The yoruba numbered more than 20 million at the turn of the 21st century. Yoruba people are a large ethnolinguistic group or ethnic nation in africa, and the majority of them speak the yoruba language. It is illuminating and engaging and strangely funny in its quaint often sententious tone. His findings certainly put a lie to the controversial assertion made by sir hugh trevorroper, one of the bestknown and most respected historians that ever lived, who once said that the history of africa is. Origin of the yoruba and the lost tribes of israel dierk lange abstract. History of the yorubas samuel johnson pdf the history of the yorubas. The vast majority of this population is from nigeria, where the yoruba make up 16% of the countrys population, making them one of the largest ethnic groups in africa. According to legend, the civilization currently known as yoruba started in ancient ileife. A short history of yorubaland with pictures culture nigeria. The history of the yorubas by samuel johnson, 1921, c. The eighteenth century was a particularly difficult one for them. At the beginning of yoruba mythology, the universe was composed of two elements, the ethereal sky above and a watery chaos below.
History of the yoruba civil wars 1877 1893 although the yoruba civil war was mainly between western yoruba ibadan and its allies like the offa, modakeke and all oyo forces on ibadans side and eastern yoruba ijesa, ekiti, ife and other yoruba dominions like igbomina, akoko, egbe, kabba and the oworro, a. Jan 06, 2020 history of the yorubas samuel johnson pdf the history of the yorubas. The yoruba imported their best horses from hausaland and bornu, and tradition suggests that the trade was conducted through markets in nupe. History of the yoruba people the history of the yorubas is not yet well established. Dating back to as far as the transatlantic slave trade, which existed between the 15th to the 19th century, the yoruba people were said to have migrated to other countries as well, including cuba. Twins are revered among the yoruba and come into this world with the protection of the orisha deity shango who is evoked at the babys naming ceremony when he or she is a few months old. The yoruba people are an ethnic group of over 40 million people in total, inhabiting the southwestern and northcentral region of nigeria, as well as southern and central benin. Much smaller, scattered groups live in benin and northern togo. The inevitable starting point is their traditional accounts. The book has a vivid picture of a generation of yoruba nationhood within nigerian nationality, prior to the british invation and colonalization of nigeria, yoruba had been a nation with an institutionalized government and there is no better place to understand and assess this form of government except in this book, the book is a bag of history. Dada adelowo introduction this paper is motiated by the need. The yoruba have one of the highest rates of twining in the worldit is estimated that out of every 1,000 births, 4550 result in twins. The study of yoruba religious tradition in historical. The history of the yorubas download ebook pdf, epub.
History of the yoruba people the yoruba tribe is one of the greatest tribes in africa, although very sketchy evidence exists as to the true origin of this mighty tribe. Click download or read online button to get history of yoruba land book now. The history of the yorubas dates back to an era that existed before the ancient oyo empire of the 17th century. The documented history of the yoruba people begins with the oyo empire, which became dominant in the early 17th century. Olokun presides over this watery abyss, an aquatic realm populated by sea spirits. Jun 20, 2019 the yoruba religion system comprises of traditional practices and spiritual concepts which has evolved into a robust religious system. The history of the yorubas download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. The yoruba constitute approximately 21 percent of nigerias total population, and around 40 million individuals throughout the region of west. We would attempt to examine the influences on the language, dressing, food and cultural practices and norm of the yoruba people, in an attempt to reach a befitting conclusion as to the history of the yoruba, we would also include some folk lore and stories, to enable you the readers reach a. This paper examines the myths of origin peculiar to the yoruba race, opening up several seams into the culture and politics of the modern yoruba nation in south west nigeria. Yoruba and ancient near eastern history, the present article argues that yoruba traditions of provenance, claiming immigration from the near east, are basically correct. This volume, first published in 1921 by his brother, dr obadiah johnson, contains johnsons pioneering history of the yoruba people which remains the standard reference for yoruba history. Boston public library the history of the yorubas from the earliest times to the beginning of the british protectorate by the rev.
On the basis of comparative studies between the dynastic tradition of the. Ife arts and the history of this important southwestern nigerian center, key aspects of this code can now be discerned. The longrunning dispute between the yoruba and the bini about certain aspects of the myth purportedly accounting for the existence of the yoruba is well known. Traditional yoruba beliefs hold that all people experience ayanmo, which is destiny or fate. I would recommend it as mustread text for all yorubas and indeed all interested nigerians, beninois and brazilians. A short history of yorubaland with pictures culture. The history of the yorubas 1921 edition open library.
Modern history map of yoruba people, west africa nigeria, 1898 the yoruba eventually established a federation of citystates under the political ascendancy of the city state of oyo, located on the northern fringes of yorubaland in the savanna plains between the forests of present southwest nigeria and the niger river. Based to a large extent on the dynastic tradition of the formerly dominant oyo clan, it is presently in the process of reevaluation. A history of the yoruba people is a comprehensive exploration of the founding and growth of one of the most influential groups in africa. History archeological evidence shows us that the yoruba have lived in here since prehistoric times. The ori holds the bodys knowledge and is its destiny. This article brings you some interesting facts about the yoruba tribe in nigeria, and well be looking into their history, culture and religion the yoruba tribe is one of the three largest and most powerful ethnic groups in nigeria. The history of the yorubas by samuel johnson goodreads. Iran yoruba are an ethnic group that inhabits western africa, mainly nigeria and benin. The yoruba constitute approximately 21 percent of nigerias total population, and around 40 million individuals throughout the region of west africa.
As a part of this, there is an expectation that everyone will eventually achieve the state of olodumare, which is becoming one with the divine creator who is the source of all energy. How we measure reads a read is counted each time someone views a. The orisha and the 12 gods of yoruba mythology ancient code. From the oral culture of its distant past to its vibrant present and buoyed by its scholarly discourses, yoruba philosophy is best understood as a folk philosophy, a set of narratives and cultural practices that attempt to explain the causes and the nature of things affecting the corporeal and the. They have a general language called yoruba yooba which is the form that is taught in schools in the southwestern zone of nigeria. It demonstrates the strong influence of yoruba religion and culture on world religions among african diaspora. The yoruba constitute approximately 35 percent of nigerias total population, and around 40 million individuals throughout the region of west africa. Brief history of the orthography the first recorded collection of yoruba words was the sample of numerals collected by bowdich in 1817 and published in mission from cape coast to ashantee in 1819. With a population of nearly 40 million spread across western africa and diaspora communities in. Nov 29, 2019 the yoruba religion includes the concept of ashe, a powerful life force possessed by humans and divine beings alike. A short history of yorubaland with pictures culture nairaland. Saburi biobaku director of the yoruba historical research schzme, nigeria the history of the indigenous peoples of west africa is ripe for intensive research. The word for head in yorubaoricarries physical and spiritual connotations that cannot be separated.
Oduduwa was the first divine king of the yoruba people, and obatala fashioned the first human beings out of clay. Let us do it, the way it is usually done, so that we may have the usual result. With a population of nearly 40 million spread across. The book has a vivid picture of a generation of yoruba nationhood within nigerian nationality, prior to the british invasion and colonalization of nigeria, yoruba had been a nation with an institutionalized government and there is no better place to understand and assess this form of government except in this book, the book is a bag of history. Dating back to as far as the transatlantic slave trade, which existed between the 15th to the 19th century, the yoruba people were said to have migrated to other. Ykeme gives you a brief break down of the history of the orishas and some of the ones that are never mentioned.
Adegbola is absolutely right and his research into the history of the yoruba and the various yoruba kingdoms is simply outstanding. The story in question revolves around oduduwa, who is said by the yoruba to be the founder of the monarchy at ileife, the town which is widely regarded as the cradle of their civilization. Older traditions of the formerly dominant ife kingdom are sparse and. But few people know of the history of the kingdom itself. The history of the yorubas from the earliest times to the beginning of the british protectorate by samuel johnson. The history of ileife, the ancient yoruba kingdom with. The yoruba constitute about 44 million people in total. How we measure reads a read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title. At the east and the north, the yoruba culture arrives at its limits in the niger river. Samuel johnson 18461901 was an anglican minister and historian renowned for his magisterial history of the yoruba people.
As master of the deep, he has a great insight into the. The yoruba have been the most dominant group in this region of africa for centuries. Therefore, according to the yoruba, humans are eventually expected to. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Some examples rituals and rites abound in yoruba traditional religion.
The yoruba people, of which there is at the present time more than 25 million, occupies the western south corner of nigeria, by all the edge of dahomey and it extends until he himself dahomey. Ashe is the energy found in all natural things much like the catholic saints, the yoruba orishas work as the intermediaries between man and the supreme creator, and the rest of the divine world. Due to the low birth weight of twins and the high infant. This article aims to shed more light on the origin and history of the yoruba people. Born in freetown in sierra leone and educated by the church missionary society, johnson was sent with his family to idaban in nigeria in 1857. In the yoruba religion belief system, live and death is an ongoing cycle of existence in various bodies. In the past ten years, significant works on the phenomenology and history of religions.
Mar 05, 2019 history of yoruba people part 1 1 year ago yorubawiki oduduwa the creator of righteousness is the father of generation of yoruba while laurudu gave birth to oduduwa. In a similar vein, yoruba philosophy can be considered antecedent to yoruba religion, in the same manner. The yoruba traditional religion believes that all human beings pass through what is known as ayanmo which translate to destiny or fate. This kingdom was founded by the deities oduduwa and obatala, who are believed to have created the world. Jan, 2016 the yoruba deities are old but are not the ol. Nevertheless, ancestral cultures directly related to the yorubas bloomed to the north of niger. In this article i explore how these arts both inform and are enriched by early ife history and the leaders who shaped it.
The yoruba tribe is one of the three largest and most powerful ethnic groups in nigeria. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. History the history of the yorubas dates back to an era that existed before the ancient oyo empire of the 17th century. Yoruba, one of the three largest ethnic groups of nigeria, concentrated in the southwestern part of that country. Ileife, the ancient yoruba city, which lies in presentday osun state, southwestern nigeria, is considered one of the largest and oldest. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in. Nigeria bookshops lagos first published 1921 reprinted 1937 reprinted 1956 reprinted 1957 reprinted 1960 printed in great britain by lowe and brydone.
History of yoruba land download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. It reminds us of the beauty, pain, violence and resounding relevance of yoruba culture easily mirrored in other african ethnicities. Other earlier collections included those by hannah kilham in 1828, clapperton in 1829, and the first volumes on yoruba, written by john raban. Brief history of yoruba people, culture, religion and. Several controversial articles and books have been written about the origins of this mighty tribe. The yoruba people occupy the states lagos, ondo, oyo, ogun, osun, ekiti, and some parts of kwara and edo states respectively. We would attempt to examine the influences on the language, dressing, food and cultural practices and norm of the yoruba people, in an attempt to reach a befitting conclusion as to the history of the yoruba, we would also include some folk lore and stories, to enable you the readers reach a strong conclusion. The history and traditions of the yoruba people panorama.
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