When one thinks of the Yorùbá people, the immediate geographical association is typically with Nigeria’s South-Western region comprising states like Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ọ̀sun, Ondo, Ekiti, and parts of Kwara and Kogi. However, the rich tapestry of Yorùbá identity extends far beyond these political boundaries. Through historical migration, conquest, trade, and cultural diffusion, Yorùbá-speaking communities have emerged in other parts of Nigeria, with Ẹdó State being a compelling example..
1. Ẹdó State (South South Nigeria)
In Ẹdó State, the Àkókó-Ẹdó Local Government Area is the most prominent Yorùbá-speaking region. The people here speak dialects closely related to the Northwest Yorùbá dialect cluster, which includes Àkókó, Okun, and parts of the Owe dialects. Historically, these communities trace their origins to migration waves from Yorùbáland, especially from the Akoko and Okun regions in present-day Ondo and Kogí States.
Major Yorùbá-speaking towns in Àkókó-Ẹdó include:
a. Igarra : Arguably the most linguistically and culturally distinct, the Igarra people maintain deep Yorùbá roots while integrating elements from the Benin Kingdom.
b. Ọ̀ṣọ̀sọ̀, share similarities in speech, traditional governance systems, and cultural rites with core Yorùbá areas.
c. Ibillo: The communityalso maintain Yorùbá dialects with influences from neighboring groups like the Igbirra and Afemai.
Read Yorùba Ethnic Group and Dialect in SouthWest Nigeria
2. Delta State (South-South Nigeria)
a. Itsekiri: The Itsekiri (also spelled Itshekiri) people primarily inhabit Warri South, Warri North, and Warri South-West Local Government Areas of Delta State. Though geographically positioned within the Niger Delta, the Itsekiri speak a variant of Yorùbá and have historically claimed a Yorùbá origin. The Olú of Warri is a kingship institution rooted in Yorùbá monarchy models. Additionally, Itsekiri naming practices and proverbs closely mirror those found in the Yorùbá-speaking Southwest.
b. Olùkùmi: Another lesser-known Yorùbá-speaking group in Delta State is the Olùkùmi people. The Olùkùmi are believed to be descendants of Yorùbá migrants, possibly from Ọ̀yọ́ and Ile-Ifẹ̀. They primarily reside in communities like Ugbodu, Ubulubu, Ugboba, Obomkpa, and Idumu-Ogo in the Aniocha North Local Government Area, near the boundary with Anambra State.
Read Yorùba Ethnic Group and Dialect in SouthWest Nigeria
3. Kwara State (North Central Nigeria)
a. The Ìlọrin Yorùbá: Ìlọrin was originally a Yorùbá town founded by a hunter named Ojo Isekuse. However, in the early 19th century, it rose to prominence under Àfọ̀njá, a Yorùbá warlord of the Ọ̀yọ́ Empire who later allied with Fúlàní jihadists. The jihadists waged war against him and hijacked the kingdom. Since then, Ìlọrin has been ruled by Fúlàní emirs, making it one of the few Yorùbá towns governed under an Islamic emirate tradition.
Despite this, the people of Ìlọrin remain culturally and linguistically Yorùbá. Their speech patterns, cultural practices, and traditional beliefs align with broader Yorùbá heritage, even as Islam is deeply entrenched in their daily life.
b. The Ìbọ̀lọ́ Yorùbá: The Ìbọ̀lọ́ Yorùbá occupy the southern and western parts of Kwara State, particularly in areas such as Offa, Oyun, Odo-Otin, and parts of Isin and Ìfẹ́lódùn LGAs. Ìbọ̀lọ́ is one of the four major subgroups of the Ọ̀yọ́ Yorùbá, alongside Ọ̀yọ́ proper, Ijesa, and Ìgbómìnà. Historically, the Ìbọ̀lọ́ people were part of the Ọ̀yọ́ Empire, and their settlements served as strategic outposts in the empire’s northern frontier. Key Ìbọ̀lọ́ towns in Kwara State include: Offa, Erin-Ile, Ìlémọnà, and Ìjágbó: Notable for their festivals, royal institutions, and age-grade systems.
c. The Ìgbómìnà Yorùbá: The Ìgbómìnà occupy the eastern flank of Kwara State, extending into parts of Ọ̀sun and even Kogi State. In Kwara, they are primarily found in Isin, Ìfẹ́lódùn, and Èkìtì Local Government Areas. The Ìgbómìnà trace their roots to early migrations from Ilé-Ifẹ̀ and Ọ̀yọ́, with some oral traditions linking them directly to the Ọ̀ràngún of Ìlá, one of the sons of Odùduwà.
Their settlements were part of the larger Ọ̀yọ́ Empire and were known for their military service and craftsmanship.Important Ìgbómìnà towns in Kwara State include, Omu-Aran, Isanlu-Isin, Òkè-Onígbìn-ín, Àjàṣẹ́-Ìpo, Ayédùn, Ayétòrò and other towns with rich traditions and artisanal skills.
Read Yorùba Ethnic Group and Dialect in SouthWest Nigeria
4. Kogi State (North-Central Nigeria)
The Okun Yorùbá: Okun is a collective name for the Yorùbá-speaking people of Kogi State. While Okun is not a dialect in itself, it serves as a cultural and ethnic identity that encompasses various Yorùbá subgroups within the state. The term “Okun” is said to mean “Yorùbá” in the local context and is often used to distinguish the Kogi Yorùbá from their non-Yorùbá neighbors such as the Ebira, Nupe, and Igala.
The Okun people are concentrated in the Kabba-Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba East, Yagba West, Mopa-Muro, and parts of Lokoja and Koton-Karfe Local Government Areas.
Conclusion
Yorùbá identity is not confined to the borders of the South-West geopolitical zone. Across Ẹdó, Delta, Kwara, and Kogi states, vibrant Yorùbá-speaking communities have flourished for centuries each adapting to local contexts while preserving core aspects of Yorùbá language, belief systems, and social institutions.