Nigeria a country located in the west Africa have more than 500 languages and hundred ethnic groups.
The 3 major Ethnic groups in Nigeria are The HAUSA, YORUBA and IGBO.
The HAUSA: According to my research Hausa is the biggest ethnic group in Nigeria.
It make up 25% of the population in Nigeria.
Their culture is homogenous and they are known for rearing cattles, growing crops and their main religion is ISLAM.
Their king is called The emir.
YORUBA: Yoruba takes about 21% of the population in Nigeria. It’s the second biggest ethnic group in Nigeria.
The YORUBAS are usually Muslim or Christian but some still hold on to the traditional aspects of their forefathers in short some are still traditional worshippers.
Yoruba is known for it cultures, music, dancing arts and festivals.
Their king is known as the Oba.
IGBO: The IGBO are mostly recognized as Christians.
They are the essential part of the oil trade in Nigeria.
They are non hierarchical and not reliant on a centralized society.
Their king is known as the OBI.
As a typical Yoruba boy I would like to write about some hidden history about how Yoruba came to be and where it was originated from.
We have different stories on how Yoruba came to be but i am writing on two different stories.
According to some stories The “Yorubas” are the descendants of HAM who was the third son of Noah, the direct ancestors of Cush, the son of HAM.
Yoruba settled down in Saudi Arabia, in fact Yoruba were once Arabians.
They were in Saudi for thousands of years then became a large powerful and a well respected minority in Arab community.
Yoruba were later driven out of Arab because they refused to leave their IDOL worshipping and belief in myth after ISLAM was introduced to them by prophet MUHAMMAD (SAW),
Some migrated to RIVER NILE in Egypt while many migrated to Nigeria south west making ILE-IFE the location of their worship.
It is an historical fact that the YORUBA were never defeated in any war or conquered by foreign army.
They were responsible for stopping the JIHAD war of USMAN DAN FODIO by defeating the Fulanis and their allies in battle leaving ILORIN for them( stop the jihad from spreading to the south west).
Yoruba land is located in the western part of Nigeria ( Oyo, Ogun, ondo,ekiti,kwara,osun,kogi and lagos state) they share border with the Borgu, Benin, Nupe Ebira etc
Another story said that according to myth. Olodumare (a Yoruba name for the Supreme God) told obatala to create a place for the Yoruba but on his way he drank palm wine and was drunk, because obatala was drunk Oduduwa the younger brother of obatala took the items of creation from him came down from heaven threw sand on the floor then put a bird to scatter the sand creating the land (IFE) and produced a tree with sixteen branches that represent the groups of families that represent the early IFE.
Because oduduwa chanced obatala in the creation of IFE this led to an everlasting conflicts between this brothers.
This are the two histories i layed emphasis on but they are different stories on how Yoruba came to be.
NEXT TIME I AM WRITING ON YORUBA CULTURE, about the DIETIES etc.....