Category: Culture

Ògbóni

Tradition – Customs

Ògbóni in ancient Yorubaland was the exclusive formal conclave of elders whose duty was to administer the community. The Ògbónis were statesmen whose chief business was to enact laws and judge cases. They also elect, discuss with, and advise the king in all matters of governance. The cult worship mother earth and had its own…
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Intelligence

Social – Psychology

Intelligence is the extent to which an individual can think, manipulate objects and solve problems. As discussed by Obemeta of the University of Ibadan in 1989, a person is said to be intelligent in the traditional Yoruba society if he makes spontaneous responses or positive reactions to unexpected situations or stimuli. Mathematics professor, L.O. Adetula,…
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Sarah Forbes Bonetta

History – Civilization, History – Social, Lifestyle – Others

Sarah Forbes Bonetta was the name given to the lady of regal manners from the Egbado extraction of western Nigeria, who enjoyed close relationship with and was mentored by Victoria, Queen of England. Bonnetta was born in 1843 at Okeadan village. When she was only four years old, King Gezo of Dahomey visited her village…
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Victoria Davies

History – Civilization, History – Social, Lifestyle – Others, Music – Old

Victoria Davies was the eldest daughter of Labulo Davies, a Lagos businessman and Sarah Forbes, goddaughter of the Queen Victoria of England. When Victoria Davies was born in 1863 she was named in honour of the Queen, who accepted to be her godmother, as she had been to her mother, Sarah. At her christening, Queen…
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Obadaih Johnson

Culture – Others

Obadiah Johnson was a 19th Century Nigerian Author and physician. Obadiah was born in 1849 and he became, after studies at Kings’ College, London, the second Yoruba medical doctor. In 1889 Johnson was appointed an Assistant Colonial Surgeon in Lagos. Although he hoped for a long blissful career, he resigned in July 1897, because of the…
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Aoole Arogangan

Culture – Others

Aoole Arogangan was the Alaafin after Abiodun, who was a cousin. Aole Arogangan ruled for seven years. He was unpopular mostly because he compared terribly with his immediate predecessor. Aole, as Alaafin, was petty and he showed no particular ambition to be a good king. His suppressed malice and weakness combined to put an end…
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Afonja

Culture – Others

Afonja was the Great grandson of Laderin, founder of Ilorin town. Afonja was the most influential man in old Ilorin and he was responsible for the revolution that unbundled Oyo Empire. His actions also led to the lost of Ilorin town to foreign dominance. Afonja‘s father was one of the men who swelled the army that…
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Kokoro Gan-Gan

Culture – Others

Kokoro Gangan was the first Aare-Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba nation, a soldier from Iwoye who was friend to the Alaafin Ajagbo, the war-loving prince. After him, the title has become like that of a Field Marshal, and is conferred upon the greatest soldier and tactician of the day.
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Akarigbo

History – General, Social – Tradition

Akarigbo is the paramount ruler of the Remo people, who traditionally ruled his own session of Ijebuland on behalf of the Awujale. Originally, the Akarigbo’s authority was limited to Ofen (now Ofin), one of the Sagamu twelve communities, which in turn was one of the Remo towns, west of Ijebu, that coalesced during the nineteenth…
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Adimu

Culture – Others

Adimu was in Oyo-biased account, one of Oduduwa’s trusty servants who, by circumstance, became the sovereign at Ile Ife, thereby occupying one of the most important offices in the entire old Yoruba nation. Oranyan left Adimu in charge of royal treasures when he set out for a retaliatory military action against his father’s adversaries in Egypt.…
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