The 19th Century Anglo-Yoruba Relations

Abstract

This paper examines the Anglo-Yoruba relations in the 19th century via the influence of the Ijebu people, a sub-group of the Yoruba; using oriki(Ijebu), a very important oral poetic genre among the Yoruba people of Southwestern Nigeria. 60 groups of oral art performers were sampled; data were drawn from 60 Ijebu towns and villages covering the nine local governments of the Ijebu in Ogun State and three local governments of the Ijebu in Lagos State. Interviews were conducted with 20 key informants selected on a stratified basis from the nine local governments of the Ijebu in Ogun State and one of the three local governments of the Ijebu in Lagos State. Library and archival documentations were also collected. The Ijebu people are identified with four types of oriki: Apeja (oriki soki or name version), Orufi (oriki) ulu praises of towns, Orufi gbajumo (praises of distinguished personalities), Orufi orisa (praises of gods) and Orufi Oba (praises of obas). The orufi establishes that the Ijebu people are a veritable link in the relations of the Yoruba people and the West(ern world).