The standard language incorporates several features from other dialects.[19]. The Yoruba people (Yoruba: Ìran Yorùbá) are an ethnic group that inhabits western Africa, mainly the countries of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo.The Yoruba constitute around 30 million people Africawide. Other natural names include Abiodun (one born on a festival day or period),"Abiona"(one born on a journey) Abidemi or Bidemi (one born without the presence of its father) i.e the child's father didn't witness his baby's naming ceremony but not dead, maybe he just traveled, Enitan (one of a story) this child might have had any of its parent dead before its birth, Bosede (one born on a holy day); Babatunde/Babatunji (meaning father has come back) is the son born to a family where a father has recently passed. For it is the wish of the Deity that human beings should promote the good as much as is possible. This suggests a somewhat cynical attitude in the parent(s). The vast majority of this population is from Nigeria, where the Yoruba make up 13.9% of the country's population, making them one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. As it were in the ancient times, Yoruba people always attach philosophical and religious connotations to whatever they produced or created. The child that is named will grow to adulthood. While generally found under the umbrella as Yorubas, different areas have their separate dialects that are all closely related. Groups, under the platform of Assembly of all Yoruba Groups Worldwide, have set aside June 12 as the day of referendum for the Yoruba on the self-determination agenda. According to the Yoruba Mythology, it is believed that they descended from an area called Odua. Historically, their culture centered on densely populated city-states each controlled by an oba, or king. The culture of Nigeria is therefore every bit as diverse as you would expect from a country which is a melting pot of people from so many different backgrounds. (if we die young, and a horse is killed in celebration of one's life; it is better than dying old without people killing even a chicken in celebration.). Marriage is not considered to be only a union of the husband and wife, it is also seen among the Yoruba as the union of the families on both sides. 1. Culture. Meanwhile, a family that venerates Ifá may name their child Falola (Ifa has honor). Why Ife Is Not Yoruba Land, It Belongs To The Igbos - Ooni by EzeNri. He is regarded as the cultivator of modern Yoruba idealism. He also figures in the religion of the Edo people of southeastern Nigeria, who refer to him as Esango, and in the religion of the Fon people of Benin, who call him Sogbo or Ebioso. Secondary school (high school) education also became common. He and his friends seek her out through various means. Participation in this afterlife is conditional on the nature of one's life and the nature of one's death. His leadership philosophy helped him with big ideas. He cultivated the big ideas that led to the building of the first modern stadium in Africa and the first Cocoa House in the world. The grave is dug inside the deceased’s house. Thus more and more researches are being carried out on Yoruba cultural thought, as more and more books are being written on it—embossing its mark and advancing its research amongst non-African thinkers such as the political philosophers and political scientists who are beginning to open their doors to other cultures, widening their views. Irrespective of modernization, the Yoruba people still hold their culture and traditions so dearly. Immortality is the dream of many, as "Eji-ogbe" puts it: Mo dogbogbo orose; Ng ko ku mo; Mo digba oke; Mo duro Gbonin. Their tradition holds that there is only one supreme being or god called Olorun. He pondered the visible and invisible worlds, reminiscing about cosmogony, cosmology, and the mythological creatures in the visible and invisible worlds. The Yoruba culture provides for the upbringing of the child by the extended family. Kosoko (there is no hoe anymore). The wedding day is a day of celebration, eating, drinking and dancing for parents, relations, the new husband and wife and their friends and, often, even foes. They are good sculptors and craftsmen. The Yoruba are said to be religious people, but they are also pragmatic and tolerant about their religious differences. But he is more of a psychologist than a philosopher. For females, Aduke (one who everyone likes to take care of), Ayoke (one who people are happy to care for), Arike (one who is cared for on sight), Atinuke or Abike (one that is born to be pampered),"Anike" which come from a longer name meaning we have a crown and it is as delicate as an egg. 3. Naming ceremonies are performed with the same meticulous care, generally by the oldest family member. Dada is the child born with locked hair; and Ajayi (nicknamed Ogidi Olu) is the one born face-downwards.[7]. This is ancestor veneration, which some have wrongly labelled ancestor worship. Yoruba … English is the common language used in Nigeria. [1], The Yoruba are said to be prolific sculptors, famous for their terra cotta works throughout the 12th and 14th century; artists also earnests their capacity in making artwork out of bronze.[2]. meaning 'The cry of the new bride', this is to show that she is sad leaving her parents' home and signify her presence in the new home. Kashimawo (let's wait and see). In order to honour their several deities, gods, and ancestors, the Yoruba’s make magnificent sculptures. If he/she stays there, it follows that it is not bad, and that would send a signal to the other one to start coming. Adire is one of the popular textiles in Yoruba land. Yoruba cuisine is quite vast and often includes plantains which can be boiled, fried and roasted.[4]. Music and dance have always been an important part of their culture; used in the many different forms of entertainment.Musical instruments includes Bata, saworo, sekere, gangan etc. Then once they both express mutual love, they let their parents know about their feelings for each other. They form one of the three major tribes in Nigeria and they are found mostly in the Southern part of the country. 1 post & 78 views. While this is the only marital ceremony that is practiced by the more traditional members of the tribe, Christian and Muslim members generally blend it with a church wedding and registry wedding (in the case of Christians) or a nikkah and registry wedding (in the case of Muslims). Yes, cynics, skeptics, doubters, and cowards will begin to emerge with their fear. Akeredolu says the Yoruba people would not allow “impostors” to lead any agitation on their behalf. The young man identifies a young woman that he loves. These are names that are not natural with the child at birth but are given on either the seventh day of birth (for females) and ninth day of birth (for males). After a specified number of days have elapsed, a naming ceremony is held where close relatives are invited. In many cases, the relative will subsequently call the child by the name they give to him or her, so a new baby may thereafter have more than a dozen names. The Yoruba are said to be prolific sculptors, famous for their terra cotta works throughout the 12th and 14th century; artists also earnests their capacity in making artwork out of bronze.. Esiẹ Museum is a museum in Esiẹ, Irepodun, Kwara.The museum was the first to be established in Nigeria when it opened in 1945. Christianity, Islam etc. Awosika, V. O. (Let one conduct one's life gently; that one may die a good death; that one's children may stretch their hands over one's body in burial. Hence some of them are referred to as artist-philosophers. Lagos State: People, Logo, Postal Code & Map, Rivers State: Population, Postal Code & Map, Top 5 African Cities With The Worst Traffic Congestion, Azman Air: Online Flight Booking, Services, Customer Care Contact, Nigerian Civil War With Biafra: The Untold Story. Although religion is often first in Yoruba culture, nonetheless, it is the thought of man that actually leads spiritual consciousness (ori) to the creation and the practice of religion. This is an accretion to the fact that one can find a sculptor, a weaver, a carver or a potter in every household in Yoruba land. Thus thought/philosophy is antecedent to religion. Adult men who are not closely related to the deceased, but who belong to the deceased’s clan are allowed to attend the burial. For instance, the art of passage of rite is still rife among the Yoruba and is still a common practice even to date. There is a belief in an afterlife that is a continuation of this life, only in a different setting, and the abode of the dead is usually placed at a place just outside this abode, and is sometimes thought of as separated by a stream. Just as their men, the Yoruba women are expected to be respectful of their elders, and when the time for marriage comes, the women just as the men are expected to marry. As people say: Keni huwa gbedegbede; keni lee ku pelepele; K'omo eni lee n'owo gbogboro L'eni sin. The waist bead bears different names in different tribes. Among the most popular Yoruba women right now are media mogul Mo Abudu who has been recognized by the Forbes magazine as the most successful African woman, and one of the richest woman in the world, Folorunsho Alakija. Yoruba written literature begins with the formation of its grammar published in 1843. The Yoruba call on this god by prayers or by pouring water on the ground using kola nuts. However, this practice varies from one community to another. 4. Virtually nothing of the historic city survives: it was destroyed by the British in an epic act of vandalism in 1897. The Yoruba believe that some children are born to die. A Detailed Look Into Her Biography, Zubby Michael Has No Wife or Son And Here Is The Story Behind It. Musics varieties include Juju, Fuji etc with artists including King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Wasiu Ayinde KWAM 1 etc.[20]. Oshun, also spelled Osun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria.Oshun is commonly called the river orisha, or goddess, in the Yoruba religion and is typically associated with water, purity, fertility, love, and sensuality.She is considered one of the most powerful of all orishas, and, like other gods, she possesses human attributes such as vanity, jealousy, and spite. For instance, twins (ibeji) are believed to have natural-birth names. Reference to hills is found in the saying "Gboningbonin ni t'oke, oke Gboningbonin". Yoruba people have hundreds of aphorisms, folktales, and lore, and they believe that any lore that widens people's horizons and presents food for thought is the beginning of a philosophy. What Is Shatta Bandle’s Real Net Worth and The Sources of His Wealth? On the wedding night she and her husband have their first meeting and he is ordinarily expected to find her to be a virgin. In addition, allegiance to these systems is paid uniformly to a large urban area, as opposed to a centralised authority. However, their political and social system varies significantly, depending largely on regions. Eshu is the divine god who delivers special sacrifices to the high god, Olorun. Yoruba women are generally beautiful and hardworking. Each town has a leader called Oba, who achieves this position by being selected by an Oba who is in power, by inheritance or by participating title associations. Before she is finally ushered into her house, if she is an adherent of the Yoruba faith, she is given a calabash (igba) and is then asked to break it. [8] Such names reflect the frustration of the poor parents: The Yoruba also have pet names or oriki.