Oranmiyan Staff and Grove
Oranmiyan Staff and Grove
The Site is equally located in Ile-Ife, Ife Central Local Government. It is about 2kms from the Palace of Ooni of Ile-Ife and 6kms to ObafemiAwolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Oduduwa, the progenitor of Yorubas gave birth to Oranmiyan, the youngest of his children. Oranmiyan, a great hunter of repute grew up in Ile- Ife and became a popular man who was empowered with physical and mystical power. As a powerful warrior, he founded Oyo and Benin empires.
After several wars and conquests, he returned to Ile Ife where he died and was buried at the grove. He was very fierce looking and used a staff of 5.27metres tall made of granite with iron studs driven into it.
It has become a tradition in Ile Ife that a newly crowned king (Ooni of Ile- Ife) must receive his Staff of Office at the said grove.
The Site possesses historical, cultural and economic assets to the State and Yorubas throughout the World.
Opa Oranmiyan
The Oranmiyan Staff is a famous local tourist attraction in Ile- Ife, State of Osun, Nigeria.This obelisk was erected after the death of Oranmiyan, King of the Yoruba, by his family.Oranyan Omoluabi, King of the Yoruba, also known as Oranmiyan, was a Yoruba king from the kingdom of Ile-Ife and heir to Oduduwa. According to Yoruba history, he founded Oyo as its first Alaafin at around the year 1170, and one of his children, Eweka I, went on to become the first Oba of the Benin Empire. Following the Oba Oranyan’s death, his family is fabled to have erected the commemorative stele known as the Staff of Oranmiyan – Opa Oranmiyan in the Yoruba language at the place where their father died.