The Yoruba people are found in eastern Togo, eastern Republic of Benin, as well as in western Nigeria. The Yoruba are one of the largest cultural groups in Africa
Yoruba is one of the most commonly spoken local languages in Nigeria.
The Yoruba people are well known for their great art work. Currently most of them work as carvers, weavers, farmers, and blacksmiths.
History
The Yoruba introduced iron smelting to West Africa. They previously made metal tools from iron, such as axes, hoes, and so many others. Some of the tools were used as weapons and others were used for farming. They once planted crops such as palm oil, kola nuts, yams, plantains, corn and others.
Yoruba had 20 kingdoms each having its own king. Oyo kingdom was the strongest because of its natural resources, fertile soils for farming, and its strategic location which enhanced trading. Before the 18th century, the Yoruba people had their own land. But when the Europeans arrived in Africa the Europeans decided to colonize Africa by dividing it into different territories. Yoruba was colonized by the British, who decided to make Yoruba part of Nigeria in 1893.
Culture and Economy
Twins are very important among the Yoruba. Their birth is considered as a sign of good fortune. The Yoruba people still live in extended families and because of slave trade, some of them live in United States, Brazil, Cuba and other places.
The Yoruba people are well known for their art and design skills. They are skilled in woodcarving, metal work, bead work, textile, sculpture and many other crafts. Art production is one of their sources of income. Other sources of income include agriculture and trading.
The Yoruba raise livestock such as cattle, poultry, goats, pigs. They also fish from various available bodies of water.
Cacao, cotton, indigo are some of the cash crops grown by the Yoruba people. Natural resources such as crude oil and coal serve as a source of income.
In this society, it is the responsibility of the women to sell goods at the market and make pottery, while men are employed as farmers who are responsible for leather, carving and bead work.
Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not claim expertise on the Yoruba People. Please send questions, comments, and corrections to emuseum@mnsu.edu and include the URL.
Sources
Mullen, Nicole. 2004 Yoruba Art and Culture. Electronic document,
http://hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu/outreach/pdfs/yoruba_teaching_kit.pdf
accessed June 2009.
African People & Culture: Tribes & People Groups; Yoruba. Electronic document,
http://www.africaguide.com/culture/tribes/yoruba.htm accessed July 2009.
Encyclopedia Britannica Encyclopedia Britannica; Oyo empire. Electronic
Document,
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/437048/Oyo-empire accessed July
2009.
Written by Esther Nalubwama 2009