The Yoruba Linguistic structure is one filled with alot of rich words in its lexicon. This means that there are so many words that can be used interchangeably having the same meaning. One of these situation can be noticed in reference to the Yoruba words for Wife.

The original Yorùbá word for wife is 'Aya’. However, the commonly used Yorùbá for wife is Iyawo. Unknown to a lot the language speakers is the fact that there were some events which occured before the word Iyawo came into existence.

Long ago in Yorùbá land, a beautiful princess and daughter of the first king of Iwó town named Wúràọlá was in the quest of getting herself a patient, tolerant and well mannered husband.

Strong and good looking men, the likes of Sàngó, Ògún and others, had already traveled to Iwó town to seek the hand of Wúràọlá in marriage but left not with a wife but uncontrollable anger. Wúràọlá had been rude to everyone of them. In fact, she hurled insults and curses at her suitors which made them all leave on the same day they arrived the town of Iwo because they couldn’t tolerate her bad behaviors.

Ọ̀rúnmìlà, a good looking man, also journeyed to Iwó in the bid to win the hand of Wúràọlá in marriage. But before he set out, he had already consulted Olódùmarè , the supreme being, through Ifá . Olódùmarè revealed to Òrúnmìlà that he must be patient with Wúràọlá and endure her behaviors no matter how bad they are in order to succeed in the quest of marrying Wúràọlá .

When Òrúnmìlà got to the palace of the king of Iwó, he was greeted with a hiss and scornful look by Wúràọlá. The unperturbed Òrúnmìlà smiled and returned her greetings with kind and sweet words and also presented gifts to the king.

Òrúnmìlà stayed in Iwó for seven days which can be described as nothing but a hell on earth. Wúràọlá didn’t serve Òrúnmìlà water let alone food. She insulted the goodness out of Òrúnmìlà but he stayed calm and smiled at her. He even smiled when she used his opon ifa (divination board) as firewood and when she took his pouch (àpò ominijekun) from him. Though, Òrúnmìlà boiled with rage, still, he didn’t show it or leave Iwo according to the instructions of Olódùmarè .

On the sixth day of Òrúnmìlà's stay in Iwó town, the king of Iwó gave Wúràọlá in marriage to him after concluding that he is a patient, kind and tolerant man suitable to marry his daughter. Meanwhile, Wúràọlá's bad behaviors were planned to test her suitors so as to get her a husband with good manners and temper. She was a lovely, caring and well behaved lady. Òrúnmìlà was glad that he heeded to the instructions of Olódùmarè and on the seventh day, he and Wúràọlá journey back to his town.

Òrúnmìlà was welcomed and praised by his townspeople for his achievement. When they asked him about Wuraola, his wife, he responded, “Ìyà tí mo jẹ ní Iwó” (my sufferings in Iwó town ) That was how wives became known as Ìyà-Iwó (sufferings in Iwó ) and now Ìyàwó.

Sources; https://nnf.com.ng/p/the-real-meaning-of-iyawo-yoruba-word-for-wife/197

Piece of information
Piece of @ss

Orunmila and it's unending tales.
I stopped reading immediately i spotted its name.

This has very good lessons that are included in Yoruba idioms... suuru la fin soko obirin... but Wura’s attitude is not to be encouraged, it was extreme.

Yoruba and their fairytales...

Another episode of tales by moonlight by Auntie Nkem!

Too extreme

baby124:
This has very good lessons that are included in Yoruba idioms... suuru la fin soko obirin... but Wura’s attitude is not to be encouraged, it was extreme.

My dear, no knowledge is wasted. You can't tell when & where it'll be useful

MZrapper:
Orunmila and it's unending tales.

I stopped reading immediately i spotted its name.

MZrapper:
Orunmila and it's unending tales.

I stopped reading immediately i spotted its name.

But you don't get tired of reading about that caveman jew

Yustash001:
Yoruba and their fairytales...

I know you believed that your Mohammed went to space on a donkey.
Or believing that a donkey talked
Yeye dey smell

Bbbwings:

I know you believed that your Mohammed went to space on a donkey.
Or believing that a donkey talked
Yeye dey smell

of course I believe that....
And who told you I'm not Yoruba BTW?

Na Iya-Iwo true true, Person wey wan go Into marriage go really try well well.

Bbbwings:

But you don't get tired of reading about that caveman jew

You can't miss out on this huge opportunity to embarrass your generation, can you?

How can we reduce nairalanders obsession with some wives?

MZrapper:

You can't miss out on this huge opportunity to embarrass your generation, can you?

wait
i will only take you serious if you're you white

MZrapper:
Orunmila and it's unending tales.

I stopped reading immediately i spotted its name.

MZrapper:
Orunmila and it's unending tales.

I stopped reading immediately i spotted its name.

hahaha hahaha! Don't mind him.. Totaled crap stories for the brain dead..

I'm always happy to read Yoruba history. Yoruba culture is rich and embedded .

jidamsel43:
I'm always happy to read Yoruba history. Yoruba culture is rich and embedded .

Absolutely right!

Hmm, so we can conclude that wives are sufferings from iwo.

Truly many are suffering their husbands.