Category Archives: Yoruba Proverbs

Discussing as many Yoruba proverbs as possible and relating them to day to day life…

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The home of all things Yoruba… news, commentary, proverbs, food. Keeping the Yoruba culture alive.

Originally posted 2013-01-24 21:03:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Jọ mi, Jọ mi, Òkúrorò/Ìkanra ló ndà – Insisting on people doing things one’s way, would turn one to an ill-tempered or peevish person

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Yorùbá ni “Bi Ọmọdé ba ṣubú á wo iwájú, bi àgbà ba ṣubú á wo ẹ̀hìn”. Bi enia bá dé ipò àgbà, pàtàki gẹ́gẹ́ bi òbí, àgbà ìdílé tàbi ọ̀gá ilé iṣẹ́, ẹni ti ó bá ni ìfẹ́ kò ni fẹ́ ki àwọn ti ó mbọ̀ lẹhin ṣubú tàbi ki wọn kùnà.

Ẹni ti ó bá fẹ ìlọsíwájú ẹnikeji pàtàki, ọmọ ẹni, aya tabi oko eni, ẹ̀gbọ́n, àbúro, ọmọ-iṣẹ, ọmọ ilé-iwé, aládúgbò, ẹbi, ọ̀rẹ́, ojúlùmọ̀ àti ará, a má a tẹnu mọ ìbáwí lati kìlọ̀ fún àwọn ti ó mbọ̀ lẹhin ki wọn ma ba a ṣìnà. Eleyi lè jẹ ki irú àgbà bẹ́ẹ̀ dàbi onikọnra lójú ẹni ti nwọn báwí. Fún àpẹrẹ ni ayé òde òní, bi òbí ba nsọ fún ọmọdé nígbà gbogbo pé ki ó ma joko si ori ayélujára lati má a ṣeré, ki ó lè sùn ni àsikò tàbi ki ó ma ba fi àkókò ti ó yẹ kó ka iwé ṣeré lóri ayélujára, bi oníkọnra ni òbí ńrí, ṣùgbọ́n iyẹn kò ni ki òbí ma ṣe ohun ti ó yẹ lati ṣe fún di dára ọmọ.

Yorùbá sọ wi pé, “Ajá ti ó bá ma sọnù, ki gbọ́ fèrè Ọdẹ”. Ki ènìyàn ma ba di oníkọran, kò si ẹni ti ó lè jọ ẹnikeji tán, àwọn ibeji pàápàá kò jọra. Bi ọkọ tàbi aya bá ni dandan ni ki aya tàbi ọkọ ṣe nkan bi òhun ti fẹ́ ni ìgbà gbogbo, ìkanra ló ńdà. Nitori èyi, bi enia bá ti ṣe ìkìlọ̀, ki ó mú ẹnu kúrò ti ó bá ri wi pé ẹni ti òhun ti báwí kò fẹ́ gbọ́.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

According to a Yoruba adage, “When a child falls, he/she looks ahead, when an elder falls, he/she reflects on the past”. When one reaches the position of an elder, particularly as a parent, family leader, a big boss, or a benevolent person would not want those coming behind or less experienced go astray or make the same mistake one has made in the past. Continue reading →

Originally posted 2018-07-24 21:38:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

ỌRỌ ÌYÀNJÙ (WORD OF ADVICE): Ẹni tólèdè lóni ayé ibi ti wọn ti nsọ

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ỌRỌ ÌYÀNJÙ (WORD OF ADVICE)

Ẹyin ọmọ Odùduwà ẹjẹ ki a ran rawa létí wípé “Ẹni tólèdè lóni ayé ibi ti wọn ti nsọ”. Mo bẹ yin ẹ maṣe jẹki a tara wa lọpọ nitorina ẹ maṣe jẹki èdè Yorùbà parẹ. Èdè ti a kọ silẹ, ti a ko sọ, ti a ko fi kọ ọmọ wa, piparẹ ni yio parẹ. Ẹjẹ ki a gbiyanju lati ṣe atunṣe nipa sísọ èdè Yorùbà botiyẹ kasọ lai si idaru idapọ pẹlu èdè miran.

Yorùbá lọkunrin ati lobirin ẹ ranti wipe “Odò to ba gbagbe orisun rẹ, gbigbe lo ma ngbe” Lágbára Ọlọrun, aoni tajo sọnu sajo o, ao kere oko délé o (Àṣẹ).

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Continue reading →

Originally posted 2013-01-31 20:18:56. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Ránti Ọmọ Ẹni ti Iwọ Nṣe: Olè ki ṣe Orúkọ Rere lati fi Jogún” – “Remember the Child of Whom you are: Being labelled a ‘Thief’ is Not a Good Legacy”

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Oriṣiriṣi òwe ni Yorùbá ni lati fihàn pé iwà rere ló ni ayé. Iwà ni Yorùbá kàsí ni ayé àtijọ́ ju owó ti gbogbo ilú bẹ̀rẹ̀ si bọ ni ayé òde òni. Fún àpẹrẹ, Yorùbá ni “Ẹni bá jalè ló bọmọ jẹ́”, lati gba òṣiṣẹ́ ni ìyànjú pé ki wọn tẹpámọ́ṣẹ́, ki wọn má jalè.

Ránti Ọmọ Ẹni ti Iwọ Nṣe – Leave a good legacy. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

Ni ayé òde òni, owó ti dipò iwà. Olóri Ijọ, Olóri ilú àti Òṣèlú ti ó ja Ijọ àti ilú ni olè ni ará ilú bẹ̀rẹ̀ si i bọ ju àwọn Olóri ti kò lo ipò lati kó owó ijọ àti ilú fún ara wọn. Owó ti ó yẹ ki Olóri Ijọ fi tọ́jú aláìní, tàbi ki Òṣèlú fi pèsè ohun amáyédẹrùn bi omi mimu, ọ̀nà tó dára, ilé ìwòsàn, ilé-iwé, iná mọ̀nàmọ́ná àti bẹ ẹ bẹ ẹ lọ ni wọn kó si àpò, ti wọn nná èérún rẹ fún ijọ tàbi ará ilú ti ó bá sún mọ́ wọn. Ará ilú ki ronú wi pé “Alaaru tó njẹ́ búrẹ́dì, awọ ori ẹ̀ ló njẹ ti kò mọ̀”.

Owé Yorùbá ti ó sọ wi pé “Ránti ọmọ Ẹni ti iwọ nṣe ” pin si ọ̀nà méji. Ni apá kan, inú ọmọ ẹni ti ó hu iwà rere ni àwùjọ á dùn lati ránti ọmọ ẹni ti ó nṣe, ṣùgbọ́n inú ọmọ “Olè”, apànìyàn, àjẹ́, àti oniwà burúkú yoku, kò lè dùn lati ránti ọmọ ẹni ti wọn nṣe. Nitori eyi, ki èniyàn hu iwà rere.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Continue reading →

Originally posted 2015-10-09 15:29:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“A ò mọ èyi ti Ọlọrun yio ṣe, kò jẹ́ ki á binú kú” – “We know not what God will do, stops one from committing suicide”

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Àṣà Yorùbá ma ńri ọpẹ́ ninú ohun gbogbo, nitori eyi ni àjọyọ̀ àti ayẹyẹ ṣe pọ ni ilẹ̀ Yorùbá. Bi kò bá ṣe ayẹyẹ igbéyàwó; á jẹ́ idúpẹ́ fun ikómọ/isọmọlórúkọ; ìsìnku arúgbó; ikóyọ ninú ewu ijàmbá ọkọ̀; iṣile; oyè gbigbà ni ilé-iwé giga tàbi oyé ilú; idúpẹ́ ìparí ọdún tàbi ọdún tuntun àti bẹ̃bẹ̃ lọ. Kò si igbà ti àlejò kò ni ri ibi ti wọn ti ńṣe ayẹyẹ kan tàbi èkeji ni gbogbo ilẹ́ Yorùbá. Eyi jẹ́ ki àlejò rò wipé igbà gbogbo ni Yorùbá fi ńṣọdún.

: Jijẹ, mimu ibi Igbéyàwó – Wedding Reception. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

: Isinkú – Burial procession. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

Kò si ẹni ti o ńdúpẹ́ ti inú rẹ ńbàjẹ́, tijó tayọ̀ ni enia fi nṣe idúpẹ́. Ninú idúpẹ́ àti àjọyọ̀ yi ni ẹni ti inu rẹ bàjẹ́ miran ti lè ni ireti pé ire ti ohun naa yio dé. Ni ilú Èkó, lati Ọjọ́bọ̀ titi dé ọjọ́ Àikú ni enia yio ri ibi ti wọn ti ńṣe ayẹyẹ. Ọjọ́bọ̀ jẹ ọjọ́ ti wọn ńṣe àisùn-òkú; ọjọ́ Ẹti ni isinkú, ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta ni ti ayẹyẹ igbéyàwó nigbati ọjọ́ Àikú wà fún idúpẹ́ pàtàki ni ilé ijọsin onigbàgbọ́. Ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ayẹyẹ yi ló mú ipèsè jijẹ, mimu, ilù àti ijó lati ṣe àlejò fún ẹbi, ará àti ọ̀rẹ́ ti ó wá báni ṣe ayẹyẹ.

A lè fi òwe Yorùbá ti ó ni “A ò mọ èyi ti Ọlọrun yio ṣe, kò jẹ́ ki á binú kú”, tu ẹni ti ó bá ni ìrẹ̀wẹ̀sì ninú, pé ọjọ́ ọ̀la yio dára. Yorùbá gbàgbọ́ pé ẹni ti kò ri jẹ loni, bi kò bá kú, ti ó tẹpá-mọ́ṣẹ́, lè di ọlọ́rọ̀ ni ọ̀la. Nitori eyi, kò yẹ ki enia “Kú silẹ̀ de ikú” nitorina, “Bi ẹ̀mi bá wà, ireti ḿbẹ”.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Continue reading →

Originally posted 2016-04-15 10:03:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Ódìgbóse Àgbà Òṣère Olóyè Jimoh Aliu (Àwòrò)– Tribute to Chief Jimoh Aliu (Aworo)

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Ìròyìn kàn ni ọjọ́ kẹtàdínlógún, oṣù kẹsan ọdún Ẹgbàalélógún pé àgbà òṣèré Olóyè Jimoh Aliu (ti a mọ̀ si Àwòrò ninú eré) di olóògbé. Olóyè Jimoh Aliu pé bi ọdún marunlélọgọ́rin ki wọn tó dágbére fún ayé lẹhin àìsàn ránpẹ́.

Olóògbé Jimoh Aliu gbé èdè àti àṣà Yorùbá ga gidigidi pẹ̀lú ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ eré orí ìtàgé àti lóri ẹ̀rọ amóhùnmáwòrán. Eré ti opolopo gbádùn jù ni ori amóhùnmáwòrán ni “Yánpanyánrin” nitori Jimoh Aliu ti ó ṣe Àwòrò, ìyàwó Jimoh Aliu ti ó ṣe Òrìṣàbùnmi àti Òjó Arówóṣafẹ́ ti ó ṣe Fádèyí Olóró.

Gẹ́gẹ́bi ẹ̀sin àti iṣe àwọn Mùsùlúmi, wọn o sin òkú ni ọjọ́ Ẹti, ọjọ́ kejidinlógún, oṣù kẹsan ọdún Ẹgbàalélógún.

Olóyè Jimoh Aliu sùn re o.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

On Thursday, September seventeen, year 2020, news of the death of a very prominent Yoruba Actor, Chief Jimoh Aliu (stage name Aworo) was announced. Late Jimoh Aliu aged eighty-five passed on after a brief illness.

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Originally posted 2020-09-18 02:36:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Ọwọ́ Ọmọdé Kòtó Pẹpẹ, Tagbalagba Ò Wọ Kèrègbè: The Child’s Hand Cannot Reach The Shelf, The Adult’s Hand Cannot Enter The Calabash

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Only a child’s hand can reach into this type of calabash. The image is from Wikipedia.

Ọ̀rọ̀ Yorùbá sọ wípé “ọwọ́ ọmọde ko to pẹpẹ, tagbalagba ko wọ̀ kèrègbè”, èyí tí a lè túmọ̀ sí wípé, ọmọdé kò ga to pẹpẹ láti mú nkan tí wọn gbé si orí pẹpẹ, bẹni ọwọ́ àgbàlagbà ti tóbi jù lati wọ inú akèrègbè lati mu nkan, nitorina àgbà̀ lèlo ìrànlọ́wọ́ ọmọdé.

Ní ayé, oníkálukú ló ní ohun tí wọ́n lè ṣe. Àwọn nkan wa ti àgbàlagbà lè ṣe bẹ̃ni ọpọlọpọ nkan wa ti ọmọdé lè ṣe. Láyé òde òní, ọmọdé le gbójúlé àgbàlagbà, ṣùgbọn ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ àgbàlagbà gbójúlé ọmọdé láti kọ́ lílò ẹ̀rọ ayélujára.

Ò̀we yi fi èrè ifọwọsowọpọ laarin ọmọdé àti àgbà han nítorí kò sẹ́ni tí kò wúlò.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

A Yoruba adage goes that “although the child’s hand cannot reach the shelf, the elder’s hand cannot enter into the calabash”. Literally translated, while the child or the young one is too short to pick up something placed on a high shelf, the adult’s hand is too big to pass through the neck of a calabash and needs the help of the child.

In life everyone has a role to play. There are roles that can be handled by the adult and there are many roles that are better handled by younger or less experienced ones. Nowadays, in as much as the younger ones are dependent on the adult, most adults are dependent on learning effective use of computers and the internet younger ones.

This proverb shows the advantage of cooperation between the young and the old, experienced and inexperienced, as no one is completely useless.

Originally posted 2013-04-23 19:15:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Ọ̀pọ̀ ni eṣú fi nya igi oko: Ìbò ni ipinlẹ Ọ̀ṣun” – “There is strength in numbers: Osun State Election”

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Ninú Ẹ̀yà mẹrin-din-logoji orilẹ̀ èdè Nigeria, ẹ̀yà mẹ́fà ni o wa ni ipinlẹ Yorùbá lápapọ̀. Àwọn ẹ̀yà wọnyi ni: Èkó – ti olú ilú rẹ jẹ Ìkẹjà; Èkiti – ti olú ilú rẹ jẹ Adó-Èkiti; Ò̀gùn – ti olú ilú rẹ jẹ Abẹ́òkúta; Ondo – ti olú ilú rẹ jẹ Àkúrẹ́; Ọ̀ṣun – ti olú ilú rẹ jẹ Òṣogbo àti Ọyọ – ti olú ilú rẹ jẹ Ìbàdàn.

ọ̀pọ̀ ara Ọ̀ṣun dibò àti bójú tó ibò wọn – Osun voters voted and protected their votes

Ni Òkè-Òkun, bi enia ba ni ẹjọ́ ni ilé-ẹjọ́, tàbi ó ti ṣe ẹ̀wọ̀n ri, tàbi hùwà àbùkù miran, irú ẹni bẹ́ẹ̀ kò lè gbé àpóti ibò ṣùgbọ́n, ti kò bá ni itiju, ti ó gbé àpóti ibò, ọ̀pọ̀ àwọn èrò ilú kò ni dibò fún irú ẹni bẹ́ẹ̀. Eyi kò ri béè ni orilẹ-èdè Nigeria, nitori, ẹlẹ́wòn, eleru, olè, apànìyàn àti bẹ́ẹ̀bẹ́ẹ̀ lọ, ti ó di olówó ojiji ló ńgbé àpóti ibò nitori wọn mọ̀ pé àwọn lè fi èrú dé ipò.

Àwọn èrò ẹ̀yà Ọ̀ṣun fi òwe Yorùbá ti o ni “Ọ̀pọ̀ ni eṣú fi ńya igi oko” hàn ni idibò ti ó kọjá ni ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta, ọjọ́ kẹsan, oṣù kẹjọ, ọdún Ẹgbẹlemẹrinla, wọn kò bẹ̀rù bi Ìjọba àpapọ̀ Nigeria ti kó Ológun àti ohun ijà ti àwọn ará ilú lati da ẹ̀rù bà wọn. Wọn tú jáde lati fi ọ̀pọ̀ dibò àti bójú tó ibò wọn lati gbé Góminà Ọ̀gbẹ́ni Rauf Arẹ́gbẹ́ṣọlá padà.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Out of the thirty-six States in Nigeria, six are in Yoruba land altogether. These States are: Lagos – State capital Ikeja; Ekiti – State capital at Ado-Ekiti; Ogun – State capital at Abeokuta; Ondo – State capital at Akure; Osun – State capital at Osogbo and Oyo with the State capital at Ibadan.

In the developed world/abroad, if a person has a pending law suit in the Court, or has once been in prison, or has behaved in a disgraceful manner, such person cannot vie for a Political position, but even if such a person has no sense of shame, and decided to vie, many of the masses would not vote for such. This is not the case in Nigeria, because a prisoner, fraudster, thief, killers/assassin etc with their ill-gotten wealth/money could vie for political position since they know they could win through fraudulent means.

The people of Osun State reflected the application of the Yoruba proverb that said “It is by means of their numbers that Locusts could tear down a tree” during the Governorship Election held on Saturday, ninth August, 2014, when they defied the Federal might as Soldiers and armoured tanks were drafted to intimidate the people. They trooped out in their numbers to vote and protect their votes to re-elect Governor (Mr) Rauf Aregbesola.

Originally posted 2014-08-15 22:49:34. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Gèlè ò dùn bi ká mọ̀ ọ́ wé, ká mọ̀ ọ́ wé, kò tó kó yẹni”: “Head tie is not as sweet as the skill of tying, having the skill of tying is not as sweet as how well it fits”

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Aṣọ Yorùbá, ìró àti bùbá kò pé lai si gèlè. Gèlè oriṣiriṣi ló wà̀, a lè lo gèlè aṣọ ìbílẹ̀ bi: aṣọ òfi/òkè, àdìrẹ, tàbi ki á yọ gèlè lára aṣọ. Ọpọlọpọ gèle ìgbàlódé wá lati òkè òkun.

: Gèlè aṣọ òfì/òkè – Head tie from traditional woven fabric. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

: Gèlè oriṣiriṣi – Various Head ties. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

: Gèlè aṣọ òkè-òkun ti ìgbàlódé̀̀̀̀ – Modern imported fabric head-tie. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

: Gèlè aṣọ ànkàrá – Head tie from same (cotton fabric). Courtesy: @theyorubablog

Ìmúra obinrin Yorùbá kò pé lai wé gèlè, ṣùgbọ́n òwe Yorùbá ti ó ni “Gele ko dun bi ka mo we Continue reading →

Originally posted 2015-06-26 10:30:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Àpẹrẹ Ìsìnkú Ìbílẹ̀ fún Arúgbó ni Ilẹ́ Yorùbá – Example of Yoruba Traditional Burial Rites for the Elderly

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Ìnáwó rẹpẹtẹ ni ìsìnkú arúgbó jẹ́ ni ilé Yorùbá. Bi arúgbó bá kú ni ilé Yorùbá ki ṣe òkú ọ̀fọ̀ ṣùgbọ́n òkú ijọ àti ji jẹ, mi mu ni pàtàki bi irú arúgbó bá bi àwọn ọmọ ti ó ti dàgbà. Gbogbo ẹbi, ará àti ilú yi ó parapọ̀ lati ṣe ẹ̀yẹ ikẹhin fún irú arúgbó bẹ́ ẹ̀. Àwọn ọmọ àti ọmọ-ọmọ yi o ṣe oriṣiriṣi ẹ̀yẹ ìbílẹ̀ fún ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ọjọ́ lati gbé ìyá tàbi àgbà bàbá àgbà relé. Bi eléré ìbílẹ̀ kan ti nlọ ni òmíràn yio de, eleyi lo njẹ́ ki ilú kékeré dùn.

A o ṣe àpẹrẹ àṣà ìsìnkú ìbílẹ̀ fún arúgbó pẹ̀lú ni Ìbòròpa Àkókó ilú Yorùbá ni ẹ̀gbẹ́ Ìkàrẹ́-Àkókó ti Ipinle Ondo, orile-ede Nigeria.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Burial of the old one is often an expensive affair In Yoruba land. When an old person dies, it is not mournful, but of celebration marked with dancing and feasting particularly when the old person is survived by successful grown up children. All the families, contemporaries and the entire community often join hands to perform the last rites for such old person. The children and grand-children would join hands in the performance of several days’ traditional burial ceremonies held to give the deceased old mother or father a befitting last rites. As one traditional performer is departing another one is replacing, this is a contributory factor to the fun enjoyed in the smaller Yoruba communities.

Video recording example of traditional burial of the elderly held in Iboropa Akoko, a small town near Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria are here below.

Originally posted 2017-05-19 23:07:52. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The Yoruba Blog

Ẹ jẹ ki a gbé èdè àti àṣà Yorùbá Lárugẹ: keeping the Yoruba language alive…

Category Archives: Yoruba Proverbs

Welcome to the Yoruba Blog…

Jọ mi, Jọ mi, Òkúrorò/Ìkanra ló ndà – Insisting on people doing things one’s way, would turn one to an ill-tempered or peevish person

ỌRỌ ÌYÀNJÙ (WORD OF ADVICE): Ẹni tólèdè lóni ayé ibi ti wọn ti nsọ

“Ránti Ọmọ Ẹni ti Iwọ Nṣe: Olè ki ṣe Orúkọ Rere lati fi Jogún” – “Remember the Child of Whom you are: Being labelled a ‘Thief’ is Not a Good Legacy”

“A ò mọ èyi ti Ọlọrun yio ṣe, kò jẹ́ ki á binú kú” – “We know not what God will do, stops one from committing suicide”

Ódìgbóse Àgbà Òṣère Olóyè Jimoh Aliu (Àwòrò)– Tribute to Chief Jimoh Aliu (Aworo)

Ọwọ́ Ọmọdé Kòtó Pẹpẹ, Tagbalagba Ò Wọ Kèrègbè: The Child’s Hand Cannot Reach The Shelf, The Adult’s Hand Cannot Enter The Calabash

“Ọ̀pọ̀ ni eṣú fi nya igi oko: Ìbò ni ipinlẹ Ọ̀ṣun” – “There is strength in numbers: Osun State Election”

“Gèlè ò dùn bi ká mọ̀ ọ́ wé, ká mọ̀ ọ́ wé, kò tó kó yẹni”: “Head tie is not as sweet as the skill of tying, having the skill of tying is not as sweet as how well it fits”

Àpẹrẹ Ìsìnkú Ìbílẹ̀ fún Arúgbó ni Ilẹ́ Yorùbá – Example of Yoruba Traditional Burial Rites for the Elderly

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