Culture : The Yorubas' Oriki

Oriki is a brief genre that the Yoruba typically use to inspire themselves. It is often in poetic form and consists of songs of praise. Oriki is also used as means of identifying the different clans of Yoruba, to understand people's lineages and pedigrees and for persuasion which is one of its basic uses.

In the form of persuasion, it is like a compassionate force that subconsciously exerts stimulating vigour upon persons targeted, it captivates the targeted person with the vigour to do something, more of a supernatural influence.

It ascribes to the act of stimulating ability upon the intellect or emotions of a person. Yoruba Musicians will ensure you empty your pocket once they get hold of your Oriki More of the reasons Yoruba are quick to sing someone's Oriki in order to persuade them to do something.

A visit to one's grandparents in the village would usually start with them first mentioning one's oriki name, then, they deluge one with the family's oriki (which would certainly elevate one's emotions) and the Oriki setting continues in that format.

It is a norm in Yoruba customs and tradition for a person to have individual Oriki after their usual name, and as well, family Oriki and sub-ethnic Oriki. Oriki is divided into different types, there are Oriki for deities, for sub-ethnics, some for families, and individual Oriki that comes in forms of names like; Aremu, Alabi, Ayinde, Ajani, Abefe, Akanni, Ishola et al (for boys) and Abeke, Aduke, Abeni, Asake, Alake, Adunni, Amoke, Abebi and so on (for girls)

The closest English word for Oriki is Panegyric, it is certainly one of the cultures Yoruba people take pride in.


A typical example of Oriki:
Emi Asake (female Oriki name, now followed by the clan's Oriki) omo amin niwon oogun,amin die ogun die, ogun die.Ogun tio je ewe re loku kan. Omo aji fi kalamu damo lekun an she kanta kandu,Iwo nile olodo oba,omo oba tenigbola,omo oba tolubeere,Iwo tio nilekun to je wipe eru wewe la fin dele.

Ese pupo (Thank You Very Much)


Culled from the Proudly Yorùbá page.