Language and Literature
Language
The Yoruba language, also known as Yoruba, is a member of the Niger-Congo language family, and is spoken by over 20 million people in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. It is also spoken by Yoruba diaspora communities around the world.
Grammar
Yoruba has a subject-verb-object word order, and it has a rich system of verbal inflections, including tense, aspect, and mood. The language also has a complex system of noun classifiers, which indicate the class or category of the noun.
Common Phrases
Some common Yoruba phrases include:
| Yoruba | English |
|---|---|
| Bawo ni | How are you? |
| O dara | It's good |
| E kaa ro | Good morning |
| E ku ro le | Good evening |
| Mo ni ife re | I love you |
Literature
Literature has always played a significant role in Yoruba culture, serving as a means of preserving history, traditions, and values. From oral storytelling to poems and proverbs, Yoruba literature is rich and diverse, reflecting the unique cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.
Oral Storytelling
This is a longstanding tradition in Yoruba culture, and has been passed down from generation to generation. These stories are often used to teach cultural values, as well as to entertain and educate. Poems and proverbs are also an integral part of Yoruba literature, providing insight into the beliefs and values of the Yoruba people.
Preserving History
In Yoruba culture, literature is also used to preserve history, as well as to provide a deeper understanding of the world around us. Through its vivid descriptions, imaginative themes, and imaginative narratives, Yoruba literature brings Yoruba culture to life, providing a glimpse into the rich and diverse world of the Yoruba people.
Yoruba Writers and Authors
There are also many notable Yoruba writers who have made a significant contribution to the world of literature. These writers have blended traditional Yoruba themes and styles with contemporary techniques, creating a unique and vibrant literary genre that has captivated audiences around the world.
One such writer is D.A. Obasa, Denrele Adetimkan Obasa, who wrote across poetry, print culture, and Yoruba public life. Through his works, Obasa provided a distinctive perspective on Yoruba culture, history, greetings, and literary identity, and made a significant contribution to Yoruba literature in print.
Another major figure is Wole Soyinka, whose poetry, drama, and essays brought Yoruba worlds of thought into modern global literature without severing them from their ritual, philosophical, and political roots.
Selected Lines from D.A. Obasa
The bilingual scan you supplied shows how Obasa moves from formal greetings and homage into self-definition as a poet, scribe, and printer. The lines below write out the clearest readable portions so they can appear directly on Yoruba.ca as part of his poetic record.
Opening Homage Passage
Homage! Homage!! Homage!!!
I pay necessary homage to the homeowner before I enter.
A goat that enters the house without paying homage opens itself to entrapment, or tethering to the post.
A sheep that enters the house without paying homage opens itself to entrapment, or tethering to the post.
Any adult that enters the house without paying homage opens themself to entrapment.
Poet and Scribe Passage
Emi l'Akowe Akewi,
Emi l'Akewi Akowe,
Bi mo ti n ke kike,
Bee naa ni mo n ko kiko!
Emi a si maa te l'otite;
Ikewi mi ko jo t'ara oko.
In the printed English gloss beside these lines, Obasa identifies himself as both “the (oral) poet's scribe” and “the literate poet,” someone who chants what must be chanted, writes what must be written, and prints what must be printed.