MetaPhysical: Nairaland, particularly Culture section, is a culture-bank, people come in and harvest what they need for a book or thesis or ,lately, hosted blogs. Your opening is very transparent and you did not do a good job hiding your purpose - which is contrary to your stated reason.

The truth is you need materials for a book or blog!

There are four birthrights which a Yoruba child acquires when it is born -

1. Family lineage, symbolized as membership and heirarchy in a communal setting called "Agbole". It is the ancestral seat of community.

2. Family anthem, the praise song that endears and bonds the child to its ancestry, called "Oriki".

3. Family totem, this symbolizes the traditional function or trade of the family in society - blacksmith, hunter, warrior, oral historians, royalty, etc...

4. Family deity, this is the spiritual cult of the ancestors. There is no true Yoruba family that does not have a cult in its ancestry. Modernity has led some people to abandon and even forget the cult tradition in their family compound.


Yoruba does not have Oriki for genders, male/female or man/woman, but we do have romantic attributes or praises for women and men.

To obtain and learn these family heritage of your wife you should talk to her. If she doesn't know, then the two of you need to consult with her family and relatives to learn. It will be embarassing for you to praise her in an Oriki she does not know or that is wrong.


Here are some romantic attributes for men

Ajisafe
Agun t'aso lo
Akigbemaru
Duduyemi


For women

Adu ma dan
Apon b'epo re
Eji wun mi
Eyin'ju ege
Ibadi aran
El'ese osun
Alo m'oko
Idi Ileke

Your analysis on my approach is very true. The dissemination of my intent was quite bland and unsystematic. Yet, I do appreciate your advice and the effort you took to offer your wealth of knowledge.

The generic nature of my topic though less definitive was such that it can become an archive of Yoruba Oriki.

Thank you.

Howmanage: Yeah buh where is she from in Yorubaland first? Start there...

Hi Howmanage, thanks for highlighting that, she's from Ilorin.

Hi all,

I'm a yoruba bloke and I have a fiancee who is very vast in the rich Yoruba culture. The problem is she knows how to flatter and eulogize me with Yoruba Oriki but I feel sad that I can't return the pleasant gesture.

So I come to the Nairaland family to help a guy out by writing a few Oriki for women and its translation.

Thank you