Apparently miffed by what it described as calculated efforts to rewrite the history of the famed Yoruba heritage, a group under the aegis of Think Yoruba First Ogo Adulawo Socio-Cultural Association (TYF Worldwide), has set machinery in motion to seek legal redress from the alleged offenders.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, recently, the TYF group led by its Lead Legal Consultant, Barr. Sanwo Oluwatobi, Europe Director of Operations, Mrs. Titilayo Aboyade-Cole, TYF Lagos Chapter Coordinator, Dr. Lukman Abass Asimoniye, TYF Lagos Chapter member, Mr. Owoade Akinadé and a host of others vehemently condemned what they said was a deliberate attempt to obliterate the history and heritage of the Yoruba race by individuals determined to fan the embers of disunity amongst the different tribes in the country.
While noting that the Think Yoruba First Ogo Adulawo Socio-Cultural Association, is a pan-Yoruba group solely for the protection, promotion and preservation of the Yoruba origin -Ile-Ife, Oluwatobi therefore flayed what he argued was a breach of intellectual integrity, historical distortion and cultural defamation in the book, “The Igbo People, History and Worldview with ISBN: 9781913976224” was riddled with cultural defamation and historical distortion attacking Ilé-Ifẹ̀ and Yorùbá heritage worldwide.”
Specifically, Oluwatobi said no right thinking person would sit idly by and watch its history distorted. “We have invited you here today to formally draw national and international attention to a grave matter of cultural defamation and historical distortion against the entire Yoruba people contained in the recently published book titled, ‘The Igbo People, History and Worldview.’
The authors namely: Dons Eze and Chinedu Ochinanwata along with their publisher: Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd, the book that they are widely circulating in academic and public spaces, contains false, libelous, and culturally offensive claims about Yoruba origins and the sacred city of Ile-Ife.
Among its most offensive assertions are that the Igbo were the original inhabitants of Ile-Ife, and that the Yoruba are immigrants who usurped control. That a supposed conflict in Ile-Ife led to an Igbo eastward migration, with the Onitsha people as the last to leave. The fabrication of an “Ado-na-Idu Empire” as a precursor to Ile-Ife history— a claim unsupported by the Ifa Corpus (Odu Ifa), authentic Yoruba oral traditions, or credible historical scholarship. A deliberate attempt to dilute and distort the originality of Ile-Ife as the ancestral and spiritual cradle of Yoruba civilisation.
“These reckless falsehoods are not mere academic errors, they amount to cultural defamation – attacking the dignity and heritage of the Yoruba nation. Historical distortion – falsifying facts that are sacred and well-established, intellectual dishonesty – undermining authentic research, oral tradition, and Ifa knowledge, potential ethnic provocation – creating narratives that may endanger peaceful coexistence between Nigerians.”
“Ile-Ife is not simply a location on a map. It is the very cradle of Yoruba civilisation, recognised by Ifa, preserved in oral traditions, and affirmed by scholars worldwide. It represents not just history, but the living spirit of our people. To distort Ile-Ife is to attack the very soul of the Yoruba. The claim is not about ‘precedence in the order of existence’, as in who was first created or predated who, but the whole essence and gamut of our argument is to repudiate, not accept and completely not concede to the libellous opinion, thoughts or imagination that the Igbo “preceded the Yoruba People originating from Ile-Ife.”
“Think Yoruba First (TYF Worldwide) will not allow Yoruba land and history to be erased, distorted, or appropriated by false narratives anymore. Whether you are an individual, organisation, institution, body corporate, politician, ruler, clergymen, Nigerian or non-Nigerian; TYF worldwide and the entire Yoruba people home and abroad have awoken and are now alert to their omoluabi responsibility of observing constructively and responding succinctly and appropriately with deserving applause or otherwise.”
Expectedly, the group has pressed home their demands by submitting petitions to relevant Nigerian and international bodies — including the National Library of Nigeria, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Nigerian Press Council, and relevant UK-based academic and cultural institutions.
They therefore enjoined all Yoruba sons and daughters across the world to stand united in defense of Ile-Ife and Yoruba civilisation, just they called on all Yoruba traditional ruler to pursue peace and dialogue and join hands with TYF as the organisation ordained by both Eledumare and men, to take Yorubaland to the next level of socio-political consciousness.
According to him, TYF is a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation dedicated to the protection, preservation, and promotion of Yoruba land worldwide, Yoruba history, identity, and intellectual integrity across the entire globe. We speak for the entire Yoruba race both home and abroad. We at TYF love all ethnicities and all people of all nations no matter your creed, religion or race; whether Efik, Fulani, Hausa, Chinese, French or German.
“Think Yoruba First simply means Yoruba Ronu, just like the Holy Books says “Come now, and let us reason together”- we admonish every Yoruba man, woman and children to think Yoruba first together. We are committed to protecting our heritage and usher in a new era of prosperity into Yorubaland, unite the Yoruba peoples along our ethno-linguistic and ethno-religious identity and set in motion the stage for the next generations of Yorubas for the continuity of our race.
“The organisation is duly registered as a non-profit organisation in three continents, America, Europe and Africa. Our activities centered around promotion of culture and traditions of the Yorùbá people, promoting the conservation of the Yorùbá identity, language and ideologies via Yorùbá nationalism drive. We focus on education, Youth development, social and economic development schemes and many more.
The Yorùbá are a pride of the black race, we hail from the Western region of present day South-West of Nigeria and are indigenous to the regions extending to adjacent countries including Togo, Republic of Benin and Ghana. We are also transatlantic and many of our descendants are now domiciled in Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago by virtue of the unfortunate events in the Atlantic age. From Yorùbá creations history, Ile-Ife is the cradle of Yorùbá people and considered to be the site of creation of Mother Earth, according to Yoruba mythology, it is from Ile Ife that civilisation arose for all mankind.
“We are constantly learning, evolving, and seeking out new ways to approach to make a difference and amplify our impact in Yorubaland first and beyond. We believe in the power of community and strive to create a safe and inclusive space for all members.”
