Yoruba elite circles: Author urges self-told history and offers access guide

Sunday Adelaja, in the final installment of his series on the Yoruba people, emphasizes the critical need for the ethnic group to author their own history. He invokes the wisdom of celebrated Igbo writer Chinua Achebe, quoting the proverb: "Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter."

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Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.

Adelaja explains that this proverb underscores how dominant groups often control historical narratives, marginalizing the perspectives of the less powerful. He asserts that as a Yoruba person, he feels compelled to share his people's story from their own viewpoint, aiming to illuminate their distinctiveness and exceptional qualities, which he believes are often overlooked in existing historical accounts.

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The story of nations will always favour the strongest until the weakest party tells their side of the story.

This series, and the anticipated book, is presented as a significant contribution to the Yoruba race, particularly for descendants in the diaspora. Adelaja's approach differs from previous works by focusing on the unique characteristics and exceptionalism of the Yoruba people, fulfilling the role of the "lions" telling their own story.

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As a Yoruba person I must confess that I didn’t know a lot of these facts about my people until I started the journey.

Beyond historical context, the article offers practical insights into navigating the Yoruba society. It addresses how both Yoruba individuals seeking to enter elite circles and non-Yoruba individuals wishing to integrate smoothly can achieve this. Adelaja notes that Yoruba elite networks are structured, layered, and reputation-driven, requiring earned access rather than quick entry.

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My focus is to point out the uniqueness, peculiarities and exceptionalism of this remarkable ethnic group. The lions must tell their own stories.