The Nigerian Village Square - Oduduwa Father of a Nation (part 2)

Oduduwa Father of a Nation (part 2)

Tuesday, 06 July 2004

Samuel Johnson also states that he did not find any evidence of Yourba's being from Mecca but the East was from Nubia otherwise now mordern day Egypt and Sudan. The phoenicians who are said to be descendants of Nimrod also were in that region. He goes on to say that obelisk such as Opa Oranyan( Oranmiyan's staff) which is in present day Ife has some similarities with known Phonecian obelisks. I have personally seen Opa Oranyan in Ife several times but i am not an archeologist hence i can not comment on the writings. For futher study on Nigerian art forms i refer the reader to the epic book by the legendary Ekpo Eyo titled 2000 years of Nigerian Art. He was the Museum director that prevented a Former Head of state from giving away many of Nigerian's treasures.

Now back to the story Ansara the priest is also thought to be a term that the early Muslims used to prefer to christians meaning followers of Christ the Nazarene. Hence Samuel Johnson postulated that the Yoruba's might have either been idol worshipers or some form of Early Christian Worship using a lot of image worship.This is evident till today in the Eastern Orthodox Churches and coptic Churches.

Oduduwa had many Children but mention is made of his son Okanbi also known as Idekoseroake. Oduduwa and also his son died at Ife. His son had 7 children whose products are as follows.

1. The first born was a Princess who married a priest and their Son became Olowu of Owu.
2. Second a Princess who gave birth to Alaketu of Ketu.
3. The third son became Oba of Benin. I will talk more about this when i finish reading the Oba of Benin's book where a controversial version of events have been stated.That will be dealt with in full.
4. Orangun of Ila
5.Onisabe of Sabe
6.Olupopo of Popo
7. Oranyan or Oranmiyan of Oyo

Although Oranmiyan is stated to be of Oyo Samuel Johnson states that Oranyan was actually Alaafin of Ife before he left to found Oyo. A lot of stories and controversy between Ife and Oyo as Spiritual versus Political headquarters of the Yoruba exists till today and was a cause of the conflict between Alaafin and Ooni in the past.
Now Oranyan left Ife on a war mission to go to the East to avenge the death of his grandfather Lamurudu he however got stuck at River Niger known in Yoruba as Odo Oya. There he met the King of the Baruba people who are in present day Niger and Kwara state. The king then gave him a snake which he followed to a Hill named the Ajaka hill.I do not now how you can chase after a snake but i guess they settled there with the advise of the Baruba king. Oyo Ajaka also known as eoyo and Katunga is not far from present day Kaiama in northern Nigeria just south of the banka of the Niger.It is also found in the Websters gazette maps which were quite popular in the 17th and 18th Centuries. Old Oyo was visited by Hugh Clapperton and Richard Lander.

I have stated the history as i have read it and stated various books for people to read.Other books are the Yoruba history book by High Chief Fabunmi of Ife and Yoruba warfare in the 19th century by J Ade Ajayi.People should also read Saburi Biobaku's books and form their opinions. I leave the reader by saying Oduduwa was definitely the father of a nation but he met people there when he got to Ife such as Agboniregun otherwise know as Setilu of Ifa fame.

Oduduwa a gbe wa o
Dr Olumide Ogunremi is an attending physician in internal medicine in St Louis, MO and the host of The Village Doctor Forum

Robot Robot is offline
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	# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot\| 24.04.2008 15:09

Last Updated ( Thursday, 24 April 2008 )

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