By Bode Durojaiye.
The Yoruba, who number more than 30 million on the African continent, and many millions in their diaspora, inhabit a world of myths, allegories, poetry, the love and wisdom of the Ifa divination system.
Those are just a few of the components of Yoruba culture, the genesis of which is the ancient town of Oyo.
‘’The Yoruba constitute over 40 million people in total. The majority of this population is from Nigeria, and the Yoruba make up twenty one percent of the country’s population, according to making them one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa.
The old Oyo Empire, the longest reigning in the world which lasted over 600 uninterrupted years, was one of the earliest and probably, the greatest independent race in West Africa, South of the equator.
At the height of its existence, the old Oyo Empire dominated all Yoruba kingdoms namely Ife, Ijesha, Egba, Ijebu, Sabe and Owu. The area occupied by the Yoruba Kingdom in South- West Nigeria, is roughly enclosed by latitude 5 and 8 degree North of the equator and Longitude 5 and 21/2 degree East.
History has it that there are two versions to the origin of the Yoruba race – Migration and Aboriginality.
These two theories may not necessarily be contradictory in the sense that our oral tradition was handed down to us by purely non-natives.
But this is a universal phenomenon because if you realise that at one time in history, you have the whites in South Africa; the Eastern and Southern Rhodesia, all living together on the basis of long co-existence.
The same experience is also recorded in the case of migration, as there are historical and empirical evidences documented in the famous Lugard lecture series, as well as, in the researches ofthe late globally renowned Historian, Professor Saburi Biobaku that the Yoruba race is so large and wide, that it stands today as the greatest and strongest empire ever, in the entire continent of Africa.
The reign of Oranmiyan marked a new phase in Yoruba history as it witnessed the executive transfer of political power from Ile-Ife to Oyo, and thereafter, Oyo become the political headquarter of the Yoruba race, and that is where the Alaafin presides from.
According to historical studies, the Oyo palace is estimated to be sitting on about 640 acres. We still have excavations of the old Oyo Empire, and centuries after, some of the walls of the old Oyo Empire, are still standing in its original form. That is a great testimony of the architectural ingenuity of the Yoruba race.
The old Oyo Empire distinguished itself in the world; with three very distinctive and unique models. First, it evolved a wonderfully developed constitution, though unwritten. The average Yoruba man is governed by strong convention. Secondly, the Yorubas evolved a military system that allows them to develop weaponry.
The Yorubas are the first to smith iron and thus, they built foundries from where they also produced agricultural implements to boost food production. Thirdly, the Yoruba race evolved a very practical method of administration, by adopting the cabinet system of governance. If you are a good student of the evolution of British Constitution, you would know that the cabinet system came about in Britain only as a matter of temporal expedience; it was not by design.
So, as far back as the 16th Century, the old Oyo Empire developed the cabinet system of government. And from the Prime Minister, to the Alaafin, and the various divisional heads, all tiers have their roles and responsibilities clearly spelt out and adhered to with separation of powers, and inputs for checks and balances.
The military command structure is so unique that the Aare Ona Kakanfo as the generalissimo of the military led the Oyo war lords successfully to many battles between the 13th and 16th century that preserved the territorial integrity, of the Yoruba race. And during this time, Oyo extended its territorial limits up to Nupe, Dahomey, Abome, Wema, and other parts of Togo land. And today, these people are offshoots of the great Yoruba Kingdom.
The Oyos, it was reliably gathered were not called Yorubas originally.
Other groups that made up the Yoruba race preferred at the time (centuries ago) to be called Egbas, Ijeshas and whatever name they desired. But by the 19th century, there was need to forge a common ground and have a standard linguistic form hence, the Oyo dialect was embraced by all Yorubas.
So Yorubas are Oyo’s by origin.
To be continued..........
