Akintola Musibau Ayobami

Introduction (Ìfimọ̀) 

The use of Yoruba language is being neglected among Yoruba tribe, especially those that have acquired Western education, which has probably brought about the infiltration of foreign culture into our country, necessitating English language to be forced down our throat by Colonial masters as preferred and official language!!. That is why it is not surprising that most Western-educated homes discourage their wards to speak this noble language and infact any child who loves to take up Yoruba language as  a course of study either in Colleges of education or Universities are seen by the so-called learned ones as nonentity!!. However, today, one can categorically say that ‘’Oyinbos’’ are now developing flair for this rich language and are coming down to Nigerian Universities, who offer the related course on exchange programmes!!.

Two of the Yoruba adages readily come to mind to buttress the beauty inherent in Yoruba language, which must not be allowed to die. One says:  “ Òrìsà tí a bá ń lé ọmọdé nìdí rẹ̀, kì í pẹ́ parun’’(Meaning: ‘’a deity, from whose shrine, a child is being chased away, would in no time go into extinction’’). The  other says: ‘’Bí àsà àti ìse ẹ̀yà kan yoò bá parẹ́, èdè wọn ni yoò kọ́kọ́ parẹ́’’ ( meaning ‘’if a tribe’s culture and tradition would perish, it’s language would be a prime target’’).  In essence, what this book seeks to achieve is to develop, preserve and promote this noble language so that generation upon generations would appreciate that indeed Yoruba has come to stay and must not be allowed to go into oblivion.

ẸWÀ ÈDÈ YORÙBÁ (The beauty of Yorùbá language) as the name implies basically means a class of Yoruba language written and spoken with a distinct touch meant to add value to already known day to day conversation in Yoruba language just for the purpose of engaging attention of a wider audience. The writer or speaker employs additional efforts to emphasis on his Idiomatic delivery of messages.  The beauty of Yoruba language can be noticed in such class like Poetry (EWÌ, ÌJÁLÁ ỌDẸ, Ẹ̀SÀ EGÚNGÚN), Ancestral eulogies (ORÍKI ÌDÍLÉ) and so on and so forth. However, this book is not really meant to go into such detail but would only highlight the beauty that can be derived from some of the idiomatic expressions to drive home the point in usage of words. That is why such idiomatic expressions require deep thoughts and learning that require dexterity and mastery to be able to have an acceptable delivery by the audience or readers. Ability to study peple and environment play key role too because often times, the readers or audience are kept spell-bound when such messages are being delivered!!. It is worthy of mentioning that Yoruba is rich in effective message delivery as they either employ two major media of communication which are Drum and Proverbs to deliver the message to their listeners. 

These two media of communication are so versatile which require a well-gifted and experienced listeners to decode their meanings!! , 

The book contains 16 CHAPTERS,  which are:

ÀKỌTỌ́ (the Ortography which educates the reader about how Written Yoruba language came into being and lexical structure guiding it till date), ÌRÓ FÁWẸ̀LÌ ÀTI KÒŃSÓNÁNTÌ(which is identification of Vowels and Consonants in Yoruba language), ÌRÓ OHÙN INÚ ÈDÈ YORÙBÁ ( the Punctuation marks in Yoruba which is meant to simplify complexities associated with  assigning intonation marks to Yoruba words or sentences), ÀKÀNLÒ ÈDÈ ( which is to show few of the common Idiomatic expressions  used in Yoruba) ẸWÀ BABA ÈDÈ (which is Simile kind of expressions to feel the feedback or feelings of readers  as to whether they’re flowing with the concept of the term or not), ÌLÙ ẸWÀ ÈDÈ (The Drumbeat, which highlights few out of many drumbeats of Yoruba culture and tradition) ẸSIN ÀTI ÀKÀWÉ Ọ̀RỌ̀  (which shows Proverbs and Comparatives of words spoken which are not basically Proverbs but havesome indepth meaning too), Ọ̀RỌ̀ ÀGBÀ ( which are words of wisdom by elders to pass vital messages across to advise the readers), Ọ̀RỌ̀ KÀǸKÀ (which highlights major emphasis on funny day to day occurences using Yoruba words that are similar in pronounciation), Ọ̀RỌ̀ ŃLÁ (which highlights surprise happenings)  Ọ̀RỌ̀ ÌSÍTÍ (which are compilation of pieces of advice to foster societal interaction and harmony), Ọ̀RỌ̀ ÌGBÀLÀ (this contains clarion calls to people to be closer to God for spiritual upliftment),  ÌJÌNLẸ̀ Ọ̀RỌ̀ (which have deeper thoughts and pinch of spirituality attached to them), ÒKODORO Ọ̀RỌ̀, ÌWÚRE ÒWÚRỌ̀ , ÒǸKÀ YORÙBÁ and ORÍKÌ ÌDÍLÉ MI (My Eulogy).

It is expected that the reader would find this book as a tool for minimal understanding of Yoruba language either in day to day conversation or as a guide on how the language can be written in modern Yoruba language studies.

Happy reading.