Why Some Ijebu People Identify Separately From Yoruba

Some Ijebu people argue that their identity should not be treated as identical to Yoruba identity. They point to oral traditions and the history of the Ijebu kingdom as evidence of a distinct origin and political heritage. The debate also draws on traditions linked to the Awujale, which suggest origins outside the commonly cited Oduduwa and Ile-Ife narrative. Supporters further argue that the term “Yoruba” gained wider use relatively recently and was not originally a local ethnic name. These claims remain contested. They continue to raise wider questions about ethnicity, language, migration and identity in south-western Nigeria.

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