Yoruboid · Nigeria’s peoples

Yoruba

The Yoruba are the main people of south-western Nigeria.

At a glance

Where do the Yoruba people live?: Their homeland is in Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Ondo, Kwara, Osun and Kogi States, across 153 local government areas. They are also a large share of Lokoja in Kogi State.
What language do the Yoruba speak?: Yoruba, a language of the Yoruboid family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Defoid › Yoruboid).
Which kingdoms are part of Yoruba history?: Ife, Egba, Oyo Empire, Ijebu Kingdom, Kingdom of Lagos, Ibadan, Ekitiparapo

Overview

The Yoruba are the main people of south-western Nigeria. Yorubaland in Nigeria covers Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos, most of Kwara and western Kogi. Ife and Oyo were their great historic centres; Yoruba is close kin to Igala and Itsekiri.^[2],[3],[4]High confidence

Where the Yoruba live

Local government areas by state. Homeland: the group is the majority. Shared area: a large share of a mixed area. Smaller presence: present, but a small share.

Ogun
- Abeokuta North(Homeland)
- Abeokuta South(Homeland)
- Ado Odo/Ota(Homeland)
- Ewekoro(Homeland)
- Ifo(Homeland)
- Ijebu East(Homeland)
- Ijebu North(Homeland)
- Ijebu North East(Homeland)
- Ijebu Ode(Homeland)
- Ikenne(Homeland)
- Imeko Afon(Homeland)
- Ipokia(Homeland)
- Obafemi Owode(Homeland)
- Odeda(Homeland)
- Odogbolu(Homeland)
- Ogun Waterside(Homeland)
- Remo North(Homeland)
- Shagamu(Homeland)
- Yewa North(Homeland)
- Yewa South(Homeland)
Ekiti
- Ado-Ekiti(Homeland)
- Efon(Homeland)
- Ekiti East(Homeland)
- Ekiti South-West(Homeland)
- Ekiti West(Homeland)
- Emure(Homeland)
- Gbonyin(Homeland)
- Ido-Osi(Homeland)
- Ijero(Homeland)
- Ikere(Homeland)
- Ikole(Homeland)
- Ilejemeje(Homeland)
- Irepodun/Ifelodun(Homeland)
- Ise/Orun(Homeland)
- Moba(Homeland)
- Oye(Homeland)
Oyo
- Afijio(Homeland)
- Akinyele(Homeland)
- Atiba(Homeland)
- Atisbo(Homeland)
- Egbeda(Homeland)
- Ibadan North(Homeland)
- Ibadan North East(Homeland)
- Ibadan North West(Homeland)
- Ibadan South East(Homeland)
- Ibadan South West(Homeland)
- Ibarapa Central(Homeland)
- Ibarapa East(Homeland)
- Ibarapa North(Homeland)
- Ido(Homeland)
- Irepo(Homeland)
- Iseyin(Homeland)
- Itesiwaju(Homeland)
- Iwajowa(Homeland)
- Kajola(Homeland)
- Lagelu(Homeland)
- Ogbomosho North(Homeland)
- Ogbomosho South(Homeland)
- Ogo Oluwa(Homeland)
- Olorunsogo(Homeland)
- Oluyole(Homeland)
- Ona Ara(Homeland)
- Orelope(Homeland)
- Ori Ire(Homeland)
- Oyo East(Homeland)
- Oyo West(Homeland)
- Saki East(Homeland)
- Saki West(Homeland)
- Surulere(Homeland)
Lagos
- Agege(Homeland)
- Ajeromi/Ifelodun(Homeland)
- Alimosho(Homeland)
- Amuwo Odofin(Homeland)
- Apapa(Homeland)
- Badagry(Homeland)
- Epe(Homeland)
- Eti Osa(Homeland)
- Ibeju Lekki(Homeland)
- Ifako/Ijaye(Homeland)
- Ikeja(Homeland)
- Ikorodu(Homeland)
- Kosofe(Homeland)
- Lagos Island(Homeland)
- Lagos Mainland(Homeland)
- Mushin(Homeland)
- Ojo(Homeland)
- Oshodi/Isolo(Homeland)
- Shomolu(Homeland)
- Surulere(Homeland)
Ondo
- Akoko North East(Homeland)
- Akoko North West(Homeland)
- Akoko South East(Homeland)
- Akoko South West(Homeland)
- Akure North(Homeland)
- Akure South(Homeland)
- Idanre(Homeland)
- Ifedore(Homeland)
- Ilaje(Homeland)
- Ile Oluji/Okeigbo(Homeland)
- Irele(Homeland)
- Odigbo(Homeland)
- Okitipupa(Homeland)
- Ondo East(Homeland)
- Ondo West(Homeland)
- Ose(Homeland)
- Owo(Homeland)
Kwara
- Asa(Homeland)
- Ekiti(Homeland)
- Ifelodun(Homeland)
- Ilorin East(Homeland)
- Ilorin South(Homeland)
- Ilorin West(Homeland)
- Irepodun(Homeland)
- Isin(Homeland)
- Moro(Homeland)
- Offa(Homeland)
- Oke Ero(Homeland)
- Oyun(Homeland)
- Kaiama(Smaller presence)
Osun
- Atakunmosa East(Homeland)
- Atakunmosa West(Homeland)
- Ayedade(Homeland)
- Ayedire(Homeland)
- Boluwaduro(Homeland)
- Boripe(Homeland)
- Ede North(Homeland)
- Ede South(Homeland)
- Egbedore(Homeland)
- Ejigbo(Homeland)
- Ife Central(Homeland)
- Ife East(Homeland)
- Ife North(Homeland)
- Ife South(Homeland)
- Ifedayo(Homeland)
- Ifelodun(Homeland)
- Ila(Homeland)
- Ilesha East(Homeland)
- Ilesha West(Homeland)
- Irepodun(Homeland)
- Irewole(Homeland)
- Isokan(Homeland)
- Iwo(Homeland)
- Obokun(Homeland)
- Odo Otin(Homeland)
- Ola Oluwa(Homeland)
- Olorunda(Homeland)
- Oriade(Homeland)
- Orolu(Homeland)
- Osogbo(Homeland)
Kogi
- Ijumu(Homeland)
- Kabba/Bunu(Homeland)
- Mopa-Muro(Homeland)
- Yagba East(Homeland)
- Yagba West(Homeland)
- Lokoja(Shared area)
- Kogi(Smaller presence)
Niger
- Borgu(Smaller presence)
- Mokwa(Smaller presence)

Areas are approximate and show where people live. They are not claims of land ownership.

Communities beyond the homeland

Ile-Ife

Ife Central, Osun State; Ife East, Osun State; Ife North, Osun State; Ife South, Osun State.^[9]High confidence

In Yoruba belief the place where Obatala founded the world at Olodumare's order, later held by Oduduwa, whose sons and daughters founded the kingdoms of Yorubaland. An important emporium by 900 CE, famous for naturalistic bronze, stone and terracotta heads of about 1200–1400. Its king is the Ooni.^[9]

Oyo (Oyo Atiba)

Atiba, Oyo State; Oyo East, Oyo State; Oyo West, Oyo State.^[10]High confidence

New Oyo, founded in the 1830s as the capital of what remained of the Oyo Empire after Old Oyo was abandoned. Seat of the Alaafin. Soyinka's Death and the King's Horseman is based on an event here in 1946.^[10]

Ibadan

Ibadan North, Oyo State; Ibadan North East, Oyo State; Ibadan North West, Oyo State; Ibadan South East, Oyo State; Ibadan South West, Oyo State.^[11]High confidence

Eba-Odan, “by the edge of the meadow”. Founded by Lagelu, it came into its present existence in 1829 as a war camp, in the turmoil that destroyed Old Oyo, Ijaye and Owu.^[11]

Abeokuta

Abeokuta South, Ogun State; Abeokuta North, Ogun State.^[12]High confidence

Founded around 1830 by the Egba, refugees from the collapse of Oyo, on a strong defensive site against slave raiders from Dahomey. It replaced Orile Egba, their earlier confederacy of forest towns.^[12]

Lagos (Eko)

Lagos Island, Lagos State; Lagos Mainland, Lagos State.^[13]High confidence

Lagos Island was Oko to the Awori, who came down the Ogun river by the 15th century; under Benin it became Eko, from the Edo for “war camp”. British rule began in 1851 and it became a colony in 1861.^[13]

Ijebu-Ode

Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.^[14]High confidence

Capital of the Ijebu kingdom by the 16th century, named for its founders Ajebu and Olode. Near it lies Sungbo's Eredo, one of the largest ramparts in West Africa.^[14]

Ilaro (Yewa)

Yewa South, Ogun State.^[15]High confidence

Seat of the Olu of Ilaro, paramount ruler of Yewaland (the old Egbado division).^[15]

Ogbomosho

Ogbomosho North, Oyo State; Ogbomosho South, Oyo State.^[16]High confidence

Founded in the mid-17th century by the hunter Ogunlola. In 1891 it was a walled city with a moat, allied to Ibadan.^[16]

Iseyin

Iseyin, Oyo State.^[17]High confidence

An Oke-Ogun town under the Aseyin, home of aso oke (aso ofi) weaving.^[17]

Cotton weaving, tobacco and food farming.^[17]

Shaki

Saki West, Oyo State; Saki East, Oyo State.^[18]High confidence

Part of the Oyo Empire; became a refugee town after Old Oyo was destroyed in 1835. Its ruler is the Okere.^[18]

Osogbo

Osogbo, Osun State; Olorunda, Osun State.^[19]High confidence

Capital of Osun State since 1991, on the Lagos–Kano railway; home of the Osogbo school of art.^[19]

Ede

Ede North, Osun State; Ede South, Osun State.^[20]High confidence

On the Osun river. Its Timi, Abibu Lagunju, was on the throne by 1857 as a Muslim, the first Muslim Oba in Yorubaland.^[20]

Iwo

Iwo, Osun State.^[21]High confidence

Its people trace their migration from Ile-Ife to the 11th century. The Oluwo has over 30 kings under him.^[21]

Ikirun

Ifelodun, Osun State.^[22]High confidence

Founded by Akinorun, from whom it takes its name.^[22]

Ila Orangun (Igbomina)

Ila, Osun State.^[23]High confidence

Capital of an old Igbomina city-state under the Orangun of Ila, with more than 200 compounds.^[23]

Ilesa (Ijeshaland)

Ilesha East, Osun State; Ilesha West, Osun State: Ibokun, Esa-Oke, Ipetu-Ijesa, Ijebu-Jesa, Iwoye-Ijesa.^[24],[25]High confidence

Capital of the Ijesha kingdom under the Owa Obokun.^[24]

Ado-Ekiti

Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.^[26]High confidence

Founded by Ewi Awamaro, son of Biritikolu, who left Ile-Ife with his father and his uncle Oranmiyan; Awamaro settled at Ulesun after resting at Ido Ani and Agbado. Its ruler is the Ewi.^[26]

Ondo

Ondo West, Ondo State; Ondo East, Ondo State.^[27],[28]High confidence

Its king, the Osemawe, descends from Oduduwa; the title is said to come from “ese omo re”, the first king's cry when his favourite wife bore twins.^[27]

Owo

Owo, Ondo State.^[29]High confidence

Capital of a Yoruba city-state from about 1400 to 1600, tracing its founders to Ile-Ife. It kept near independence from Benin, sometimes paying tribute, and Benin's kings recruited Owo's ivory carvers. British rule came in 1893; the Action Group was launched at the Olowo's palace in 1951.^[29]

Akure

Akure South, Ondo State; Akure North, Ondo State.^[30]High confidence

Founded by Alakure; its kings descend from Asodeboyede, a prince from Ile-Ife who conquered Alakure's people.^[30]

Language

Yoruba, a language of the Yoruboid family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Defoid › Yoruboid). ISO 639-3: yor.^[1]High confidence

In history

Sources

Every claim carries a confidence level: high (well attested), medium (one source or approximate) or disputed (sources disagree).