A home for
Yoruba culture
in London.

Àjọṣepọ̀ ni ipilẹ̀ aṣeyọrí

Togetherness is the foundation of success.

Ẹni tó bá fẹ̀ mọ ibi tí ó ti wà

Know your roots to know yourself.

The Yoruba have the highest rate of twin births in the world. Twins — Ìbejì — are considered sacred.

Ilé Ọba tó jó, ẹwà ló bùsi

When a king's palace burns down, an even more beautiful one is rebuilt.

A pẹ kó to jẹun, kì jẹ ibàjẹ

The person who eats late will not eat spoiled food. Patience is a virtue.

Ọjú ìmọ̀ẹ̀ṣẹ; ojú ṣùnùkù la fí wo

Look at mystery with mysterious eyes. Trust your intuition.

The Yoruba diaspora shaped cultures across Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and beyond — carrying language and spiritual practices across the Atlantic.

Ẹ tàn kì i se ọgbọn

Deceit is no wisdom. Not a reliable foundation to build on.

Ahun nre àjò, ó gbé ilé rẹ dání

Tortoise takes his house on every journey. Hold what is dear.

Ògo òrùn kò sé fọwọ bò

The brightness of the sun cannot be covered. Greatness cannot be stopped.

Bí Esin bá dani gùlé a tún gun ni

Fall off a horse — climb back on. When plans fail, keep trying.

Yoruba is spoken by over 45 million people across Nigeria, Benin, Togo and the global diaspora — one of the most widely spoken African languages.

Ẹ káàbọ̀

Welcome — the gathering always begins with welcome.

Ẹ ku àárọ̀

Good morning — said with respect to elders and peers.

Àṣà ni ipilẹ̀ orílẹ̀ èdè

Culture is the foundation of a nation.

Ogbọn ọdùnnìí wèrè ẹmìí

Today's wisdom, next year's madness. Learn to adapt.

Èdè ni ẹ̀mí ìjọba

Language is the soul of a people.

Gbogbo alángbá ló d'anu délẹ

All lizards lie flat — we cannot tell which has a stomach ache. Be kind always.

Orí lẹja fi l'abú jà

It is with its head the fish swims through water. Face life head on.

A o mọyì Ọlọrun yò se ko jẹ ká bínú kú

We know not what God will do — it is hope that keeps people going.

Ọ̀pẹ mi o

Thank you — gratitude is central to Yoruba culture.

Ìjókòó

Sitting together — the name and meaning behind Ijoko Omo Yoruba.

Díẹ díẹ nimú ẹlẹdẹẹ fi ń wọgbà

Gradually the pig's nose enters the yard. Attend to small problems early.

Ọjún inú: a kìí ka a kún ọmọ tilẹ

One does not count a pregnancy as a child already delivered.

Òkò abínújù kì í pẹyẹ

A stone thrown in anger does not kill a bird. Be patient and strategic.

Oore tí a se fádiẹ ò gbé bẹ pe títí

The favour one does a hen returns in time. Good deeds always come back.

Àfikọkọjalẹ, bí ọba ayé o rí ọ, tọrun rí ọ

If the earthly king doesn't see you, the heavenly king does.

Bí abá sò òkò sójà, ará ilé eni ni bá

He who throws a stone in the market hits someone he knows. Be careful how you treat others.

Àgbà kì wà lójà kí orí ọmọ titun ó wọ

The infant's head doesn't go unchecked when elders are present.

Ogun àgbọtẹlẹ kì í pa arọ

A long-foreseen war does not kill a cripple. Use foreknowledge to protect yourself.

Bí iná bá jóni, tò jò ọmọ eni, tara eni la nko gbọn

If you and your child are on fire, douse your own fire first.

A kì i fi orí ọká họ imú sere

One doesn't use a snake's head to scratch one's nose. Be careful in dangerous partnerships.

Ọbẹ̀ kìí gbé inú àgbà mì

The soup does not move in an elder's belly. Respect confidentiality.

Iy'o wù mí e wuẹ, oun e

Differences in taste make two brothers eat separately. Everyone is uniquely made.

Bí a bá rí òkú ikà nílẹ tí a fi ẹsẹ ta; ikà á di méjì

If one kicks the corpse of a wicked person, there are then two wicked people.

Olójú kan lọ ba àwọn afojú

A one-eyed man is king to the blind. Be gracious — your position is someone else's dream.

The Gèlèdé masquerade honours women's spiritual power — a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Àwa ń jọ

We are together — the spirit of every IOY gathering.

Ajá là bá kí; ẹse o peran funni jẹ

Commend the dog — the cat doesn't kill meat for you. Recognise who truly shows up.

Àṣà tí a kò gbé lọ, padà wá rẹ̀ ni a ò lè rí

The culture you don't carry forward is the one you won't find when you return.

Kò sí ohun tí ntí òkè bọ tí ilẹ ògbà

There is nothing dropping from above that the earth cannot withstand.

A o mọyì Ọlọrun yò se ko jẹ ká bínú kú

We know not what God will do — hope keeps people going.

Ẹ ku ọ̀sán

Good afternoon — respectful midday greeting.

Bí a kò bá mọ ibi tí a ti wà, a kò lè mọ ibi tí a ń lọ

If we don't know where we've come from, we can't know where we're going.

Ọmọ tí a kọ ni yóò kọ ìlú

The child that is taught will build the city. Invest in the next generation.

A kì i fi ọnà ikùn han ìfun

One does not show the throat the way to the stomach. Don't presume to know better than the expert.

Òjò tó rọ ló da ẹyẹlé pọ mọ adìye

It is the rain that brought pigeons and hens together. Shared circumstances create unexpected bonds.

Ẹbọ jíjẹ kìí pa ìgún

Sacrificial offerings will not kill the vulture. Your natural calling will not hurt you.

Ogbọn ọdùnnìí wèrè ẹmìí

Today's wisdom, next year's madness. What seems wise now may appear like lunacy tomorrow.

Fọrìtì fọrìtì lómú kí orí àgbà pa

Prolonged endurance is what yields elderly maturity. Stay the course.

Àṣà tí a kò gbé lọ, padà wá rẹ̀ ni a ò lè rí

The culture you don't carry forward is the one you won't find when you return.