The Yoruba Of Southwestern Nigeria

The Yoruba Of Southwestern Nigeria

By William Bascom

1 Introduction

Importance of the Yoruba

Population

Urbanism

The Country

Yoruba Subgroups

2 Origins and History

Ancient Ife

Linguistic Evidence

Migration Legends and the Creation Myth

The Sons of Odua

The Yoruba Dahomey wars

The internal Wars

The postwar Period

British Control

3 Economics

Subsistence Farming

Cocoa: The Principle Cash Crop

Land Tenure

Crafs Specializasion and trade

The Guild of Imposters

Money and Credit

4 Goverment

The Kingdom

The king

The Town Chiefs and Palace Chiefs

The Emese, Ogungbe and Ogboni

Other Officials

The Legal System

5 Social Structure

The Clan

The Family

Institutionalized Friendship

Clubs

Kinship Terminology

6 The Life Cycle

Birth and Childcare

Childhood and Education

Betrothal and Marriage

Polygyny

Death and Burial

7 The Spiritual Cycle

Ifa Divination

Multiple Souls and Destiny

The Afterworld

8 The Deities

Selecting Ones Deity

Olorun the Sky God

Eshu the Divine Messenger

Ifa, the God of Divination

Odua the Creator of the Earth and His Allies

Orishala the God of Whiteness and His Allies

Ogun the God of Iron

Oranmiyan the Son of Ogun and Odua

Sango the God of Thunder and His Counterparts

River Gods and Goddesses

Shopona the God of Smallpox

Ogboni and Oro

Egungun, Gelede, and Epa

9 Esthetics

Verbal Art, Music and the Dance

Bodily Decoration

Weaving and Embroidery

Postrer and calabash Carving

Leatherworking and Beadworking

Metal Working

Woodcarving

Yoruba Style