Ile Ife, Oyo and the Tradition of Extinct Ife Settlements

I have had lengthy conversations with Ifa about Ile Ife and its historical successors. I once compared Ile Ife and Oyo to Britain and the United States, assuming Oyo emerged peacefully from Ile Ife. However, Ifa’s account is that Oyo separated violently and, at one point, even received tribute from Ile Ife. By the time the British arrived in Yorubaland, Ile Ife was no longer paying tribute to any power. According to Ifa, there were also different settlements known as Ile Ife, including some associated with Gbe-speaking peoples. There were periods when cities fought over recognition as the true Ile Ife. Gbe-speaking communities west of Yorubaland, including Fon and Eegun people, have sites such as Mawufe and Amadzofe that are regarded in their traditions as ancestral homes of humanity. The Yoruboid and Gbe language groups do not appear closely related linguistically. Yoruboid languages are said to be closer to Igboid languages, although Gbe-speaking peoples have had stronger historical and cultural connections with Yoruba communities. I believe Ifa can be used as a source for reconstructing aspects of history, and I explore this further in my forthcoming book.

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