The Opa Oranmiyan is a tall granite monolith, about 5.5 meters (18 feet) high, tapering upwards like a giant staff planted firmly in the ground.

It is located in Oke-Mogun compound, Ile-Ife, where many traditional ceremonies still take place.

 

The Yoruba revere it as a sacred relic, tied to Oranmiyan, one of the most legendary figures in Yoruba history.

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The Legend of the Opa

According to tradition, when Oranmiyan returned to Ile-Ife after years of conquest, he planted his staff in the ground at Oke-Mogun.

The staff turned into stone, symbolizing his authority and power. It is said to mark either his grave or a shrine in his honor. Some traditions even claim he disappeared into the stone, linking him with the divine.

The name carved on it in old Yoruba script has been interpreted as “the staff of Oranmiyan.”

 

Cultural and Spiritual Significance

The Opa Oranmiyan is considered a spiritual monument. It is tied to Ife’s coronation rituals, where the Ooni of Ife pays respect to Oranmiyan as part of enthronement traditions.

It symbolizes strength, legacy, and continuity of Yoruba kingship. Scholars also see it as proof of the advanced stone-carving and symbolic artistry in ancient Ife civilization.

 

Who was Oranmiyan?

Oranmiyan (sometimes spelled Oranyan) was a Prince of Ile-Ife, son of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba people.

Oral traditions describe him as a warrior king, hunter, and traveler, credited with founding or ruling over several powerful kingdoms:

• Oyo (he is regarded as the first Alaafin of Oyo).
• Benin (where he was invited to rule and whose dynasty traces part of its origin to him).
• He also played roles in the histories of Ife, Owu, and other Yoruba polities.

He is often remembered as the father of empire-building among the Yoruba, spreading their influence across West Africa.

 

Modern Day

Today, the Opa Oranmiyan is a major tourist attraction and one of the key monuments studied when tracing Yoruba origins and kingship traditions.

It still stands tall in Ile-Ife, weathered but revered, a timeless reminder of Yoruba history and identity.