₦airaland Forum

Goodvibes007:
Olodo
An Arab explorer called Baba Ahmed wrote about the Yorubas he encountered in his 1615 manuscript.

English publication of the 𝟭𝟲𝟭𝟱 manuscript, by J. Hunwick & Fatima

and it appears that your only claim of a pre 1800 mention of yoruba is in an unintelligible script. More like oduduwa falling from the sky. Lies have an expiry date.

okpouman:
Why can't these Igbo not leave Yoruba alone too,is it by force to be linked to Yoruba?

Can you people not do without Lagos sef?

Na by force

Which kind people b ds sef

That dude might be under illusion, don't judge one Igbo man with millions of Igbos

Biafrannuke:
Uncovering Suppressed Histories: Aro-Igbo Settlements, Yoruba Origins, and the Hidden Frontier in Western Nigeria

1. Origin of the Yoruba Name and Historical Territory

The term "Yoruba" is not originally indigenous to the people now referred to by that name. It was popularized in colonial ethnographic classifications, especially through the works of Samuel Johnson in the late 19th century. Before this, different Yoruba subgroups—such as Oyo, Egba, Ijesha, Ekiti, and Ife—identified themselves primarily by town-based identities, not under a single umbrella ethnic label. The name "Yoruba" itself derives from the Hausa word "Yoruba", which originally referred specifically to the Oyo people in Hausa chronicles (Clapperton, 1829; Johnson, 1921).

This externally imposed label was adopted and institutionalized under British indirect rule, which grouped various western polities under the “Yoruba Province,” thereby fixing a formerly fluid identity into a rigid ethnic category for administrative control (Falola & Aderinto, 2010).

In terms of southern reach, Yoruba polities did not control most of the southern forests or coastal deltaic regions pre-1900. Most of these areas were populated by Aro-Igbo shrine settlements, Bini satellite clans, or autonomous trading city-states (Talbot, 1926). The claim that Yoruba extended to the Atlantic coast as far as Dahomey is largely a colonial-era myth used to justify indirect rule and provincial expansions (Ikime, 1980).

2. Awori: Identity, Origins, and Mixed Heritage

The Awori are often claimed as the original inhabitants of Lagos, yet their identity and origin are multi-layered. Oral traditions reveal that many Awori communities in Lagos and Ogun States were founded by migrants from Ile-Ife, Aro-Igbo priest-clans, and even Bini exiles or warriors.

For instance:

Isheri, one of the oldest Awori towns, shares foundational toponymic links with Igbo and Benin linguistic roots.

Ita-Igbo in present-day Lagos Island indicates an Aro-Igbo settlement linked to trade outposts and shrines (Ajayi, 1965).

Otumara, Onikan, and Oke-Ira were originally trade or shrine hubs founded by Igbo-speaking groups before Bini militarization of the Lagos area in the 1600s.

Colonial records (e.g., Lagos Colony Gazetteers, 1901–1914) confirm that these settlements had non-Yoruba origins, though later absorbed by the Oba of Lagos under British supervision. The Bini war expeditions, which reached Lagos around the 17th century, established military posts that contributed to the fusion of Awori, Bini, and Aro elements.

Thus, while Awori today are seen as a Yoruba subgroup, historically they were a hybrid people, with Bini, Aro-Igbo, and Ife influences depending on the town or clan (Adefuye et al., 1987).

3. Oduduwa Myth and Ife Origin Story: Myth or History?

The story of Oduduwa descending from heaven to found Ile-Ife, from whom all Yoruba kings claim descent, is a powerful mythological charter. However, the Oduduwa narrative was codified into a central doctrine primarily in the 19th century (Johnson, 1921), and lacks early corroboration in precolonial documentation.

Notably:

Portuguese, Dutch, and early British explorers in the 15th–17th centuries made no reference to such a figure or centralized Yoruba dynasty (Ryder, 1965).

Oduduwa’s name itself may be a deified ancestral or priestly title rather than a singular person (Ogunremi, 1998).

Some archaeological findings around Ile-Ife suggest a more cosmopolitan settlement, not exclusively Yoruba, in early centuries CE (Willett, 1967).

Thus, the Oduduwa myth served colonial and postcolonial Yoruba political consolidation, but does not accurately reflect the diversity or origin of the people now grouped under "Yoruba".

4. Aro-Igbo Founded Settlements in Western Nigeria

Aro-Igbo priest-merchants established permanent, shrine-governed, sovereign settlements across present-day Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos, and Ogun States. These included:

1. Oke-Igbo (Ondo) – founded as an Aro-Igbo outpost, likely linked to Okigwe-Aro shrine traders. Original name: Uhu-Oke.

2. Ita-Igbo (Lagos Island) – "Ita" means market/square; "Igbo" denotes the clan. A major shrine trading post.

3. Araromi (Ondo Central) – Aro migrants from Arochukwu and Bende settled this area; "Ararọmụ" (peaceful retreat).

4. Ijara-Isin (Kwara border) – founded by Aro clans via Awka diviners on shrine missions.

5. Ijofin-Igboho (Oyo–Benin corridor) – controlled by Aro traders before Oyo expansion.

6. Igbokoda (Ondo West) – name itself means “Igbo–River mouth”.

7. Okegun-Igbo (near Epe, Lagos) – a shrine community linked to Uzuakoli-Arochukwu networks.

8. Iselu, Igbo-Aje, Odo-Ara, Igbo-Ora, Igbo-Otun, Igbo-Elerin – all documented in local oral traditions and colonial records as Aro-founded or shrine-affiliated towns.

These towns functioned as nodes in a long-distance trade and religious intelligence network managed by the Aro Confederacy through the oracle of Ibini Ukpabi, destroyed by the British in 1902 (Jones, 1958).

5. The Ogun River: Western Boundary of Aro-Igbo Frontier

The Ogun River, flowing from Oyo through Ogun State to the Atlantic, marked the western boundary of sustained Aro-Igbo penetration. This river route allowed Aro priest-merchants to:

Establish shrine towns and trading posts along the banks (e.g., Igbo-Aje, Ibo-Ora).

Interface with Bini, Nupe, and later Oyo networks.

Defend shrine sovereignty through spiritual sanctions and alliances with local communities (Ajayi & Crowder, 1974).

The Ogun River frontier became a collision zone between the Aro and expanding Oyo and British influences, culminating in military assaults and reclassification of towns into Yoruba polities under colonial administration.

6. Legal and Spiritual Reclamation: Status of Arochukwu Monarchy

The Arochukwu monarchy, led by the Eze Aro, survives today as a spiritual and traditional monarchy, though severely weakened by the destruction of Ibini Ukpabi in 1902 and the outlawing of its oracle jurisdiction.

However:

The Aro Confederacy’s royal and priestly houses continue to maintain genealogical, spiritual, and ancestral rights over former settlements.

The Eze Aro still convenes annual Ikeji festivals to affirm ritual sovereignty.

Legal sovereignty, while politically denied, is being revived through oral record preservation, land reclamation efforts, and diaspora court cases.

Groups such as IPOB and heritage-rights activists increasingly recognize the centrality of the Aro system in reclaiming Igbo precolonial frontiers.

References (APA Style)

Adefuye, A., Agiri, B., & Osuntokun, J. (1987). History of the Peoples of Lagos State. Lagos State University.

Ajayi, J. F. A., & Crowder, M. (1974). History of West Africa. Longman.

Ajayi, S. A. (1965). Christian Missions in Nigeria, 1841–1891: The Making of a New Elite. Longmans.

Clapperton, H. (1829). Journal of a Second Expedition into the Interior of Africa. London: John Murray.

Falola, T., & Aderinto, S. (2010). Nigeria, Nationalism, and Writing History. University of Rochester Press.

Ikime, O. (1980). Groundwork of Nigerian History. Heinemann.

Johnson, S. (1921). The History of the Yorubas. CMS Bookshops.

Jones, G. I. (1958). The Trading States of the Oil Rivers. Oxford University Press.

Ryder, A. F. C. (1965). Benin and the Europeans, 1485–1897. Longman.

Talbot, P. A. (1926). The Peoples of Southern Nigeria. London: Oxford University Press.

Willett, F. (1967). Ife in the History of West African Sculpture. Thames and Hudson.

This is good

DNA and linguistics say Yoruba and Igbo share some common ancestors. The languages share many common words like for body parts and etc. One set of ancestors decided not to have kings and be living in villages of maximum 2000 people while the other were living in urban centers that required kings. Both groups mixed with new people and became more distinct from each other. They cut links totally with each other for thousands of years and now have cultures that are radically different. The British have now brought them into the same country. They share a common Y chromosome and the concentration of the Y chromosome is highest among the Yoruba. This means the Igbo are more a creole people than the Yoruba. They are more a mixture.
The name Igbo in my opinion means everybody. We have Ndi Owerri, Ndi Onitsha, Ndi Enugu and etc. When all come together they call themselves Ndigbo which means everybody. Ndi Onitsha for instance means people of Onitsha. The word Igbo or Gbo is a remnant of the ancient language spoken by the common ancestors of both groups. In modern Yoruba it is rendered as gbogbo or gbo. It means all, similar to everybody. The Igbo in Yoruba place names means forest and it is pronounced with a different intonation.
Both groups are like brothers and brothers can have completely different characters. Presently the debate about king or no king have been lost by Igbos since they now live in urban centers that needs sophisticated administrations. The British ended their system and things fell apart for them

Slytiger:
What Ajayi crowther wrote when he entered Iboland..

Stop this unity begging and attachment by force. Yoruba and Igbos are not cousins. Our cousins are the Igala and the Itsekiri, both Yoruboids.

Hmmm

Zooposki:
Hmmm

Hmmmm cousins.

Slytiger:
Hmmmm cousins.

Be like you sabi pass Itshekiri people. Their names and the language they speak is very Yoruboid. They even call their queens same as Yoruba royalty. Igala is also understood by Yoruba people to about 60%. That’s for the Igala that live in Kogi and have been far removed from Yoruba influence. The Igala word is even Yoruba. I pity you all. You don’t know that Yoruba is a very ancient tribe and birthed a lot of these minority tribes. When it is time to divide is when you will truly understand how deep those roots are.

Here is Warri Kingdom website for your understanding and knowledge.
https://warrikingdom.org/

2mch:
Be like you sabi pass Itshekiri people. Their names and the language they speak is very Yoruboid. They even call their queens same as Yoruba royalty. Igala is also understood by Yoruba people to about 60%. That’s for the Igala that live in Kogi and have been far removed from Yoruba influence. The Igala word is even Yoruba. I pity you all. You don’t know that Yoruba is a very ancient tribe and birthed a lot of these minority tribes. When it is time to divide is when you will truly understand how deep those roots are.

Here is Warri Kingdom website for your understanding and knowledge.
https://warrikingdom.org/

Where did he make a claim that itsekiri are not Yoruboid?

From the book he posted about the igala too in page 1, he definitely knows his stuff.

muhammaduyusufu:
Where did he make a claim that itsekiri are not Yoruboid?

Be like na Zoopski I wan quote.

2mch:
Be like na Zoopski I wan quote.

Oh. I see. I thought as much. Thanks for the clarification.

Zooposki:
Hmmm

Edoid
Vs
Yoruboid

Edoid: Frame 1
Yoruboid: Frame 2

Zooposki:
Hmmm

In addition.
Even their Royal line is Yoruba via Prince who later became Ooni Oranmiyan, line of Oduduwa.

christistruth01:
Eni ti won fe sun ni ina tele to tun fi epo pupa.ra ara.

Please continue rewriting the ancient History of Yorubaland

Those you are depending on as your backbone will flee in 7 different directions when nobody is pursuing them

History is scary bro, deal with your fear without attacking the message

Slytiger:
The few Yoruba words that made it into the Igbo lexicon were via our cousins (The Igala or Igara) that enslaved the ibos people for 2-3 centuries..

That doesn't sound correct bro. The Nri kingdom was there around the time of the Benin kingdom if am not wrong

drnoel:
That doesn't sound correct bro. The Nri kingdom was there around the time of the Benin kingdom if am not wrong

As per Benin or Edoid.
The Benin and Yoruba are two different ethnic group. The only relation they have is the Oba and a few Yoruba families that followed Oranmiyan from Ife on the expedition to Benin.

Some of the families below.

Uhe is what old Benin call Ife.

drnoel:
That doesn't sound correct bro. The Nri kingdom was there around the time of the Benin kingdom if am not wrong

As per Nri kingdom.
The Nri kingdom declined at some point and the Igbos were not united. They had no standing army. Families and villages waged war against each other. The disunity made them easy pickings for raiders like the igalas, Benin, isoko, itsekiri e.t.c
Just google it. It's why some igala had influence in many Igbo states all the way to Anambra today. Some Ezes still pay homage to the Atta Igala.

Slytiger:
The Nri kingdom declined at some point and the Igbos were not united. They had no standing army. Families and villages waged war against each other. The disunity made them easy pickings for raiders like the igalas, Benin, isoko, itsekiri e.t.c
Just google it. It's why some igala had influence in many Igbo states all the way to Anambra today. Some Ezes still pay homage to the Atta Igala.

As per Benin or Edoid.
The Benin and Yoruba are two different ethnic group. The only relation they have is the Oba and a few Yoruba families that followed Oranmiyan from Ife on the expedition to Benin.

Some of the families below.

Uhe is what old Benin call Ife.

I was surprised when one Benin guy told me Edokpolor means Edo are very plenty. He could have been speaking Yoruba. Another said Okada means Oke Ada upside of the Ada river. It is also the same way in Yoruba

More on igala influence on Igbos.

lawani:
I was surprised when one Benin guy told me Edokpolor means Edo are very plenty. He could have been speaking Yoruba. Another said Okada means Oke Ada upside of the Ada river. It is also the same way in Yoruba

It's possible. They bear Yoruba names to due to the influence of Oranmiyan and trade with Owo.

Infact, if you travel to Usen. Their King retained more of the Yoruba culture than the palace in Benin. The founder of Usen was one of those that followed Oranmiyan to Benin but stayed back to create his own kingdom.

Check how the Elawure (Oba) of Usen is being praised here in the video below. The woman is praising him in pure undiluted Yoruba. Usen is in present day Edo State.

Same Elawure of Usen here. pic.twitter.com/ZN2KqcN2Gx

— Achilles007 (@Achilles0055199) April 3, 2025

[quote author=Slytiger post=136280451]It's possible. They bear Yoruba names to due to the influence of Oranmiyan. Infact, if you travel to Usen. Their kings retained more of the Yoruba culture. The founder of Usen was one of those that followed Oranmiyan to Benin but stayed back to create his own kingdom.

Check how the Elawure of Usen is being praised here in pure undiluted Yoruba. Usen is in present day Edo State.

Same Elawure of Usen here. pic.twitter.com/ZN2KqcN2Gx

— Achilles007 (@Achilles0055199) April 3, 2025

but the similarities between their language and Yoruba is not because of Oranmiyan. Its because of shared ancestry thousands of years ago

lawani:
Yes but the similarities between their language and Yoruba is not because of Oranmiyan. Its because of shared ancestry thousands of years ago

Are you talking about the Obagodo?
I have a few books that details how the Yoruba also had influence on the dynasty but they are the present day Ogiamen, and they are very Edoid as they come. Maybe the Yoruba influence disappeared over time. I can't tell.

I have the page on the treaty between the Oba of Benin and the Ogiamen dynasty, but Nairaland is not allowing me post more pictures.

Slytiger:
Are you talking about the Obagodo?
I have a few books that details how the Yoruba also had influence on the dynasty but they are the present day Ogiamen, and they are very Edoid as they come. Maybe the Yoruba influence disappeared over time. I can't tell.

I have the page on the treaty between the Oba of Benin and the Ogiamen dynasty, but Nairaland is not allowing me post more pictures.

The Ekiokpagha treaty. Oranmiyan could not defeat the Ogiamen, so he befriended and impregnated an Igodomigodo Princess of the Ogiamen line to bore him Eweka. Eweka continued the fight and after a stalemate (some say a victory by Eweka), the aboriginal Igodomigodo ruled by the Ogiamen agreed on a peace treaty with Prince Eweka who now became the 1st Oba of Benin.

Any Ogiamen you meat today also call themselves princes or high chief. Their was one in a church I attended years ago who always calls himself a Prince of Benin even though he was an Ogiamen line and not Eweka line.

Goodvibes007:
Olodo
An Arab explorer called Baba Ahmed wrote about the Yorubas he encountered in his 1615 manuscript.

English publication of the 𝟭𝟲𝟭𝟱 manuscript, by J. Hunwick & Fatima

Thank you.
I didn’t know where to start from but you finished him
The Hausa were already calling the Ife Diaspora Yorubas in the 16th century

Slytiger:
More on igala influence on Igbos.

As far as Yoruba Traditional History is concerned na Igala woman born Igbo

Bullshiiiiitt

All I just see is desperation to be Yoruba or to at least be accepted by Yorubas

That's the height of inferiority complexity.

What a shame!

So they are no longer Jews but are now the original proto Yoruba people.

This is absolutely shameful to say the least.

Nothing but cultural and racial inferiority can lead to such madness

At this rate , they will be claiming to be the original Han Chinese, Nippon people and even Eskimos.

This is absolutely shameful.

Slytiger:
As per Nri kingdom.
The Nri kingdom declined at some point and the Igbos were not united. They had no standing army. Families and villages waged war against each other. The disunity made them easy pickings for raiders like the igalas, Benin, isoko, itsekiri e.t.c
Just google it. It's why some igala had influence in many Igbo states all the way to Anambra today. Some Ezes still pay homage to the Atta Igala.

Be careful there.
It is right they were not united but the Igbos were never at anytime enslaved by any ethnic group.
I researched it too and the only thing in literature that supports your claims is certain portions of Igboland was indeed overrun by the igalas and other ethnic groups. These portions where those towns bordering like close to midcentral like for example Benue and some portions of Benin.
Those portions were indeed enslaved but that doesn't mean that Igboland was enslaved, that never happened.
By the way, those lost lands were latter reclaimed by the Igbos.

Slytiger:
As per Nri kingdom.
The Nri kingdom declined at some point and the Igbos were not united. They had no standing army. Families and villages waged war against each other. The disunity made them easy pickings for raiders like the igalas, Benin, isoko, itsekiri e.t.c
Just google it. It's why some igala had influence in many Igbo states all the way to Anambra today. Some Ezes still pay homage to the Atta Igala.

As regards the last portion of your statement like ezes paying homage to Atta igala.
My earlier statement brings that issue to rest.
Apart from that nothing else supports your claims in history

DomPerignon:
So they are no longer Jews but are now the original proto Yoruba people.

This is absolutely shameful to say the least.

Nothing but cultural and racial inferiority can lead to such madness

At this rate , they will be claiming to be the original Han Chinese, Nippon people and even Eskimos.

This is absolutely shameful.

history is not emotion. Your Ooni has admitted to this on several occasions. If you're uncomfortable, you can protest to the ministry of education as usual to block the information from you. That will make you sleep better.