“Tales are the father of history”
“Tales are the father of history”
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About us
The Egba people are a major subgroup of the Yoruba in southwestern Nigeria, primarily inhabiting Ogun Central Senatorial District with their capital at Abeokuta, founded around 1830. Historically, they are known as valiant, agricultural, and intellectual descendants of the Oyo Empire who established a protected kingdom under Olumo Rock. The Egba people are a major subgroup of the Yoruba in southwestern Nigeria, primarily inhabiting Ogun Central Senatorial District with their capital at Abeokuta, founded around 1830. Historically, they are known as valiant, agricultural, and intellectual descendants of the Oyo Empire who established a protected kingdom under Olumo Rock.
A R T I C L E
Who were the griots?
Who were the griots?
In West Africa, griots were praise singers for rulers and mighty warriors. The griots shared stories about brave adventures and heroic deeds using poetry, song, and dance.
But the griots didn’t only perform stories about the good times; they also shared stories about the not-so-wonderful things their rulers and warriors did too.
The griots got involved in important political matters. They were aware of all the important secrets and plots taking place in the kingdom. Rulers often asked the griots to advise them on political matters and even to represent them in negotiations.
Griots had another very important role. They were messengers. It was considered dishonourable to harm a griot, so they could pass undisturbed through enemy lines when kingdoms were at war.
Through poetry, music, and dance, griots preserved the history of kingdoms by passing down this information from generation to generation. This tradition still exists, and if you go to some parts of West Africa today, you can hear griots perform. They share not just the history of great leaders and kingdoms, such as Sumanguru and the Sosso Empire, but also the stories and lineages of many local families.
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The Egba people are a major subgroup of the Yoruba in southwestern Nigeria, primarily inhabiting Ogun Central Senatorial District with their capital at Abeokuta, founded around 1830. Historically, they are known as valiant, agricultural, and intellectual descendants of the Oyo Empire who established a protected kingdom under Olumo Rock. The Egba people are a major subgroup of the Yoruba in southwestern Nigeria, primarily inhabiting Ogun Central Senatorial District with their capital at Abeokuta, founded around 1830. Historically, they are known as valiant, agricultural, and intellectual descendants of the Oyo Empire who established a protected kingdom under Olumo Rock.
“Ti omode o ba ba itan, a ba Aroba.
Aroba ni baba itan”
Àrọ́bá (oen pronounced Arobá) in Yoruba refers to a “tale,” “fable,”
“folktale,” or a story based on legends and myths. It is deeply ed to
oral tradion and is commonly used in the popular proverb: “Bí ọmọdé
kò bá bá ìtàn, á bá àrọ́bá, àrọ́bá sì ni bàbá ìtàn,” meaning “If a child does
not meet (witness) history, they will meet a tale, and tales are the
father of history”.
It represents the root of oral storytelling and knowledge transmission in
Yoruba culture, oen used to pass down ancestral knowledge.
Àrọ́bá constutes the stories and myths told by elders (folk