Oranmiyan is the last born of Oduduwa (the progenitor of the human race). When Oduduwa founded the Yoruba kingdom, it was a vast empire and he was the ruler as well as the spiritual guide for the kingdom. He was always on the road and traveling from one settlement to another helping the people and healing them. This usually left Ile-Ife, the seat of power with caretaker rulers who sometimes misbehaved and got power drunk. So when Oranmiyan came of age, Oduduwa put him in charge of the kingdom while he went on his numerous expeditions as a Babalawo throughout his kingdom.
The title that Oranmiyan was called then was ADELE OODUA, which means the caretaker for Oduduwa. It was after returning from one of his expeditions that a conflict arose in which Oranmiyan refused to vacate the throne for his father Oduduwa and challenged him to a spiritual duel in which he had the backing of some Orisa, especially Esu Laaroye. Oduduwa used the ASE ISENBAYE (the Ase of Creation) to defeat him and Oranmiyan turned himself into the stone staff that still stands today.
