Cultural Background

The Yoruba consist of many subgroups that have a common culture and language consisting of various dialects. These subgroups are Ana, Isha, Idasha, Shane, Keu, Ifoniyen, Egbado, Eba, Ijebu, Oyo, Ondo, Owo, Ekiti, Igvomira, and Aworo. Their language is a Niger-Congo off shoot of the Congo-Korodofian branch. The Yoruba view the town of Ife in Nigeria as their place of origin. Ife is in the southwest region of Nigeria in the state of Osun. This is supported by the fact the Yoruba are the most urban of all Africans. Archeological findings support this origin. However there are hypotheses that claim an Egyptian, eastern Sudan, Israeli origin.

Time Period: 950 AD to the present.

Location: Nigeria, western Africa, borders the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon.

Geography: Located at 10 00 N, 8 00 E; highest elevation, the Chappal Waddi at 2,419 meters; lowest elevation Atlantic Ocean at 0 meters. There are five major geographic divisions; low coastal zone that runs the Gulf of Guinea; moving northward covered by hills and low plateaus; the Niger-Benue river valley; stretching to the northern boarder is a broad stepped plateau with the countries highest elevations; eastern boarder of mountainous regions.

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