King Oduduwa & The Buddha

"There were two Ethiopias, one to the east of the Red Sea, and the other to the west of it; and a very great nation of Blacks from India, did rule over almost all of Asia in a very remote era, in fact beyond the reach of history or any of our records."

- Historian Godfrey Higgins

King Oduduwa of the Ife Kingdom (Yorubaland, West Africa)

“So monumental was the role of this man (Oduduwa) that, popular traditions and legends elevated him to the awesome pedestal of father of the Yoruba race and founder of the monarchical system which thenceforth became their typical system of government.”

- Dr. Stephen Adebanji Akintoye

The country of the Yoruba people. Yorubaland consisted of present-day Southwest Nigeria, a much smaller part of Benin Republic, and still a smaller part of Togo Republic (West Africa)

All Hail the “Calm and Strong” Leaders of Ife

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“The political innovations of the Late Formative period (650-1050 AD) inspired the advent of representation of human figures in stone sculptures, executed in a ‘minimalist-realist’ style.

These granite sculptures are associated with the political leaders of the Late Formative period in Ilè Ifẹ̀, such as Ọbatálá, Orelúere, and Ìjùgbẹ̀.

The figures project the impression of leaders with calm and strong personalities who occupied specialized political offices that required the wearing of simple but recognizable badges of authority in the form of beaded necklaces, anklets, and waist/hip sashes.

The sculptures identify these individuals as the embodiment of power, wisdom, knowledge, honor, authority, and privilege in the society. In the oral traditions, they are celebrated for their mastery of the intricacies of governance and social order.”

– Dr. Akinwumi Ogundiran, author of The Yoruba: A New History

Figure 2.5. Formative Period minimalist naturalistic figures in Èsìẹ̀ (left, H. 82 cm) and Ilè-Ifẹ̀ (right, H. 103 cm)Light is an easy-to-read font, with tall and narrow letters, that works well on almost every site.

The Buddha of the Indus Valley Civilization (South Asia)

“Siddhartha Gautama (‘the Buddha’) is widely acknowledged as the founder of Buddhism in India more than 2,500 years ago.”

– Dr. Rufus O. Jimerson

The country of the Harappan people. The Indus Valley Civilization consisted of present-day Pakistan and Western India (South Asia)

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“Gautama’s teachings place a premium on attainment over having a supreme god or deity. The priority is to reach a state of inner peace and wisdom while embracing the concepts of Karma (the law of cause and effect) and reincarnation (the continuous cycle of rebirth).”

– Dr. Rufus O. Jimerson

“But nobody had ever seen a king with the sort of stature and glory that Oduduwa had had as king of Ile-Ife (Ife Kingdom). Not only did the chiefs and priests take steps to deify him, the collective imagination of the masses began to represent him as larger than life. Long before then there had existed, no doubt, the myth about Olodumare (i.e., God) sending some heavenly beings (i.e., Orishas) to come and establish life on earth. That basic story would no longer do. Oduduwa had to be part of it – indeed, he had to be the leader of the heavenly beings that came to earth. Over the next centuries, the myth-making genius of the Yoruba nation amplified and embellished Oduduwa’s part in the story of creation.”

– Dr. Stephen Adebanji Akintoye

To find out more about King Oduduwa and the Medieval Ife Kingdom of West Africa, and The Buddha of the Ancient Indus Valley Civilization of South Asia, click here: The Enlightened Ones of the Medieval & Ancient World: King Oduduwa & The Buddha

"It is believed that the mysterious potentate was the Awni (i.e., Ooni) of Ife, the spiritual ruler of the great Yoruba nation. Ife, the sacred city, boasts a long and glorious past."

- Dr. John G. Jackson, author of Introduction to African Civilizations

The first modern humans (Homo Sapiens Sapiens) in Asia were of African birth. Based on scientific studies of DNA, modern humanity originated from Africa, and African people are the world’s original people, and all modern humans can ultimately trace their ancestral roots back to Africa. Were it not for primordial migrations of early African people, humanity would have remained physically Africoid, and the rest of the world outside of the African continent would be absent of human life. The history of the African presence in ancient Asia spans more than 90,000 years and encompasses the largest single land mass on Earth, yet it remains one of the least documented aspects of the global African experience.

“The original inhabitants of India were dark-skinned and closely resembled the Africans in physical features. They founded the Indus Valley Civilization which, according to historians, was one of the world’s first and most glorious.”

- Journalist V.T. Rajshekar, The Black Untouchables of India: Reclaiming Our Cultural Heritage, from African Presence in Early Asia, by Dr. Runoko Rashidi and Dr. Ivan Van Sertima

Still interested in the medieval and ancient civilizations of Yorubaland (West Africa) and the Indus Valley Civilization (South Asia)?

According to scholars, they believe Yorubaland and the Indus Valley Civilization are older than previously thought, from all evidence from archaeological and allied research in Africa and Asia. There was reason to believe that Yorubaland and the Indus Valley Civilization may be at least 8,000 years old. To learn more about the wise and righteous civilizations in Africa (Yorubaland) and Asia (the Indus Valley Civilization), click here: Yorubaland and The Indus Valley Civilization: The Cradle of Civilization?

Sources:

Akintoye, S. A History of the Yoruba People. Amalion Publishing. (Jan 1, 2010). July 3, 2023. p. 16, 98, 120-121, 528.

DailyAfrika. Brief History of Oduduwa. Medium. June 19, 2020. July 3, 2023. https://medium.com/@abebaebrima/brief-history-of-oduduwa-ccfefafd3495

FESTAYA. Inspirational Quotes Wall Art Modern Buddha Canvas Prints Motivational Wall Art Affirmation Positive Paintings Success Mindset"7 Rules Of Life"in Office Living room Bedroom Zen Decor - 12"x18"(White). Amazon. July 3, 2023. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B52J9K9M?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_dp_0MHCSHVBQVAE73ZW2CC2&th=1

Jackson, J. Huggins, W. Introduction to African Civilizations. Black Classic Books. (Aug. 16, 2013). Sept. 22, 2025. p. 153.

Jimerson, R. The Greatness of Black India: Out of Nubia/Kemet to Overcoming White Supremacy. Dr. Rufus O. Jimerson. Aug. 6, 2021. July 3, 2023. Location: 310.

Ogundiran, A. The Yoruba: A New History. Indiana University Press. Nov. 3, 2020. Sept. 22, 2025. p. 55-56.

Rajshekar, V.T. Dalit: The Black Untouchables of India. Clarity Press, Inc.; 3rd edition. (November 19, 2009). Sept. 22, 2025. p. 92.

Rashidi, R., Sertima, I. African Presence in Early Asia. Transaction Publishers. (June 15, 1986). July 3, 2023. p. 10, 82, 113, 118-119, 235.

Ronnyswork. Ife Means Love, Yoruba Language, African Word Art, Printable Download, Love Affirmations, Positive Word Art, Simple Unique Afrocentric Quote. Ronnyswork. Etsy. July 3, 2023. https://www.etsy.com/Ronnyswork/listing/555905118/ife-means-love-yoruba-language-african?utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.smt&share_time=1509855792000

Walker, R. When We Ruled: The Ancient and Mediaeval History of Black Civilizations. Black Classic Press. (May 1, 2011). Nov. 15, 2023. p. 627.

Wikimedia Commons. File: Indus Valley Civilization. Mature Phase (2600-1900 BCE).png. Wikimedia Commons. Nov. 15, 2023. https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Indus_Valley_Civilization,_Mature_Phase_(2600-1900_BCE).png

Wikipedia. Yoruba people. Nov. 15, 2023. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_people#

Williams, C. The Destruction of Black Civilization: Great Issues of a Race from 4500 B.C. to 2000 A.D. Third World Press; 3rd Revised ed. edition. (Feb. 1, 1992). July 3, 2023. p. 32.