Fact-Check: Video Claiming Yoruba People of Ogun State Are Primitive Due to Traditional Attire, Is False!

By: Hafiz Rabiu

Claim:

A video circulating on social media alleges that a group of Yoruba people from Ogun State, Nigeria, are seen wearing leaves, captioned: “Meet the primitive Yoruba tribe deep in the Ogun forest. They still dress in leaves and are protected by Amotekun. I wonder why Yoruba people don’t like to talk about them, it’s as if they’re ashamed of their brothers and sisters.”

Verdict:

False! The footage depicts members of the Koma tribe, whose traditional practices and attire reflect their cultural identity rather than primitiveness. 

Full Text:

A widely circulated video on X which has gathered at least 120k views till date since January 5, 2025, posted by @Unabombaa. The video purports to show individuals dressed in leaves and engaging in traditional celebrations, while the caption claims they are Yoruba people from Ogun State, Nigeria. The post portrays them as primitive and disconnected from modern civilization.

This assertion has sparked a huge reaction with over 120k views gathered so far. As of the time of this report, the video has garnered significant engagement, including over 544 likes, 260 reposts, 173 bookmarks, and 38 quotes.

Given the potential of this claim to misrepresent ethnic groups and perpetuate harmful stereotypes, an extensive fact-check was conducted to verify its accuracy.

Verification: TIn verifying this post, a reverse image search was conducted on snapshots taken from the video and video frames extracted from the footage traced the origins of the content. The analysis revealed that the video has been available on Facebook since July 28, 2023 well before its circulation on X in January 2025.

Further scrutiny of earlier versions of the footage shared on other platforms shows that the individuals in the video were correctly identified as members of the Koma tribe. The Koma people are an indigenous group residing in the Alantika Mountains, which span the Nigeria-Cameroon border.

Other social media posts and platforms have consistently associated the video with showcasing the cultural practices of the Koma people, without any mention of Yoruba communities or Ogun State. The leaf attire is described as a traditional aspect of Koma cultural heritage rather than a sign of primitiveness.

A further check into the X user, @Unabombaa profiles shows a history of sharing misinformation, particularly targeting the Yoruba ethnic group. Records show that the user’s previous account was suspended for propagating false and misleading content, further casting doubt on the credibility of this claim.

Conclusion

The claim that the individuals in the video are Yoruba people from Ogun State dressed in leaves and portrayed as primitive is false. The footage actually depicts members of the Koma tribe, whose traditional practices and attire reflect their cultural identity rather than primitiveness.