Ifẹ
Ilé-Ifẹ̀
Ifẹ̀ Oòyè | |
|---|---|
City | |
Bird's eye view of a section of Ile Ife, Yorubaland. | |
Ilé-Ifẹ̀ | |
| Coordinates: 7°29′00″N 4°33′33″E / 7.48333°N 4.55917°E | |
| Country | Nigeria |
| State | Osun |
| Founded | c. 1000 BC ~ 500 BC |
| Government | |
| • Ọọni | Ojaja II |
| • LGA Chairman, Ife Central | Oladosu Olubisi |
| • LGA Chairman, Ife North | Lanre Ogunyimika |
| • LGA Chairman, Ife South | Johnson Fayemi |
| • LGA Chairman, Ife East | Tajudeen Lawal |
| Area | |
• City | 1,791 km2 (692 sq mi) |
| Population (2006) | |
• City | 509,035 |
| • Density | 284.2/km2 (736.1/sq mi) |
| • Metro | Ife North – 153,694 Ife Central – 167,254 Ife East – 188,087 Ife South – 135,338 |
| National language | Yorùbá |
| Climate | Aw |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| ~ 835,600 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Ife Central | 217,100 |
| Ife East | 244,900 |
| Ife South | 174,600 |
| Ife North | 199,000 |
Ifẹ̀ (Yoruba: Ifẹ̀ ⓘ, also called Ilé-Ifẹ̀) is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria founded sometime between the years 1000 BC and 500 BC. By 900 AD, the city had become an important West African emporium producing sophisticated art forms. The city is located in present-day Osun State. Ifẹ̀ is about 218 kilometers northeast of Lagos with a population of over 500,000 people, which is the highest in Osun State according to population census of 2006.
According to the traditions of the Yoruba religion, Ilé-Ifẹ̀ was founded by the order of the Supreme Deity Olódùmarè by Ọbatala. It then fell into the hands of his brother Oduduwa, which created enmity between the two. Oduduwa created a dynasty there, and sons and daughters of this dynasty became rulers of many other kingdoms in Yorubaland. The first Ọọ̀ni of Ifẹ̀ was a descendant of Oduduwa, who was the 401st Orisha. The present ruler since 2015 is Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Ọọ̀ni of Ifẹ̀ who is also a Nigerian accountant. Named as the city of 401 deities, Ifẹ̀ is home to many devotees/votaries of these deities and is where they are routinely celebrated through festivals.
Ilé-Ifẹ̀ is famous worldwide for its ancient and naturalistic bronze, stone and terracotta sculptures, dating back to between 1200 and 1400 CE.