Yoruba, << YOH ru bah, >> are an ethnic group in West Africa. About 40 million Yoruba live mainly in southwestern Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. Their language, Yoruba, belongs to the Niger-Congo linguistic family.
Many Yoruba work on family-owned farms outside villages. They grow yams, corn, and cocoa, an important cash crop. Yoruba craftworkers specialize in glass beads, hand-woven cloth, leathercraft, metalwork, pottery, and sculpture. Many Yoruba women sell goods in bustling local markets. Other Yoruba live in cities and work in business, factories, and other professions.
Archaeologists believe that Yoruba ancestors settled in southwestern Nigeria around 350 B.C. The early Yoruba established an iron-smelting industry. Around A.D. 950, a leader known as King Oduduwa unified the Yoruba. Armed with iron weapons, he expanded his rule. Traditional Yoruba society was a city-state system. It consisted of rural villages linked to large cities ruled by kings who were considered gods. Powerful Yoruba kingdoms, such as Ife and Oyo, flourished around 1300. Today, Yoruba rulers continue to trace their descent from Oduduwa, the first divine king.
Most Yoruba are Christians or Muslims. Many also practice traditional African religions. Traditional Yoruba religion centers on a supreme god, Olodumare, and more than 400 spirits called orishas. Each orisha has its own cult and priests.
Many Yoruba were brought to the Americas by the slave trade from the late 1400’s to the 1800’s. Yoruba culture imported by slaves has been a major influence on art, music, and religion in the Americas.
The Yoruba helped Nigeria become independent in 1960. They continue to have a leading role in the nation.
See also Ife; Nigeria (People) (History); Santería; Soyinka, Wole.
