₦airaland Forum

BiniSupremacist:
Oga stop beating round the bush....

Yoruba is a sub ediod language,


Use your head am taking of the language and not population


Yorubas language and custom have been influenced extensively by benins who venture into their lands during the benin military expansion and we imposed our kings on the yoruba people


Something like this

Bini Kingdom was formed in 11th century AD while Oduduwa started reigning in Ife after defeating Obatala in the 12th century.

That is over 100 years gap.

So, how come Yorubas are claiming superiority over Bini that's over 100 years older than them?

theTranslator
TAO11

EzeNri:
So you are now Egba?

You guys are fraud like TAO11 that once claimed Ijebu, Awori and is now claiming both when her lies were busted.

You are not Egba Sir. Egbas are proud of their origin and not a yoruba-media imposed one.

Be proud of Ogbomosho, sir.

The ogbomosho part got me laughing hard

Wishing they kept their tribal marks for identifications

Those long tribal mark

EzeNri:
So you are now Egba?

You guys are fraud like TAO11 that once claimed Ijebu, Awori and is now claiming both when her lies were busted.

You are not Egba Sir. Egbas are proud of their origin and not a yoruba-media imposed one.

Be proud of Ogbomosho, sir.

As I said

Drink bleach

Tao has always claimed Awori


Drink hydrochloric acid

theTranslator:
As I said
Drink bleach
Tao has always claimed Awori

Drink hydrochloric acid

The Fraud once claimed Ijebu.
But you are not Egba, stop lying.

EzeNri:
The Fraud once claimed Ijebu.

But you are not Egba, stop lying.

You are not igbo

theTranslator:
You are not igbo

OK.

But stop denying your place, be proud of your origin and stop trying to drag Egbas into Yoruba ethnic group

EzeNri:
OK.

But stop denying your place, be proud of your origin and stop trying to drag Egbas into Yoruba ethnic group

why should I sent my origins?
you are stupid

theTranslator:
why should I sent my origins? you are stupid

Keep insulting your ancestors, Son

theTranslator:
you're a crazy liar

Which Ondo state are you talking about? The grandson of Oduduwa from Ile-Ife was the founder of Akure, and I'm a direct descendant of Oduduwa. It's your own headache if you're arguing my history with me.
I can smell jealousy, we Yoruba are great, God has lifted us up already, and there's nothing you can do about that!

ToInfinity7777:
Which Ondo state are you talking about? The grandson of Oduduwa from Ile-Ife was the founder of Akure, and I'm a direct descendant of Oduduwa. It's your own headache if you're arguing my history with me.
I can smell jealousy, we Yoruba are great, God has lifted us up already, and there's nothing you can do about that!

Didect descendant of Oduduwa that never existed this guy sha




Is a pity you guys hold to one friction to cover up history you guys never had


Oduduwa myth was made up by an oyo writer in 1897 to flasely unite the yorubas into one ancestory to avert the war the yorubas were about to fight

The writer was Samuel johson....
Who wrote the history of yorubas, thinking uniting all yorunas into one ancestory will help them form unity because he knew one day the European would come and have them colonize into one entity and his book would be useful


Surely the day came, when awolowo sort to unite the yorubas with the book of Samuel johson the various tribes in yoruba frowned at it, until he educated them on the need to for political strength and they agreed to the Oduduwa one ancestory myth


Now you claiming the frictional Oduduwa as your
Ancestors makes me want to know you on your head for not knowing this fact

Ezenri
EzeNri

BiniSupremacist:
Didect descendant of Oduduwa that never existed this guy sha




Is a pity you guys hold to one friction to cover up history you guys never had


Oduduwa myth was made up by an oyo writer in 1897 to flasely unite the yorubas into one ancestory to avert the war the yorubas were about to fight

The writer was Samuel johson....
Who wrote the history of yorubas, thinking uniting all yorunas into one ancestory will help them form unity because he knew one day the European would come and have them colonize into one entity and his book would be useful


Surely the day came, when awolowo sort to unite the yorubas with the book of Samuel johson the various tribes in yoruba frowned at it, until he educated them on the need to for political strength and they agreed to the Oduduwa one ancestory myth


Now you claiming the frictional Oduduwa as your
Ancestors makes me want to know you on your head for not knowing this fact

Ezenri
EzeNri

We have always told them that Yoruba is a political alliance of minority tribes in the western region.

EzeNri:
We have always told them that Yoruba is a political alliance of minority tribes in the western region.

Yep


Even the benin-ife myth started after the Benin fell to the British, when oba eweka11 was reinstalled in 1914 as the oba of benin after years of the stool being vacant

Then it was still indirect rule were monarchs were used to govern, so he made political aliance with the western monarchs for political strength
And he was added as an Oduduwa sons

And the historical myth was published on how the imaginary oromiyan came to establsih benin royal stool

Note this

Oromiyan is indigenous to oyo people and not ife

Oduduwa was created from the imagination of samuel Johnson....

Ifa was what was indigenous to ife, the woship of
Ifa was by the people of ife alone, it was the name ifa that they corrupted the name to ife,



So oba eweka11 didn't mind the postion the made up myth kept him below the ooni, after oba eweka11 had died and oba akenzua couldn't take the insult yorubas were given him and edo people in western region, and they planned on how to move out, before awolwo also provoked the rest of delta people and the fate of Midwest's was sealed


So after midwest was established the oba of benin began throwing shades at the yoruba monarchs and rewrote the myth his father agreed to, as one of Oduduwa son, but this time the benin wrote Oduduwa came from them....

This is how the myth is still going on till today

Fezz, KingOKON, UGBE634,

BiniSupremacist:
Didect descendant of Oduduwa that never existed this guy sha




Is a pity you guys hold to one friction to cover up history you guys never had


Oduduwa myth was made up by an oyo writer in 1897 to flasely unite the yorubas into one ancestory to avert the war the yorubas were about to fight

The writer was Samuel johson....
Who wrote the history of yorubas, thinking uniting all yorunas into one ancestory will help them form unity because he knew one day the European would come and have them colonize into one entity and his book would be useful


Surely the day came, when awolowo sort to unite the yorubas with the book of Samuel johson the various tribes in yoruba frowned at it, until he educated them on the need to for political strength and they agreed to the Oduduwa one ancestory myth


Now you claiming the frictional Oduduwa as your
Ancestors makes me want to know you on your head for not knowing this fact

Ezenri
EzeNri

Keep giving yourself headache on top my own history��

ToInfinity7777:
Keep giving yourself headache on top my own history��

I have studied your history and devoid it of myth

We know how the myth of Oduduwa flew to benin..... It all originated after amalgamation

And not historically based

The world has advanced beyond the level of trying to prove a point with just a single fact. You see, my fellow nairanders, every tribe emanated from a source and a single source eventually. You can be anything you want regardless of your cultural affiliation. Please observe these:
- Spain and Portugal were formally Iberian peninsula ruled by a single king but later fragmented into what they are today. So are Spanish Portuguese or vice versa? Answer, no. They have chosen thier identity so it is.

-Austrians speak German but deny to be German. Any qualms, no.

- The part of Delta that speaks Igbo believe they are not igbo, should there be any worry? No

Let's stop here. Even if the itsekiris are born by a Yoruba man but claim a different identity, what problem do you have with that? Stop all the confusion and understand that humanity is one but our ideologies and perception of our self distinguishes us.
Or should I also remind you that a man named Abraham/Ibrahim had two sons that claimed distinct identity, Arabs and Jews. So Itsekiris are not Bini or whatever you think they are. They are what they claim. Thank you

Bangeez:
The world has advanced beyond the level of trying to prove a point with just a single fact. You see, my fellow nairanders, every tribe emanated from a source and a single source eventually. You can be anything you want regardless of your cultural affiliation. Please observe these:
- Spain and Portugal were formally Iberian peninsula ruled by a single king but later fragmented into what they are today. So are Spanish Portuguese or vice versa? Answer, no. They have chosen thier identity so it is.

-Austrians speak German but deny to be German. Any qualms, no.

- The part of Delta that speaks Igbo believe they are not igbo, should there be any worry? No

Let's stop here. Even if the itsekiris are born by a Yoruba man but claim a different identity, what problem do you have with that? Stop all the confusion and understand that humanity is one but our ideologies and perception of our self distinguishes us.
Or should I also remind you that a man named Abraham/Ibrahim had two sons that claimed distinct identity, Arabs and Jews. So Itsekiris are not Yoruba. Thank you

well the itsekiri say they are Yoruba
so your epistle is inconsequential
thank you.


Tao11
edeyoung
macof

BiniSupremacist:
Ekiti, ondo, itsekiri, lagos, part of osun are all Benins


The enire yorubas are benin by cultural influence


Benin conquered the entire yoruba and forced them to speak their words

Names like ogun, ayelala are all bini idols


Words like oba, ugbo(farm), cat (ologbo), police (olakpa) are all, benin words borrowed by yorubas as a result of we ruling them for 500yrs.


They denel us for the made up ethnicity called yorubas that was foemed by the British


Because the britsh decided to reduce the Benin political power

All Yorubas are originally binis who lost their way to the bristh new identity

All Yorubas in the past paid homage to the oba of Benin


Image below of olowo of owo displaying the bini customer


Yorubas were originally binis

Stop smoking,

The earliest known eyewitness accounts collected from the Itsekirs by their European contacts do attest to their Yoruba origin, root, and heritage.

(1) Quoting from the eyewitness account of Captain H. L. Gallwey in his “Journeys in the Benin Country”:

“Let me now refer briefly to the tribes that people this part of the world. First we come to the Jakris, who are connected in race and language with the Yoruba people, extending from the Mahin country on the west to the Forcados on the East, and inland about as far as Sapele.”
Reference:
H. L. Gallwey, “Journeys in the Benin Country, West Africa,” The Geographical Journal, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Feb., 1893), p.127.

(2) Quoting from H. Ling Roth’s (1903) report obtained from the eyewitnesses of the late 1800s:

“In this respect, however, the officials agree with the tradition of the people at Warri, the Jekries, who claim to come from the west.”
Reference:
H. Ling Roth, “Great Benin: Its Customs, Arts and Horrors,” (1903), pp.8-9.

(3) Itsekiris duly present at their Yoruba-Oduduwa rally at Ibadan a couple of days ago.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/13414590_whatsappimage20210417at13_22_59_jpeg_jpeg2cb85cbc151423af2338b7f4a26927e9

Cheers!

TAO12:
The earliest known eyewitness accounts collected from the Itsekirs by their European contacts do attest to their Yoruba origin, root, and heritage.

(1) Quoting from the eyewitness account of Captain H. L. Gallwey in his “Journeys in the Benin Country”:

“Let me now refer briefly to the tribes that people this part of the world. First we come to the Jakris, who are connected in race and language with the Yoruba people, extending from the Mahin country on the west to the Forcados on the East, and inland about as far as Sapele.”
Reference:
H. L. Gallwey, “Journeys in the Benin Country, West Africa,” The Geographical Journal, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Feb., 1893), p.127.

(2) Quoting from H. Ling Roth’s (1903) report obtained from the eyewitnesses of the late 1800s:

“In this respect, however, the officials agree with the tradition of the people at Warri, the Jekries, who claim to come from the west.”
Reference:
H. Ling Roth, “Great Benin: Its Customs, Arts and Horrors,” (1903), pp.8-9.

(3) Itsekiris duly present at their Yoruba-Oduduwa rally at Ibadan a couple of days ago.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/13414590_whatsappimage20210417at13_22_59_jpeg_jpeg2cb85cbc151423af2338b7f4a26927e9

Cheers!

A lot of people call you Fraud on NL, why?

SouthEastFacts:
A lot of people call you Fraud on NL, why?

because they hate the way she provides proof and embarrasses them with evidence

Let me clear the air
Itsekiri have origins to both Yoruba n Benin
Before the first King of Itsekiri (Olu Ginuwa) came what we know as Itsekiri were made up of fishing camps who originated from Yoruba towns like Remo, Ijebu etc. Some of these settlements are Omadino, Irigbo-Okotomu (now Ode-Itsekiri), Obodo, Ugborodo Ijalla etc.
And these communities predates the arrival of Ginuwa.
There are other other settlements that had their origins to the Benin troupe like Okere which was founded by Ekpenede a Benin Warrior sent to get Ginuwa back (story for another day), Usele, Orugbo, Ugbuwangue, Ubeji etc.

In conclusion, the riverine settlements predates the arrival of Ginuwa and his Benin troupe. Ginuwa harmonised the settlements. That's why the itsekiris today are a mixture of cultures and tribes. The monarch are undoubtedly Bini while the language is undeniably Yoruba. Due to the large influence of the riverine fishing camps that predates the arrival of the Benin troupe.

Fine History today will tell you Itsekiri started when Ginuwa arrived from Bini in about 1480 but the truth is. Itsekiri has been in existence long before the arrival of Ginuwa.
Ginuwa played a role of almagamating all settlements under his rule to what we know as Warri Kingdom today.


As i end my contribution, it is wrong to say that Itsekiri is Yoruba or Benin. But the right thing to do or say is that it is a mixture of two cultures which formed into what it is.
Itsekiri is a Yoruba dialect with a touch of Benin spice. Thank you

NB: This is not too take sides but actually educate those who might be interested in the real historical fact

Breaking Down the Claims

1. “Itsekiris traced their origin from Bini, not Yoruba.”

True in part: The Itsekiri monarchy (the Olu dynasty) traces its founding to a Benin prince in the 1400s.

But not the full story: Linguistically, the Itsekiri language is a Yoruboid dialect (similar to Ijebu/Ilaje). That’s why linguists classify Itsekiri under Yoruba language family, not Edoid (Bini).

So: Culturally and politically → strong Benin link.
Linguistically and ancestry of many Itsekiri clans → strong Yoruba link.
Itsekiri = a blend, not “pure Bini” or “pure Yoruba.”


2. “Ijebu, Awori, Egba, Ife, etc., are not Yoruba.”

This is false.

Ijebu, Awori, Egba, Ilaje, Ugbo are subgroups of Yoruba, with their own dialects and kingdoms.

Ife is the Yoruba spiritual origin point (Oduduwa’s cradle). Claiming it was “Igbo settlement” is propaganda with no credible historical source.


What likely happened: Because Yoruba is very diverse (like a family of dialects/kingdoms), outsiders sometimes misinterpret the internal differences as proof they are “different tribes.”


3. “Benin conquered the entire Yoruba and forced them to speak Edo language for 500 years.”

False. Benin was a powerful kingdom, but it never ruled “all of Yorubaland.”

In fact, Oyo Empire was much stronger militarily than Benin at its height (16th–18th century). Oyo controlled Dahomey, parts of Togo, and much of Yorubaland.

If Benin had forced Yoruba to speak Edo, Yoruba wouldn’t still be one of Africa’s most widely spoken languages today. Edo language itself is spoken by about 2 million, Yoruba by over 40 million.


4. “Yoruba is a British invention; all Yorubas are originally Benin.”

False.

The term “Yoruba” became popular during colonial times, yes, but the people already had a shared sense of identity through Oduduwa origin stories, common religion (Ifa, Orisha), and cultural similarities.

This is like saying “Igbo” was invented because the British grouped Igbo-speaking people under one name. Doesn’t mean they didn’t exist before.

Yoruba existed long before colonialism; they just had many kingdoms (Oyo, Ife, Ijebu, etc.) instead of one empire.


5. “Words like Oba, Ogun, Ayelala, Ugbo, Ologbo, Olakpa are Bini words Yorubas borrowed.”

Half-truth at best.

“Oba” is used in both Edo and Yoruba, but it’s not proof of conquest; it’s a shared cultural word across neighbors.

“Ogun” (god of iron) is Yoruba in origin, worshipped in Yorubaland long before Edo influence. Edo adopted Ogun worship later.

“Ayelala” is more associated with Ijaw/Ilaje-Itsekiri coastal traditions than Edo core.

Some words may have crossed due to trade/war, but Yoruba vocabulary is overwhelmingly Yoruboid, not Edoid.


6. “All Yorubas paid homage to the Oba of Benin.”

False.

Only some border regions (like Akure, Owo) had periods of Benin influence due to proximity.

The Oyo Alaafin never bowed to Benin; Oyo was actually expanding westward when Benin was struggling with Portuguese coastal trade competition.

Ile-Ife was never under Benin.


Why This Narrative Exists

Ethnic rivalry: Yoruba vs Edo narratives often clash, each side exaggerating their role in history.

Politics: The 1963 plebiscite (Itsekiri choosing Midwest) wasn’t about denying Yoruba roots but about escaping domination by larger Yoruba groups in the Western Region. Identity politics played a huge role.

Propaganda: Some people push this “Yoruba are really Edo” story to undermine Yoruba unity and exaggerate Benin’s past glory.


Balanced Truth

Yoruba, Edo (Benin), and Itsekiri are related through centuries of contact—trade, intermarriage, wars.

But they are distinct peoples:

Yoruba → Yoruboid language, Oduduwa heritage, multiple kingdoms.

Edo → Edoid language, Oba monarchy, Benin Kingdom legacy.

Itsekiri → A blend: Yoruboid language + Benin royal dynasty + coastal cosmopolitan influence.


No single group can “claim” the other. They shaped each other, but each has its own deep identity.



Timeline of Yoruba, Benin, and Itsekiri Interactions

Before 1000 AD

Ife (Yoruba): Center of Yoruba civilization. Produces naturalistic bronze heads, major religious/cultural hub.

Edo (Benin area): Smaller chiefdoms, no centralized Oba system yet.



1000s–1200s

Yorubaland: Multiple kingdoms forming (Oyo, Ijebu, etc.), all tracing origin myths to Oduduwa at Ife.

Benin: According to Benin tradition, their early monarchy was reorganized with help from a prince from Ife (Oranmiyan, son of Oduduwa). This marks the start of the Oba dynasty in Benin.
👉 This is why Yoruba and Benin histories are linked.



1400s

Benin Kingdom rises to major power under Oba Ewuare and successors. Expands militarily into nearby areas like Akure, Owo (Yoruba border towns).

Itsekiri: A Benin prince (Ginuwa) settles among coastal communities and becomes the first Olu of Warri.

The new dynasty blends Benin royal traditions with the Yoruboid-speaking locals (Ijebu/Ilaje stock).



1500s

Portuguese arrive on the coast.

Itsekiri embrace Catholicism early and become middlemen in trade.

Benin maintains strong coastal trade but never fully controls Yorubaland.

Oyo Empire is expanding northwards and westwards.



1600s–1700s

Oyo Empire: Becomes the strongest Yoruba kingdom, controls Dahomey and much of Yorubaland.

Benin: Still powerful, but its influence is coastal and eastward, not dominating all Yoruba.

Itsekiri: Continue as coastal traders, mixing Yoruba, Benin, and European cultural elements.



1800s

Oyo Empire collapses (internal strife, Fulani wars).

Yoruba wars break out (Ibadan, Ijaye, Egba, etc.).

Benin loses power due to civil wars and British trade pressures.

Itsekiri are firmly established as a small but unique group with a monarchy (Olu) respected by both Yoruba and Edo neighbors.



1897

British invade and sack Benin City.

Both Yoruba and Benin fall under colonial rule soon after.



1900s (Colonial Era)

British group Yoruba-speaking peoples together under “Yoruba.”

Benin is recognized as Edo-speaking people with their Oba.

Itsekiri are recognized as a distinct group (Yoruboid language but Benin dynasty).


1963

Plebiscite: Itsekiri and other minorities vote to leave the Yoruba-dominated Western Region and join Mid-Western Region (with Edo).

This was about politics, not language/ethnic origin—it was to avoid being dominated by larger Yoruba subgroups.

Key Takeaways

Yoruba and Benin are neighbors with shared influence, but not “the same people.”

Itsekiri are a hybrid identity: Yoruboid in tongue, Benin in kingship, cosmopolitan in culture.

No group “created” the other; they evolved side by side, clashing and exchanging.

Claims that “all Yoruba are Edo” or “all Edo are Yoruba” = propaganda, not history.

Here’s the key takeaway for you (no noise, just facts):

Yoruba, Benin, and Itsekiri are connected but distinct.

Itsekiri = Yoruboid language + Benin royal origin + coastal trade mix.

Yoruba = many kingdoms tied by Oduduwa heritage, very diverse inside.

Benin = powerful Edoid kingdom, influenced neighbors, but never “owned all Yorubaland.”

The claim that “Yoruba was invented by the British” or “all Yoruba are really Benin” = propaganda, not history.

Stay blessed 😇🙏🏾