The role of the itaakpa finds in the reconstruction of yoruba ethnogenesis

Abstract

Although numerous sources document Yoruba identity, the origins of the Yoruba remain highly contested. Rather than relying exclusively on Ife centric narratives derived from oral traditions, this study contends that the Niger Benue Confluence area served as the primary locus for the formation of Yoruba identity. By prioritising material and scientific evidence, which is less susceptible to the biases inherent in oral historiography, this paper synthesises linguistic and archaeological data to trace Yoruba origins. Central to this analysis is the scientific reconstruction of a human mandible discovered at the Itaakpa rock shelter, providing the first tangible insight into the anatomy of populations inhabiting the confluence area approximately 3,000 years ago. The evidence from Itaakpa supports the identification of the Niger Benue confluence, currently inhabited by Okun speaking communities, as the authentic dispersal ground for the Yoruba, Igala, Igbo, and Nupe linguistic groups.