Yorubaland is the cultural region of the Yoruba people in West Africa. It spans the modern-day countries of Nigeria, Togo, and Benin. Its pre-modern history is based largely on oral traditions and legends. According to Yoruba religion, Oduduwa became the ancestor of the first divine king of the Yoruba.
Did Benin originate from Yoruba?
The Yoruba kingdoms of Benin and Ife sprang up between the 11th and 12th centuries. The present-day Benin monarch declared his ancestry from Oranmiyan through Ekaladerhan and direct to the Ogiso dynasty. … As far as historical memory extends, the Yoruba have been the dominant group on the west bank of the Niger.
Is Benin Yoruba or Igbo?
Benin Kingdom in Edo is Yoruba territory — Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi. The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Tuesday said Benin Kingdom in Edo State remained part of the expansive Yoruba race, a pronouncement that may spark fresh rivalry and altercation between people of the two ancient kingdoms.
Do they speak Yoruba in Benin?
Benin is a diverse country linguistically. … Of those, French is the official language, and all the indigenous languages are considered national languages. Of the Beninese languages, Fon, a Gbe language, and Yoruba are the most important in the south of the country.
Which tribe is Benin?
Edo people. The Edo or Benin people are an Edoid ethnic group primarily found in Edo State, Nigeria. They speak the Edo language and are the descendants of the founders of the Benin Empire. They are closely related to other ethnic groups that speak Edoid languages, such as the Esan, the Afemai, the Isoko,and the Urhobo …
Who is the No 1 Oba in Nigeria?
1. Oba Obateru Akinrutan – Olugbo of Ugbo – the richest king in Nigeria. Oba Obateru Akinruntan is the head of Ugbo, Ondo state. Besides being the royal leader of Ugbo, he owns Obat Petroleum, one of the largest private oil trading companies in Nigeria which controls Africa’s largest oil depots.
How old is Yoruba?
The Yoruba-speaking peoples share a rich and complex heritage that is at least one thousand years old. Today 18 million Yoruba live primarily in the modern nations of southwestern Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.
Is Oba a Yoruba word?
Oba means ruler in the Yoruba and Bini languages of 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.
What is Benin city famous for?
Benin City has long been famous for its “bronzes”—actually brass work, some of which is said to date from the 13th century—and for its ivory and wood carvings. Its museum (1960) has a notable collection of some of the kingdom’s early pieces.
How old is Benin City Nigeria?
Benin City, originally known as Edo, was once the capital of a pre-colonial African empire located in what is now southern Nigeria. The Benin empire was one of the oldest and most highly developed states in west Africa, dating back to the 11th century.
Are Igbo and Yoruba related?
The Yoruba and the Igbo share a lot more than similar mythic origins. They are the oldest inhabitants of the areas they live in. In other words, the Yoruba and the Igbo are indigenous to the geographical area called “Nigeria”. And it has also been argued that both groups are of a singular ancestry.
Is Lagos a Yoruba land?
The Nigerian part of Yorubaland comprises today’s Ọyọ, Ọṣun, Ogun, Kwara, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos as well as parts of Kogi .
Which country speaks Yoruba Apart from Nigeria?
As the principal Yoruboid language, Yoruba is most closely related to the languages Itsekiri (spoken in the Niger Delta) and Igala (spoken in central Nigeria).
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Yoruba language.
| Yoruba | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana |
| Ethnicity | Yoruba |
| Native speakers | 50 million (2020) |
What is the religion of Benin?
Christianity is the most widely professed religion in Benin, with 48.5% of the nation’s total population being members of various Christian denominations.
Why do Benin kings cover their mouth?
(1) The Oba usually covers his mouth because when he talks he is the supreme authority and whatever he says is final. (2) People talk on his behalf most of the time and whatever they proclaim becomes the law with immediate effect. (3) His wives covered their mouths as a sign of submission.
Which is the oldest kingdom in Nigeria?
The Nri Kingdom in the Awka area was founded in about 900 AD in north central Igboland, and is considered the oldest kingdom in Nigeria.