The Yoruba people's historical overview: Extrication of facts from myth and examining the hierarchy of the Obas classification

Drawing on existing historical accounts, this article explores the diverse perspectives on the origins of the Yoruba people, tracing them back to the ancestor Oduduwa and the traditional Oba system centred in Ile-Ife. Many intricate and complicated traditional stories describe Ile Ife's history, from Oduduwa's era to the modern day. Despite the vast number of traditions and versions, this summary was carefully constructed to add to the existing Yoruba literature of origins and identity, including the Yoruba Obas hierarchy and the development of their towns. Although Yoruba scholars have tried to establish the origins of the Yoruba people through rigorous research, they have had limited success. By exploring the variations in origin, identity and developments in Yoruba land, this paper provides fresh perspectives on previously historical-interpreted themes, leading to new conclusions.