Ile Ife is the origin of the Yoruba race. It's the spiritual headquarter of all Yoruba race wherever they are found. That's why it's called the source.
Who is Oranmiyan? He's one of the youngest children of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race. Just as Ife can not be separated from it's kings and kingdoms, far and wide, so also is the story of Ife and Oranmiyan.
Oranmiyan founded Oyo. He was a warrior king extraordinaire. He was the first Alaafin of Oyo. He was the father of King Sango (who became a god, and deified by his followers after his death) and King Ajaka.
It was King Sango who liberated the Oyo's from the Owu and stopped the payments of tribute to the Olowu.
The present Oba (king) or royal family of Benin Kingdom, Edo State in Nigeria are descendants of Eweka, the son of Oranmiyan. When Oranmiyan left Benin, he installed his son, Eweka as the new king.
The Alaafin of Oyo and the Oba of Benin are brothers.
There is a place at Ife called "Orun omo'ba n'Edo" (Heaven of the princes of Edo). The Benin Kings used to be buried at Ile Ife. The custom of burying Benin Kings at Ife was stopped in the 1950's.
Oranmiyan was the 6th Ooni of Ife. Oranmiyan's tentacle or empire was from the shores of the river Niger to the Volta region in Ghana.
The Oranmiyan grove and shrine usually comes alive during Olojo festival when the Ooni wears the Arere crown in the celebration of the unique crown, as descendants of Oranmiyan that are kings of different kingdoms across West Africa returns to Ife to remember him at his grove and shrine dedicated to him.
The personality of Oranmiyan and his exploits are worth studying. What amazes me about him is his purposefulness, power and motivation. He was the custodian of the objective of Ile Ife which is "home to all and the expansion of the kingdom". Anago Osho