HOME - THE WARRIORS OF ODUDUWA

AUTHOR’S REMARKS

The beauty and riches of the Yoruba culture will never be measured with a simple book, records of different artists or the combination of the Yoruba oral history. The truth is, no one can ever comprehend everything about the Yoruba culture or its people. Subfura comic tries to create a world that could have been. A world unsoiled by the colonial regime, a virgin culture unaffected by the indirect rule or slave trade and modern democracy.

It should be noted that our (major) reference is a book called “The History of the Yoruba’s” by Rev. Samuel Johnson, from this book, we obtained the basic knowledge to lay the foundation of this novel and advise that every historian should possess a copy of this magnificent work of art.

The tale of Oluṣeyi is pure fiction or African fantasy. No part of this story is copied from any source whatsoever; it was written with the idea of creating a Yoruba empire unpolluted by the colonial era, with references in accordance with the oral history records of each Yoruba historian.

The monetary system evolved thanks to the efforts of the Alaafin and the chiefs serving under him. In the early 14th century, there was a great council meeting among the top decision-makers of Yoruba land. The Alaafin, who thoughtlessly decided to assist the people having an excess number of cowries in their possession to exchange them for the white beads. The meeting introduced a new initiative, which led to the development of the new Yoruba native currency.

The Alaafin modified the monetary system as follows:

10cowries = 1 white bead

5 white beads = 1 string

10strings= 1 Manilla

The white Bead is about the size of a small baby’s finger, with special incisions around the edges to indicate the monetary value to the Yoruba people. Each string is as long as a grown man's index finger, brownish with several horizontal lines incised across it to indicate the number of strings, the horizontal incisions are limited to 5 lines, along with some decorative black incisions.

BissyAluko Ṣeyi Olusanya Adebayọ

WHO IS AN IBA (ẸṢỌ)

In order for one to go through this story, one must understand the literary meaning of the word “Iba” or “Ẹṣọ”. According to Rev. Samuel Johnson. The Ẹṣọs are guardians of the Yoruba kingdom. They are the warriors of Oduduwa, his legacy and his might. The defenders of the innocent and none but tried and proven soldiers are selected for that rank. They are faithful and fearless, they are powerful and proud, bound by an oath to protect the Yoruba culture and her people. They are hard-working and just, ready to bear arms to war, but always praying for peace, ready for a fight, but never seeking trouble.

They live among normal people owning farms and having children, Faithful to the orders of the Balogun (warlord) and receiving weekly fees from the Balogun. The Balogun is the highest-ranking Ẹṣọ in most of the villages in the Yoruba realm.

All Ẹṣọs possess a special kind of power, depending on their family background and the gods they worship. All Ẹṣọs that prove themselves worthy are taken to the shrine of Ifa (one of the 7 great Oriṣa of the Yoruba people) where they are given an incision, which gives them the ability to fight with a divine force. The divine force allows them to harness their inner spiritual strength, and they are then seen as the fearless protectors of the Empire.

Oluṣeyi is a very young boy even for an Ẹṣọ, but determined. He is a boy born into a world that rejects and ignores his existence, this story is the beginning of a long and interesting adventure for both Oluṣeyi and his friends. Consider this book as a preface or an introduction to the world of the warriors of Oduduwa.

Chapter 1⏩