Yoruba

The Yoruba (Yo•row•ba) are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. Many people speak the Yoruba language. The Yoruba found mostly in Nigera consist of 21 percent of the population.



Yoruba shares borders with other villages such as the Borgu, the Nupe and the Ebria, and the Igala and other related groups are found in the northeast.



The philosophy of Yorùbá (also known as Irunmole, Ifa, Orisha or Aborisha) is that all humans have Ayanmo (manifest destiny) to become one in spirit with Olódùmarè (Olòrún, the divine creator and source of all energy). Each person in Ayé (the physical realm) uses thought or action to impact the community of all other living things including the Earth, and so to move towards destiny. As such, one's destiny is in one's hands. To attain transcendence and destiny in Òrún-Réré (spiritual realm of those who do good and beneficial things), one's Orí-Inu (spiritual consciousness in the physical realm) must be elevated to unify with one's Iponri (Orí Òrún). Those who stop improving are destined for Òrún-Apadi (spiritual realm of the forsaken). Life and death are cycles of habitation in physical body and spiritual realms while one's spirit evolves toward transcendence. This evolution is most advanced in Irùnmolẹ (oní irun, of the unique hair that distinguishes humans from beasts; imo, enlightened of destiny, ilẹ on the land)



For most people, iwapẹlẹ (balanced culture), meditation strengthen one's Orí-Inu. One is able to gbadúra (pray) for support of the Egungun (one's elevated ancestors) or the Orí-Òrún for the tools of the Odu (knowledge of all ages) to one's benefit. Those with strong motivation to acheived a fulfilling destiny may consult Orunmila through Ifá (divination sciences) and ẹbò (offering). In invoking the Orunmila so directly, care is required to ensure alignment of thought and action. The Orunmila brings into motion either Oríṣà (benevolent or angelic forces) or Ajẹ (malevolent or demonic forces). All communication with the Òrún is energized by invoking Àṣẹ (the essence of Olódùmarè that gives life to all). Àṣẹ is delivered by Ẹlégbara (Eṣu, the divine messenger) who, without distortion or partiality for good or for bad, negotiates communication to the Òrún and navigates Òrún forces to the Ayé.n western Nigeria, there are also substantial indigenous Yoruba communities in the Republic of Benin, Ghana and Togo



Yoruba (native name èdè Yorùbá, 'the Yoruba language') is a dialect of West Africa with over 25 million speakers. The native tongue of the approximately 40 million Yoruba people, it is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. Apart from referring to the aggregate of dialects and their speakers, the term Yoruba is used for the standard, written form of the language. Yoruba is classified as a Niger-Congo language of the Yoruboid branch of Defoid, Benue-Congo. Yoruba is the third most spoken native African language.


The Yoruba are rich in heritage, cultural and spirit. This was a fascinating group to research on. It enlightens me to know the many groups that are in Africa and all are so different.



Source: Online Encyclopedia. www.en.wikipedia.org










Months in Yoruba calendar:
Months in Gregorian calendar:
Sere
January
Erele
February
Erena
March
Igbe
April
Ebibi
May
Okudu
June
Agemo
July
Ogun
August
Owere (Owewe)
September
Owara (Owawa)
October
Belu
November
Ope
December