Ife

Ife, also Ile-Ife, is a city in Osun State in southwestern Nigeria. It is a historic Yoruba city that is often described as the spiritual and cultural heartland of the Yoruba people. In Yoruba tradition, Ife is considered the birthplace of humanity and the site from which the Yoruba people originated, a claim supported by myth and by archaeological finds.

Archaeological work at Ife has uncovered bronzes and terracotta sculptures dating from the 11th to the 15th centuries and possibly earlier, noted for their naturalistic portraiture. These artifacts are among the most celebrated examples of Yoruba art and are central to the understanding of the region’s early urban culture. The ancient settlement is understood to have been highly organized, with networks of craft production and long-distance exchange.

In contemporary Nigeria, Ife is a major cultural center. The city is the traditional seat of the Ooni of Ife, a senior Yoruba king whose role combines religious and ceremonial duties with cultural leadership. The Olojo Festival and other ceremonies reflect the continuing importance of Yoruba religious and cultural life in Ife.

Ife is also an educational hub. It hosts Obafemi Awolowo University, formerly the University of Ife, established in 1961, along with other colleges and research institutions. The city remains a center for arts, scholarship, and tourism, attracting visitors interested in Yoruba history, art, and architecture.