Oriki is a form of praise poetry which is a cultural phenomenon among the Yoruba people.
The Yoruba peare spread across West Africa and in countries like Cuba, Brazil, the United States, Venezuela, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, etc.
In the traditional Yoruba setting, oriki is used to identify a Yoruba individual’s ancestry, identity, and lift their spirit.That’s why we have oriki for family, town, personal praise , destiny, deity, profession, God, animals and trees.
I think the advent of social media has brought a resurgence of the oriki. I don’t want to believe the scarcity of white collar jobs is another factor.
The oriki is used right from birth till death and even after.
For instance, if a child is crying, it won’t be unusual to see the mother reciting the child’s oriki to pacify them. When a child does something impressive, the oriki is used to praise them. At weddings, namings, death and even remembrance, the oriki is used.
It is therefore not surprising that the oriki has many types:
Oriki Idile – family oriki: These are passed down through family bloodlines. They detail the history, heroic deeds, and occupation of one’s forebears.:
Oriki Balogun (Generalissimo)
Oriki ilu – Town: These are praise anthems or poems dedicated t6o a specific town, city or ethnic lineage. They highlight the origins and what the community is known for.
Oriki Owu
Oruko Oriki – personal praise names: These are single-word or short attribute names given to individuals as pet names or expressions of endearment and character, e.g, Aremu, Akanni for males or Abegbo, Abeo, for females.
Oriki Adisa
Oriki Amutorunwa – Curcumstantial oriki – these are special praise names and chants for children born under u nique circumstances such as twins, a child with an umbilical cord wrapped around the neck or babies born with dreadlocks
.
Oriki Dada (Baby boirn with dreadlocks)
Oriki orisa – deity oriki : These are chants performed by followers to praise, invoke, and recount the attributes of traditional Yoruba gods and goddesses like Sango or Ogun
Oriki Sango
Oriki akikanju – warrior: These ae eulogies dedicated to famous historical warlords and heroes, detailing their bravery and military exploits.
Oriki Are Ona Kakanfo
Oriki Olorun – Divine Oriki: These are chants that praise the attribuites, majesty, and powers of the God.
Oriki Olorun
Oriki eran/igi – animal or nature
Oriki ile – Mother Earth
While acknowledging the various sources of information, I own up to the lapses therein.
