When this book made its first appearance in 1958, it was well received by lovers of Yoruba history and culture. Indeed, the most famous scholar of the Yoruba at that time, Professor S. O. Biobaku, who encouraged the project, supplied a foreword to the first edition. The reason for reprinting this book is exactly the same reason expressed many years ago: a new generation remains ignorant of the history of their people.

CONTENTS

Publisher’s Note
New Foreword
Original Foreword Preface
Sir Adesoji Aderemi (Photograph) Introduction
Ooni Ademiluyi (Photograph)

IFE, CRADLE OF THE YORUBA PART I

Slight Changes of Thought
Origin Of the Yorubas as Generally Believed Today
Origin of Tribal Facial Marks
Origin of Slavery
Necessity for Slaves in Egypt
Our Connection with Egypt
Manner of Binding Deaths for Burial
Reasons for Reference to English History
Carved Stones at Ile-Ife
Didi-ota (Art of Human Beings becoming Stone)
Recent Views of Some Writers
The Name Yoruba
Inago People
Early Traders and our People
Origin Of the Word Yoruba
Coming Of the Missionaries To Abeokuta
Necessity for one Common Bible
Crowther’s Final Contribution to the Furtherance of Yoruba Were the Ifes, Egbas, Ijebus, Ekitis And Ondos Yorubas Originally? Yorubas Proper
Even the Oyos were not Originally Yorubas
Ancient Yoruba Country and its Extent
The Kinglets and the Provinces of Ancient Yoruba Country Why and When Oyos Came to Ibadan
Original Founder and Settlers of Ibadan
Receptions of the Oyos at Ibadan
The Modern Yoruba Country and its Extent
The Bases of the New Yoruba Country
Real Position of Ooni

Ooni’s Evidence
Why Ooni was Recognised by The Government
Ooni Adelekan (Photograph)
Not Circumstantial
How Ooni Could Enjoy Governor’s Recognition Then Why Ooni is Known as True Head of the New Yoruba Country

IFE, CRADLE OF THE YORUBA PART II

The Ife Town
Position
Area and Population
Ife, the Cradle of the Universe, not only of the Yorubas Truth Gradually Coming Out
East Africa is Suggested
Ancient Common Mistakes
The Coming of Oodua to Ile-Ife
Oodua’s Descent
How These Facts are Known
Oodua’s Followers
Oke-ora
The Sixteen Elders that Came with Oodua to Ile-Ife
How Ile-Ife got its Name
Origin of the Igbos
How their Name was Come About
Preparation against them
The Final Destruction of the Igbos
Memory of the Disaster on both Sides
Fulfilment of Vow
Why Moremi Became the Perpetual Adopted Mother of All Ifes Edi, and not Idi Festival – Origin Of
Fereteke Day
Ogunna or Ofonran Day
Idana-olori or Isa-igare
Omolarere Day
Owalare Day
Ojo Igbarubi
Leaving the Grove of Ilamaja
Eri’s Annual Free Gift
Ode-omo Ooni
Eru Ko Wo Day
Those whom Oduduwa met at Ile-Ife
Effect of their Exodus