocks and pillars of the Yoruba Nation. Their Royal blood-line inheritance still exists in the Yoruba Nation. Oodu’a was reputed to be very intelligent, tall, handsome and strongly built. He soon provided the people of Ile-Ife strong leadership they had longed for. He gave them sense of belonging, equity, quick dispensation of justice and well organised state matters. He used his military expertise to checkmate and frustrate the menace and frequent raids by the Raffia warriors that had terrorized the Ile-Ife community for years. When the position of leadership was badly needed, he was picked by Ifa Oracle and the people unanimously accepted and elected him as the Oba of the race.ODUDUWA(The Statute of the Legend depicting his royal paraphernalia) Obatala was not pleased on the decision to elect Oodu’a Obatala was not pleased on the decision to elect Oodu’a as the King; he solicited Esu’s support to be King. When Oodu’a travelled, there was power struggle among who would act or serve as the King in his absence. The power tussle erupted tensely between Oodua’s eldest son, Okanbi and Obatala on one hand, Obatala and Esu Lanroye on the other hand. Obatala claimed that Oodu’a usurped the throne, but his complaint was quickly rebuffed, that it was ifa oracle that chose Oodu’a as King. He enticed Esu with the whole palm trees in the community, but strangely Esu rejected the offer and referred Obatala to Agboniregun if he wanted to be King at all cost, since he was convinced that Ifa oracle elected Oodu’a as King. Esu, widely known as spoiler later proclaimed himself King to frustrate Obatala. He was regarded as a mad person and there was no way a lunatic like Esu could become King anyway, confusion enveloped over the land. The stage was set for a show down between him and Obatala. In the ensuing tussle for supremacy Obatala won and ordered Esu’s house demolished. The people reluctantly made Obatala acting King, but not without stiff opposition from womenfolk, Osara and her son. Okanbi gave him a good fight to no success. Oodu’a eventually returned, but Obatala refused to vacate the throne, Oodu’a subdued him without shedding a drop of blood. Obatala eventually vanished from Ile-Ife. Oodu’a was loved and highly respected. He taught Ife people military strategies that thwarted enemy’s incursions, he also taught them how to plant cotton and make dye clothes. He advised them to live together in peace and harmony with their neighbours. He did not hide his intention to go back to Mecca and avenge his father’s death. However, illness resulting in death robbed him of his long desire victory. Nevertheless, Oodua’s legacy as a strong, victorious legend and descendants of over 40 million Yoruba people today marked him as one of the greatest progenitors ever created.THE GREAT LINEAGE Before Oodu’a died, ordinarily he was expected to hand over the throne to Okanbi, his eldest son. He, on the advice of Ifa Oracle, handed over the Kingship to his grandson Oranmiyan, the youngest of Okanbi’s seven children, who Princess Iyun Omonide bore for him. Oodu’a himself crowned Oranmiyan in the presence of his father, Okanbi and elder brothers and sisters. North withstanding, all the children became seven crowned Obas in various parts of Yoruba Nation. They are: • Olowu (Asunkungbade) of Owu, son of the first daughter of Okanbi who founded Owu Kingdom • Alaketu of Ketu, surnamed Sooropasan son of Okanbi’s daughter who founded Ake and Ketu (some part are now in Benin Republic), Imeko, Idofa, Igan and Alade • Oba Ado of Ibinin, founded the great Benin (Edo) Kingdom • Orangun of Ila, founded Ila and Igbomina Kingdoms • Onisabe of Sabe, founded Sabe in Benin Republic • Olupopo of Popo, founded Popo Kingdom, Egun, Aganyin, Ajase, Ajara, Sakete, Pobe, Anogo, Gaa and Aigbe. • Oranyan (Oran mi yan), the last born, founded Oyo Ile, Ahoro Oko, Ikoyi, Ile Igbo, Iresa, Oyo and Oyo Ajaka that extended to Nupe Kingdom.AFRICAN-AMERICANS: Yoruba connection The sequential evolutionary trend and development of the African-Americans span nearly five centuries. The contention among historians is ploughed on the premises that Africans had contacts with the Americas prior to the Europeans dreamt of it. A testimony to this was rooted from linguistic, anthropological, botanical and archeological evidences. Africans were present on American soil in pre-Columbian era. The Nobles, Traders and Monarchs in Africa used their subjects and captured men and women from wars expedition that plague the Continent as domestic helps and farm labourers, but later sold them for economic purposes. The entire West Africa coastlines and the inter-land mass were swept like locusts in human trade. They were cartel into slavery to the extent that an estimated of 10 million Africans believed to have left their Continent of abode unwillingness in chains. The numbers sadly included those who perished in the great passage either by throwing them into the seas to lighten the weight of the ships or killed while fighting for their freedom or died as a result of illness. Freedom is sweater than honey, but slaves had neither freedom nor honey. There were stages of punishment reserved for any slave that made an attempt to run away, they were cruelly treated and reduced to less than human being. Resistant was very dangerous for slaves and so many resigned to their fate. This was sordid agony of slaves during the barbaric era in the history of mankind.Of all the sub-linguistic tribes in the West African sub-region, the Yoruba people more that anything else assisted their fellow compatriots into slavery. This was largely due to inter-tribal wars of hatred and quest for supremacy among the Yoruba Kingdoms. Some of the slaves were not so lucky to escape from the claws of slave dragons, while some gained their ultimate freedom on the ‘platter of gold’. Bishop Ajayi Crowther, the first black Bishop in Anglican Communion from Osogun Village, Nigeria was in the latter group, but he never set his eyes again on any member of his family. It is not accident of history that the Yoruba cultural influence spread life hurricane across the Atlantic to the Americas. No thanks to European slave hunters that violently captured and marched Yoruba captives on over-crowded slave ships bound for the Americas. Slave wars launched by the Kingdom of Dahomey against some of the Yoruba Kingdoms and slave wars between the Yorubas themselves made slaves casualties available for transportation to the Americas side by side with their culture.Yoruba slaves were sent to British, French, Spanish and Portuguese colonies as well as the New World and in a number of these places Yoruba traditions survived very strongly and significantly. For instance, in Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, and Trinidad, Yoruba religious rites, beliefs, music and myths are evidently displayed with pride. The Yorubas are called Anagos in Haiti; Afro-Haitian religious activities give Yoruba rites and beliefs an honoured place within Catholism in Latin America. The pantheon also includes numerous deities of Yoruba origin. In Brazil, Yoruba religious activities are called Anago or Shango, also in Cuba and Puerto Rico they are designated Lucumi. The Oonirinsa is regarded as a mini-god in Cuba. Slavery in the United States was quite different from other colonized regions. The language and culture were whipped and beaten out of the Yoruba-African captives. The great language of liberty and freedom Yorubas are noted and used to were perilously denied. The slave masters forgot that the good God that gives life at the same time gives liberty. The slaves received death penalty for practicing their birthright cultures. Today, things have monumentally changed. Yoruba religion has undergone a phenomenal surge in popularity and interest in the Americas. Santeria is an adaptation of Yoruba and Ifa in Catholicism, which came to the United States first with Puerto Ricans in the forties and fifties and then with the flooding of the Cuban refugees in the sixties. The major Yoruba deities have survived virtually intact along with a complex rites, dances and myths of Yoruba origin. In the recent years, Africa-Americans travel to their Yoruba Nation for cultural festivals like Osun Oshogbo, Olokun and get to know from where their cultural values derived from. They should be given the necessary information needed to teach their siblings that they are people with culture and did not drop from sky. Infact, such places like Oyotunji village in Beaufort, South Carolina; the Descendants of the Yoruba in America Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio; Ile Ori Ifa Temple in Atlanta GA and the African Paradise in Griffin, GA are places where Yoruba culture, custom and religion are been practiced and given ample opportunities to the Yorubas in Diaspora unhindered. Apart from Chelsea, New York City has the largest concentration of slaves and their sweat fundamentally built what is today constituted the bedrocks of the world known trade, economic and social center. The City now housed a great number of Yorubas. It is reclamation of lost religion, self-awareness and unlimited power of evolution that Yoruba people have far-reaching impact on the survival of the African-Americans. The Yoruba stands out as a people of common descent and uncommon characteristics that succeed in establishing, sustaining strong and flourishing values that had produced and are still producing individuals that are renowned globally. Regardless of the buffetings of the changing times and a national political environment that had sometimes been decidedly hostile to them at home. The place of the Yoruba in the African-Americans cosmos remains indelible and infallible.STATE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS The contemporary issues of the African-Americans community today ranks among the first degree groups and by far constitutes the largest concentration of the blacks in North America as a nation within a bigger nation and translates them beyond Yoruba lineage. Analytically, African born Americans produced a number of firsts in various fields of Science, Medicine, Sports, Educational, and occupy high posts in the American Society, which of course do not reflex their numerical strength and less appreciative of their roles in nation building. If the African-Americans are supposedly not discriminated against today, ironically, they continue to marginalize themselves in the scheme of things in many areas such as education, politics and economic advancement. They have the best of opportunities that any group or race in the world today could boast of. There are two Continents (Africa and America) at their beckons. African-Americans, no doubt, are separated by over 8000 miles of water yet they are bounded by over 12% human capital of over 400 years of history. For African-Americans to affirm their pride and sense of ancestry they should start learning to speak and write Yoruba language, adopting Yoruba cultural heritage including but not limited to their mode of dressing, bear African names such as Omowale, Bamidele, Adedeji, Adeyemi, Adeola, Ajayi, Taiwo, Kehinde, Ojo, and so on. They should take scientific advantages DNA presents to link them with their roots and also study Yoruba language in Elementary Schools, High Schools, Colleges and Universities. The crops of Africa leaders in Diaspora should do more to knit with their roots. They should explore more of the dynamics action of the former leaders. Their actions are now inevitably conflictual to the dreams and aspirations of the twentieth century African leaders. The above information is for enlightenment of general readers and Yorubas all over the whole world.

About the Author: Prince Jide Adetule is management guru, a public relations pratitioner, a professional banker and author. He was born in Erijiyan-Ekiti to the family of His Royal Highness Oba (King) Amolese Adetifa Ajako Adetule (AAAA) of Ogbegun Ruling House. He obtained his first degree in Business Admninstration from the pretigious University of Lagos, Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Management from yet another highly rated University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a doctoral student of International Business Administration. He also has certificate in Advanced Public Relations from the Nigerian Institute of journalism, Lagos. He is a member of serveral professional bodies among which are the Nigerian Insitute of Management, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the Nigerian Union of Journalists and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. He is also a member of the Nigeria-Isreali Association. He is a prolific writer and columnist on contemporary issues and widely travelled. Amongst his hobbies are traveling, tourism, gardening and making friends. He is married to Princess Rachael Olubola Adetule, also an author and the marriage is blessed with three lives - Prince Deji Adetule, Jr, Princess Yemi Adetule and Prince Deola Adetule, Jr II Prince Jide Adetule