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Religion & BeliefHistory Oral tradition

Ife tradition holds that Odùduwà was sent down from heaven by Olodumare to create the earth itself — making Ilé-Ifẹ̀, in Yoruba sacred history, the cradle of the world.

Straight from the book

“Oduduwa the reputed founder and ancestor of the race is really a mythical personage. The Etymology of the term is from Odu (ti o) da Iwa. Whatever is unusually large as a large pot or container is termed Odu: the term then implies, the great container the author of existence. According to Ife mythology Oduduwa was the son of Olodumare, i.e. the father or Lord of Odu; ma ré implies cannot go beyond i.e. the Almighty. Oduduwa was sent by Olodumare from heaven to create the eart …”

Keep reading at Part II, Ch. 1 ¶2 →

⑂ This one is contested

Where did the Yoruba people come from?
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