The Yoruba are one of the most popular ethnic groups in West Africa and Africa in general. They are predominantly found in southwestern and northern Nigeria and some parts of the Benin Republic and Togo.
In this article we will introduce you to everything you need to know about the “Children of Yoruba”, their language, religion, tribe, culture and other interesting facts that you probably did not know.
Yoruba people, tribe
The Yoruba tribe, also known as the Àwon omo (literally meaning “The Children of Yoruba”), is said to total over 40 million people in general, including those in south and central Benin.
In Nigeria, this wonderful tribe has 21% of the population, making it a significant tribe and one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa.
The Yoruba are surrounded by some ethnic minority groups in Nigeria as well as Benin. In north-west Benin they share borders with the Bariba, north-east Ebira in central Nigeria, north-east Nupe, and east-west Edo, Afemai and groupssan groups in west-central Nigeria.
The Yoruba tribe also borders the Gbespei Mahi, Egun, Fon in the southwest and the ewes living in Benin and Togo. In the south-east they share a border with the main residents of Itsekiri who live in the north-west of the Niger Delta.
There are two main groups of Yorubadie diaspora; The first group is known as the migrants and consists of Yoruba who immigrated to Britain and the United States in the 1960s to 1980s due to major economic and political changes. The second group consists of Yorubas who were part of the Atlantic slave trade.
The second group reportedly has larger numbers and communities in countries such as Trinidad, Tobago, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Brazil and Grenada.
According to history, the Yoruba kingdoms were part of the British protectorate during the imperial period in Africa. They firmly believe that they are descended from Oduduwa.
Ancient Yoruba practiced polygyny, that is, men were allowed to marry more than one woman while also being treated equally, although there was competition among wives to secure preference for their children.
Some Yoruba still practice this act, with Oyo’s favorite Alaafin, Oba Dr. Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, who is currently married to four wives.
language
As of 2010, records had it that the number of Yoruba speakers to be tuned was estimated at 30 million. While we have yet to confirm whether this number has actually increased or decreased over the years, we can boldly claim that the majority of Yoruba are native speakers of the Yoruba language.
The Northwest Yoruba (NWY) dialect is predominantly spoken in the following areas: Egba, Ibadan, Egbado/Yewa, Ọyọ, West Ogun, Lagos/Eko, while residents of the Yagba, Owe, Ijumu, Oworo, Gbede and Abunu areas speak Northeast Yoruba -speak dialect (NEY).
The Central Yoruba (CY) dialect is predominant. Residents of Igbomina, Ijesha, Ifẹ, Ekiti, Akurẹ, ẸfẸn and the communities of Ikale, Ilaje, Ondo City, ỌwỌ, Idanre, Akoko, Remo and Ijẹbu speak the Southeastern Yoruba dialect (SEY ).
Finally, the Southwest Yoruba (SWY) dialect is mainly spoken by the Yoruba communities in Ketu, Awori, Sakete, Ifè (Togo), Idasha and Ipokia/Anago.
Interestingly, many Yoruba words are used in the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé and in many other Afro-American religions in the Americas and the Caribbean.
Regardless of the differences in the Yoruba language mentioned above, the tribe has a standard Yoruba variety known as Literary Yoruba, Yoruba koiné, or Yoruba.
This variety, which has its origins in the 1850s, is the written form of the language and is widely used by news readers in the media. We thank Samuel A. Crowther, the first African bishop to first publish a Yoruba grammar.
Among all the languages spoken by ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Yoruba language is most closely related to the Igala language (spoken in central Nigeria) and the Itsekiri language (spoken in the Niger Delta).
religion
Southwest Nigeria and the adjacent parts of Benin and Togo are not only home to the Yoruba, but also places where the people’s religious and diverse traditional practices are practiced.
According to records, at least 20% of the Yoruba practice the traditional religions of their ancestors. Yoruba religious beliefs are closely related to Itan, which includes songs, stories, tales, and other cultural concepts of Yoruba society.
The Yoruba firmly believe that every man possesses “ayanmo” (destiny, destiny) and that Olodumare is the chief agent of creation. In addition, they also believe in reincarnation within the family, which they call Atunwa.
The Yoruba ethnic group is the ruler of the sky and the earth under the sky is Olorun (sky god) and is orisha to other orishas. They believe that the Olorun is the father of Orunmila and Obatala. It can be communicated through prayers or by pouring water on kola nuts on the ground.
Eshu, another god, is believed to be the divine messenger who makes offerings to Olorun after depositing them at his shrine, while Ifa, the god of divination, interprets Olorun’s wishes to mankind.
Ogun is the god of war, hunting and metalworking. In the courts of Yoruba, people who follow traditional beliefs swear to make sincere statements by kissing a machete sacred to Ogun. Then Shango (also spelled Sango and Sagoe) is the creator of thunder.
More information about the Yoruba religion can be found here
Culture
Virtually every ethnic group has cultural norms that are passed down from one generation to another. The Yoruba are no exception, surviving unique cultural norms that they hold precious and irreplaceable.
The Yoruba ethnic group is very protective of their culture and most of them continue to give their children traditional names rather than English and speak their language at every opportunity.
From their art (the sculpture embodies, textile, cuisine) to other things such as naming conventions (naming, Oruko Amutorunwa – Predetermined Name, Oruko Abiso – Name Given at Birth, Abiku Names, Pet Names), Law, Linguistics, Wedding, Music, Funeral, philosophy, idealism, religion, and language, the Yoruba are quite unique, blessed, and industrious.
They Yoruba also believe so much in giving their babies and loved ones relevant names as well as pet names. This is because they believe people live their names – for better or for worse.
Weddings in Yorubaland are usually a beautiful sight to behold. For a wedding to take place in Yoruba, the groom must first obtain the consent of the bride’s parents, after which he pays the bride price. Friends and the groom’s family usually attend the ceremony to send them to their new home.
Like most ethnic groups, the Yoruba believe in death not the end of one’s life but merely a transition to another form of existence. They also believe in old age, so most of them pray for longevity during the blessing. In addition, they are often the creator of wealth and children.
Interesting facts about the Yoruba
- The Yoruba are popular for a number of dishes eaten in Nigeria. Some of them include Amala and Ewedu soup, Gbegiri soup and Ewa Aganyin, among others.
- The Yoruba people are stereotypically referred to as a “vibrant bunch” for their party enthusiasm.
- They are known to be good at weaving, embroidery, pottery, wood carving, leather and beadwork, and metalwork.
- The craftsmanship of the Yoruba is particularly evident in sculpture. The popular Ife bronze heads found in 1938 also testify to Yoruba craftsmanship.
- Other popular Yoruba artworks and crafts include the adire, an indigo-dyed cloth made using resistant dye techniques.
- They are also known for various genres of music including Akpala, Fuji, Afro Juju and Afro Beats.
- The popular Aso-Oke clothing (Aso-Ebi) was originally synonymous with the Yoruba people. But today, the gorgeous attire has become a symbol of Nigerian marriages.