Foreword ByHis Royal, Majesty Oba (Dr) Emmanuel Adesanya Aladejare, Agunsoye 11, CON, OBALUFON ALAYEMORE, THE ALAYE OF EFON KINGDOM, EKITI STATE

It goes beyond a cliché when I state that I feel uniquely honored and pleasantly privilege to be called upon to write a forward to this refreshingly researched book by Prince Adelegan Adegbola, fcpa, which is appropriately titled: ILE-IFE: THE SORRCE OF YORUBA CIVILIZATION.

The debate on Ile-Ife as a cradle of civilization and indisputable source of Yoruba race has generated and will continue to generate emotions. But many of such emotions are like impressions left on a cushion, which are bound not to have any lasting effect. Some of them are like bubbles of water which evaporate as they gather. The reason is simple. Those who chose to oppose the Ife thesis of origin have not succeeded in providing a counter thesis of unassailable conviction But Prince Adegbola has gone in this book beyond disputing shaky thesis. He has, utilizing the instrument of research of the best historians, embarked upon and succeeded at proving a profoundly comprehensive historical book running into about eight hundreds pages on the origin of a very major human race the Yoruba. It is a book that is apparently ambitious in conception and marvelously fulfilling in delivery. Only very few authors often succeed in marrying both.

Furthermore, there is a triangle relationship that strikes immediate attention in reading the book. One is the supremacy of the Yoruba race among other races. This is why it is not a surprise that the Yoruba race spreads even beyond the borders of Nigeria. Two is the supremacy of Ile-Ife among Yoruba towns and its pivotal source for the Yoruba race. The third of the tripod is the primacy of Ooni among Yoruba Obas. The Ooni cannot be said to be first amongst equals. He is the father of unequal assemblage. This must have informed the assertion in the book that “The Ooni is the quintessential icon of royalty and splendor of Yoruba …... The Ooni is not only Gods chief representative on earthly heads of his people” (page.99) This book has also broken frontiers by the exploration of Yoruba Kingdoms in Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Kwara and Kogi states. It has shown that geographical divisions do not detract from cultural and ancestral affinity.

I am convinced that this book will receive easy acceptance amongst the reading public especially, for lucidity, texture and tenor of presentation, its comprehensiveness, the insight it provides into this serious historic subject-matter, it’s breaking down of myths created on emotions and the strength of historicism manifest in the package

I therefore have no hesitation in wholeheartedly recommending the book for wide readership for boldly and painstakingly exploring, dissecting and analyzing an issue that had, in the past, generated unnecessary controversy in Yoruba land. It is a masterpiece on Yoruba history it has created a platform on which future writes can build.

Acknowledgement This book is written with deep humility and respect for the Great Historian, and people of the pen: Professors, Sabiri Biobaku, J F. Ade-Ajayi, Jide Osuntokun, Adeagbo Akinjogbin, Wande Abimbola, Bolale Awe, Wole Soyinka, S O Arifalo, Ayodele Olukoju, J A Atanda, B Sofela, Gabriel O Olusanya, G O Oguntomisin, E A Ayandele, Tekena Tamuno, A E Afigbo, Obaro Ikime, Adewoye o, Bo Oloruntimehin, Sola Sowande, Leo Frobenius who visited Ile-Ife in 1910, and Michael Crowder. I also appreciate the works of Professor Richard Olaniyan, Wale Adediran, Olupayimo Dolapo, J K Olupona, Kunle Lawal, Funso Afolayan, Z O Apata, Dr. (Mrs) Ike Fayomi, and Raphael A Alabi. Indeed I acknowledge these men of honor, Bade Adejuwon, Dayo Omotoso, and RO A Makanjuola. My thanks go to all the traditional chiefs of Ile-Ife lead by the Obalufe of Ife, Oba Omisakin. Including the Isoro chief of Ile-Ife led by Chief Obadio. Also I deeply appreciate the effort of Baba Ola Vincent, CFR, FCIB, for his elderly advice. My appreciation goes to the following Chief GOK Ajayi, the Odole of Ife, Chief Bola Akinyele, Chief Afolabi Oloja, Prince Aderounmu Adesoji Aderemi, Chief Fatunmise, Chief Gbenga Omiwole of Ife Development Board, Dr Fredrick Fasheun and Otunba Gani AdamsThe idea of writing a book of this nature has been with me for a long time. The books of Chief (Dr) M A Fabunmi (Odole Atobase of Ife), Dr Bolaji Idowu, J A Ademakinwa Adewale Thompson inspired me so much to write this book. I am particularly indebted to them. At this junction I have to remember the legendry Yoruba leader Chief Obafemi Awolowo a sound academician who combined administrative prowess with superior intellectual capabilities to turn around the fortunes of the Old west. I pay tribute to the following leaders, Bola Ige, Adekunle Ajasin, l K Jakande, Bisi Onabanjo, Prof. Ambrose Alli, Senator Jonathan Odebiyi, and Prof Hezekiah Oluwasanmi. I also appreciate these people of culture Professor Ulli Beier and his former wife Suzanne Wenger, (Adunni Olorisa of Osun fame now under the protection of Nigerian Government and UNESCO); Tobosun Oladapo, Adebayo Faleti and Mrs Funke Ogunsipe. Furthermore I like to acknowledge the contribution of the following to the study of the Yoruba history: Olu Ademulegun, Mike Omoleye, (Chief) Hon S B Daramola, Chief (Mrs) Felicia Oseyemi Awosika, Mr. Femi Ogunleye, and Mr. Bayo Oguntuase, who read the manuscript of this book and offered useful advice. I also thank Engineer Lawrence Oladele Oluwatosin for his immense contribution to the complet ion of this book. My appreciation to the Asiwaju of Ife, Chief Orayemi Orafidiya The book is: SOCIAL FACTS’ or COLLECTIVE MANIFESTATION’ about the Yoruba. In order to understand the basic principles on which human society functions, we must know something about the institutions of the society. Human beings in order to live normal lives in a reasonable peace must behave in prescribed ways. These ways of behaving are acquired during the period of socialization and education and through experience. They are so institutionalized that they have become part of our social system. This generation is under attack than any other previous generation from the inside and outside by the Yoruba adversaries in order to create disorder by manipulating the corollary position of Yoruba history, because this generation lacks the fundamental accounts of Information about their origin and the political evolution before, during and after the arrival of the colonial masters.

Book-Launch: ILE-IFE: THE SOURCE OF YORUBA CIVILIZATION.

Guest of Honour: The Royal Majesty Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade (Olubuse ll), Ooni of Ife, D, Litt. DCJ, CFR

Venue: USA

Date: 2014

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