Origin of the Yoruba Culture - Research Paper Example

ORIGIN OF THE YORUBA CULTURE Introduction The ‘Yoruba People’ are considered to be one of the three leading cultural groups of Africa. Interestingly, nobody knows where the word ‘Yoruba’ comes from. Apparently, it neither belongs to any language nor has got any meaning to it. But what people do know is that the ‘Yoruba’ descended from the family of Ham – one of the sons of Noah. They initially settled in areas currently part of Saudi Arabia, but later migrated to finally settle in South - Western Nigeria. Presently, they make a population of about twenty five million or more and dominate the west bank of Nigeria along the Dahomey border. Most of the Yoruba people adopted Christianity or Islam as their religion, with few still clinging to their customary religious beliefs (Oliver-1981, Crowder-1981). However, their cultural values remain unchanged, even after hundreds and thousands of years. Majority of their customs have a deep rooted meaning and are based on the ideologies of their ancestors. Yorubas have a rich, diverse and unique culture which serves as a symbol of both their preservation of the past as well as their intense pride in belonging to the Yoruba land. Naming Ceremonies Yoruba people are found to have a great fondness of holding celebrations and ceremonies, something clearly evident by the variety of different events held in a calendar year. The naming ceremony is an important ritual which a Yoruban family holds seven days after a baby is born to them. In Yoruban traditions, a name holds immense significance and Yorubas are very particular about both the situation in which the child is born as well as the history of the people to which the child is born (Johnson 1970). This custom is derived from the beliefs of their ancestors who said that the meaning of the child’s name deeply influences the outcome of child’s future. Moreover, if a family is large and wide spread, the child is given a name of personal choice by each relative along with gifts. Thus, a Yoruban new – born grows up with multiple names to which he/she would have to respond all along his life (Johnson 1970). Weddings Yoruban weddings are lovely events full of joy, laughter, colors and music. Marriage is an important item of Yoruban culture. A wedding is considered a social event that must entail rituals and ceremony, which must be approved socially. Marriage and weddings are taken as prime responsibility of parents when their children eventually grow up to the right age. Traditionally, marriage involves introduction by boys meeting girls of their own choice followed by the engagement ceremony, that is, when the boy’s parents meet up with the girl’s parents for approval of their children’s relation (Sturgis 1997). This customary ritual is because marriage is not only regarded as a union of two people by the Yoruba people, but as the union of two families in their society, and thus has always been given great importance. The consent of their deities called Orisa is also sought through religious practice, as their ancestors have strictly passed on the tradition that one marrying against the will of Gods will eternally be doomed. Artwork The Yoruban art and craftwork have remained popular despite the passage of time. The first Yoruban artists used their creativity and artistic skills to make objects and paintings in honor of their gods. In the early days, clay and bronze were used to make sculptures which depicted the forms of their deities but the artists later preferred drawing abstracts, forms of humans and animals on wood, which had a more aesthetical side (Drewal 1989). Moreover, the Yoruban women are talented potters and make beautiful pottery both for religious as well as household purposes. The modern Yorubans excel in creating artistic masks, which are used in various movies and theaters. Language The language spoken by the Yoruba people is the same as their ethnic name that is, ‘Yoruba’ or ‘Ede Yoruba’. Due to the division of Yoruba into three major cities in the past, the Yoruba language also consisted of three major dialects, depending upon the geographical variation. These three dialects were greatly different from each other. However, they were united under one written scripture in 1884, by a Yoruba man called ‘Samuel Crowther’; this was jointly accepted by the whole Yoruban community. Cuisines Food is an important item of Yoruban ceremonies. It has long been used as a source of establishing communication and socializing with neighbors, friends and even with other communities and settlements (McCann 2009). The guests, traditionally, are served delicious meals whenever invited on special occasions like wedding, naming ceremonies etc. Yam is the main diet of the Yorubans besides plantain, fish, beans and meat. The Yorubans residing in the urban parts of Nigeria may have now mixed their traditional cuisines with Western – style foods, but still the customs remain preserved in their hearts and actions. Music Yoruba music is especially famous for its advanced drumming tradition. It is mostly spiritual and divine in nature and focuses on worship, myths and legends. Traditional Yoruba music is unaffected by other musical traditions but one cannot say the same about the modern Yoruba music. Conclusion There is no question about the fact that Yoruba people have a deep and fascinating history, a rich and diverse language, unlike any other, and an extraordinary interest in arts and crafts. However, they have constantly faced immense challenges in preserving and safeguarding, not only those, but all other cultural traditions that are held prestigious to Yorubans. The strong respect for the cultural values makes it difficult for them to be accepted as part of today’s modern society. There have been many who have raised a finger on the Yoruban ways and tried to alter and mould their customs to suit their own needs and wishes. In fact, Yoruban culture has gone through a series of changes all along history and has emerged successful in conserving its true essence and managed to win appreciation from innumerable individuals and critics. References: Oliver, Roland A, and Michael Crowder. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Africa. Cambridge [Eng.: Cambridge University Press, 1981. Print. Johnson, Samuel, and O Johnson. The History of the Yorubas: From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the British Protectorate. Westport, Conn: Negro University Press, 1970. Print. Sturgis, Ingrid. The Nubian Wedding Book: Words and Rituals to Celebrate and Plan an African-American Wedding. New York: Crown Publishers, 1997. Print. Drewal, Henry J, John Pemberton, Rowland Abiodun, and Allen Wardwell. Yoruba: Nine Centuries of African Art and Thought. New York: Center for African Art in Association with H.N. Abrams, 1989. Print. McCann, James. Stirring the Pot: A History of African Cuisine. Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Press, 2009. Print. Read More