Top 12 Yoruba Culture Facts

It is estimated that there are as many as 100 million Yoruba people living in sub-Saharan Africa today. There is no single group of people, but rather a collection of individuals who share a similar language, history, and culture.

Nigeria’s westernmost regions are dominated by the Yoruba ethnic group. In Yoruba mythology, all Yoruba people are descended from a hero known as Odua or Oduduwa, who is regarded as the ancestor of all Yoruba people. More than fifty people claim to be descended from Odua and thus be kings.

The Slave Coast was the name given to Yoruba territory during the four centuries it was subjected to slavery. Hundreds of thousands of Yoruba people were brought to the Americas.

Following are common Yoruba culture facts;

Top 12 Yoruba Culture Facts

Location:

First Yoruba culture facts is the location of this tribs. West Africa is the Yoruba’s traditional home. Tropical rain forests and grasslands coexist with each other on either side of this vast expanse. Nigeria is home to the majority of Yoruba.

Benin and Togo, two small countries west of Nigeria, are home to a few yorubas. The northern and southern Yoruba have very different work and living environments.

It’s difficult to find up-to-date statistics on the last census. The Yoruba population is estimated to be around 5.3 million people. ”

Language:

Although Yoruba has numerous dialects, all of its speakers are able to communicate with one another.

It is a speech sound. There are many different meanings to the same vowels and consonants based on their pitch (whether they are pronounced with a high voice or a low voice). The same word, aro, can mean indigo dye, cymbal, lamentation, and granary, depending on the intonation. To say “Hello,” “How are you?” or “Thank you,” in Yoruba, you would use the Pele o, Bawo ni?

Folklore:

It is said that the deities (gods) of the Yoruba mythology were originally located in the sky, with nothing but water below them. There were three items in particular that Orishala received from Olorun: an earthen snail shell filled with dirt and an egg with five feet on each side. He instructed Orishala to descend to the depths of the earth and begin the process of creating it. On her way to the heavens, Orishala came to a stop at the gate.

He stopped to say hello to some gods who appeared to be having a get-together. He was offered palm wine, which he drank to excess and eventually passed out. That night, his younger brother, Odua, saw Orishala asleep and snoozed. He took the things with him and went with Chameleon to the edge of heaven. Afterwards, they climbed down the chain that had been released by him.

Odua threw the earth on the water and set the five-toed chicken on it. As soon as the chicken started scratching, it spread the dirt around in every direction. At Odua’s request, Chameleon departed after determining the stability of the ground. Today, there is a sacred grove serving as the spot odua decend from.

Religion:

About a quarter of the Yoruba people still follow the ancient religions of their forefathers.

Traditional religion is practiced differently in different parts of the world. According to traditional Yoruba belief, there is a supreme deity and hundreds of lesser deities. It is common to refer to the followers of a deity as “his children.”

Each person has access to three gods. Sky God (Olorun), the highest deity, is the creator of the universe. Invoking him can be done through prayer or by sprinkling kola nuts on the ground with holy water. As a divine messenger, Eshu (also referred to as Legba by some) delivers offerings to Olorun from his shrine. This god is frequently invoked by everyone.

God of Divination Ifa translates Olorun’s desires for mankind. A Yoruba religious sect’s faith is based on the Ifa divination system. Ogun (god of war, the hunt, and metalworking), another god, is regarded as one of the most significant in the religion. In Yoruba courts, people who adhere to traditional beliefs swear to tell the truth by kissing a sacred machete.

The god of thunder, Shango (also spelled Sango and Sagoe), is a mythological figure.

Muslims (Muslims) and Christians make up the majority of Yoruba’s other religious groups. It is believed that the majority of Yoruba people still participate in annual festivals and other religious observances.

Major Holidays:

Local celebrations are frequently centered around a single deity. Depending on their religious affiliation, Yoruba people may also observe the following holidays: December 25th is New Year’s Day, followed by a three-day feast for Eid al-Adha (the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice) in June or July. Easter falls between March and April, as does Maulid an-Nabi ; Jesus’s birthday (December).

Rites:

Newborn babies are sprinkled with water to induce cries from them. No one can speak until the baby starts crying. In addition, no one under the age of the mother should be present at the birth. The baby is then taken out to the backyard for a bit of fresh air. Tightly tying and then cutting the umbilical cord with thread The placenta will be buried in the backyard.

A loofah sponge and palm oil are used to bathe the child at the placenta burial spot. When the child is held by the feet, it is shaken three times to make it brave and strong. ” A naming ceremony takes place after a certain number of days.

Relatives show up and bring a little extra cash to help out.

Male and female circumcisions are typically performed within the first month of pregnancy.

Arrangements for marriages:

The girl’s father must be negotiated with. The bride’s house is the place where the wedding ceremony must be held excerpt for other cases.

Relationships:

The Yorubas place a high value on kinship. In addition, having close friends is essential. The term “friend not-see-not-sleep” is used to describe a close friend. As a result, it is impossible to go to bed without first seeing your best friend. When a Yoruba is nearing death, he tells his best friend his final wishes.

Clubs formed during a person’s formative years are also significant. They form a club when a group of young people spend time together. As part of the planning process, they select a name and enlist the help of an elderly man and woman. Adults can still join the clubs. They meet once a month, and each member takes turns hosting.

Living Conditions:

Each courtyard in a Yoruba village compound (which houses clans) has a single entryway and is made up of multiple courtyards. Each courtyard has an open or partially enclosed porch that encircles it. The women sit here and weave, cook, and drink tea.

Each adult’s room is located behind this. Cement block bungalows with corrugated iron roofs are rapidly taking the place of the older, more traditional structures. Most Yoruba towns and villages, no matter how small, have electricity, running water, and paved roads as a matter of course

Family Life:

Ancestors from the same ancestor can be traced back to each Yoruban’s clan. Children inherit their family tree from their father through patrilineal descent. Compounds are large residential areas where members of a clan live. It is where the males are conceived, raised, and interred. Females remain in the compound where they were born until they are ready to settle down and start a family.

After that, they’ll be moving in with their spouses. The Bale, or oldest male, is in charge of the community. When a husband and wife have a disagreement, he is the one to mediate.

Any disagreement that involves members of two different families is usually sent to the Bale for resolution

Clothing:

In urban areas, people wear Western-style clothing. Even today, in rural areas and for formal occasions, people still dress traditionally. All the colors and details are very impressive! Geometric patterns were used in traditional textiles that were hand-printed by hand.

A rectangular piece of fabric is used to make a head tie for women. They tie another rectangular cloth around their waists to carry babies or small children. Alternatively, a third piece of cloth can be draped over the shoulders as an oversized shawl over a loose, short-sleeve blouse. A wrap-around skirt is made from a larger piece of cloth.

Social Issue:

Another global Yoruba culture facts is the issues facing this tribe. Yoruba from various social strata have vastly different levels of wealth.

Cities like Lagos and Ibadan are plagued by a high rate of homicide and other violent crimes.  Drug-related crime is a serious issue. Marijuana and cocaine use among young people is on the rise.

Conclusion

Yorubas are one of the most developed and diverse tribe in Nigeria and west Africa today, so that is the information you need to know.

So that’s all we have prepared about Yoruba culture and facts you need to know.