THE YORUBA
These are a people united into an ethnic group with many tribes some of which are Yagba, Ibolo, Akoko(with extensionof Akoko Edo and some parts of Owan), Oyo, Ibarapa, Ijesa, Ekiti, Ondo, Owo,Ilaje, Okun, Igbomina, Ijebu, Ekiti, Egba, Yewa, Awori, Ikale, Egun, etc.
Historically,the Yoruba has several empires/kingdoms of which the most documented was the Oyo Empire which lasted over 500 years which was preceded by Ife which was older by over 900years and the Ugbo/Owa in antiquity. There were numerous other kingdoms.
The Yoruba are unarguably the single largest sub Sahara African ethnic group and probably has the most urbanized population as well.
The Yoruba are deeply religious people even in the time past practicing different types of traditional religions and worship of different deities as Ogun, Ifa, Sango, Obatala, Agemo, Osun, Oya, various Egungun and so on yet the people all live in peace.
Today, many Yoruba still practice these traditional religion whether actively or passively but over 90% are now Christians and Moslems. The Yoruba are probably the most accommodating group in Africa and religion is played down in relationships.The Yoruba probably also has the highest number of inter marriage between Christians and Moslems in the world and also the highest number of Moslems converts to Christianity. Yoruba land is the home to the largest Pentecostal Christian gathering in Africa, home to the highest number of Universities and college graduates in black Africa.
Economically, the Yoruba country though a developing area like many areas of sub Sahara Africa is one of the top three most developed and economically viable parts of sub Sahara Africa.
There are peculiar characteristics of the Yoruba various tribes some of which are; the Ijebus known for their penchant for trade and they constitute the largest industrialists, the Egba are professionals, well educated and upwardly mobile, they are also the Remos, are key figures in the corporate sector in Nigeria.The ibadans and oyo constitute a huge percentage of traders and that include Ogbomosos, they are well travelled and live in their millions in the North, they also constitute the largest artisan groups of the Yoruba and are the most laid back culturally. The Ondo and Owo share peculiarity of being fashionable, have huge ego and are quite great achievers.Together with their brothers Ekiti Ijesa and Akoko, constitute the highest number of Yoruba academics and corporate work force.
The Ondo and Owo are also industrialists and together with the Ijebu dictates the Owambe dimension in Nigeria. The Ekiti are also known to be egoistical but forthright and lovers of family.

....to be continued, comments are welcomed

nice piece,am always happy when yorubas appreciate their diversity and unity..... Yoruba parapo

warlei:
nice piece,am always happy when yorubas appreciate their diversity and unity..... Yoruba parapo

we are trying to look at the place of Yoruba in 21st century Africa. The recent alignment with the North is the first time in Nigeria and the effect of this may be putting the Yoruba in the helm of affairs more than anticipated.
we need contributions and criticism.

Nice one. However, Ogbomoso people are not the most culturally laid back. I immensely disagree with that. Read more about them

1: Yoruba speaking groups are not more populated than the Igbo speaking ones.

2: Egun is not a Yoruba dialect, it's an entire New language of its own, it's not even Yoruboid like Igala.

4: Yorubas being the most urbanized group is debatable.

What you get in Yorubaland rural areas is that peeps build their. mud houses together, to form dense populated villages with no regard for ventilation, living space and sanitation, and then have a shared large farm area.

This is what Yorubas confuse for Urbanization, it's more of co habitation.

In Igboland rural areas, people love ventilation and living spaces, and so each builds his house close to his farmlands, with enough space separating him from his neighbors, forming a sparsely populated habitation with a rural feel. Infact, rural areas in Igboland with limited land spaces as in Anambra and Northern Imo areas are beginning to look like Yoruba type of rural urbanization, with peeps living too close to each other, producing an urban feel to the areas.

For the real modern urban centres, it's the same throughout Nigeria, no much difference.

pazienza:
1: Yoruba speaking groups are not more populated than the Igbo speaking ones.

2: Egun is not a Yoruba dialect, it's an entire New language of its own, it's not even Yoruboid like Igala.

4: Yorubas being the most urbanized group is debatable.

What you get in Yorubaland rural areas is that peeps build their. mud houses together, to form dense populated villages with no regard for ventilation, living space and sanitation, and then have a shared large farm area.

This is what Yorubas confuse for Urbanization, it's more of co habitation.

In Igboland rural areas, people love ventilation and living spaces, and so each builds his house close to his farmlands, with enough space separating him from his neighbors, forming a sparsely populated habitation with a rural feel. Infact, rural areas in Igboland with limited land spaces as in Anambra and Northern Imo areas are beginning to look like Yoruba type of rural urbanization, with peeps living too close to each other, producing an urban feel to the areas.

For the real modern urban centres, it's the same throughout Nigeria, no much difference.

thanks.
but who asked for ur opinion on a Yoruba matter?

pazienza:
1: Yoruba speaking groups are not more populated than the Igbo speaking ones.

2: Egun is not a Yoruba dialect, it's an entire New language of its own, it's not even Yoruboid like Igala.

4: Yorubas being the most urbanized group is debatable.

What you get in Yorubaland rural areas is that peeps build their. mud houses together, to form dense populated villages with no regard for ventilation, living space and sanitation, and then have a shared large farm area.

This is what Yorubas confuse for Urbanization, it's more of co habitation.

In Igboland rural areas, people love ventilation and living spaces, and so each builds his house close to his farmlands, with enough space separating him from his neighbors, forming a sparsely populated habitation with a rural feel. Infact, rural areas in Igboland with limited land spaces as in Anambra and Northern Imo areas are beginning to look like Yoruba type of rural urbanization, with peeps living too close to each other, producing an urban feel to the areas.

For the real modern urban centres, it's the same throughout Nigeria, no much difference.

Thank you.
if in your word Yoruba string houses together and still get such big towns and cities, you can imagine if they leave spaces as you claimed.
The Yoruba are the most urbanized African ethnic group going by the number of township/cities they have. Population wise, the other large ethnic groups are Oromo, Hausa and Igbo.
igala and Itsekiri are Yoruba family mot just in language but also historical roots while Yoruba and Egun, Ewe, Ga are rooted in Ife ancestry.
The Yoruba -Igbo debate isn't the priority here and I wish u present any contrary data u may have, thank u

Political sagacity
The Yoruba has been at the other end of politics in Nigeria and its citizens have maintained the place of the opposition in Nigeria. It has at various times produced Obafemi Awolowo, Adekunle Ajashin, Abraham Adesanya, Biola Gbonigi, Bola Tinubu among others.A bulk of its citizens constituted the pro democratic groups in the likes of Gani Fawehimi, Wole Soyinka, Alani Akinrinade, Femi Falana, the Kuti family among others. They have been against military rule and have made more sacrifices for democratic success than any other group in Nigeria, may be Africa.
There is a seeming dimension that the Yoruba will begin to thrive politically especially in reforming Nigeria of going by the recent political occurrences is anything to go by. From AD to AC to ACN and APC, sons and daughters of Yoruba have nursed the opposition party to become a ruling party in Nigeria, this shows the capacity of the Yoruba to deploy its political intelligence in nation building and bridge building.
Historically, solace is found in Awolowo who entrenched visionary leadership buoyed by his pro socialism ideology

Yoruba culture,philosophy, ethics and life.

These are deep and constitute a core value of the society.Derivatives of these include:
Iwa - like character, taken to be more precious than wealth.Seen as a virtue made possible through divine providence and manifested by every omoluabi, I.e responsible offspring.
Agba- elders. These are the custodian of the above, respected and honored, their place in society is not weighed in monetary terms but in the essence of their wisdom
Oro- wealth.important need of every man and philosophically includes good health as ilera loro I.e.health is wealth.
Oye - wisdom. Especially in human resource management and administration.such leads to great respect in the society
Inuire- kindness. Believed to be a natural sacrifices accepted by divine to make way, its a great virtue extoled by the Yoruba

Thank God am a yoruba.