The Think Yoruba First (TYF) organization has raised strong objections against a newly published book titled “The Igbo People, History and Worldview” by Dons Eze and Chinedu Ochinanwata.
The group says the book contains false claims that undermine the history and heritage of the Yoruba people, especially the sacred city of Ile-Ife.
At a press briefing held at Podium Empire, TYF described the book as defamatory, accusing it of spreading falsehoods such as claims that the Igbo were the original inhabitants of Ile-Ife, that Yorubas were migrants, and that an “Ado-na-Idu Empire” existed before Ile-Ife.
The group insisted these claims are baseless and amount to an attack on Yoruba identity.
According to TYF, Ile-Ife is the cradle of Yoruba civilization, recognized by oral traditions, the Ifa corpus, archaeology, and global scholarship.
The group said any attempt to rewrite that history is dangerous and could provoke ethnic tensions.
The organization announced several actions, including petitions to Nigerian and international institutions, notifications to Yoruba cultural and political bodies, and the start of legal proceedings against the authors and publishers.
It also called on Yoruba communities worldwide to stand united in defense of their heritage.
TYF stressed that it has no hatred for any ethnic group, including the Igbo, but warned that misrepresentations of history will not be tolerated.
The group concluded by declaring that Yoruba history is sacred, Ile-Ife is non-negotiable, and their cultural identity cannot be erased.
