Ijebu people


The Ijebu people are an ethnic subtribal group hailing from Nigeria. They are a part of the broader Yoruba people which are native to south-central Yorubaland, located in the southwest of the country. The Ijebu people speak the Ijebu language, a sub-dialect of the Yoruba language.

Description

The Ijebu share boundaries on the north with the Ibadan, on the west with the Egba and on the east with the Ilaje, all of which are other subgroups of the Yoruba. The Ijebus are the most populous of all the Yoruba groups and were allegedly the first southwest Nigerian tribe to establish relations with the Europeans in the 14th century. The Ijebus, though split into various divisions, see themselves as united under the leadership and authority of the monarchical Awujale, who is seated in Ijebu Ode. The Ijebu people are known for the trade and production of cassava flakes.