Tracing Yoruba Origins: Ilé-Ifẹ̀ Before the Oyo Empire

Long before cavalry or tribute, there was Ilé-Ifẹ̀. This documentary explores how narrative, cosmology, and political structures shaped the Yoruba world before Oyo’s rise. We delve into Ilé-Ifẹ̀’s role as a spiritual capital. We examine the myth of Odùduwà and its function in legitimizing authority. We track migration patterns that shifted power and explore why Oyo emerged in the savannah without abandoning its roots. This structural analysis reveals how identity becomes empire. While historians debate details, the spread of legitimacy from Ifẹ̀ and the institutional growth of Oyo are well documented. Power moved. Memory endured. Both still shape us today.

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