ARTS & CULTURE

Ooni of Ife and Oba of Ugbo Fight Over Yoruba Ancestral Queen Moremi

Published

7 years ago

December 6, 2016

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, and Oba of Ugbo Kingdom in Ondo state, Oba Federick Akinruntan, over the weekend engaged in a battle of words over the place of Yoruba ancestral Queen Moremi in history.

Oba Akinruntan condemned Ile-Ife people for celebrating Queen Moremi and even erecting a stature in her honor. Our forefathers descended from heaven, that is why we are called ‘Ugbo Atorunwo.’ We are not Ibos (Igbos), who are from the South-East, and who have their own clearly researched and defined ancestry. To set the record straight, Moremi remains a traitor.

She was a slave captured by Ugbo warriors during one of their many raids on Ile-Ife. She later became the wife of Osangangan Obamakin, the son of Oranfe, of who was the paramount ruler of over 13 aboriginal communities of ancient Ugbomokun, which later came to be called Ile Ife. Oduduwa came to Ugbomokun as a stranger and was welcomed in Ilero, the aboriginal palace of Osangangan Obamakin, which is still in existence in present-day Iremo, in Ile Ife. During the dynastic struggles, Osangangan Obamakin was directed by the oracles (Ifa and Osanyin) to leave Ile Ife. Moremi betrayed her husband’s trust when she exposed the secret of the Ugbo warriors’ gallantry.” Oba Akinruntan said.

Responding to Oba Akinruntan’s claim, the Ooni’s palace issued a statement. The Statement read, ”The attention of ILE-OODUA has been drawn to the above quoted statement credited to Oba Frederick Akinruntan through the Olugbo-in-Council berating the people ILE-IFE for celebrating MOREMI AJASORO as a heroine and goddess of liberty. This outburst of OLUGBO can only be viewed by the well meaning people as a mere royal rascality and a pitiable act of absurdity that doesn’t deserve serious attention by serious minded people. ”How on earth should a Yoruba king refer to Moremi as a traitor just because she used her power of a woman to liberate her people from incessant invasions by some faceless terrorists?

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ARTS & CULTURE

Scientists Possibly Locate The Biblical Sodom, Tell-el-Hammam

Published

3 days ago

April 21, 2024

Adaeze Okechi

Tell-el-Hammam: Scientists Possibly Locate Sodom’s Site | Fab.ng

Tell-el-Hammam, located in what is now Jordan, was a sprawling and influential city during the Bronze Age. Its sudden and dramatic demise has led some to speculate that it could be the biblical city of Sodom.

Tell-el-Hammam’s origins trace back to around 6600 BC, making it an ancient settlement. By its peak, the city covered over 60 hectares, a truly massive area for its time. This vastness earned it the title of the first megacity in the southern Levant. This solidifies its importance as a regional power.

Unfortunately, Tell-el-Hammam’s reign ended abruptly around 1650 BC, leaving behind a mystery that has sparked debate for centuries. This sudden destruction is the key reason some researchers believe it could be the same city described in the Bible.

Scientists make a thrilling discovery

Archaeologists have been meticulously excavating Tell-el-Hammam since 2006, and in 2021, they finally revealed some groundbreaking discoveries. Their findings point to a catastrophic natural event as the likely cause of the city’s demise, mirroring the biblical story of Sodom’s destruction by fire and brimstone.

The Bible, in the Book of Genesis, tells the story of God raining down fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah as punishment for the wickedness of their inhabitants.

Intriguingly, scientists now believe a similar fiery event befell Tell-el-Hammam roughly 3,600 years ago. Their theory suggests a meteorite exploded high above the city, generating unimaginable temperatures exceeding 2,000 degrees Celsius. This incredible heat would have instantly vaporised any living thing and melted the city’s infrastructure, leaving it virtually unrecognisable.

The force of this explosion is estimated to have been even more powerful than the infamous 1908 meteorite blast over Tunguska, Russia. The Tunguska event, while powerful enough to flatten trees over hundreds of kilometres, is estimated to have been equivalent to over 1,000 Hiroshima bombs.

According to scientists, the Tell-el-Hammam explosion surpassed even that, leaving the area uninhabitable for a staggering 600 years.

Read more about culture and lifestyle here.

ARTS & CULTURE

The Hidden Origin Of The Name “Yoruba”

Published

3 days ago

April 21, 2024

Adaeze Okechi

The Hidden Origin Of The Name "Yoruba" | Fab.ng

The Yoruba people didn’t always have one common name. Even though they spoke similar languages, each Yoruba community had its own way of speaking, like a dialect. Because of this, they identified themselves based on their town or area. For example, some Yoruba people in Benin and Togo still call themselves “Ife” instead of “Yoruba.”

Today, the Yoruba are a well-known ethnic group, living in Africa and even other countries across the Atlantic Ocean, like some Caribbean nations.

An article in a history journal tells us that before “Yoruba” became the common name, they were called different things in different places. For instance, in Brazil, they were called “Nago,” and in Cuba, they were called “Lucumi.” These names come from Spanish and French influences. In Sierra Leone, they were known as “Aku,” and the Portuguese used the term “Terranova” for Yoruba slaves brought from western Benin.

The Hidden Origin Of The Name "Yoruba" | Fab.ng

The name “Yoruba” wasn’t always used for all Yoruba people

Originally, it was a name given to the Oyo people by their neighbours, the Fulani or Hausa. This name, “Yoruba,” actually meant “cunning” in their language.

The plural form of “Yoruba” is “Yarabawa,” and the singular form is “Bayarabe.” Interestingly, some scholars used “Yoruba” only for the Oyo people, but there’s evidence of terms like “Yarabawa” or “Yariba” being used much earlier.

This term was used by Muslims and Arabic speakers even before the rise of the Oyo people. Unlike the Oyo-specific term, they used it to describe the entire Yoruba group, not just one kingdom. Historical writings and texts show that by the 1500s, the Yoruba were already known by this name.

Finally, the idea of all Yoruba people being one group, a single “Yoruba” identity, came about much later, in the 1800s. This concept emerged through interactions with Christian missionaries and educated Yoruba leaders.

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ARTS & CULTURE

5 Countries That Still Practice Female Genital Mutilation

Published

1 month ago

March 23, 2024

Adaeze Okechi

Female Genital Mutilation: Countries That Still Practice It | Fab.ng

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a harmful traditional practice carried out in over 30 African countries, as well as some countries in Asia and the Middle East. Sadly, it’s often seen as a necessary part of raising a girl and preparing her for adulthood and marriage. The misconception is that FGM prevents promiscuity and ensures “virginity.”

Let’s look at some of the countries where FGM is prevalent:

1. Indonesia

Here, over 90% of Muslim women have undergone FGM, impacting a staggering 70 million women and girls. This number represents a disturbing 35% of the global burden of FGM. Despite the practice’s prevalence, no laws explicitly ban it in Indonesia or other Asian countries.

2. Saudi Arabia

Although FGM is considered illegal worldwide, Saudi Arabia lacks clear legislation against it. FGM is still practised in some areas, like Jeddah and Hali. A concerning statistic reveals that 18.2% of women in Saudi Arabia—nearly one in five—have undergone FGM/C.

3. Yemen

A study in Yemeni coastal areas found an alarming prevalence of FGM—89% among women and nearly 80% among young girls in surveyed families. Shockingly, two-thirds of women and half of men in these areas have little understanding of the harmful effects of FGM.

4. Somalia

With the highest number of FGM cases globally, Somalia paints a grim picture. A staggering 98% of girls between 5 and 11 years old have undergone Type III infibulation. This is the most severe form of FGM. UNICEF estimates that at least 200 million girls across 31 countries have been subjected to FGM. It highlights the devastating global impact of this practice.

5. Egypt

Unfortunately, Egypt leads the world in the number of women and girls who have gone through female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C). This practice, widely considered harmful, has impacted a staggering 87.2% of women in Egypt between the ages of 15 and 49.

This alarming statistic becomes even more impactful when considering Egypt’s large population of nearly 95 million people. The sheer number of women affected underscores the urgency of addressing this deeply concerning traditional practice.

Female genital mutilations in Africa

Even though FGM is outlawed in some of these countries, the practice continues. In many others, there are either no laws against it or the laws are weak and not enforced. Here’s a list of African countries where FGM is still practised: