Oranmiyan Omoluabi Odede (known as Oranyan), was a Great Prince of Ife, King of the Yoruba. He was from the Ile-Ife Kingdom and was the heir to Oduduwa. Oranyan was the last born and the most adventurous of the members of Oduduwa's household; taking the title of Alafin, he succeeded in raising a very strong army and expanding his kingdom to an empire. Regarded as being founder of the Oyo Kingdom in Nigeria, some accounts state he was also the third ruler of Ife.
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According to Yoruba history, Oranmiyan founded Oyo as its first Alaafin at around the year 1300 and one of his children, Eweka I, went on to become the first Oba of the Benin Empire in Nigeria. He was requested by the people of Benin Kingdom for spiritual and political direction from Ife after the death of Ogiso Owodo of Igodomigodo were led by Oranmiyan. When he got to there he met opposition from the kin of the Ogiso, and was refused entrance into the City. The attitude of the Igodomigodo people made him angry so in anger he called the land "Ile - Ibinu" meaning Land of Vexation. It was when the Portuguese people came that they corrupted the place and named it “Benin”. After leaving Benin at about 1290 he founded a city, Oyo-ile, which his descendants expanded into the Oyo Empire. It was his marriage to married Torosi- a Tapa that ?ango Akata Y?ri-Y?ri was born.
Oranmiyan stands over five meters tall in Moopa area of the town within a fenced wall. Few symbolic trees are scattered around the staff with some dotted marks, which the custodian says are marks of bullet during the several wars fought by Oranmiyan. High chief Johnson Owoyemi, the Akogun of Ife is the current custodian of the Opa Oranmiyan – a staff that Oranmiyan, the grandson of Oduduwa used to take to war. The staff made of granite obelisk with iron stud stands within the Oranmiyan shrine manned by Chief Eredumi as chief priest who is the link between the dead and the living.
Oranmiyan from history was a belligerent person. A war hero and where his brothers and sister failed to give the yearly ten percent duty as agreed with the staff of Oduduwa he used force. He later appointed his representatives in each of the kingdoms of Yoruba to monitor the returns, thus the creation of Oyo Empire that lead to the end of the kingdom Oduduwa created which was not properly coordinated. There was no proper channel of control during Odua. Oyo Empire gave the Yoruba race the much respect and proper foundation in the south of Sahara. The new empire grew with amazing rapidity throughout West Africa and was like the Ghana or Shonghai Empire of the medieval history in the south of Sahara.
One of the strategies of the Oyo Empire was engagement in slavery. It was a tactical way to weaken opposition among the Yoruba’s and those captured. Oranmiyan and his descendants were absolute in control and management. Infact, the word Kabiyesi that was later adopted by subsequent Alafin from the time of Sango oko Oya in Oyo meant absolutism the king could never be wrong. Such was the fear and power of Alafin throughout Yoruba land.
Oranmiyan’s administration was the best in Africa and could be likened to the British system of Administration during the colonial government. The Empire expanded up to the present Benin republic. Those who escaped the control of Alaafin are the Yoruba’s living in Benin Republic, which was formerly Dahomey. On the East side there was no historical record of any interference between the father and the son the rulers in Benin Kingdom. The reason for this was not known but it will amount to fighting yourself if Oranmiyan had to wage war of control over Benin. Oba of Benin Omonoba Polopolo did not explain the reason for the prolong truce between Benin and Oyo Empire. Spiritual contact was established with each Benin King’s head buried at Ife and spiritual approval from Ife before any Oba is crowned at Benin? Why is this so if Benin was the source how come the source goes to the Ife for approval of final rest of the head of Benin Obas? Ile Ife in actual fact demonstrated its superiority by having the head of Oranmiyan himself.
At least there was no record of history of any transaction between father and son commercially or any known tribal or communal war between Yoruba and Benin Kingdom while Benin Kingdom continued to progress and Oyo Empire continue to expand to the west coast. In Lagos, there could not be a clash, it was a place of reunion for Edo’s and Yoruba it was said Eko, which is Lagos, and in our local dialect is a Benin word. Why did Oranmiyan and his descendants fail to expand towards the East of the empire, which would have been a clash with Edo’s? Was it a mutual agreement or respect or tactical error or oversight in the expansionism of Yoruba Empire? Well I will find out on my travel to Ile-Ife to see the Elder that preserve the culture and traditions of the Ile-Ife people.
The historical fact on the Oranmiyan Dynesty in Benin was confirmed in the most recent book of the Oba of Benin under the title “Cradle of Ideas” a compendium of speeches and writings of Omonoba Erediauwa of Great Benin” edited by Osarhieme Benson Osadolor and published 2013
He was a powerful warrior who founded Oyo and Benin Kingdoms. On leaving “Ile-Ibinu” he had an affaitr with the daughter of the Enogie(Duke) and that was how Eweka 1 was born. After several wars and conquests, he returned to Ife where he died. When Oba Oranyan died his family is fabled to have erected the commemorative stele known as the Staff of Oranmiyan which was named Opa Oranmiyan.
His net worth is not available.
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