So advanced was the Omoluabi matrix that there was a clear definition between influential (Oloro) persons and wealthy (Olowo) people. This refined systems allowed for weighted contributions.  The training in the Omoluabi matrix impressed the desire for the ultimate status on the individual and the value of a good name was a prized possession. Our Omoluabi foundation has notably advantages over the democratic system in that religious tolerance was non-negotiable and no one was encouraged to shed blood on the behalf of any faith system. The western world is being shaken by Islamic fundamentalism which is easily muted by the Omoluabi foundation. This beautiful matrix that could have been the core of African definition and development however suffered some drawbacks in the 14th century. Even as the core values bonding the Omoluabi expanded from Ile-Ife we must remember that there were disgruntled elements that hated the Oduduwa reforms and had initiated secret cults to restore the negative pre-Oduduwa practices. It was these negative sentiments that persuaded an otherwise cautious and sensible nation to become partners in crime with slave traders.

The Moors (Arabs) were the first set of slavers that blighted the African horizon.

With cruelty and the advantage of gunpowder they conducted raids into our territories and carted off black Africans into the Arab world to serve their selfish goals. The Arabic slavers were however largely disorganized and undisciplined compared to the European form of slavery that took over the baton in the 15th century. With machine precision and callous determination the Europeans starting with the Portuguese then expanding to embrace all others, dehumanized our people and corrupted the Omoluabi system. 

Contrary to everything the Omoluabi stood for slavery penetrated our national bonding until brother began to betray brother. Treachery was introduced into Omoluabi spheres by the greed of the blood wealth of slavery.  The Omoluabi matrix has never really recovered from the virus of treacherywhich remains a curse among our people till date.

Before the 16th century the majority of slaves were taken from East Africa by Arabs and exported from Zanzibar. Female sex slaves were the prime commodity to the Arab peninsular. Slave trade was brought closer to the Omoluabi sphere by the Saharan trade routes employed by the Bornu Empire in the later part of the 1800’s.  The trans-Atlantic slave trade was responsible for the greatest number of slaves taken from the interior of West Africa. Most were shipped to America, Europe and the Southern tip of Africa. The trade peaked in the 18th century and it is estimated that 20 million plus were victim of the shameful business. The cursed provoked by our involvement in slavery took its toll when the descents of Oduduwa began to betray one another in senseless wars that decimated the kingdom from 1798 – 1898.

The kingdom became fragmented and relationships between the different subgroups broke down. The Arab inspired jihadist had always been a source of irritation to Ile-Ife and her offspring but they became a real threat in the early part of the 18th century. The greatest proof of the damage we permitted to be done to the Omoluabi matrix is found in the name by which we are referred in the present day. 

Our belief systems, folklore, proverb and informal education system is laced with the theme of retributive justice and there was no way that the evils of slavery and also the resurgence of blood sacrifices was to go unpunished! Slavery as an act in itself devalues human life and the pollutions it brought into our sphere had a devastating effect.  One clear burden we have had to bear came from the new name “Yoruba” a shortened form of the appellation released upon us by the Fulani in the early 1800’s. Inarguably the word Yoruba has a negative denotation alluding to bastard or worthless person. Incredibly the Oduduwa descendants who ordinarily are very sensitive to the meaning of words have carried this curse word with pride collectively for almost 200 years. Olukumi, Oku and Anago were retained by those shipped as slaves while the slave trade collaborators were punished with a name describing them as worthless.  One of our proverbs says that little insults have a field day when one has been felled by a big tribulation. This proverb best describes the fortunes of the custodians of the Omoluabi matrix as the downward slide continued with the advent of the imperialists. Our concept of “omonikeji” good will to your neighbor was shredded in the slave trade years.

As custodians of the Omoluabi matrix we could easily have been the root of Africa’s greatest civilization instead we ended up as sub-slaves in a colonial arrangement after ceding our kingdom and territories for sixpence! A dark cloud was unleashed over the destiny of the Omoluabi the day Dashwood Taubman Goldie was born in the Isle of Man 10th of May 1846. The first Europeans to give a first hand account of our land and its progress (Oyo Kingdom) were Clapperton and Lander as they traveled through our satellite towns to the coast in 1825. The order, peace and prosperity they reported was actually an evidence of our decline! The ambitions of the imperialist Goldie killed off the Omoluabi option and destroyed the opportunities we would have had to order the direction of development of our nation and black Africa. Goldie entered West Africa in 1877 and nothing has been the same since then.