HISTORY OF YORUBA

It is well known to Tom, Dick and Harry that Yoruba tribe is one of the three major tribes in Nigeria whom have vehemently served and have shouldered the country times without number as their contributions to all of her sectors: education, politics, economy, law, health, entertainment etc. are pivotal and mammoth; it is not new to everyone that Yoruba domiciled in Western part of Nigeria and they speak Yoruba language which has more than 40 million native speakers. Seven states are regarded as Yoruba states in Nigeria namely Lagos, Èkìtì, Kwara, Ògùn, Oǹdó, Ọ̀ṣun and Ọ̀yọ́ states, aside these states, Yoruba tribe can still be found in Kogi state. There is no how we could discuss the true history of Yoruba without mentioning Ilé-Ifẹ̀ as the two are like two sides of a coin that can never be separated from one another. This paper does not engage in any nepotism or favouritism of any measure neither does it revolve around any sycophancy of any degree. Hence, this paper discusses the state of Ife before and after the arrival of Oduduwa; Oduduwa’s children; Yoruba diaspora and causes of their dispersion.