The Archaeology, Diplomacy & Power Logic Of The Yoruba Nation
Mythology Backed by Material Evidence
A common critique of African historical narratives is their over-dependence on oral histories. Yet the Yoruba civilisation stands apart because its mythology aligns unusually with material confirmation. Ife’s cosmological status as the cradle of humanity is reinforced not by sentiment but by archaeological evidence of early urban planning, metallurgy, artistry, and spiritual monarchy institutions.
Military Engineering and Expansion Mechanics
Contrary to simplistic tribal war framing, Oyo’s expansion was driven by military engineering logic. The empire developed cavalry units adapted to the Savannah, administrative outposts to manage conquered territories, and economic taxation models that ensured loyalty and revenue continuity. Oyo was not merely a kingdom—it was an institutional system.
Economic Diplomacy and Internal Intelligence
Ife, Ijebu, Egba, Ondo, and Ekiti kingdoms operated early intelligence-sharing systems through traditional councils, trade guilds, and diplomatic envoys. The complexity of bride-price investigations in Igbo land is often discussed, but rarely do people highlight that the Ijebu controlled trade intelligence and Egba mastered military diplomacy, proving that Yoruba kingdoms had specialised power identities, not generic monarchies.
The Misalignment of Borders and Identity
The political creation of Nigeria forced the reclassification of Yoruba communities into minority status in states like Kogi, Kwara, Delta, and parts of Edo. Investigative anthropology shows that indigeneity is not measured by population size but by historical settlement roots. The Okun subgroup in Kogi is Yoruba by ancestry, language origin, and cultural cosmology. The Igbomina of Kwara represent a Yoruba community whose identity survived emirate influence and post-colonial reclassification.
The Unfinished Autonomy Conversation
Local government autonomy debates mirror Yoruba pre-colonial governance systems where imperial oversight existed but local monarchies retained administrative independence. The question Nigeria still hasn’t answered is one the Yoruba answered long ago: how to decentralise power without destroying unity.
