The Opa Oranmiyan, also known as the Staff of Oranmiyan, is a monumental granite monolith located in Ile-Ife, an ancient Yoruba city with deep historical and cultural significance in southwestern Nigeria. Standing about 5.5 meters (18 feet) tall, it is shaped like a giant staff or an elephant’s tusk.
According to Yoruba tradition, the monument marks the spot where Oba Oranmiyan—a son of Oduduwa and a prominent figure in Yoruba history—was fabled to have died. The Ooni of Ife, the spiritual head of the Yoruba people, holds custodianship of the site, which is regarded as sacred.
Scholars differ on when the Opa Oranmiyan was erected, with estimates ranging from the 12th to the 15th centuries, reflecting ongoing debates about its exact origin.
Beyond being a historical marker, the Opa Oranmiyan symbolizes kingship, authority, and military power in Yoruba culture. Today, it stands as a major cultural heritage site, tourist attraction, and focus of research in Yoruba history and archaeology.
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