|
An Oba is a Yoruba chief or ruler.
 Research Oba
The Yoruba are the majority ethnic group living in south west Nigeria; there is a Yoruba minority in east Benin. They number approximately 20 million in all, and their language belongs to the Kwa branch of the Niger- Congo family. The Yoruba established powerful city-states in the 15th century, known for their advanced culture which includes sculpture, art, and music. The Yoruba kingdom was broken up in 1820 by an invasion of the Fulahs who captured the city of Ilorin.
Research Yoruba
Ifa is the Yoruba god of wisdom, knowledge and divining.
Research Ifa
In Yoruba mythology, Obatala was the son of Olodumare. He created mankind from the earth.
Research Obatala
In Yoruba mythology, Oduduwa is the wife of Obatala.
Research Oduduwa
In Yoruba mythology, Ogun is a son of Obatala and Oduduwa. He was a warrior who won many battles and was rewarded with the kingdom of the town of Ire in the land of Ekiti given to him by Oduduwa.
Research Ogun
In Yoruba mythology, Shango is an earth god. He was the King of Oyo, but because his citizens were dissatisfied with his tyrannical rule he rode off into the forest and rose up into heaven where he became a god of thunder and lightning. He is the god of justice and fair play.
Research Shango
The Republic of Benin is a country in west Africa. It has a total area of 112,620 km2. The climate is tropical; hot and humid in the south; semi-arid in the north. The terrain is mostly flat to undulating plain with some hills and low mountains. Natural resources are small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble and timber. The religion is 70% indigenous beliefs, 15% Muslim and 15% Christian. The official language is French with Fon and Yoruba the most common vernaculars spoken in the south and at least six major tribal languages spoken in the north.
Benin (formerly known as Dahomey) was a powerful kingdom from the 12th century until it was taken by the French in the 1850s and became part of French West Africa in 1899. In 1900 the country became the French colony of Dahomey, becoming self-governing in 1958 and in 1960 independent as the Republic of Dahomey. In 1975 the country was renamed Benin.
Research Benin
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a country in west Africa. The climate is tropical in the centre and arid in the north. The terrain is southern lowlands that merge into central hills and plateaus with mountains in the south- east and plains in the north. Natural resources are crude oil, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc and natural gas. The religion is 50% Muslim, 40% Christian, 10% indigenous beliefs. The official language is English with Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani, and about 500 other indigenous languages also widely used.
Nigeria was a British protectorate from the 19th century, becoming a federation in 1954 and independent as a constitutional monachy in 1960 and a republic in 1963.
Research Nigeria
Yoruba is a Defoid language spoken in Nigeria and Benin.
Research Yoruba
|
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
©1993 - 2009 The Probert Encyclopaedia
Southampton, United Kingdom
|
|
|
Abbreviations
