Yoruba People of Nigeria

1264 Words3 Pages

Among the many tribes found in Africa, the Yoruba people of Nigeria are the most popular. These indigenous people were a part of Southwestern Nigeria and Benin. In addition, they’re one of the largest ethno-linguistic groups in Africa. A great percentage of Yoruba is populated by modern day Nigeria. Generally speaking, the Yoruba culture was an oral tradition, and majority of the people were native speakers of the Yoruba language. The native name of the Yoruba language is ‘Ede Yoruba’. The language originated in the Yoruba people, they believed to be descendants of Oduduwa, the son of a powerful god called Oludumare. They referred to themselves as ‘Omo Oduduwa’, meaning Oduduwa’s children. The Yoruba language is the pride of the Yoruba people and over 22 million people speak it. According to, (Kwintessential “The Yoruba Language” in 2014.) The Yoruba language has been spoken within other languages in neighboring countries such as Benin and Togo. As well as, traces of the language have been spoken in Sierra Leone, where it’s called ‘Oku’ and in Cuba where it’s called ‘Nago’.

Moreover, like many other African languages, the study of Yoruba language was conducted by missionaries. These missionaries were interested in translating the scriptures for evangelical purposes. As a result, of these studies this led to the emergence of writing and studying of the Yoruba language and culture. First, the development of written Yoruba language was led by Samuel Crowther, a fluent Yoruba speaker who published the first Yoruba grammar. In 1884, He translated the Holy Bible from the Standard English version into Yoruba dialect. Afterwards, his work was accepted as the standard for Yoruba language among a variety of dialects. His Yoruba-language B...

... middle of paper ...

...rked to bring the spoken and written Yoruba languages closer together. The arts of Yoruba collectively have become preserving agents of Yoruba culture for centuries. Today, the Yoruba language is taught in school systems and universities in Nigeria, and it is used in a wide variety of media, including television, radio and newspapers.

Works Cited

1. "African Literature." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. .
2. "The Yoruba Language." The Translation Agency For A Complete Professional Translation Service. Kwintessential, 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. .
3. "Yoruba." - Language Information & Resources. Accredited Language Services, 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. .

Show More
Related

  • Santeria and Lukumi Religions Practiced by Hispanic Caribbeans

    1354 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Yoruba religion was brought to the Hispanic Caribbean approximately four hundred years ago by African slaves during the period of conquest and colonization of the new world. The religion remained traditionally strong among the African community until the Spanish conquerors began to prohibit its practice. When the Spaniards reached the New lands they brought with them the religion of the reigning King. That is Queen Isabella's religion; Catholosism. The conquerors forced the slaves to accept the Catholic faith as their new religion. The African, stripped already of their dignity refuse to give up their religious beliefs, this belief being all they brought with them. Knowing of the negative ramnifications, punishment and sometimes even death if caught "devil worshipping" it meant that in order to continue to worship theri Gods the angry Africans had to find a way to practice thier religion. They astutely hide theri religion behind Catholic religious practices and saints.

    Read More

  • The Brass Plaques of the Benin Palace

    2152 Words  | 5 Pages

    The first step to understanding the response of the Benin people to this arrival is to look to their conception of their own identity. The Benin call themselves, their capital, and their language Edo, and some Edo can rightfully claim to have lived in the region for a thousand years. When speaking of Benin, the idea of a "traditional" culture is not wholly erroneous - their ancestry is older and on a more direct line than most Europeans can imagine. But the ancient kingdom of Benin did not encompass all Edo-speaking people and it was also not restricted to them, as it included ethnic groups such as the Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, and Itsekiri (Duchateau 9). The amount of racial cohesion in this "traditional culture" should no...

    Read More

  • Analysis of the Video Mother Tongues: Languages Around the World (2007)

    665 Words  | 2 Pages

    The video Mother Tongues: Languages Around the World discusses the various languages found in Africa, Oceana, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The film starts with a brief description of Africa’s nearly 2000 languages. It explains that because of Africa’s relative isolation and long history of occupants it has the most languages of any land mass. The African languages include anything from Arabic, Swahili, or the ‘click’ language. Click languages are located only in Africa; in these languages the clicks function as normal consonants.The many languages of Africa all evolved differently due to separation between groups. For example the Nigeria area has over 400 languages and almost every language group is represented. Africa has unique sounds such as kp or gb which can be written has ibgo. These sounds are not common in places other than Africa. Swahili is probably the best-known African language. Developed along the Indian Ocean near areas such as Kenya. Swahili was adopted from many languages especially Arabic. Swahili has taken on an international image as one of the main languages of Africa.

    Read More

  • Physician Assisted Suicide Essay

    2048 Words  | 5 Pages

    There is great debate in this country and worldwide over whether or not terminally ill patients who are experiencing great suffering should have the right to choose death. A deep divide amongst the American public exists on the issue. It is extremely important to reach an ethical decision on whether or not terminally ill patients have this right to choose death, since many may be needlessly suffering, if an ethical solution exists.

    Read More

  • West African Kingdoms

    996 Words  | 2 Pages

    Trupin, James E. West Africa - A Background Book from Ancient Kingdoms to Modern Times, Parent's Magazine Press. New York, 1991.

    Read More

  • Physician Assisted Suicide

    1172 Words  | 3 Pages

    Physician Assisted Suicide is a freedom of choice that will cease a patients pain and suffering by giving them a safe and reliable way to end their life. As of right now only four states in the United States give patients the option of Physician Assisted Suicide and legalizing this will only give patients the freedom they should have over their own life. Dying from an incurable illness can be so severely painful that no amount of medicine can sufficiently help a patients pain. Physician Assisted Suicide is a way to help those patients who are often left defenseless and let them choose to end their lives before their pain gets to severe. I urge everyone to consider helping pass Physician Assisted Suicide as an option for anyone who feels that is the path they would like to take.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Physician Assisted Suicide

    1130 Words  | 3 Pages

    To begin with, what is physician suicide? Physician assisted suicide is confused with euthanasia, and even though they fall under the same category these terminologies do differ. The definition

    Read More

  • Essay On Igbo People

    822 Words  | 2 Pages

    Religion and the Igbo People The Igbo are a profoundly religious people who believe in a benevolent creator, usually known as Chukwu, who created the visible universe (uwa). Opposing this force for good is agbara, meaning spirit or supernatural being. In some situations people are referred to as agbara in describing an almost impossible feat performed by them. In a common phrase the igbo people will say Bekee wu agbara.

    Read More

  • Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

    1327 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...’s depictions of both traditional and modern beliefs in varying degrees illustrate the importance of both in contemporary Nigerian culture, as well as the greater Africa as a whole, and how both are intertwined and cannot exist without the other. In effect, she skillfully subverts stereotypes or single perceptions of Africa as backward and traditional, proving instead, the multifaceted culture of Africa. She further illustrates that neither traditional African nor western culture is necessarily detrimental. It is the stark contrast of the fundamental cultures that inevitably leads to clashes and disagreements. In the end, what holds African countries such as Nigeria together is their shared pride. Modern, western influences can bring positive changes to society, but new cultures cannot completely eradicate the foundational cultures to which a society is founded on.

    Read More

  • The Maasai Tribe

    1840 Words  | 4 Pages

    physically related, and also in many other forms related to the Samburu and Turkana. The

    Read More

  • Imperialism in Things Fall Apart, Thesis by Chinua Achebe

    1035 Words  | 3 Pages

    http://moodle.oakland.k12.mi.us/internationalacademy/pluginfile.php?file=%2F68302%2Fmod _ folder%2Fcontent%2F0%2FAfrica%20Essay%2FAchebe%20Interview%20An%20African%2 20Voice.docx&forcedownload=1>. Arinze, Francis A., and Kalu Ogbu. The "Igbo Religion" www.ic.galegroup.com.

    Read More

  • Witchcraft in Contemporary African Society

    2504 Words  | 6 Pages

    Nairobi: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd, 1978. _____________. African Religions and Philosophy. New York: Anchor Books, 1970. Shorter, Aylward.

    Read More

  • Buchi Emecheta's The Joys of Motherhood as an African Feminist Text

    3065 Words  | 7 Pages

    The syllables of the syllables. Okeke, Phil E. "Reconfiguring Tradition: Women's Rights and Social Status in Contemporary Nigeria." Africa Today 47.1 (2000): 49-63.

    Read More

  • Essay On Nigerian Culture

    2197 Words  | 5 Pages

    Nigerian culture is as multi-ethnic as the people in Nigeria. The people of Nigeria still cherish their traditional languages, music, dance and literature. Nigeria comprises of three large ethnic groups, which are Yoruba, Hausa-Fulani and Igbo.

    Read More

  • The Role of Music in Society

    1731 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Yoruba people live mostly in Southwestern Nigeria. Traditionally, the Yoruba organized themselves into networks of related villages, towns and kingdoms; with most of them headed by a king or mayor. (2013) Music and dance have always been an important part of Yoruba culture for those living in Nigeria as well as in the diaspora. Yoruba music and dance are used for many different occasions in life such as religious festivals, royal occasions, and entertainment. Yoruba traditional music focuses on Yoruba deities. Drums and singing are the main elements of Yoruba music. (2013)

    Read More

More about Yoruba People of Nigeria

Open Document