Ancient & Pre-Colonial Nigeria
Histories of Nigerian kingdoms, empires, trade routes, and cultures before colonial rule, including Nok, Benin, Oyo, Sokoto, and Kanem-Bornu.
Apomu, Aole, and the Market Scandal in Old Oyo
In the late eighteenth century, Apomu stood as one of the most active market towns within Ife territory, drawing traders from Oyo, Ife, Owu,...
Who Was Kokoro Gangan, The First Aare Ona Kakanfo and Founder of Oyo’s Military Command Tradition
Kokoro Gangan of Iwoye stands at the beginning of one of the most powerful military traditions in Yoruba history. His name is remembered as...
Awole, Afonja and the Crisis That Broke Old Oyo
The fall of Old Oyo was not the work of one angry king or one rebellious commander. It was the outcome of a long...
Oba Agunlejika II and the Restoration of the Owa Obokun Throne in 1966
In July 1963, the throne of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland became vacant following the death of the reigning monarch. What followed was not...
The Teenage Yoruba Ruler Few Remember, The Story of Victoria Adeyosoye Omodara at Seventeen
In the mid-1960s, a remarkable story emerged from southwestern Nigeria, one that has quietly endured over the years. It tells of a teenage girl,...
The Reign of Olowo Adeoye Ajike Atanneye II in Colonial Owo
In the long and respected history of the Owo Kingdom, some reigns stand out for their length, achievements, or conflicts, while others remain quiet,...
Bantè in Benin, A Yoruba Heartland Beyond Nigeria’s Borders
Bantè is one of the most significant Yoruba-speaking centres in the Republic of Benin. Located in central Benin, it lies in the north-western part...
Inside the Yoruba Ogo System of Forcing Payment
In Yoruba society, debt could move quickly beyond a private disagreement between two people. Once a person failed to repay what he owed, the...
Ile-Ife and the Rise of Yoruba Origin Traditions
Any strong historical account of Yoruba origins begins with Ile, Ife. Across oral tradition, royal institutions, and early written history, Ife stands as the...
Ogboni in Yoruba History, The Council of Elders That Balanced Power and Sacred Authority
Among the historic institutions of Yorubaland, few have attracted as much fascination as the Ogboni. Often portrayed in modern imagination as a secret society...