The Yorubas originated from Ile-Ife, arose and became quite popular by their trading with the Portuguese, which gave them a large supply of guns.
However, they were unable to push back the Fulani who invaded them and pushed much of the Yoruba to the south.
In the late 1800s, the Yorubas formed a treaty with the Fulani and in 1901 they were colonised by the British. Because of their enmity with the Fulani who are the great Islamic evangelists, most of the Yoruba people do not hold to Islam but instead worship many of the gods and spirits that the Yoruba hold to.
Economically, Yoruba people primarily engage in agriculture, with about 15% of the people employed as merchants or artists and craftsman.
One of the features that make Yoruba people unique is their tendency to form into large city groups instead of small village groups. The Yorubas are today one of the three main ethnic groups that make up Nigeria. They can also be found in neighbouring countries.
People & Culture
Oba means ruler in the Yoruba and Bini languages of contemporary West Africa. Kings in Yorubaland, a region which is in the modern republics of Benin, Nigeria and Togo, make use of it as a pre-nominal honorific. Post-colonial examples of Yoruba bearers include Oba Ogunwusi of Ile Ife, Oba Aromolaran of Ilesha and Oba Adeyemi of Oyo. An example of a Bini bearer is Oba Ewuare II of Benin.The ranking of kings or Obas in Yoruba land is a topic that has caused series of controversies as to who is the most powerful Yoruba King in Nigeria.