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PAGE 4 : Olamijulo S.K.
DATE: October 3, 2004
Dear Compatriot, Dr. Femi Fajemisin,
Greetings and thank you for your kind words.
In the book " The History of The Yorubas" The Rev. Samuel Johnson on the first INTRODUCTION page wrote:
QUOTE
The country (Yoruba Country) was probably first known to Europe from the North, through the explorers of Northern and Central Africa, for in old records the Hausa and Fulani names are used for the country and its capital; thus we see in Webster's Gazetter " YARRIBA," West Africa, East of Dahomey, area 70,000 sq.miles, population two millions, capital KATUNGA. These are the Hausa terms for Yoruba and for Oyo.
END OF QUOTE
YORUBA is a YORUBA word. OYO is a YORUBA word.
We accept as fact that Hausas referred to "Yoruba" people as Yarriba and referred to Oyo as "Katunga". If for reasons best known to them some Europeans first used Hausa words to name Yoruba people and locations in Yorubaland, that was their own initial error which has since been rectified.
Hausa name "Yarriba" was most logically derived from the original Yoruba name "Yoruba" and not the other way round. The Yorubas knew and called themselves Yorubas first in their own language and then the Hausas called them ANOTHER Hausa name that had a Yoruba derivative.
I am interested to learn what you and other Yoruba Compatriots also know or feel on this very interesting subject.
Olamijulo S.K.