YORUBA: DICTUM OF THE PERCEPTIVE
The Devilry of Humanity YORUBA: Ọmọ aráyé, ẹ̀yin lẹ̀ ńwé gèlè mọ́ fìlà, t'ẹ ńd'eku pọ̀ m'ẹ́ja. Ẹ̀yin n'ìpinlẹ̀ṣẹ̀ àbòsí! ENGLISH: Humans, you are the ones who entwine caps into head ties and mix rodents…
Category: AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES
LIFE’S MANY STRUGGLES
– Yorùbá People’s Philosophy on Inordinate Hustling YORÙBÁ: Ọjọ́ méèló la ó lò l'áyé, tí a ńw'ẹ̀wù irin? ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY DELE AJAJA: How long do we sojourn on earth that we don steely garments?…
THE SPLENDOR OF YORUBA LANGUAGE
– Depository of Wisdom YORUBA: Àdáṣe níí wun'ni; àjọṣe kìí wùn'nìyàn. ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY DELE AJAJA: The sole decision-maker faces the consequences of the decision; but everyone is responsible for a group decision. CLARIFICATIONS: This…
THE WORLD IS AN OCEAN
– Ode to the Elusive World © Dele Ajaja Òkun l'ayé; ènìyàn l'ọ̀sà, Ẹni tí ò mọ̀'wẹ̀ k'ó má'ṣe bẹ́ s'ódò. Ilé ayé, ilé ogun! Ẹni a ní kó f'ẹ́ni l'ójú, ata l'ó fi s'ẹ́nu,…
YORUBALAND: WHERE THE DEEP CALLS TO THE DEEP
– The Brilliance of Yoruba Language YORUBA: Ẹ jẹ́ k'á rìn gbẹ̀rẹ̀, k'á ṣe'bí ẹni t'ó f'ẹsẹ̀ kọ́, k'á w'ẹni t'ó ma ṣe'ni pẹ̀lẹ́. Ẹ jẹ́ k'á sùn, k'á ṣe'bí ẹni t'ó kú, k'á w'ẹni…
YOU RECOGNIZE, BUT FAIL TO APPREHEND THE BANDIT
– A Yoruba cultural refrain that admonishes people for not doing enough to discourage unethical practices. E r’oju ole, e o mu, E r’oju ole, e o mu o, Omo yin o s’agba’fo, O nk’aso…
TRAVELER’S GUIDE, CARRY ME HOME
Agbe Gbé mi Dé'lé – A ‘safe journey’ refrain chanted by itinerants in Yorubaland. Being a tonal language, a single word in Yoruba could mean different things. The word, ‘agbe,’ in this song could mean…
SAYINGS OF THE SAGES
– The Maximum Maxims of Yoruba People YORUBA: A tìt'orí ọ̀tẹ̀, a l'ẹ́gbẹ̀rin ọ̀rẹ́. Bí irinwó bá ńbú'ni, ó yẹ k'írinwó máa yin ni. ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY DELE AJAJA: In anticipation of opposition, we have…
YORUBA: THE ENTHRALLING LANGUAGE
– Depository of Wisdom YORUBA: Ìtàkùn t'ó ní k'érin má w'ọdò, t'òun t'erin l'ó ńlọ. ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY DELE AJAJA: The creeper that attempts to stop the elephant from reaching the brook (for a drink,)…
YORUBA: LANGUAGE OF THE KEEN
– So Electrifying that you Have to Flaunt it YORUBA: Ògìdán k'ò ní s'onídìrí, k'ájá lọ s'íbẹ̀ lọ d'irun. ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY DELE AJAJA: Dog won’t go to leopard’s booth for hairdressing. CLARIFICATIONS: Some issues…