Yoruba people facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Yoruba
Kwarastatedrummers.jpg
Kwara State drummers
Total population
ca. 38 million
Regions with significant populations
 Nigeria 35 million (2012)
 Benin 1.2 million (2012)
 Ghana 0.4 million
 Togo 0.1 million
 Côte d'Ivoire 0.1 million
North America 0.2 million
Europe 0.1 million
Languages
Yoruba, Yoruboid languages
Religion
Islam (ca. 50%), Christianity, traditional religion.
Related ethnic groups
Bini, Nupe, Igala, Itsekiri, Ebira

Yoruba is an ethnic group of people living in Africa. They live on the west coast of Africa, mostly Nigeria and Ghana.

Images for kids

  • Yorubaland Cultural Area of West Africa

    Map of the Yoruba Cultural Area of West Africa., showing some settlements.

  • HistoYoruba

    Some Yoruba cities of the Middle Ages

  • Brooklyn Museum 1997.2.4 Torque Currency

    Traditional torque currency made from copper alloy was a form of collar money (mondua) used in the Yoruba country, 17th century. Brooklyn Museum 1997

  • Yoruba Mother and Child

    Yoruba Mother and Child 1848

  • Iwori Meji

    Iwori Meji, one of the Sixteen principal of 256 Odus (Corpus of Ifa literature)

  • Anna hinderer church and mission house at ibadan pic2

    Anna Hinderer church and mission house at Ibadan, 1850s

  • Brooklyn Museum L54.5 Fragment of a Head (3)

    This terracotta head shows Yoruba sculpture was already highly developed a thousand years ago. Ife art exemplifies naturalism in African art.

  • Yoruba peoples armlet (16th century)

    Intricately carved Ivory bracelet from the Yoruba people of Owo

  • Arugba Osun

    The Arugba leading the procession to the Osun grove.

  • Récipients Yoruba-Musée ethnologique de Berlin

    Carved ceremonial Ivory containers from the Yoruba polity of Owo, which flourished 1400-1600

  • Bata drums
    The Batá drum – From left: Okónkolo, Iyá, Itótele.
  • Slit drum, Yoruba, Nigeria, 1900 - Staatliches Museum für Völkerkunde München - DSC08553

    Yoruba hollow slit drum

  • AgogoChrome-2tons

    Agogo metal gongs

  • TalkingDrum

    The Talking drum

  • Yoruba Ibeji figures, representing twins Wellcome L0035694

    Wooden Ere Ibeji figures representing twins. Yorubas have the highest twinning rate in the world.

  • African Lace VLM 14

    Agbada clothing historically worn by Yoruba men

  • Aso Oniko

    Finished Adire clothing material

  • Nigeria Yoruba Area

    Yoruba area in Nigeria.

  • Picture of a brown doughy Yoruba dish known as Amala on a plate

    Àmàlà is a brown doughy dish made from Yam and Cassava flour usually eaten with stews, soups and other recipes.

  • Akara

    Akara is a recipe by the Yoruba, which has been adopted by the rest of Nigeria. It is present in the Americas as Acarajé

  • Eba Eforiro and asoorted meat

    Eba, is a doughy dish made by processing Garri in hot water, and turning till it becomes a consistent dough (shown combined with other dishes).

  • Picture of pounded yam known as Iyan in Yoruba on a plate

    Iyan or pounded yam with mixed vegetables and fish stew

  • Moin Moin

    Cut Moin Moin;"Ewe eran" leaves (Thaumatococcus daniellii) are traditionally used to improve flavoring.

  • African Lace VLM 31

    Simple Iro & Buba with Gele

  • African Lace VLM 02

    Agbádá àti Fìlà from Iseyin, Oyo State

  • African Lace VLM 04

    Iro & Bùbá, with Gele & Ipele blouse, wrapper & headgear

  • African Lace VLM 34

    Bùbá àti Kèmbè shirt and short baggy pants for men

  • African Lace VLM 83

    Embroidered Aso Òkè fabric for women

  • African Lace VLM 74

    Agbádá àti Sóró, Agbada and long slim pants for men

  • African Lace VLM 75

    Ìró & Bùbá made from African lace material


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Yoruba people Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.