ELA OJU KAN

SegzyJoe:

@post
How time flies, I never could believe that there would be controversy and arguement about superiority of Alaafin over Ooni, but times have changed greatly in the last one and half centuries of distortion. In the old times, Ooni could not even compared with other Yoruba king like Alaketu, Onsabe, Orangun etc who are the royal houses of Yorubaland of which Oyo was the centre of the Empire. What was the causes of the many Yoruba civil wars, was it not partly due to the harshness of the Oyo Empire tributarians? As in it came to a time when the reps of the empire were putting burden upon all other royal houses. All royal houses in Yoruba paid tributes to Oyo Empire. As a matter of fact each royal house in Yoruba land fought to get independence from Oyo including Ife, Ife was the least in militarily, it was recorded that Ife actually used wisdom to free from paying tribute to Oyo, because they were never a match for any war with a detachment of Oyo Empire armies located in Ede headed by Timi Agbale Olofa Ina, Ogbomosho headed by Elemoso and later by Soun, Abeokuta headed by Lisabi, Offa headed by Onikoyi, to mention just a few,  all under the command of Aare.

I remebered around 1987, when Aalafin wanted to coronate MKO Abiola as Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Ooni went to court but was dismissed, he wanted to usurpe the power of Aalafin to install Aare in Yorubalnd, the court told him that it is only Aalafin that could appoint ne Aare for Yorubaland. The Aare reports to Aalafin, and they always live on the outskirt and not within Oyo City. We had such Aare as Aare Ikunrumi, Aare Afonja, Aare Latosa, etc. Infact Ibadan was a military camp of the Oyo Empire, the likes of Bashorun Ibikunle, Ogunmola were all Oyo Empire warriorss. Ooni was never in the picture, Infact Aalafin coronated all Obas in Yorubaland, there was no roaylty or royal family in Ife, that is why Ooni never had any crown nor was any Ooni in Ife ever coronated by Aalafin. Ife is significant for Yoruba as their origin but there was no son of Oduduwa that remained in Ife, all went out to seek new lands and established their domain.

It is unfortunate that OOni is arrogating power it does not have to itself. It was the main reason why Ooni opposed June 12 to deny Aalafin  the priviledge of been supported by MKO. Ooni was a political creation of the AG/Awolowo. The fore fathers of the current Ooni were exposed to western education earlier and they used it to promote the dynasty of Ooni. Oba Adesoji Aderemi was a minister of old western region, they used political powers to checkmate the Aalafin dynasty with conniviance of Awolowo, that was why Aalfin had never supported Awolowo, infact, Awolowo drove the father of the current Aalafin to exile to die in an island in Calabar. So pple should understand the enemity btw aalafin and Awolowo, the same reason why Aalafin supported Akintola against Awolowo thate led to Wetie of the wild wild west fame.

It is a distortion of History for Ooni to lay claim to any superiority over Aalafin, it is an abnormality and unfortunate. Ife has a special place in Yorubal history, bu never Ooni dynasty, it was a political creation and promoted politically.

Oyo derived importance through military strength and military strength alone. The minute Oyo was sacked and consequent successful rebellion by the Egba and Ijebu, Oyo ceased to have that prominence amongst the Yoruba. By the time the British arrived in Yorubaland, there were other Yoruba states that were more powerful than the Oyo such as the Ibadan, Ekiti, Ijesha, Egba and Ijebu.

Ife will always have more prominence amongst the Yoruba than any other place because all Yoruba kingdoms derived from Ile -Ife. Secondly, the Aare On Kakanfo was a title of the Oyo empire, it was never a title of the Yoruba. Oranmiyan, who was Oduduwa's son, founded Oyo. Can Oyo now be said to be the spiritual home of the Yoruba. Since, it is not possible for the various Yoruba kingdoms to do battle to determine the most powerful, we have to go by history and antecedents.

OAM4J:

Gentlemen lets not mix sentiments and bias with facts and attempt to alter history. The fact remains that Oduduwa  and not Alafin is the father of Yorubaland. Oduduwa lived and died in Ile ife and not Oyo.

The 1st Alafan was Oduduwa's son who with his children went on to build the strongest Yoruba empire at the time. Alafin became powerful, perhaps the most powerful king in Yorubaland but that does not make him the father of the Yorubaland. Cos like the 1st Alafin, there were many other sons of Oduduwa who settled and built other Yoruba kingdoms. Ooni is the one that maintains Oduduwa's throne in Ife, and that also explain why Ife was sacred and should remain sacred to every right thinking Yorubaman cos most of our fathers came from Ife. And it is our traditional belief in Yoruba land that  no matter how powerful a child is, he should never demand honour from his father, and this is where Alafin goofed. It is beyond the current people sitting on those thrones, it is about the thrones. Yoruba 'isenbaiye' (tradition) should always remain sacred.


Yes I also agree that these monarchies have lost most of their usefulness, many of them misbehaved and are still misbehaving, but they remain the custodian of our history, culture and traditions and no matter what progress and development we seek, they must not come at cost of losing our history, culture and tradition. And we should not worry so much about them because they are no longer the reason we are not making progress and it doesn't cost us so much to maintain them.

I agree with this.

Katsumoto:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Mostly true but a few corrections. Afonja was the Aare Onaka-kanfo (the number one general of the Oyo Army). The Aare being so powerful was not allowed to stay in Oyo Ile (similar to how Roman generals could not enter Rome). Afonja sent an empty calabash to the Alaafin signifying that he no longer accepted his authority. By tradition, the Alaafin must commit suicide which he did but only after Cursing Afonja. Most of the curses came to pass. Afonja invited Alimi after learning of his powers. The Fulani scholar's name was Alimi and it was Alimi's son, Abdusalam, who betrayed Afonja.

That was Alaafin Aole, I read somewhere that Afonja was his cousin and tradition forbade the Alaafin and Aare to be blood relatives.

Alaafin Aole supposedly chose to ignore the counsel of the Oyomesi and made Afonja the Aare against tradition, some would consider Afonja's betrayal a punishment of some sort for going against tradition.

Aole not only cursed Afonja but the entire Yoruba race  

@ bolded, I thot Alimi did that and they went to to defeat Solagberu (a Yoruba who converted to Islam who also took on the Fulani marauders until Basorun Ogunmola stopped them) too

naijaking1:

Thanks chief, I move that the whole N/L house make you the Aare of this Nairaland

SegzyJoe:

@post
How time flies, I never could believe that there would be controversy and arguement about superiority of Alaafin over Ooni, but times have changed greatly in the last one and half centuries of distortion. In the old times, Ooni could not even compared with other Yoruba king like Alaketu, Onsabe, Orangun etc who are the royal houses of Yorubaland of which Oyo was the centre of the Empire. What was the causes of the many Yoruba civil wars, was it not partly due to the harshness of the Oyo Empire tributarians? As in it came to a time when the reps of the empire were putting burden upon all other royal houses. All royal houses in Yoruba paid tributes to Oyo Empire. As a matter of fact each royal house in Yoruba land fought to get independence from Oyo including Ife, Ife was the least in militarily, it was recorded that Ife actually used wisdom to free from paying tribute to Oyo, because they were never a match for any war with a detachment of Oyo Empire armies located in Ede headed by Timi Agbale Olofa Ina, Ogbomosho headed by Elemoso and later by Soun, Abeokuta headed by Lisabi, Offa headed by Onikoyi, to mention just a few,  all under the command of Aare.

I remebered around 1987, when Aalafin wanted to coronate MKO Abiola as Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Ooni went to court but was dismissed, he wanted to usurpe the power of Aalafin to install Aare in Yorubalnd, the court told him that it is only Aalafin that could appoint ne Aare for Yorubaland. The Aare reports to Aalafin, and they always live on the outskirt and not within Oyo City. We had such Aare as Aare Ikunrumi, Aare Afonja, Aare Latosa, etc. Infact Ibadan was a military camp of the Oyo Empire, the likes of Bashorun Ibikunle, Ogunmola were all Oyo Empire warriorss. Ooni was never in the picture, Infact Aalafin coronated all Obas in Yorubaland, there was no roaylty or royal family in Ife, that is why Ooni never had any crown nor was any Ooni in Ife ever coronated by Aalafin. Ife is significant for Yoruba as their origin but there was no son of Oduduwa that remained in Ife, all went out to seek new lands and established their domain.

It is unfortunate that OOni is arrogating power it does not have to itself. It was the main reason why Ooni opposed June 12 to deny Aalafin  the priviledge of been supported by MKO. Ooni was a political creation of the AG/Awolowo. The fore fathers of the current Ooni were exposed to western education earlier and they used it to promote the dynasty of Ooni. Oba Adesoji Aderemi was a minister of old western region, they used political powers to checkmate the Aalafin dynasty with conniviance of Awolowo, that was why Aalfin had never supported Awolowo, infact, Awolowo drove the father of the current Aalafin to exile to die in an island in Calabar. So pple should understand the enemity btw aalafin and Awolowo, the same reason why Aalafin supported Akintola against Awolowo thate led to Wetie of the wild wild west fame.

It is a distortion of History for Ooni to lay claim to any superiority over Aalafin, it is an abnormality and unfortunate. Ife has a special place in Yorubal history, bu never Ooni dynasty, it was a political creation and promoted politically.

I agree with most of the thing you wrote, but to conclude that Ooni is insignificant in the scheme of things in Yoruba land and that there was no crown in ife is to also claim Oduduwa and Ife is insignificant. I dont know why some of you make it look like Oyo is the source of Yoruba Kingdom. Fact remains that Oyo was the headquarters of Oyo empire under Alafin and Ife is the motherland of all Yorubas and it's under the custody of Ooni.

naijababe:

That was Alaafin Aole, I read somewhere that Afonja was his cousin and tradition forbade the Alaafin and Aare to be blood relatives.

Alaafin Aole supposedly chose to ignore the counsel of the Oyomesi and made Afonja the Aare against tradition, some would consider Afonja's betrayal a punishment of some sort for going against tradition.

Aole not only cursed Afonja but the entire Yoruba race  

@ bolded, I thot Alimi did that and they went to to defeat Solagberu (a Yoruba who converted to Islam who also took on the Fulani marauders until Basorun Ogunmola stopped them) too

You are correct with everything except the last part. Afonja fought with Alimi to defeat Solagberu. After Alimi died, Abdusalam invited the jihadist's flag from Sokoto and served under the emirate of Gwandu. That was how Afonja was betrayed and lost control of Ilorin. This account is supported by both Samuel Johnson and Professor Akinjogbin.

OAM4J:

I agree with most of the thing you wrote, but to conclude that Ooni is insignificant in the scheme of things in Yoruba land and that there was no crown in ife is to also claim Oduduwa and Ife is insignificant. I dont know why some of you make it look like Oyo is the source of Yoruba Kingdom. Fact remains that Oyo was the headquarters of Oyo empire under Alafin and Ife is the motherland of all Yorubas and it's under the custody of Ooni.

Cant you see the contradiction in that ediot's post

Ooni has no crown? WTF? He definitely has never attended the Olojo festival

I hate when people post trash online.

Ooni has no crown. . . [size=18pt]ROFLMAO[/size]

The Heritage of Oduduwa: Traditional History and Political Propaganda among the Yoruba
Author(s): R. C. C. Law
Source: The Journal of African History, Vol. 14, No. 2 (1973), pp. 207-222
Published by: Cambridge University Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/180445 .
Accessed: 08/05/2011 16:39


THE  HERITAGE  OF  ODUDUWA:  TRADITIONAL
HISTORY  AND  POLITICAL  PROPAGANDA  AMONG
THE  YORUBA
BY  R.  C.  C.  LAW


THE  use of traditional history for purposes of political propaganda, and its
consequent  falsification, are well  attested phenomena in  African societies.

Indeed,  Vansina,  in  his  classic  study  of  oral  tradition,  suggests  that  the
historian  should  a  priori  suspect  falsification  in  'official'  traditions,  i.e.
those whose primary function is political.'  In particular, traditions of origin
seem  commonly  to have such political  functions,  seeking  to legitimate the
present  political  order  by  placing  its  origins  in  remotest  antiquity.  In
many instances, it  appears that traditions of origin can be  plausibly inter-
preted,  to  use  the  often-quoted  words  of  Fortes,  as  'nothing  more  than
formulations  of  the  contemporary  scheme  of  political  and  ceremonial
relationships'.2 However,  difficulties  arise  for  this  approach in  contexts
where  the  political  order was  not  static.  It  has  been  commonly  accepted
that, when the political organization of a society was changed, its traditions
had to be adjusted to fit the new conditions.  It has, perhaps, been less often
appreciated  that  traditional  history  might  also  be  modified  in  order  to
facilitate changes in  the  political  system-certainly,  non-African  parallels
suggest  that  appeals  to  a  falsified  'ancestral constitution'  are  frequently
made by those seeking to bring about revolutionary change.3 But while the
fact  of  politically  motivated  alteration  of  traditional  history  has  been
acknowledged, little attention has been given to the process by which  such
alterations  were  effected.  Goody  and  Watt,  for  example,  refer  to  'the
unobtrusive adaptation of past tradition to present needs', without indicat-
ing  how  this  adaptation was  achieved,  or  how  it  could  have  been  'un-
obtrusive'.4 Too  often, it appears, historians and anthropologists of Africa
have  been  content  to  credit  the  rulers of  African  societies  with  a  power
like that of the Ministry  of Truth  in Orwell's I984,  to make alterations in
the existing  view  of history at will,  to suit their changing purposes, and to
win instant acceptance of each successive revised version. The  assumption
upon which  the present article proceeds is that, on the contrary, the alter-
ation  of  received  historical traditions must  always have  been  a matter of
some difficulty.

This  article is  an examination of  the use of traditions of  origin for pur-
poses of political propaganda among the Yoruba, with  particular reference
to the most powerful of the Yoruba kingdoms, QyQ. Its title, 'The Heritage
of  Oduduwa', alludes to  the common Yoruba tradition that all Yoruba, or
at least the  royal dynasties of  all the  principal Yoruba kingdoms,  are de-
scended  from a single  ancestor,  Oduduwa.  The  phrase,  'the  heritage  of
Oduduwa', it should be made clear, does not occur in Yoruba tradition, the
concept being borrowed by the present writer from the history of Classical
Greece.  An  ancient  account  of  the  military expansion  of  the  kingdom  of
Argos in  the Peloponnesos  during the  seventh  century B.C.  describes the
Argives  as having  'recovered  the  heritage  of  Temenos',5  Temenos  being
according to tradition the founder of the royal dynasty of Argos and one of
three brothers who had divided among themselves  control of  the  Pelopon-
nesos. The  parallels between  this  story and Yoruba traditions will become
clear in  the  course of this  article.
Yoruba Origins

The  Yoruba  occupy  an  extensive  territory,  embracing  southwestern
Nigeria  and  adjacent  areas  of  Dahomey  and  Togo.  They  compromise
several distinct sub-groups,  the most important being the Oyo in the north,
the  Ife,  1jesa, Ekiti and Ondo in the east, the  Ijebu and Egba in the south,
and the Ketu in the west.  Though  the various Yoruba sub-groups  share a
common  language and  culture,  they  have  never,  at least in  recent  times,
formed  a political  unit,  being  divided  into  numerous  independent  king-
doms.  Even  the use  of  the name 'Yoruba' to refer to the whole  group is a
recent  development,  which  does  not  pre-date  the  nineteenth  century.
Originally,  this  name  referred  only  to  one  of  the  'Yoruba'  kingdoms,
Qy9.6  In earlier times,  it does not appear that the various 'Yoruba'-speak-
ing  peoples  called themselves  by  any common  name. They  did,  however,
acknowledge a common  origin,  from the Yoruba town  of  Ile  Ife.
There  are  many  contradictory  versions  of  the  Yoruba  tradition  of
origin. This  needs to be stressed, since it has been obscured by the author-
ity customarily accorded to  the  version  recorded by  Samuel Johnson,  the
pioneer historian of the Yoruba, in his History of the Yorubas, published in
I92I1. [size=18pt] Johnson's  version,  which  he  derived from QyQ tradition, is in  fact
highly  tendentious[/size].8  Nowadays,  indeed,  it is  probably true  that relatively
few  variants are still  current as  oral tradition,  since  Johnson's  published
account  has  widely  supplanted  and  driven  out  differing  versions.  But
5 Ephoros,  quoted  in  Strabo,  Geography, VIII: 3,  33.


8 Johnson's  informants  were  the  Arokin,  the  official  historians  of  the  QyQ court:  see
Johnson,  History,  3. THE  HERITAGE  OF  ODUDUWA  209
many variants were recorded and published,  mainly by  the  obscurer local
historians,  during  the  late  nineteenth  and early twentieth  centuries.  The
existence  of these numerous contradictory versions of the Yoruba tradition
of  origin is  of  considerable interest,  since  this  dissensus  suggests  that  the
question  of  Yoruba  origins  has  been  in  the  past  a  subject  of  active
controversy.

Despite  differences  of  detail,  the  traditions  of  all the  principal Yoruba
kingdoms,  and also of the neighbouring  non-Yoruba kingdom of Benin to
the  east,  agree  in  claiming  a  common  origin  from  Ile  Ife.  The  royal
dynasties  of  these  kingdoms  are  supposedly  descended  from  a  single
ancestor, the  first king of  Ile  Ife,  who is usually named as Oduduwa.9 Of
the  arrival of  Oduduwa  at  Ile  Ife,  different accounts  are given.  In  some
traditions,  Ile  Ife  is  presented  as the  site  of  the  creation of  the  habitable
world,  from  which  all mankind dispersed  over  the  earth. The  surface of
the  earth was  covered  with  water,  and  Oduduwa  descended  by  a  chain
from heaven to create the  dry land.10 Other traditions represent Oduduwa
as an immigrant from outside Yorubaland who settled at Ile  Ife. The  best
known version of the 'migration' tradition, that given in Johnson's History
of the  Yorubas, brings Oduduwa from Mecca.11 Others locate the  Yoruba
homeland  rather  nearer,  for  example  in  Nupe,  the  immediate  north-
eastern neighbour  of  Yorubaland.12  Some  traditions  seem  to  represent  a
fusion  of  the  'creation' and  'migration' versions:  according  to  these,  the
ancestors  of  the  Yoruba  migrated  from  another  land,  came  to  a  vast
expanse of water across which  they  set  out  either by wading  or by  canoe,
and ultimately created dry land in the middle of it.13  It is possible  that the
'creation'  and  'migration'  versions  of  the  Yoruba  tradition  of  origin
originally  referred to  distinct  indigenous  and immigrant elements  in  the
population.14


During  Oduduwa's lifetime,  or soon after his death, his sons and grand-
sons  are said to have dispersed  from Ile  Ife  to found  their own kingdoms.
In  several versions,  the  founders  of  the  principal kingdoms  are presented
as the children of Oduduwa specifically by his principal wife,  Qmonide or
Iyamode.15 Various lists are given of the original kingdoms founded by the
sons  and  grandsons  of  Oduduwa.  Several  versions  name  six  original
kingdoms,16  Samuel  Johnson  names  seven,17  and  others  name  sixteen.18
Inclusion  among  the  original kingdoms  is  a matter of  great prestige, and
there is considerable disagreement about their identity. Almost all versions,
however,  agree  in  including  Qyo,  Ketu,  and  Benin  among  the  original
kingdoms.

[size=18pt]In  some  of  the  derivative kingdoms,  the  dynastic link with  Ile  Ife  was
given institutional expression, in the  rituals accompanying the installation
of  their  kings.  For  example,  when  a  new  Alafin,  or  king,  of  OyQ was
installed,  the  sword which  was believed  to have belonged  to  Oranyan, the
son  of  Oduduwa  who  founded  the  Oyo  dynasty,  was  sent  to  Ile  Ife  for
reconsecration before being used in the ceremony.[/size]19

At Benin,  parts of the
bodies of  the deceased kings were sent to  Ile  Ife for burial.20 The  principal
importance  of  the  dynastic  link  with  Ile  Ife  lay  in  the  fact  that  descent
from  a son  or grandson of Oduduwa was considered  necessary to validate
a king's  claim to the right to wear an ade, or crown with  a beaded fringe.2'


In  1903  this  principle was given  official recognition by  the British author-
ities,  who  brought  the Oni, or king, of  Ife  to Lagos  to  give judgement  on
the claim of the El.pe  of  Sagamu, a minor  Ijebu ruler, to wear an ade: the
Qni gave a list of twenty-one  kings with the right to wear ade, not including
the El4pe.22


It is difficult to assess what degree of truth, if any, there is in these tradi-
tions of origin from Ile  Ife.  Certainly, there seems little reason to believe in
the historicity of the individuals involved in the stories, since Oduduwa and
his immediate descendants were worshipped by the Yoruba as orisa (gods).
It  is,  no  doubt,  possible  that  they  are deified  mortals,  but  it  seems  alto-
gether  more  probable  that  they  are  humanized  deities.23  However,
archaeological evidence  from  Ile  Ife,  principally  the  brass and  terracotta
sculptures  found  there,  which  appear to be  associated with  some  form of
sacred  kingship,  encourages  the  belief  that  Ile  Ife  was  the  centre  of  an
early monarchy.24[size=18pt] It seems  quite possible  that Ile  Ife was the  first place in
the  Yoruba  area  where  the  institution  of  kingship  emerged,  and  that
princes of Ile Ife carried the institution to the other states.[/size]  It  is  not  neces-
sary to believe that,  as the  traditions claim,  the  dissemination of kingship
from  Ile  Ife  took  place  'at  a  stroke',  within  a  single  generation.  Since  a
principal  function  of  the  traditions  is  to  validate  the  royal  status  of  the
rulers of  the  derivative kingdoms,  it is natural for them  to  base the  equi-
valence  of  status  of  the  different  kings  upon  a  supposed  genealogical
equivalence  as  brothers  and  sons  of  Oduduwa.  Nor  is  it  necessary  to
believe  in  the  reality of  the  dynastic  connexion  with  Ile  Ife in  every case
where  it  is  claimed.  Since  origin  from  Ile  Ife  was  necessary  to  secure
recognition of kingly status, it is very likely that the  claim of descent  from
the  royal  family  of  Ile  Ife  was  sometimes  fabricated by  kings  anxious  to
legitimate  their rule.25


The Position of Ife

The  position  of  Ile  Ife  as  the  acknowledged  cradle  of  all  the  royal
dynasties  of  the  surrounding  kingdoms  would  seem  to  imply  a  special,
paramount status for the  Oni of  Ife,  the  occupant of  the  ancestral throne.
T[size=18pt]his  was  certainly the  view  of  the  Oni themselves.  Aderemi,  the  present
Oni of  Ife,  claims that when  Oduduwa, shortly before his death, bestowed
crowns on his sons, he first crowned his eldest son as Oni of Ife, and ordered
his other sons, the founders of the other kingdoms, 'to show filial obedience
to  their eldest  brother'. [/size]

In  consequence,  according to Aderemi,  'The  Oni
is still regarded by his younger brothers as their father'.26 This  conception
of  the  Oni  of  Ife  wielding  an  acknowledged  paternal authority  over  the
family of derivative dynasties has also been put forward by Ademakinwa, a
local historian of  Ife.27 It  has become  familiar in  recent years through its
adoption  by  Professor Akinjogbin,  who  has  christened  this  conception  of
the  state as a large family the  'ebi social theory'.28


It is possible that the Oni of Ife enjoyed such a position of acknowledged
paramountcy  in  very  early  times. In  recent  times,  however,  the  Oni's
claim to 'paternal' status and authority has been widely  repudiated by the
rulers of  the  derivative kingdoms.  For  example,  when  Aderemi  himself,
on a visit to the Ekiti area in  I936,  told the local kings, 'I am on the throne
as the  father, and you  are on thrones as sons',  the Ekiti kings replied that,
just  as the  Oni was  on  the  throne  of  his  father, so  also they  were  on  the
thrones of their fathers.29 Certain traditions relating to the  ancestry of the
Oni of  Ife  appear to have been  devised  specifically in order to counter the
Oni's  very plausible claim to  paramount status.  One tradition asserts that
the Oni is descended not from any of Oduduwa's children by his principal
wife,  Omonide,  but  from  one  of  his  sons  by  his  other  wives,  who  on
Oduduwa's  death was  given  a  broom  to  keep  his  grave clean.30 A  much
more  common  story  denies  altogether  the  royal  ancestry  of  the  Oni,
describing  the  first Oni as a slave. Versions  of  this  story are reported, for
example,  from OyQ,31 Ilesa,32 and Ijebu.33 Usually,  the  first Oni is  said to
have been a slave of Oduduwa's household,  often described as the son of a
woman  offered in  sacrifice, who was left  to look after the  palace at Ile  Ife

when  Oduduwa's  sons  dispersed  to  found  their own kingdoms.34 Another
version asserts that when the first king of Ile Ife died, an oracle advised the
elders to choose  as his successor the  first man they  should meet with, who
turned  out  to  be  a  slave  who  had just  escaped  being  made  a  sacrifice.35
These  stories  are regularly  supported  by  the  claim  that  the  title  Oni  is
derived  from  Qmo Oluwo ni or Oluwo ni,  'He  is  the  son  of  a sacrifice' or
'He  is  a sacrifice'.36
This  denial of true royal ancestry to the Qni of Ife offered an opportunity
for  other  kings  to  claim  for  themselves  primacy  of  status  among  the
descendants of Oduduwa.  It appears that such claims were put  forward by
the Alaketu of  Ketu37 and by  the  Qwa of  Ilesa,  the  principal  Ijea  king.38
[size=18pt]But  the  most  systematic  attempt  to  claim  the  heritage  of  Oduduwa,  and
the  one  with  which  this  article is  primarily concerned,  was  made by  the
Alafin  of Oyo. [/size]

To be Contd:

@ Segzy Joe:

To say the Ooni is insignificant is not only a travesty but a very crass attempt to revise history. Our elders say Ori ade kii sun'ta , there's a reason why Oodu'a and Oranmiyan were buried in Ife (Ife remains Ile).

As far a I'm concerned, Alaafin and Ooni remain the political and spiritual heads of the Yorubas respectively. Myth or no myth, there's a reason why the staff of Oranmiyan sits at Ife and not Oyo. I don't necessarily think one is more important than the other.

zstranger,

how did u bribe spam bot? I wouldn't even attempt to post half of that

OAM4J:

zstranger,

how did u bribe spam bot? I wouldn't even attempt to post half of that

Well spambot understands the supremacy of the Ooni over Alaafin i guess

Goes to tell you that spambot has more sense than that ediot segzyjoe

What an arse! Can you just believe the crap he posted?

This is what that vindictive Akala created, the power tussle btw them have been solved with creation of Osun out of Oyo. Ooni has been been Chairman in Osun and Allafin Chairman in Oyo. Ti inu ile kan ban toro, awon omo ale ibe ni koi ti d'agba.



Historically, those who remember the origin of the proverb "Omode gbon agba gbon laa fi da ile Ife". It was about how Ile Ife stopped paying homage to Oyo by sending a male cow to Oyo and demanded its calf to be sent to Ife , and so on, and so on. Which means Oyo at time governed Ife.
History has it that when Oduduwa died, Oranmiyan was not  around, so his grandpa's properties were shared with nothing left for him. Infact no crown was reserved for him, that is why you hear "lade lade lade Alaafin ko lade (Alafin does not have crown) When he showed up later, the family, in a face saving tactics, gave him red soil and told him that his own share would be the whole of Yorubaland, that was how he started collecting homage (isakole) from all part of Yoruba land.

Katsumoto:

You are correct with everything except the last part. Afonja fought with Alimi to defeat Solagberu. After Alimi died, Abdusalam( Alimi's son) invited for the jihadist's flag from Sokoto and served under the emirate of Gwandu. That was how Afonja was betrayed and lost control of Ilorin. This account is supported by both Samuel Johnson and Professor Akinjogbin.

That's correct, based on my recollection from a class by an unbiased Ethiopan African history professor. Boko Haram guys were not the first to ask for jihadist flag to "cleanse" the system you know.

Remii:

This is what that vindictive Akala created, the power tussle btw them have been solved with creation of Osun out of Oyo. Ooni has been been Chairman in Osun and Allafin Chairman in Oyo. Ti inu ile kan ban toro, awon omo ale ibe ni koi ti d'agba.



Historically, those who remember the origin of the proverb "Omode gbon agba gbon laa fi da ile Ife". It was about how Ile Ife stopped paying homage to Oyo by sending a male cow to Oyo and demanded its calf to be sent to Ife , and so on, and so on. Which means Oyo at time governed Ife.
History has it that when Oduduwa died, Oranmiyan was not  around, so his grandpa's properties were shared with nothing left for him. Infact no crown was reserved for him, that is why you hear "lade lade lade Alaafin ko lade (Alafin does not have crown) When he showed up later, the family, in a face saving tactics, gave him red soil and told him that his own share would be the whole of Yorubaland, that was how he started collecting homage (isakole) from all part of Yoruba land.

How old are you? 11?

^^^but but but he is on our side nao


Yay, kaabo s'o ri eto Reemi, now all we need is Theseeker to join the mix keep on keeping it real all of una Sooko

OAM4J:

zstranger,

how did u bribe spam bot? I wouldn't even attempt to post half of that

[s]Just passing by jejely, hmmm, i have always known that spambot was biased[/s]

Busy_body:

^^^but but but he is on our side nao


Yay, kaabo s'o ri eto Reemi, now all we need is Theseeker to join the mix keep on keeping it real all of una Sooko






[s]Just passing by jejely, hmmm, i have always known that spambot was biased[/s]

So you think Ooni used to pay homage to the Alaafin?

Abi Akoraye ni o ni?

zstranger:

How old are you? 11?

let me answer you this way, I entered Unife and graduated from OAU, you can guess from that hint, lol

zstranger:

So you think Ooni used to pay homage to the Alaafin?

Abi Akoraye ni o ni?

May be you can tell me the story behind the proverb Omode gbo agba gbon la fi da ile Ife, (Hint, check Alawiye Apa Kefa by J F Odunjo}

Remii:

This is what that vindictive Akala created, the power tussle btw them have been solved with creation of Osun out of Oyo. Ooni has been been Chairman in Osun and Allafin Chairman in Oyo. Ti inu ile kan ban toro, awon omo ale ibe ni koi ti d'agba.



Historically, those who remember the origin of the proverb "Omode gbon agba gbon laa fi da ile Ife". It was about how Ile Ife stopped paying homage to Oyo by sending a male cow to Oyo and demanded its calf to be sent to Ife , and so on, and so on. Which means Oyo at time governed Ife.
History has it that when Oduduwa died, Oranmiyan was not  around, so his grandpa's properties were shared with nothing left for him. Infact no crown was reserved for him, that is why you hear "lade lade lade Alaafin ko lade (Alafin does not have crown) When he showed up later, the family, in a face saving tactics, gave him red soil and told him that his own share would be the whole of Yorubaland, that was how he started collecting homage (isakole) from all part of Yoruba land.

Remii:


May be you can tell me the story behind the proverb Omode gbo agba gbon la fi da ile Ife, (Hint, check Alawiye Apa Kefa by J F Odunjo}

You contradicted yourself, you can not claim they use wisdom to avoid paying isakole (tax) and at the same time claim they pay isakole. After Oyo became powerful and attempted to collect isakole from Ile-ife, they were wise and they knew it would be fruitless going into battle with Oyo hence they applied wisdom to avoid paying isakole without going into battle. So Ife was never under Oyo empire or paid isakole to Oyo or to any kingdom for that matter.

Busy_body:

[s]Just passing by jejely, hmmm, i have always known that spambot was biased[/s]

Is that your way of saying hi to your baby father?

Interesting stuff here.

Remii:

May be you can tell me the story behind the proverb Omode gbo agba gbon la fi da ile Ife, (Hint, check Alawiye Apa Kefa by J F Odunjo}

LOL

naijababe:

To say the Ooni is insignificant is not only a travesty but a very crass attempt to revise history.

I agree.

As far a I'm concerned, Alaafin and Ooni remain the political and spiritual heads of the Yorubas respectively. Myth or no myth, there's a reason why the staff of Oranmiyan sits at Ife and not Oyo. I don't necessarily think one is more important than the other.

I will like to end it at that, BUT but Politics is too fleeting, political power shifts with time and circumstances, If I read Katsumoto correctly, I think the point he was trying to make is that the significance of the Alaafin is derived from his military and political exploits. It could have been the Soun, The Timi, Awujale, Alake,  Ewi, Osemawe or even the Deji. But for the Ooni, his Supremacy and significance is derived from a more spiritual, more permanent role as the head of the Source.

This reminds me of what the Dalai Lama recently did; he decided to give up his political role/power and retained the spiritual one.[analyst's said he did that to checkmate the Chinese in case they try to influence the naming of the next Child Dalai Lama after his death]. .

. .At least, any child his Government-in-exile Oracle choses as the new Dalai Lama will have the more spiritual, more legitimate claim to authority even if he can't fight politically until he grows up.
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-03-10/world/india.dalai.lama_1_dharamsala-in-northern-india-tibetan-exile-movement-anti-chinese-slogans?_s=PM:WORLD

Dunno, Maybe we need to emphasise the differences between the Spitirual Vs Political more, so this people will stop embarassing us with their fight everytime.

Kilode?!:

Interesting stuff here.
LOL


I agree.

I will like to end it at that, BUT but Politics is too fleeting, political power shifts with time and circumstances, If I read Katsumoto correctly, I think the point he was trying to make is that the significance of the Alaafin is derived from his military and political exploits. It could have been the Soun, The Timi, Awujale, Alake,  Ewi, Osemawe or even the Deji. But for the Ooni, his Supremacy and significance is derived from a more spiritual, more permanent role as the head of the Source.

This reminds me of what the Dalai Lama recently did; he decided to give up his political role/power and retained the spiritual one.[analyst's said he did that to checkmate the Chinese in case they try to influence the naming of the next Child Dalai Lama after his death]. .

. .At least, any child his Government-in-exile Oracle choses as the new Dalai Lama will have the more spiritual, more legitimate claim to authority even if he can't fight politically until he grows up.
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-03-10/world/india.dalai.lama_1_dharamsala-in-northern-india-tibetan-exile-movement-anti-chinese-slogans?_s=PM:WORLD

Dunno, Maybe we need to emphasise the differences between the Spitirual Vs Political more, so this people will stop embarassing us with their fight everytime.

That is precisely my message. Of what relevance is the past military exploit of Oyo? Did it benefit Yoruba people other than some bragging rights? If we are to go with military exploits, then Yoruba should go with Ibadan who managed to defeat the Jihadist at Osogbo rather than Oyo which fell and was sacked.

That being said, Yoruba will always have a spiritual connection with Ife and that tops any military/political achievement.

Many people wonder why we have such a hopless situation in Nigeria today.
The answer, just look at our history
Many nations were founded by people with noble ideals, but we people of sub-saharan African can attest more to treachrey, cooruption, and selfishness than virtous principles of honesty, industry, and equity

Anytime I read of Ekiti in one of those historical stories, I just feel so bubbly inside

Even tho the sate is less than 30 years old.

OAM4J:


. . .  but they remain the custodian of our history, culture and traditions and no matter what progress and development we seek, they must not come at cost of losing our history, culture and tradition. And we should not worry so much about them because they are no longer the reason we are not making progress and it doesn't cost us so much to maintain them.

You are so right!  The problem is, the detrators of the Yoruba monarchy (hereditary or otherwise) are confusing the titleholder with the throne/tradition that is ingrained in our culture and its people.  Because a teacher behaves poorly does not mean you forbid your children from getting an education.  Because you object to the person of the current Ooni or Alaafin does not mean the solution is to rebuke our culture and history.  I can't scream loud enough. lol.

ekt_bear:

They are selfish, petty and largely look after their own interests. Not that of their own people.

And of course these are traits that are unique to the African man?  When others go mano a mano, they're politically astute.  Do you want to do away with the Primary/nominating system, for example,as it exists in a state like Illinois.  I use that example seeing as the USA can do no wrong, and we'd be in paradise on earth if we just copied them from dusk till dawn.

Don't we have bigger fish to fry in Yorubaland? Wasting energy and resources on things that don't matter is annoying. World of 6+ billion people, and we are battling over Alaafin versus Ooni 

You do not cede power to anyone.  You fight till you're bone-weary and then you fight some more.  Like the way Al Gore went after the results after Bush said he was President.  (I'm still on the USA example, so you should be pleased.  I'll bring in the Europeans in a minute.  )

Yorubaland was a pretty fvked up place at that time. All this human sacrifice, ritualism, slavery stuff. I can see why it'd be hard to consolidate rule with such harsh practices.

Dude, I can't talk to you.  That's all your culture is to you?  When you read about Yoruba history, that's what stands out?

But yeah, if there had been some sort of enlightened Oyo Empire leadership, it'd have been best if they'd conquered all of Yorubaland. We'd be in a much stronger position today.

You're looking at it in hindsight.  It's like internalised racism, if you ask me.  The Europeans were able to "conquer" us, that means they're better than us, right?  It's a common sentiment amongst people.  You're not alone.  So, in any battle, whoever wins is the moral victor, in your eyes?  If a man with a gun defeats a man with a boxing glove, the armed man is worthy of deification?  You know, it's not as if the Europeans consolidated under one king either.  France, England, Belgium, Russia, and many more retained their monarchy as well. 

I'm just against royalty, monarchy, things like that. Even a "good" king. . . how good is he really going to be, in this day and age? what is the difference between a monarch and a military dictator? Pretty much the same thing

A military dictator does not have a history connected to the land and the people.  He's simply in control due to suppression of the people.  You do know that the Yoruba kingdoms had their own way of dealing with an out-of-control king as well.  For example, a king that is adjudged to have lost the support of the people/aristocracy and has to commit suicide is often strangled by the Olori and his other wives.  Just had to put it in there - the wives had to be formidable too. lol

I believe in decentralized power, checks and balances, the ability of those governed to offer feedback on how their leaders are doing, etc.

ekt_bear:

Kilode: I've been influenced by Western civilization, yes. But not entirely. Remember, here we have the Bushes, the Clintons, the Kennedys, and most people don't have a problem with 'em and their "born to rule" mentality.

Are you as offended by that as you are by the Yoruba Obas?  

The Clintons.  The most corrupt dishonest soulless couple that have ever occupied the oval office.  You do know that William Jefferson Clinton is the first sitting president to ever be disbarred from the practice of law, because he committed perjury?  When Bill was a law professor who was always losing his students papers and unable to grade them fairly, Hilary was his enabler, going around to his students and proposing a compromise of a lower grade so Bill could continue to be the bum he was.  Do you remember Whitewater?  Do you remember Hilary's pronouncements about "hard-working white people," in contrast with, I guess, the lazy shiftless Black folk who were the support of her opponent, Barack Obama? 

The Kennedys are known far and wide for being a thoroughly unscrupulous breed of politicians, starting with Joe's deal with the Mob to get his son, JFK, into office, Teddy's Chappaquiddick/Kopeckne incident, William K. Smith rape trial, murder, drunkeness, and so on.

The Bushes?  You cannot be serious.

Do you see that these people are not any better than the Yoruba politicians/monarchs you are so willing to dismiss.  Will you proclaim with all your might that the aforementioned American families desist from aspiring to become a de facto monarchy, just as you scoff at your own more legitimate and culturally relevant one?

I understand your pronouncements are borne out of an unfortunate subliminal belief that White is Right, but I am convinced that this mentality of yours will evolve with time and life experiences.

@isale_gan2:

And of course these are traits that are unique to the African man?  When others go mano a mano, they're politically astute.  Do you want to do away with the Primary/nominating system, for example,as it exists in a state like Illinois.  I use that example seeing as the USA can do no wrong, and we'd be in paradise on earth if we just copied them from dusk till dawn.

Who said Africans were uniquely evil, or something? Who said the US can do no wrong? That I don't believe in hereditary power doesn't imply those things.

You do not cede power to anyone.  You fight till you're bone-weary and then you fight some more.  Like the way Al Gore went after the results after Bush said he was President.  (I'm still on the USA example, so you should be pleased.  I'll bring in the Europeans in a minute.  )

It isn't an issue of ceding power. But instead focusing on the big picture. Hurrah, the Alaafin is now superior! Or the Ooni has prevailed. Well, who gives a crap? How does that butter anyone's bread?

Dude, I can't talk to you.  That's all your culture is to you?  When you read about Yoruba history, that's what stands out?   

Is there any chance you can stop assuming so much? Who told you that is all I take from Yoruba culture?  You need to calm down and stop with this aggrieved agenda of yours.

You're looking at it in hindsight.  It's like internalised racism, if you ask me.  The Europeans were able to "conquer" us, that means they're better than us, right?  It's a common sentiment amongst people.  You're not alone.  So, in any battle, whoever wins is the moral victor, in your eyes?  If a man with a gun defeats a man with a boxing glove, the armed man is worthy of deification?  You know, it's not as if the Europeans consolidated under one king either.  France, England, Belgium, Russia, and many more retained their monarchy as well. 

1. Yes, definitely it is hindsight.
2. Who said the Euros were better because they conquered us  Wtf? Were they better than the isolated Native Americans too who they conquered? Might doesn't make right. . . I'm just saying, if Event X happened, then we'd be better off now. There is no morality involved in what I'm saying.

A military dictator does not have a history connected to the land and the people.  He's simply in control due to suppression of the people.  You do know that the Yoruba kingdoms had their own way of dealing with an out-of-control king as well.  For example, a king that is adjudged to have lost the support of the people/aristocracy and has to commit suicide is often strangled by the Olori and his other wives.  Just had to put it in there - the wives had to be formidable too. lol

A military dictator who eventually hands off to his son will eventually also have a connection to the land and the people. No real difference between him and a king. In fact, many royal families today were founded by warlords.

Are you as offended by that as you are by the Yoruba Obas?   
. . .
. . .
Do you see that these people are not any better than the Yoruba politicians/monarchs you are so willing to dismiss.  Will you proclaim with all your might that the aforementioned American families desist from aspiring to become a de facto monarchy, just as you scoff at your own more legitimate and culturally relevant one?

Yes. I condemn the Clintons, Bushes, and Kennedy's perpetuating their political power, just as I condemn the obas who do the same. Custodian of culture is fine, political influence is not.

I understand your pronouncements are borne out of an unfortunate subliminal belief that White is Right, but I am convinced that this mentality of yours will evolve with time and life experiences.

Heh. If there were an ethnicity other than my own that I esteem, it would be the Jews, not white people Jews I have a lot of respect and admiration for (at least in certain areas.) White people? Not so much.

White people are fine, but I don't think their culture is superior. Every culture has good and bad parts to it. My goal is hopefully to add the best from all cultures to my own.

I've said what I have to say.  I am done. 

ekt_bear:

Heh. If there were an ethnicity other than my own that I esteem, it would be the Jews, not white people Jews I have a lot of respect and admiration for (at least in certain areas.) White people? Not so much.

If you look hard enough, maybe you'll hit paydirt and find an Ashkenazi or two in your lineage. . .  by way of Onitsha. 

Gezai Gezunt, darling!

Heh.

Regarding Ashkenazi lineage, I don't have to be related to someone to learn from what he is doing.

A short snippet on the history of algebra:

While the word algebra comes from the Arabic language (al-jabr, الجبر literally, restoration) and much of its methods from Arabic/Islamic mathematics, its roots can be traced to earlier traditions, most notably ancient Indian mathematics, which had a direct influence on Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī (c. 780–850). He learned Indian mathematics and introduced it to the Muslim world through his famous arithmetic text, Book on Addition and Subtraction after the Method of the Indians.[3][4] He later wrote The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing, which established algebra as a mathematical discipline that is independent of geometry and arithmetic.[5]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algebra

Or maybe the English who eventually used algebra have secret Arab/Greek/Egyptian/Chinese/Indian ancestry, also by way of Onitsha 

Stubbornness and unwillingness to learn from the good that others are doing (which they even didn't invent themselves, but borrowed/stole from others) is a terrible disease. Smh. May God keep this disease away from Yorubaland.

Anyway, we can leave it at that. . . you don't seem to be getting my point.

Damn, Isale went hard!! Almost betraying  her royal aristocratic background in the process.

Ekt_bear, bro don't mind princess isalegan, she's passionate because of the Isakoles and royalties she get's to keep.

You both made great points though, I think we can copy best practices from outside while maintaining our unique cultural advantage.

ekt_bear:

Heh.

lol.  You were supposed to laugh at that.

Kilode?!:

Damn, Isale went hard!! Almost betraying her royal aristocratic background in the process.

Ekt_bear, bro don't mind princess isalegan, she passionate because of the Isakoles and royalties she get's to keep.

You both made great points though, I think we can copy best practices from outside while maintaining our unique cultural advantage.

  I did not!  Anyway, he's a college boy who's used to debate.   

^^ hmm ekt_bear is probably a College Professor trying his best to dumb it down for slow people like us o.
plus he's Ekiti, that agidi comes naturally with the package.

I enjoyed your conversation though, you both made great points.

@Remii
I quite agree with you, every son of Yorubaland knows that all Yoruba kings pay tribute to Aalafin including Ife. And just as every other Yoruba kingdom got independence from Aalafin, the same way Ife got independence from Oyo.

@OAM4J
Am not trying to downplay the significance of Ife in Yoruba history, infact Ife is the most significant root of the Yoruba race, but the truth remains that untill the early 1950s, the Ooni dynasty gained ascendancy
during AG government . Pls go and study history very well.

Ti bothers me the way this Ooni has been trying to change history just for selfish reasons. I challenge any Ooni apologist to tell me the name of the Oduduwa son that succeded Oduduwa in Ife.

History has it that the last born Oranmiyan went to war, on his return, Oduduwa had died and the other sons shared everything and gave Yorubaland to Oranmiyan for compensation not realizing it was a strategic mistake to give land to a warrior, so he lord it over them all and established an kingdom that became Oyo Empire.

Is it not insultful for Ooni to insinuate that Aalafin is still ruling over a dead empire, infact that man is a disgrace to Yorubaland. Has Ife and Ooni ever ruled over anybody, attempt to rule Modakeke resulted into bloodbath.

Kilode?!:

^^ hmm ekt_bear is probably a College Professor trying his best to dumb it down for slow people like us o.
plus he's Ekiti, that agidi comes naturally with the package.

I enjoyed your conversation though, you both made great points.

Kilode to the rescue!  Again.  I love you like ice cream, Peacemaker Soul.     It's a good thing you settled it o jare.  I was in the middle of a long spam-bot worthy response to Katsumoto, who has turned out to be a fake Japanese prince.   Anyway, Kats, my earlier response to Bear goes double for you!  Briiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnggg iiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttt!