Yoruba History

Explore the captivating history of the Yoruba people on OldNaija.com – Yoruba political administration systems, kingdoms, etymology, historical conflicts, and more.

Why Sunday Igboho Defended Modakeke During Ife-Modakeke War in 1997

It was during this conflict that people got to know Sunday Igboho, prior to then, he was a mechanic who…
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How The People of Ara-Ekiti Committed Mass Suicide To Avoid Enslavement in 1855

As at 1850, Ara was one of the most powerful towns in Ekiti with a settlement spaning as big as…
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The Egba-Dahomey War (1851-1864)

Dahomen Azazon Women Warriors The Egba-Dahomey war, as the name suggests, was a war that broke out between the two…
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Oba Orompoto – The first Female Alaafin of Oyo

Oba Orompoto is the first and perhaps the only female Alaafin of Oyo. She was known for her bravery and…
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Oriki Ilorin Afonja (Panegyric of Ilorin)

Are-Ona-Kakanfo Afonja of Ilorin In case you have been searching for the oriki of Ilorin Afonja, you have landed in…
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Comprehensive History of Ilorin and the Reign of Afonja

Ilorin Central Mosque Before we begin with the history of Ilorin, here are few details that should be known. Ilorin…
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The Owu-Ife War (1821-1828)

Map of Yorubaland in the 19th Century The Owu-Ife war, as its name denotes, was a bloody conflict that broke…
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Moremi Ajasoro: History of the Brave Queen of Ile-Ife

The story of Moremi Ajasoro of Ile-Ife is not in any way new to Yoruba people as well as people…
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Obas of Benin were buried in Ile-Ife Up till 1914 – Oore Of Mobaland in Ekiti State

Oba (Dr.) James Adedapo Popoola, JP, CON, Odundun I Adimula, Reigning Oore of Mobaland is Oba (Dr.) James Adedapo Popoola,…
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A Brief History of Modakeke Town In Osun State

Modakeke Town Modakeke is a town in Osun State, South-West Nigeria, with nearly 300,000 inhabitants who are predominantly farmers and…
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This Is The Reason No Other Female Has Been Crowned Ooni of Ile-Ife After Queen Luwoo

Ile-Ife, a town in present day Osun State, Nigeria, has always been regarded as the cradle of the Yoruba race,…
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The Original History Of Ibadan – City Of Brown Roofs

Brief Details of Ibadan Before we begin with the history of Ibadan, let us set some facts straight. Ibadan, (pronounced…
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Battle of Imagbon: The British-Ijebu war of 1892

Background of the Battle of Imagbon In 1891, the Ijebu people, dwelling between 50 and 60 miles north-east of Lagos…
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Carlota Lucumi: This Yoruba Woman Led One of Cuba’s Biggest Revolts In 1844 That Later Inspired Fidel Castro

Carlota Lucumi Several slave revolts were triggered in the 1800s especially in the Caribbean where slavery had taken a huge…
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The True and Sad Story of How Afonja Lost Ilorin and Its Kingship to Fulani People

Pencil Guess Drawing of Are-Ona-Kakanfo Afonja The Yoruba and Fulani inhabitants of Ilorin, the present capital of Kwara State, Nigeria,…
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