Beninois Yoruba
The Beninese or Beninois Yoruba, also referred to as the Yoruba of Benin Republic, are ethnic Yoruba people native to areas primarily situated in southeastern and central Benin. They form part of the larger Yoruba ethnolinguistic group found mainly in southwestern Nigeria but also present in parts of central Togo and the diaspora. In Benin, they are concentrated in the departments of Ouémé, Plateau and Collines with smaller numbers in Borgou, and Donga.[1][2]
Distribution
[edit]The Yoruba are found natively in seven of Benin's twelve Departments, which are the first level administrative divisions of Benin. Just as in Nigeria, they exist in series of cluster groups speaking dialects such as; Ohori, Isha/Ica, Kura, Shabe (Cabe), Ife and more.
Major Yoruba towns in Benin include Porto-Novo, Pobè, Kétou, Sakété, Ifangni, Dassa (Igbo Idaasha), Savé, Glazoue (Gbomina), Tchaourou, Takon, Adjohoun, Adja-Ouèrè . These communities maintain strong historical and cultural ties with the Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria.[3] The Yoruba language is recognized as one of Benin's national languages,[citation needed] and is spoken chiefly in the southeastern and east-central parts of the country as well as in major urban centres across the country by itinerant trading Yoruba communities.[4]
Indiginious Yoruba communities, and their administrative locations
[edit]Alibori Department
Borgu Department
Collines Department
- Bantè[8][9]
- Dassa (Igbo Idaatcha) ★[10][11]
- Glazoue (Gbomina)[11]
- Ouèssè (Wese) ■[12]
- Savalou ■
- Savé (Tchabe) ★[10][5]
Donga Department
- Bassila ■
- Djougou ●
- Ouake ●
Oueme Department
- Porto-Novo (Ajase) ■
- 1st Arrond (Akoro) ◆
- 2nd Arrond ◆
- 3rd Arrond ◆
- 4th Arrond ◆
Plateau Department
- Adja-Ouèrè (Aja Were)[14]
- Ifangni (Ifonyin)[14]
- Ketu ★[10][14]
- Pobè (Ipobe)[14][15]
- Sakété (Itakete) ★[10][14]
Zou Department
★ − Commune headquarters that are ancient historic capitals of Yoruba kingdoms and are recognized by the constitution of the Republic of Benin as homes of constituent monrchies.[10] ■ − Commune or arrondissement headquarters that are partially Yoruba and have other 'Yoruba-speaking' towns/villages/communities (arrondissements) within their official borders. ◆ − Mixed (Yoruba and another ethnicity) towns/villages/communities a.k.a. or arrondissements that are not commune or arrondissement headquarters. ● − Commune headquarters and arrondissement chief towns that are completely Non-Yoruba but have 'Yoruba-speaking' towns/villages/communities/quarters (arrondissements) within their official borders.
Language
[edit]As members of the Yoruba language continuum, the Yoruba spoken in Benin consists of several dialects mutually intelligible both with standard Yoruba spoken in Nigeria as well as with other dialects across the border. Some of these dialects, such as; Ohori, Anago (of Ketu and of Shabe actually straddle the Nigeria-Benin international border, with several towns and villages of the afore mentioned groups falling into either side, some such as Ilara even straddle it.[1]
The language is used in daily communication, media, and religious practices. Variation is present, often influenced by neighboring languages such as Fon (including Gun) and other Gbe and Gur languages.[17][failed verification]
Culture and religion
[edit]Beninese Yoruba retain and maintain traditional Yoruba cultural practices including music, dance, festivals, and oral literature such as; Oríkì, Ifá, Oro and Egungun festivals. Religious life is diverse: many worship the Orishas and practice traditional Yoruba religion, while others are adherents of Christianity and Islam.[18]
The Vodun religion, which shares roots and several deities with Yoruba religion, also influences spiritual practices in the region.[19]
Contemporary issues
[edit]Beninese Yoruba participate in national politics, education, commerce and social life. However, there have been concerns regarding political persecution and cultural marginalization.[20] Cultural groups and Yoruba scholars in Benin and Nigeria continue to advocate for the preservation and promotion of Yoruba identity across West Africa.[citation needed]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "Yoruba Diaspora", African Studies, Oxford University Press, 2022-03-23, doi:10.1093/obo/9780199846733-0226, ISBN 978-0-19-984673-3, retrieved 2025-07-03
- ↑ "Bénin". www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- ↑ Insa Nolte (2008). "Yorùbá Identity and Power Politics (review)". Africa: The Journal of the International African Institute. 78 (2): 309–311. doi:10.1353/afr.0.0009. ISSN 1750-0184.
- ↑ Kehinde, Michael Olujimi (2010). Implications of Colonially Determined Boundaries in (West) Africa: the Yoruba of Nigeria and Benin in Perspective (PDF) (Doctoral thesis). Durham University.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "A sociolinguistic survey of the Ede language communities of Benin and Togo, Volume 2: Cabe language area". SIL International. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Raeymaekers, Timothy (27 August 2013). Violence on the Margins: States, Conflict, and Borderlands. Springer. ISBN 978-1-137-33399-5. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "A sociolinguistic survey of the Ede language communities of Benin and Togo, Volume 7: Northern Nago language area". SIL Global. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
- ↑ "Bnte". Ministère de la Décentralisation et de la Gouvernance Locale (in French). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "A sociolinguistic survey of the Ede language communities of Benin and Togo, Volume 3: Ica language area". SIL Global. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Organisation et fonctionnement des chefferies traditionnelles : L'Assemblée Nationale dote le Bénin d'un cadre juridique et légal | Assemblée Nationale du Bénin" (in French). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "A sociolinguistic survey of the Ede language communities of Benin and Togo, Volume 4: Idaca language area". SIL Global. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "Ouesse". Ministère de la Décentralisation et de la Gouvernance Locale (in French). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "A sociolinguistic survey of the Ede language communities of Benin and Togo, Volume 6: Kura language area". SIL Global. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 "A sociolinguistic survey of the Ede language communities of Benin and Togo, Volume 8: Southern Nago language area". SIL International. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "A sociolinguistic survey of the Ede language communities of Benin and Togo, Volume 5: Ije language area". SIL Global. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
- ↑ "Ouinhi". Ministère de la Décentralisation et de la Gouvernance Locale (in French). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "Yoruba | History, Language & Religion | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2025-06-13. Retrieved 2025-07-03.
- ↑ "Exploring Yoruba Traditions and Their Influence in Benin". www.mexicohistorico.com. Retrieved 2025-07-03.
- ↑ Sègla, Aimé Dafon (2008), "The Cosmological Vision of the Yoruba-Idààcha of Benin Republic (West Africa): A Light on Yoruba History and Culture", African Cultural Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, pp. 189–207, doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-6639-9_14, ISBN 978-1-4020-6638-2, retrieved 2025-07-03
- ↑ "Yoruba people in Benin Republic facing political persecution –Monarch". The Punch. 3 October 2020.
