The Covenant of the Earth
By Yemi Ogunyemi
 
Ile-Ife is a Yoruba ceremonial and trading center from which its people dispersed to find their kingdoms. It is noted for its naturalistic figures in brass and terracotta. It is ageless because it is the cradle of mankind. Ile-Ife is not only the first town in Yorubaland, it is also the cultural capital of Oduduwa, the primogenitor of the Yoruba people. According to the oral literature, the Yorubaland has a very large number of deities. One of them is Orunlala who on reaching Ile-Ife, assumed the name Aiyelala, a deity revered among the Atlantic Yoruba. He also claimed to be the twin brother of the notorious child, Abiku. In this narrative poem, (unique, nostalgic, salutary, divinatory and pining), the author shed light on the most powerful deities in his homeland.