If there is one thing the Yoruba culture is well known for, it is the culture of respect. We hold respect highly when it comes to our elders. Who or what is an elder? In the Yoruba culture anybody older than you is regarded as an elder and should be treated as such. Even if […]
Yoruba People Are… Yoruba people are an ethnic group from the Southwestern and North Central Nigeria. They are a collection of diverse people bound together by a common language, history, and culture. Reports have it that they make up 21% of Nigeria’s population, making them one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. Yoruba people, […]
Origin of Ikokore On our culinary journey today, we delve into the tantalizing world of Ikokore, a traditional pottage dish originating from the Ijebu people of Ogun State, Nigeria. With its unique blend of flavors and rich cultural heritage, Ikokore has captured the hearts and palates of many food enthusiasts across the country. What […]
AGOGO EEWO Agogo Eewo is the sequel to Saworoide, which we have already reviewed here. If you’ve given that a watch, you will find characters and locations in this movie familiar. To watch it all at once, I would recommend you do so on Olayemi Olatunji’s youtube channel. There it is titled ‘AGOGO EEWO – […]
Ogun jíjà refers to warfare that can occur between communities, different people in the same ethnic group, various ethnic groups, regions, countries, religious factions etc. The common causes of war in ancient Yorubaland include: Boundary dispute To enlarge one’s region and dominate others To fight against domination and agitate for freedom when already dominated, […]
BUILDING COMMUNITY Àsà ìranra-ẹni lọ́wọ́ refers to the ways in which Yoruba people help each other out with work, whether it is at the farm, in the home, money affairs or in other matters. It is advantageous because it enables work to commence and finish quickly, it develops community, reduces the difficulties that come from […]
Oríkì is a type of traditional oral poetry that is attributive and often projects praise. It is said to be the most popular of Yorùbá poetic forms and is passed down from generation to generation. Unfortunately, this appears to be declining like many other traditional practices. In the absence of written documents, certain oríkì’s acted […]
The State of the Living Spring History According to Yoruba tradition, Ile-Ife in Osun State is where the world’s creation began, orchestrated by Olodumare. This place symbolizes life’s start, the origin of civilization, and everything we experience. For the Yoruba people, whether in their homeland or elsewhere, Osun is their ancestral abode. Osun is […]
Land of Honour and Integrity History Ekiti State is located in the South Western region of Nigeria. Ekiti State (Yoruba: Ìpínlẹ̀ Èkìtì) shares borders with Kwara State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast, Ondo State to the south and southeast, and Osun State to the west. Established in 1996, Ekiti State was carved […]
Ìsìnkú – Burial Introduction Ìsìnkú refers to the burial rites which are the final steps carried out for or regarding a person or people who have passed on. For someone who has lived a good and long life, their passing is celebrated with dancing, merriness and joy. However, there are other types of death […]
This is the story according to a Yoruba tale of how language came to be in short picture form. Do let me know how your language believes language came to be in the comment section!
Saworoide Saworoide is a Yoruba movie written by Akinwunmi Isola and produced by Tunde Kelani. It is available on Youtube in two parts on Tunde Kelani’s channel. It was released in 1999 but its message still rings true to date. Saworoide, referring to the brass bell talking drum, is both the name of the movie […]
Yoruba Lessons Rating – 6/10 Background / Plot Maami which means mother is a 2011 film directed by […]
Origin of Ewa Agoyin What is Ewa Agoyin? Have you ever indulged in a culinary experience that transcends boundaries and captures the essence of culture in every bite? Ewa Agoyin is a beloved street food that perfectly embodies the rich flavors and traditions of Nigeria. This iconic dish features soft or mashed beans paired with […]
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 […]
Let’s be honest. There are many things we have picked and dropped over the years, one of which includes languages. No one loves spending time re-learning a language they learned halfway in the past. Taking short or long breaks from learning a language is ok to avoid burnout because life can get overwhelming. It is […]
Origin of Àmàlà Àmàlà, a cherished Yoruba delicacy, has delighted people for ages. It holds immense popularity in Nigeria, serving as a staple main course. This blog post delves into Àmàlà’s origins, health advantages, and its significant role in Yoruba culture. What is Àmàlà? Àmàlà is a staple food in Nigeria, particularly in […]
Yoruba Insults Language is a phenomenon that is used in communication. The environment we live in is largely verbal, therefore, language serves as an expressive function used in everyday conversation. Yoruba is an ethnic group which has an exciting history and rich culture. Yoruba people are known for numerous things, one of those things […]
Sunshine State History Ondo is a state located in the western part of Nigeria. It was established in 1976, carved out of the former Ondo province which was part of the erstwhile Western state. It shares borders with Kwara and Kogi to the north, Edo to the east, Delta to the southeast, and Osun and […]
In the beginning…. In the beginning, there was only the sky above and waters below, and this was ruled by the mighty Orisha, the council of gods. Olorun ruled the sky above and Olokun was master of all that was in the waters below. One day, a god named Obatala decided to create dry land. […]
A beautiful yoruba poem by J.F Odunjo Ise l’ogun ise (Work is the antidote for poverty) Mura s’ise ore mi (Work hard, my friend) […]
Oyo State – The Pacesetter State
The Pacesetter State History Oyo State, located in southwestern Nigeria,…