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. By the 8th century, ileife was already a powerful yoruba kingdom, one of the earliest in africa south of the saharasahel. The yoruba have been the most dominant group in this region of africa for centuries. 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 yoruba constitute approximately 35 percent of nigerias total population, and around 40 million individuals throughout the region of west africa. With a population of nearly 40 million spread across western africa and diaspora communities in. Download history of yoruba land or read online books in pdf, epub, tuebl, and mobi format. 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. Jun 20, 2019 the yoruba religion system comprises of traditional practices and spiritual concepts which has evolved into a robust religious system. Samuel johnson 18461901 was an anglican minister and historian renowned for his magisterial history of the yoruba people. The yoruba constitute, perhaps, the most studied african ethnolinguistic group. The yoruba people are descendants from a variety of west african communities. The history of the yorubas dates back to an era that existed before the ancient oyo empire of the 17th century. 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. First published in 1921, and cited on the africas best 100 books list, this is a standard work on the history of theyorubas from the earliest times to the beginning of the british protectorate. Oduduwa was the first divine king of the yoruba people, and obatala fashioned the first human beings out of clay. 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.
Yoruba and ancient near eastern history, the present article argues that yoruba traditions of provenance, claiming immigration from the near east, are basically correct. It was the most important and authoritative of all the early yoruba. 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. This kingdom was founded by the deities oduduwa and obatala, who are believed to have created the world. Pdf reexamining the yoruba nation a history of the yoruba people. The history of the yorubas by samuel johnson goodreads. The majority of this population is from nigeria, where the yoruba make up 21% of the countrys population.
In addition, the use to which the oduduwa factor has been put in contemporary yorubaland and nigeria as a whole confirms this observation. In present day west africa, the main countries where yoruba speaking people live are nigeria, togo and benin. The history of ileife, the ancient yoruba kingdom with. E ducated natives of yoruba are well acquainted with. The yoruba people occupy the states lagos, ondo, oyo, ogun, osun, ekiti, and some parts of kwara and edo states respectively. The yoruba are the second largest ethnic group in nigeria, with a population of about 30 million, and occupy most of what we refer to today as south western nigeria. 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.
Click download or read online button to get history of yoruba land book now. Yoruba people, language, religion, tribe, culture, facts. Its premodern history is based largely on oral traditions and legends. The history of the yorubas 1921 edition open library.
Kobla dotse published in 2011 xxxx publications disclaimer the material we present here is provided to you mainly for educational and information purposes only. Due to the low birth weight of twins and the high infant mortality. The truth about the ancient african yoruba religion the pan. The study also compares johnsons views on yoruba origins with those of later authors. Therefore, according to the yoruba, humans are eventually expected to. A short history of yorubaland with pictures culture nairaland. On the basis of comparative studies between the dynastic tradition of the.
Director of the yoruba historical research schzme, nigeria. Art in ancient ife, birthplace of the yoruba suzanne preston blier a rtists the world over shape knowledge and material into works of unique historical importance. Boston public library the history of the yorubas from the earliest times to the beginning of the british protectorate by the rev. The handbook of yoruba religious concepts by baba ifa karade, olodumare. The documented history of the yoruba people begins with the oyo empire, which became. According to yoruba religion, oduduwa became the ancestor of the first divine king of the yoruba. Oyo empire, yoruba state north of lagos, in presentday southwestern nigeria, that dominated, during its apogee 16501750, most of the states between the volta river in the west and the niger river in the east. The yoruba constitute approximately 21 percent of nigerias total population, and around 40 million individuals throughout the region of west. Yoruba people are a large ethnolinguistic group or ethnic nation in africa, and the majority of them speak the yoruba language. Saburi biobaku director of the yoruba historical research schzme, nigeria the history of the indigenous peoples of west africa is ripe for intensive research. Jan 06, 2020 history of the yorubas samuel johnson pdf the history of the yorubas. 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. The history of the indigenous peoples of west africa is ripe for intensive research. It was the most important and authoritative of all the early yoruba principalities.
The yoruba traditional religion believes that all human beings pass through what is known as ayanmo which translate to destiny or fate. 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. It demonstrates the strong influence of yoruba religion and culture on world religions among african diaspora. In the past ten years, significant works on the phenomenology and history. History of the yorubas samuel johnson pdf the history of the yorubas. This variety, which has its origin in the 1850s, is the written form of the language and is widely used in the media by newsreaders. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. History of yoruba land download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. With a population of nearly 40 million spread across western africa and. Nigeria bookshops lagos first published 1921 reprinted 1937 reprinted 1956 reprinted 1957 reprinted 1960 printed in great britain by lowe and brydone. Traditional yoruba beliefs hold that all people experience ayanmo, which is destiny or fate.
Oyo empire historical kingdom in western africa britannica. The yoruba constitute approximately 21 percent of nigerias total population, and around 40 million individuals throughout the region of west africa. 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. Origin of the yoruba and the lost tribes of israel dierk lange abstract. The yoruba constitute about 105 million people in total. The eighteenth century was a particularly difficult one for them. Iran yoruba are an african ethnic group that inhabits western africa.
Several controversial articles and books have been written about the origins of this mighty tribe. But few people know of the history of the kingdom itself. In the context of yoruba history and politics, the elite comprises individuals who. In the past ten years, significant works on the phenomenology and history of religions. Brief history of yoruba people, culture, religion and. Cambridge core african history the history of the yorubas by samuel. 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. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. Let us do it, the way it is usually done, so that we may have the usual result. The origins and brief history of the ewe people narrated by dr. According to him, the yoruba originally came from the northeastern area of africa. His peaceefforts in the 1870s contributed to the eventual end of the yoruba wars in 1886.
With a population of nearly 40 million spread across western africa and diaspora communities in europe, the caribbean, latin america, and north america yoruba are one of the most researched groups emanating from africa. Pdf reexamining the yoruba nation a history of the. A short history of yorubaland with pictures culture nigeria. The oduduwa myth and the farce of yoruba unity brunel. Standard yoruba is the literary form of the language learned at school and heard on radio and television. The history of the yorubas download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. The yoruba numbered more than 20 million at the turn of the 21st century. Younger members of the benin ruling house carried yoruba influenc e eastwards across the niger as far as onitsha and into the creeks, notably to nembe in the brass district. The artists of ancient ife, ancestral home to the yoruba and mythic birthplace of gods and humans, clearly were. They are united by geography, history, religion and most importantly language.
According to legend, the civilization currently known as yoruba started in ancient ileife. 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. Dada adelowo introduction this paper is motiated by the need. Much smaller, scattered groups live in benin and northern togo. In 1880 samuel johnson became a deacon and was ordained a vicar in 1888. This information is not intended to be a substitute for a true history book on ewes. Use the link below to share a fulltext version of this article with your friends and colleagues. The history of the yorubas download ebook pdf, epub. Claiming yoruba ancestry, he was concerned that his people were losing their own history and completed the original manuscript of his history of the yoruba people from his notes in 1897. The history and traditions of the yoruba people panorama.
History archeological evidence shows us that the yoruba have lived in here since prehistoric times. The yoruba history begins with the migration of an east african population across the transafrican route leading from the midnile river to the midniger. Many of these important voices are included in this volume. The history of the yorubas from the earliest times to the beginning of the british protectorate by samuel johnson. The artists of ancient ife, ancestral home to the yoruba and mythic birthplace of gods and humans, clearly were interested in creating works that could be read. Nov 29, 2019 the yoruba religion includes the concept of ashe, a powerful life force possessed by humans and divine beings alike. The study of yoruba religious tradition in historical. 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. Basil davidson writes,migrating peoples undoubtedly used this route from times that were exceedingly remotethat two thousand years ago and more the climate and vegetation would have. This is hardly surprising for a people known for a long history and. A short history of yorubaland with pictures culture.
Some examples rituals and rites abound in yoruba traditional religion. Translation of the bible in 1884 by bishop samuel ajayi crowther, a yoruba speaker, in resulted in the development of a standard written form of yoruba that has been widely adopted across the dialects. A history of the yoruba people is a comprehensive exploration of the founding and growth of one of the most influential groups in africa. Indigenous yoruba populations can also be found in the republic of benin and togo 1.
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