The President of the International Council for Ifa Religion, Chief Fayemi Fakayode, has debunked a long-held misconception surrounding the origin of the name of the ancient Yoruba city, Ibadan.
Speaking at a cultural enlightenment forum, Chief Fakayode explained that the city’s name was derived from “Iba-Odan,” not “Eba-Odan” as widely believed. According to him, “Iba” signifies a settlement or a place of homage, while “Odan” refers to the savannah or open field — thus, Iba-Odan literally means “a settlement in the savannah.”
He stressed that the distortion from “Iba-Odan” to “Eba-Odan” likely occurred over time through oral transmission and colonial misinterpretation of Yoruba phonetics.
Chief Fakayode emphasized the importance of preserving accurate historical and linguistic narratives, urging scholars, traditional leaders, and institutions to correct such misconceptions to protect Yoruba cultural heritage.
He further noted that understanding the true etymology of ancient Yoruba towns helps strengthen cultural identity and deepen appreciation of indigenous knowledge systems.