Word origins

• aseAn essential energy in West African religions.
• olaA female given name used in the U.S. in the end of the nineteenth century.
• IFAA complex system of divination in Yoruba religion.
• OriAn individual's spiritual intuition and destiny, according to Yoruba beliefs.
• accraA spicy fritter, originally from Ghana but now typically from Haiti.
• YorubaA member of an ethnic group or tribe living mainly in southwest Nigeria, southern Benin, and eastern Togo and, as well as in communities elsewhere in West Africa, United States, Brazil and Cuba.
• iruA West African condiment made from fermented locust beans.
• dodoA large, flightless bird, †Raphus cucullatus, related to the pigeon, that is now extinct (since the 1600s) and was native to Mauritius.
• ebaA stiff dough made by soaking garri in hot water and kneading it with a baton.
• obaA king of a Yoruba polity.
• bataA ceremonial double-headed drum played in triplet in the religion of santería, especially in Cuba and Puerto Rico, originally from the Yoruba of Nigeria.
• IbadanA city, the state capital of Oyo State, Nigeria.
• japato emigrate from a country for better pay or working conditions.
• ogaA chief, employer, or superior.
• SakaA member of any of various peoples formerly inhabiting steppes north of the Iranian plateau.
• ayoA greeting.
• bukaThe short introduction to a gamelan piece, generally played by a single instrument in a free rhythm, with the kendhang coming in on the last few notes to set the tempo.
• SoyinkaA surname from Yoruba.
• OsunA major orisha in the Yoruba and santería religion.
• OgunA male given name from Yoruba.
• OndoPeople of Ondo City, Ondo State, and/or Ondo Kingdom, collectively.
• orishaA divine entity in Yoruba religion that possesses the supernatural capability of reflecting some of the manifestations of Olódùmarè
• ShangoAn orisha in Yoruba religion, the god of thunder, fire, justice, dance and virility.
• asunA Yoruba dish made from roasted goat meat sautéed in spicy peppers and other vegetables.
• TaiwoA surname from Yoruba.
• irokoHardwood obtained from the species Milicia excelsa and, less frequently, Milicia regia, often sold as African teak.
• AdebayoA male given name from Yoruba.
• AjayiA surname from Yoruba.
• BalogunA surname from Yoruba.
• geleA traditional head tie native to Yoruba women of West Africa (Nigeria, Benin and Togo).
• EkitiA major subgroup of the Yoruba people of West Africa.
• AdeyemiA surname from Yoruba.
• bubaA woman's blouse worn in West African countries.
• AbeokutaThe largest city and state capital of Ogun State, Nigeria.
• akaraA bean cake, made of fried black-eyed pea flour.
• DejiA male given name from Yoruba.
• AkureThe largest city and state capital of Ondo State, Nigeria.
• AkandeA surname from Yoruba.
• amalaA thick paste made from yam or cassava flour, eaten chiefly in Yoruba cuisine.
• BabalolaA surname from Yoruba.
• BankoleA surname from Yoruba.
• AbiodunA name with Yoruba origin meaning 'born on a festival'
• adireA type of traditional Yoruba tie-dyed cloth.
• aborishaA devotee of the orishas; a practitioner of Yoruba religion.
• aburaA medium-sized tropical African tree, Mitragyna stipulosa (syn. M. macrophylla, nom. illeg.).
• AdejugbeA surname
• AdekugbeA surname
• AdeniyiA surname from Yoruba.
• AdeyemoA male given name from Yoruba.
• afaraThe limba tree.
• AfolabiA surname from Yoruba.
• agbadaA long, flowing robe with wide sleeves worn by men in some parts of West Africa, often decorated with embroidery.
• agberoA labourer (manual worker).
• agidigboA lamellophone worn around the neck, originating among the Yoruba of Nigeria, played by striking the box frame of the instrument with a ring worn around a thumb.
• AlaafinA king of the Oyo Empire.
• AladesanmiA surname
• alagbaThe hereditary chief of the Egun masqueraders in Yoruba culture.
• AlakeA traditional ruler of the Egba people.
• arokekeSynonym of utazi (“the plant Gongronema latifolium”).
• aso ebiA uniform dress traditionally worn in Nigeria and some West African cultures as an indicator of cooperation and solidarity during ceremonies and festive periods.
• aso okeA type of handwoven textile used for clothing by the Yoruba people of Nigeria.
• ayamaseA stew made from green or red Scotch bonnet peppers.
• babalawoIn Yoruba culture, a priest of Ifa.
• coo-cooThe two-note vocalisation made by the male of the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), or imitation of this by a cuckoo clock.
• danfoSynonym of shared taxi, especially a minibus operated as a shared taxi.
• dashikiA loose and brightly-colored African shirt.
• dun dunA double-headed African bass drum.
• Ebute MettaA neighbourhood in Lagos Mainland, Lagos, Nigeria.
• EgunA member of the Yoruba people who performs a masquerade as an ancestor.
• egusiMelon seeds that are ground to make soup in West Africa.
• EkundayoA unisex given name from Yoruba.
• EshuThe orisha and primordial divinity (irúnmọlẹ̀) of judgement, trickery, crossroads, and the messenger of Olódùmarè in the Yoruba religion. He is believed to epitomize the duality of goodness and malevolence, and is the intermediary between humanity and the evil forces, the Ajogun.
• eweduThe jute mallow, Corchorus olitorius.
• fanimorousbeautiful, attractive, captivating
• ganganA talking drum of West Africa.
• garriA West African food made from fried mashed cassava tubers.
• idigboA combretaceous timber-yielding African tree of species Terminalia ivorensis.
• IdowuA surname from Yoruba.
• iyobaA queen mother of the Kingdom of Benin.
• moimoiA Yoruba steamed or boiled pudding made from black-eyed beans.
• obe ataA stew or mother sauce in Yoruba cuisine, made from tomatoes, peppers, onions, oil, and spices.
• OgbomoshoA city in Oyo State, Nigeria.
• OgboniA fraternal institution indigenous to the Yoruba-speaking polities of Nigeria, Benin and Togo, as well as among the Edo people. It performs a range of political, religious and judicial functions.
• ogogoroA strong alcoholic drink of West Africa, distilled from the juice of raffia palm trees.
• OladipoA surname from Yoruba
• OlogunA member of the social class of warrior chiefs in Yoruba society.
• OlorunThe supreme god of the Yoruba pantheon, or the God of Abrahamic religions when identified with him.
• Olukumia Yoruba subgroup descended from several subgroups of the Yoruba and Igbo people
• omolankeA pushcart.
• OrunmilaA male given name from Yoruba.
• OsugboSynonym of Ogboni (“African fraternal institution”).
• owanbeAn elaborate Yoruba party with food and dancing.
• oyinboA white person.
• ponmoCowhide, or a dish made thereof.
• sekereA musical instrument consisting of a gourd surrounded by a net of beads.
• shombored chili pepper
• Soro SokeA political slogan where Nigerians seeking to make their voices heard.
• tokunboA secondhand motor vehicle imported from Europe.
• wagasiA soft, mild Beninese cheese made from cows' milk.
• wahalatrouble; problem.