THE PROFUNDITY OF YORUBA LANGUAGE
– So reflective that it takes you to the roots of issues YORUBA: A kìí fá orí l'ẹ́hìn olórí. Ó d'ẹ̀hìn ìgbín k'á tó f'ìkarawun họ̀ 'kòkò. ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY DELE AJAJA: We don’t shave…
Category: AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES
OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE
– Orò Ilé Wa: Orthodox Yoruba devotees composed this song, to support traditional festivals, when foreign religions started overtaking the traditional beliefs. Oro ile wa l’awa n'se-e o,Oro ile wa l’awa n'se o,Esin kan ko…
YORUBA: LANGUAGE OF THE DISCERNING
– A Word to the Wise YORUBA: Bí ìlù bá ńdún “ẹ pá, ẹ pá,” a ma ńjo ní mẹ̀lọ mẹ̀lọ ni. ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY DELE AJAJA: When the drum starts sounding, “kill him, kill…
I’LL BE YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE
– The phrase shrewd people DON’T use till they secure power As a Yoruba man from Southwestern Nigeria, I’m conversant with the axiom, “Bí ọwọ́ ọmọdé kò bá tẹ ẹ̀kù idà, kìí bèrè ikú tó…
YORUBA IS LINGUISTICALLY STUNNING
– The elegance of Yoruba Language is reflected in many ways – including their chants Fọn, fọn, ni t’ifọ́n, Àsùn má p’ara’dà ni t’igi àjà! Omodé ló ní nkú, Á sùn fọn, fọn, kò ní…
YORUBA: LANGUAGE OF THE DEEP
– The Dictum of the Brave YORUBA: Òwúyẹ́wuyẹ̀ wúyẹ́kẹ́, aṣòro sọ bí ọ̀rọ̀. B'áa'wí, a o kú; báà'wí, ọ̀run là ńlọ. Ìgbà l'à ń'lò, ẹnìkan ò lo'lé ayé gbó. ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY DELE AJAJA: Hush-hush,…
THE SHREWDNESS OF YORUBA PEOPLE
– Excursion into the Thinking of Yoruba People The shrewdness of Yoruba people is showcased in many ways, including their parables, folksongs, rhymes, and anecdotes. Yoruba people use parables, folksongs, rhymes, and anecdotes as the…
THE APPEAL OF YORUBA LANGUAGE
– Yoruba language is so beautiful that one could almost ‘feel it physically.’ YORUBA: Aanu oju kii je ki won t’owo b’oju. Iberu ejo kii je ki won t’omo ejo mo’le. Aanu epo kii je…
THE SPLENDOR OF YORUBA LANGUAGE
– “Just Do It” YORUBA: Tí a bá lu Ògbóni jẹ́jẹ́, a ó san ẹgbàáfà. Tí a bá lu Ògbóni bàtàbàtà, a ó san ẹgbàáfà. Ǹjẹ́ kò kúkú sàn k’á lu Ògbóni bàtàbàtà, k’á san…
THE PHILOSOPHIES OF YORUBA PEOPLE – 1
– Excursion into the Thinking of the Descendants of Oduduwa The Yoruba ethnic group is one of the prevailing civilizations in West Africa. The exquisiteness of Yoruba language is showcased in many ways, including how…