Ìsọmọlórúkọ

In Yorubaland, the sacred act of giving a child a name is called Ìsọmọlórúkọ. This significant cultural event, usually held on the 8th day after the child's birth marks a distinct part of the child's identity bearing spiritual, and even prophetic weights. 

Some names come predestined. For instance, twins have the natural-birth names; Taiwo and Kehinde. The lore behind this: Taiwo, meaning the first taster of the world who signals to Kehinde (the one who arrives last) to come. Dada is a child with twisted/ deadlocked hair. Ajayi (nicknamed Ogidi Olu) is the one born face-downwards. Ojo (male) or Aina ( female) is the one born with the umbilical cord around his or her neck.

Some names are also prophetic because Yorubas strongly believe that names are so powerful that they can influence the entire life cyle of a child. For instance, Durosinmi meaning “stay to bury me” is given to a child whose mother has suffered several stillbirth. Some names are circumstantial. Such as Tokunbo which is the name given to a child born outside the country or far from home, meaning “brought over the sea.”

In this inaugural issue, our poets draw deeply from these totems of the rich Yoruba culture to explore themes of selfhood, family, religion and history.  They unetch meanings, ancestry and symbolisms such as in Qudus’ “ÌGBÀ-Ǹ-BÁ JÓ, ONÍLÙ DÁGBÉRE AKÉ” which enthralls as an oriki for its pulsating music and praiseful verses. 

Neither can one resist the call to lose oneself in the introspection of Titilayo’s “KÒ SÍ ENIKẸ́NI TÍ N SO” honoring a culture where every child is born into a song already being sung. During the naming ceremony, among the gifts presented to bless the newborn is the symbolic bitter kola (Orogbo) known for its longevity, which Titilayo referenced in the poem as a subtle prayer raised that “Tí ó bá sì fẹ́ pẹ́̀ tó bíi òrógbó/ ó gbọ́dọ̀ bọ̀wọ̀ fún àsìkò/ fún àyè, fún ayé/ àti fún gbogbo òfin tí ń ṣàkóso wọn.” meaning if the child seeks to experience longevity after the similitude of a bitter kola, he must show reverence to time, to chance, to life, and to all its laws.

From the brilliant works of other poets included in this issue; one thing is clear, in Yoruba, a name is not just a label—sometimes it is a destiny foretold. 

Sit back, relax and enjoy this delicious delicacy. Let the poems tell you their names.  

- Adesiyan Oluwapelumi.