The Yoruba tribe is a major tribe in Nigeria with an estimated population of 42 million.
The majority live in the western part of Nigeria.
There are other Yoruba-speaking groups across West Africa such as Togo, Niger, Benin Republic, and Ghana. They are also found in large numbers in the Caribbean Islands and southern America.
ANCIENT HISTORY
Oral tradition presents Yorubaa as the descendants of Oduduwa who were sent by Oludumare to create and populate the earth. He was the first Ooni Ife.
Modern archaeology places the Yoruba culture to have existed from about 1000 BCE. The most prominent of the Yoruba ancient material cult is found around the various kingdoms that form the Yoruba city-states such as ife, Oyo, Owo etc. Oyo was the most predominant, gaining the status of empire hood which lasted for over 30
ANCIENT KINGDOMS AND ARTEFACTS
The kingdom of Tjesha also called lle-ife is the cradle of the Yoruba culture and philosophy.
It holds the oldest monarchical seat in all of Yoruba land. In 1910, Leo Frobenuls a German anthropologist discovered ancient works of the Ife which were done in copper alloy metals.
The works present a naturalistic representation of the Ife rulers from the earlier period. Prominent among them are Ooni Obalufun I and Ooni Obalufun.
EGUNGUN MASQUERADE
The Yoruba people practice ancestral worship and celebrate through the Egungun Festival and masquerade.
The masquerades are said to be the spirit of departed elders and ancestors who visit the living to celebrate, bless and warn them if there appear to be issues in the community, they are usually clothed heavily with textile lappets with multiple colours and forms.
Geometric motifs form the major patterns seen in Egungun costumes. However, some Egungun masquerades bear elaborate designs of animals, plants and mythical creatures.
They are mostly accompanied by Yoruba talking drums and music as they dance around the arena.
POLITICAL STRUCTURE AND RELIGION
The various city-states in the Yoruba land are ruled by a paramount ruler and a council of chiefs and warlords.
The Oba title is used for all rulers who also have a title that stems from their area of influence o.g. the Olubadan of Ibadan, the Aseyin of Iseyin.
The Yoruba people were originally worshipers of the 400 Orishas and deity and Oludumare who is seen as the Supreme God. Other gods include agun, Sango, Osun, Obatala, Oshosi, Orayani, and Oro.
