In the city of Ife, the people still tell the tale of Oduduwa, who came down from the sky and created dry land from out of the sea. He founded Ife, the first and greatest city, and ruled over it for many years. Orunmila, who reads the future, ruled Benin for a time, but then returned to the sky. Without his leadership, the people of Benin suffered, and they sent many messengers to Ife, begging Oduduwa to come help them.

So Oduduwa went to Benin with his son, Oranmiyan, to look after the people of Benin. After a time, messengers from Ife came, begging that Oduduwa return and once more be father of the city.

Oduduwa bid farewell to his son, and returned to Ife, where he ruled for many more years. When he felt that his life was coming to an end, he summoned Oranmiyan to him.

"I wish you to rule over Ife," Oduduwa said. "It is the first city, and the one nearest my heart. I would be comforted if I knew that a wise ruler, who is of my blood, will take my place here."

Oranmiyan agreed, and ruled Ife after his father's death. Ife was the greatest city of men, but it was not the only city. The rulers of other lands envied the name and fortune of Ife, and sought to conquer the city. But Oranmiyan was a valiant warrior. The sight of him on the battlefield struck terror in the hearts of his enemies. He had never been defeated, and Ife continued to prosper while he ruled.

But, like his father, Oranmiyan did not live forever. When he was dying, he called the people of Ife to him. "You are a noble people. Though I will soon be gone, you can still live as heroes, so that the name of Ife is always spoken with awe."

The people despaired, and begged Oranmiyan not to leave. "What shall we do without our father?"

"I cannot reject death," Oranmiyan told them. "But I promise never to forget Ife. In your hour of need, I shall return." And then he turned to the old men of Ife, and told them certain words to speak, words that would call him back to the city.

And then Oranmiyan walked to the marketplace, and stuck his staff in the ground. "Remember the courage of heroes," Oranmiyan told the people. As they watched, his staff changed into a column of stone, which still stands there today. Then Oranmiyan stamped upon the earth, and it opened up, allowing him to descend.

Word of Oranmiyan's passing reached other cities, and their leaders rejoiced. They gathered great armies, and advanced upon Ife. When the people of Ife learned of this, they went to the old men of the city in terror.

"You must summon Oranmiyan to us," they said, "or we shall be destroyed."

The old men went to the marketplace, and spoke the words Oranmiyan had taught them. The earth trembled and split open, and Oranmiyan rose up, weapons in hand. He led the people of Ife against the invaders, slaughtering those who did not flee quickly enough. When the battle was over, Oranmiyan descended once more into the earth. And for many years after, no one challenged the supremacy of Ife.

The people of Ife gloried in their safety and prosperity, and held many festivals. And during one of these festivals, when dusk came after a day of feasting and drinking palm wine, the people thought of their savior, Oranmiyan. "Our father should be here, and enjoy our good fortune," they said. "After all, it is because of his protection that Ife remains a great city."

So they went to the old men, and asked them to summon Oranmiyan. "But the city is not in danger," the old men protested. "He asked that we only call upon him in times of need."

"We wish to express our gratitude," the people insisted, and eventually prevailed upon the old men to speak the secret words. And those words meant: "Come swiftly, Oranmiyan. Ife is in danger."

Oranmiyan emerged once more from beneath the ground, searching for the enemy. He saw many men in the marketplace, and fires burning behind them. In the darkness, he did not recognize the people of Ife, and assumed that they were invaders; he thought that the fires were burning buildings, not torches for the festival.

Oranmiyan attacked, slaughtering the people of Ife, sending others screaming through the streets. All night, Oranmiyan wielded his sword, and no man could stand before him. And when the dawn came, Oranmiyan looked down at the bodies laying at his feet, and saw the tribal scars on their cheeks. He knew then that he had slaughtered the people of Ife. He cried out in anguish, and threw down his sword.

"I came when called to protect the city," he wailed. "But instead I have killed many of its people. I will fight no more." And he stamped upon the ground, and entered the fissure which opened at his command, and descended into the earth for the final time, never more to be seen in Ife, or anywhere above the ground.

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