The Yoruba calendar (Kọ́jọ́dá) is a calendar used by the Yoruba people of southwestern and north central Nigeria and southern Benin. The traditional Yoruba week has four days but to reconcile with the Gregorian calendar, Yoruba people also measure time in seven days a week.
The days of the week in Yoruba are all preceded by the word ‘ọjọ́’ which means ‘day’ in Yoruba.
The following are the names and meaning of the days of the week in Yoruba.
| Sunday | Ọjọ́ aìkú |
| Monday | Ọjọ́ Ajé |
| Tuesday | Ọjọ́ Ìsẹ́gun |
| Wednesday | Ọjọ́ Rú |
| Thursday | Ọjọ́ Bọ̀ |
| Friday | Ọjọ́ Ẹti |
| Saturday | Ọjọ́ Àbàmẹ́ta |
Sunday (Ojó Aiku)
Sunday is called “Ojó Aiku” in Yoruba. Ojó Aiku is the day that begins a new week and it is known as “Day of Rest”. It is the day Orunmila, the convener of Ifá to earth, buried the mother of Esu Odara and his wife, Imi. Since that occurrence, Yoruba people decided to refer to the day as Ojó Aiku.
Monday (Ojó Ajé)
Monday is the second day of the week and is called “Ojó Ajé” in Yoruba. In Yoruba language, Ajé means “wealth”. According to history, it is the day which money joined Orisa on earth and is known as the day of money or wealth.
Tuesday (Ojó Iségun)
Tuesday is the third day of the week. It is called “Ojó Iségun” in Yoruba. It is tagged the day of victory
Wednesday (Ojó ‘Rú)
Wednesday is the fourth day of the week. It is called “Ojó ‘Rú“. Ojó ‘Rú means the “day of confusion”. According to Yoruba history, Ojó ‘Rú (Wednesday) is regarded as the day that initiated troubles and calamities into the world.
Thursday (Ojó ‘Bo or Ojó Alamisi)
Thursday is the fifth day of the week. It is called “Ojó ‘Bo or Ojó Alamisi“. It is a significant day for the Yoruba people. The day on which Ancestors visit the family. It is the day that begins the most important festivals in the Yoruba land. Thus, they decided to call the day “Ojó ‘Bo”- a day of new creation. It is also known as “Ojó Alamisi”.
Friday (Ojó Eti)
Friday is the sixth day of the week. It is called “Ojó Eti“. It is believed that whatever people have to do on this day should be postponed or else it would fail.
The day could be referred to as the day of postponement. According to Yoruba history, there is a belief that Friday — Ojó Eti — was the day Satan (Èbìtà) and Saviour (Èlà) engaged in a fierce battle with each other.
Saturday (Ojó Abameta)
Saturday is the 7th day of the week. It is called “Ojó Abameta“. This day share same attribues with Ojo Eti. In order to avoid three types of negative incidents, the Yoruba’s do not bury a person, unless the person is an elder on a Saturday.
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