Yoruba people

The Yoruba people are a large West African ethnic group.

They inhabit a region known as Yorubaland. This area covers parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. Today, more than 50 million Yoruba people live in Africa. Over one million people of Yoruba descent live outside the continent. This includes the African diaspora. Most Yoruba live in Nigeria. They make up 20.7% of the Nigerian population. This makes them one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa.

Most Yoruba people speak the Yoruba language. It is part of the Niger–Congo language family. It is the largest language in that family by number of native speakers. The oldest written mention of the name "Yoruba" is from 1614. It appears in a manuscript by the Berber jurist Ahmed Baba. This essay is titled Mi'rāj al-Ṣu'ūd. The original text is kept in Timbuktu. A digital copy is available at the World Digital Library. This early reference lists the Yoruba alongside nine other regional groups. This suggests the name was used in common speech by at least the 1500s. Some researchers have guessed at the name's origin. They suggested names like Ya'rub or Yolla Ba. However, many local people do not support these external theories.

The Yoruba have many names. They are often called by the ethnonym Yoruba. Other names like Nago, Lucumi, or Aku have been used in history. They also have special titles for themselves. One is "Ọmọ Káàárọ̀-oòjíire." This means "The People who ask 'Good morning, did you wake up well?'" This refers to their important culture of greetings. Another name is "Ọmọ Oòduà." This means "The Children of Oduduwa." This refers to a semi-legendary Yoruba king. In other parts of West Africa, they are known by names like Alata or Eyagi. These names show how the group is recognized by neighbors.

Historically, the Yoruba were very urban. They lived in organized city-states.

These cities had a central core called the Olú Ìlú. This core contained the palace of the Oba, or king. It also held the premier market, known as the Ọjà Ọba, and several temples. Many cities had strong defenses. The Ijebu Kingdom had large moats and trenches called Iyàrà. The capital of the Oyo empire had massive walls. These walls were over 20 feet high and had 10 gates.

Some cities were very large. The capital of the Oyo empire, Òyó-Ilé, had over 100,000 people. Today, Lagos is the largest Yoruba city. It has a population of over 20 million people.

Ile-Ife is a central place in Yoruba history. It was the heart of the Ife Empire. This empire flourished between 1200 and 1420 CE.

During this time, Ile-Ife became one of West Africa's largest cities. Artists there created beautiful works in terracotta, stone, brass, and bronze. Many of these works were made under King Obalufon II. He is seen as a patron deity of brass casting and weaving. Around 1300 CE, the city even produced glass beads on an industrial scale. The Yoruba regard Ile-Ife as the origin of human civilization. It is still their spiritual homeland. The ruler there is called the Ooni of Ife.

Power shifted between different empires over time. The Oyo Empire became a dominant military power in the 15th century.

It was ruled by the Alaafin. The kings were often checked by councils. One powerful council was the Bashorun. In the 18th century, the Oyo Empire participated in the African slave trade. They sometimes demanded slaves as tribute from subject populations. Some of these people were sold into the Atlantic slave trade. This was a difficult period in their history. Later, the political landscape changed through wars and new settlements. These settlements are grouped into three generations based on when they were founded.

Today, Yoruba culture is spread far and wide. Many people live in the diaspora. Some arrived in the New World between the 16th and 19th centuries. This includes large communities in Brazil and Cuba. These groups brought unique architecture back to West Africa. Others moved to the United Kingdom and the United States more recently. This happened after economic and political changes in Africa in the 1960s. The Yoruba language remains a strong link. It is classified within the Yoruboid group of languages. This group includes the related Igala language. The Yoruba continue to influence the culture and economy of West Africa.