Friday, September 10, 2010

Onomastics: Naming in Yoruba (2)

Proverbial Names

Yoruba is very rich in wise sayings (proverbs). Some of these proverbs have been clipped into names. The following are examples of proverbial names in Yoruba land:

Baoku :Ise o tan------When there is life, there is hope
Anjoorin: A ko mo ori olowo-----We walk together, we do not know who is destined to be rich
Bolodeoku:Ode re ki wu gbegi-----The compound will not go bushy when the owner is around
Atidade : Kiniun ko sehin Olodumare
Apalara: Igunpa ni yekan-------Your works will deliver you, not family or friends
Ayeloja: Orun n'ile-----------The world is a market place,heaven is home(Life is short)
Ajunmobi : Ko kan ti anu, eni olorun ran sini loun seni l'ore----Only God helps, man may fail
Adabanija: Eni ija o ba ni pe ara re l'okunrin---Who you truly are can be determined in the face of temptation
Awolumatee:  Iwon ara re lo mo------ A stranger who would not loose his intergrity should know his bounds
Akeju: nii ba omo olowo je---------Over pampering spoils the children of the rich
Abanigbe: ni a a mo ise eni, eniyan gbokere niyi-----Someone who is far away is often respected, familiarity breeds contempt
Abanikan-n-da: Ikan ko le mu okuta----------Termites only contemplate, they dare not gnaw a stone
Banuso: ma ba eniyan so, eniyan o si mo,aye deke----Keep secrets to yourself alone, do not ever confide in man.(No one can be trusted)

Omoolayole: Eni omo sin lo bimo---------Never boast of having children in your prime age, until the children outlive you
Bolanta: A wu won, bola ba doju de tan, Ola a maa suni,akeyinsi ola kii ro-------It is soothing when things are going smoothly, the reverse could be unbearable
Tanimola: Ko si, ayafi olorun Oba------Only God knows tomorrow
Agbojuleogun: fi ra re fo si ta--------One who relies on inheritance will turn a pauper
Kosalabaro: Bi ko se ori eni--------- There is no confidant but one's destiny
Aberuagba:Ni yio tele pee-----------One who fears the elders will live long

The examples of names given above are names extracted from Yoruba proverbs. This adds to our earlier assertion about the rich culture and the importance of naming to the people.

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