The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic
groups in West Africa. They speak the Yoruba
language known as ede Yoruba. The majority of them
are found in the western part of Nigeria. They can
also be found in few numbers in the republic of
Benin, Togo and Ghana while some are found in the
Americas and the United Kingdom. They are
predominantly Christians, 30% are Islam while about
10% are Orisha and Ifa worshippers.
In Nigeria, the Yoruba share borders with the Borgu
in the northwest, the Nupe and Ebira in the north,
and the Edo, the Esan and the Afemai to the
southeast.
The Igala and other related groups are found in the
northeast and the Egun, Fon and other related
groups are found in the southwest.
Yoruba settlements are often described as primarily
one or more of the main social groupings called
“generation”.
The “first generation” includes towns and cities
known as original capitals of founding Yoruba states/
kingdoms.
The “second generation” is made up of settlements
created by conquest.
The “third generation” is made up of settlements that
emerged following the Yoruba war.
The African people who lived in the lower western
Niger area during the 4th century BC were not
initially known as the Yoruba, although, they share a
common group of language and ethnicity. Yoruba
historians confirm the existence of people in this
region for several millennia.
T he ruler or “oba” of Oyo is referred to as the Alafin
of Oyo while the ruler or “Oba” of Ife is referred to as
the Ooni of Ife. Ife is considered as the home of
yorubas because its where the origin of Yoruba came
from, however, Ife is regarded as the spiritual
homeland of the Yoruba.
The Yoruba kings (Obas) live in palaces that are
usually in the center of the town. Opposite the king’s
palace is the king’s market (Oja Oba). Traditionally,
the traders of the Yoruba markets are well organized
and have various guilds, officers and elected speaker.
The markets also have one Mother of the market
known as “Iyaloja”. She represents the interest of the
market traders in the aristocratic councils of chiefs
(Oloyes) at the king’s palace.
Twin children commonly known as “Ibeji” in Yoruba
are very important and special people in the Yoruba
society. They usually give special names to each of
these twins. The first twin to be born is traditionally
named Taiyeowo or Tayeowo which means ‘the first
to taste the world’. The name is often shortened to
Taiwo or Taye. The second twin to be born is named
Kehindegbegbon or Omokehindegbegbon which
means ‘the child that born last gets the rights of the
eldest’. The name is often shortened to Kehinde or
Kenny.
In Yoruba, time is measured in “isheju”(minutes),
“wakati” (hours), “ojo”(days), “ose”(weeks), “osu”or
“oshu”(months) and “odun”(years).
The names of the months starting from January to
December in yoruba are Sere, Erele, Erena, Igbe,
Ebibi, Okudu, Agemo, Ogun, Owere, Owara, Belu and
Ope.
The names of days in Yoruba starting from Sunday to
Saturday are Ojo-Aiku, Ojo-Aje, Ojo-Ishegun, Ojo-Ru,
Ojo-Bo, Ojo-Eti, Ojo- Abameta.
Some Yoruba towns in Nigeria are Ilesa, Ibadan,
Fiditi, Orile Igbon, Ejigbo, Ijebu Ode, Eko, Abeokuta,
Akure, Ilorin, Ijebu Igbo,Ogbomoso,Ekiti, Ikare,
Kabba Sagamu, Aiyetoro, Ilaro, Badagry, etc.