Animales en la cultura yoruba

Cock (Hen) Akuk Source of meat, has both economic and religious value; a
time-keeper for natives before watches/clocks (precision equipment) were
introduced; valued for its potency. Several Yoruba statements use cock as a figure
speech and proverb. For example, Yoruba will say adiye funfun ko mo rare
lagba (Adiye fun-fun in this context [a full grown White Cock] is used as a
metaphor and a proverb); which means a respectable person, who loses honor
and self-worth because of a bad conduct.
Cobra ka Known for its death-dealing poison when it bites. It requires
immediate attention or else, death. While other snakes die with their
venom(poison) and become innocuous; Cobra in death, becomes more virulent.
Extremely poisonous and venomous just like when still alive. Edible, source of
materials for local medicines, especially the teeth and bones. Metaphor for a
wicked act or a person.
Ox , Bull
medicines.

Malu Major source of meat, has economic values, materials for local

Spit-Snake wru known for its bite, and dangerous spit which can easily affect
sight when there is no proper medical care. Edible.
Snake ebe Very poisonous and dangerous.
Dog Aja
It has a good sense of Smell; it guards and protects its owner, useful
for hunting. There are many types of dog, closely related to wolf in the wild. It has
economic, religious and social values. Despise for lack of control when it comes
to mating. Metaphor for a philander, a worthless, pestilential or contemptible
person.
Hedgehog

ya

It is a wild animal, very tasty; it has economic value.

A scaly animal
Akika A scaly animal, it eats insects trapped in its scales;
source of meat and invaluable material for local medicine.
Crocodile
ni, Giant reptile, lives very close to water, eats sea animal,
extremely dangerous, can kill human, if attacked. Reproduce by laying eggs.
Edible, skin use for shoes and exotic bags.
Alligator
Ahnrihn Looks like Crocodile, but smaller in size to it. Alligator
has both economic and dietary value just like Crocodile.
Hog ld Male pig, known for its size, source of fatty meat, but dirty. Use as
simile for a dirty and unkempt person.
Vulture
Igun, Gunnugun, Gurugu, Akala A special bird, not edible; a
scavenger; metaphor for something without value.

Wood-Carrier
Arugigi
A mediumsized insect, always with load;
metaphor to denote self-inflicted pain.
Hawks
Awodi, Asa
wicked person or act.

A carnivorous bird, it feeds on chicks; metaphor for a

Palm Bird

Edible

Ologiri

A species of Bird

Olofr

Sparrow
Ologo
Mythical elder brother of kin, who stubbornly refused
stay-at-home order from Ifa priest (Ella), and lost out when gifts were presented
to kin, his younger sister.
Peacock
kin The most beautiful bird ever known, symbol of royalty and
beauty. Obedient sister of Ologose, who got all the gifts from Ella, the Ifa priest,
and became wealthy.
Squirrel

kr Source of meat. Metaphor for stubbornness or stubborn act.

Rabbit
Ehoro Lives in the wild, but can be domesticated, source of meat;
very beautiful.
Bird that lives on crickets Okinrin

Edible.

A kind of large Rat Okete Edible; use as simile for deception/double dealing.
Metaphor for things unusual; for instance, Yoruba will say Ai re wu losan. It has
some cultural and social import.
Wild Goat
Edu Source of meat, lives in the wild; mostly, on mountains. A
beautiful herbivorous animal.
A species of Deer Ekulu Source of meat, lives in the wild.
Shark Ekura Edible.
Rat/Mouse Eku/Ekute Domestic rat, very destructive. Metaphor for a
destructive act, or person.
Earthworm Ekolo, long terrestrial annelid, moves by setae; earthworm feeds on
decaying organic matter. Sing Bird

y-Orin

Loved for its sonorous voice.

Partridge
Aparo A wild bird, brown, edible; use as simile for poverty; and a
metaphor for deserved punishment.
Horse in
strength.

For royalty, transportation, cavalry; also represents power and

Donkey

Ktkt

For transportation, royalty.

CamelRakunmi
For transportation, known for its perseverance under
harsh/unfavorable conditions. Although, not a tropical animal, it can be adapted
for tropical use.
Ass

Ibakasi

Bat

Adan -

A species of Bat

Means of transportation, and very energetic.

Od

Use as a substitute for bat, when needed

Pelican
y-Ofu
A species of bird, a large web-footed-fish-eating birds
with a very large bill and distensible gular pouch says, Marriam Websters
Collegiate Dictionary.
A species of Carnivorous animalfafa Edible.
A type of fish

jan Edible.

A-dog-like animal, stays on tree, with face down

Water-bird

Osin

wawa

Edible.

A type of snake known for its poisonous bitesa

A kind of fish resembling Mackerel

Edible.

Owere

Dove AdabaLoved for its gentility and docility. Simile for peace or a peaceful act.
Viper Paraml
A dangerous snake. Known for its deadly bites,
unnoticed/hidden appearance. Metaphor for deception or hidden personality.
Sea-Gulls

Pju-pju

Yellow-haired Monkey

Eats fish.
Smidlti/Oloyo

Edible.

Sea-Bird

Yanja-yanja Eats fish, very wild.

Mosquito

fn/Yanmu-yanmu

A species of Beetle Yanrinbo

Raveny-Iwo

Insect-carry disease.
The Mythical Tortoise wife.

Small, instinctingly wise bird.

Snail Igbin/Aginni
values.

Rich in protein has both the economic and the religious

Another species of Snail Iawuru

It represents goodness, prosperity and
success.It is sometimes used as a metaphor for a permanent action; or when an
irreversible decision/step is taken on an issue. For Yoruba will say, atipa ni
Isawuru n tile e. It means when Isawuru closes its door, no one can open it.
Stay Ak-Agbnrin, Igala
Source of meat, known for swiftness and agility.
Simile for swiftness, strength, accuracy, and power.

Steer gbr-Ak Malu Source of meat, power and strength.

Trout ja

Edible.

Wether, Castrated animalOgufe Edible, has economic value.

Buffalo
fn/Ede
Source of meat, unusually powerful, very wild,
dangerous, and lives in savannah. Horns valuable.
Monkey
Ape

Lives on tree, edible. Simile for stupidity, or foolishness.

dun Edible.

Lizard Alamu/Alangba, has no economic or social value.

Lobster

Alakasa

Boa-Constrictor

Ere

Sea food, highly nutritious.

Very big, dangerous, edible, but kills human as prey.

Boar ld-Igbo, Esi, Tuuku, or Imado. (Imado ibae bi ld, a ba lu j; bi ru

ba jba, ko ni ku nikan).Amazingly powerful, eats fruits, seeds and plants,
makes holes with mouth, kills human when attacked, but is edible. Use as a
metaphor for underprivileged and poor, whose condition in life later changes, but
forgets quickly. Instead, he becomes despotic, tyrannical and oppressive to those
who found themselves in his previously condition.
Gorilla, Baboon
Inaki, Inoki, Iro
Belongs to Monkey family, biggest and
black colored of all anthropoid apes, lives in a group called (troop); it has very
interesting social system. Edible.
Chimpanzee sa, Elegbede
Belongs to Monkey family, hefty, powerful, but
smaller to Gorilla. Chimpanzee lives in group called (troop), belongs to the same
class-anthropoid Ape; edibile.
Phython-Constrictor
Ojola Full grown is about 30 feet long, it can swallow
prey alive; lives close to river, lays egg for reproduction.
Electric Fish Ojigi Edible.
Scorpion
Ojogan/Akeekee
Very deadly; it stings and its poison can kill, if
there is no immediate medical attention.
Toad Knk Edible.
Antelope

Egbin Edible, and simile for beauty.

Tick/Flee
Eegbn
Bloodsucking insect, co-habit with dog, cow and other
domestic animals. Metaphor for parasite, laziness; and for individual that
depends on others for daily survival.
Hippopotamus
ErinmiVery powerful and big animal, a riverine horse; kill for
meat, and its skin. Has big head and mouth, thick gray skin, with short legs.

Rhinoceros ranko bi Imado. In the same category with Hippo, extremely

powerful, lives close to water, eats plants, except, it has one or two upright
keratinous horns on snout. It has gray skin with little hair, but can kill human,
when attacked.
Reynard (Fox)
for deception.

Klkl

Looks like dog, eats live fowls, use as metaphor

Hyena/Wolf Ikoko Wild animal which kills goat, sheep as prey. It is known for its
howling sounds. Hyenas live and hunt in packs (group). Wolf looks like dog, a
metaphor for a fierce, rapacious, wicked and destructive person.
Giraffe
Agbanrere Known for its long neck (between 7 and 12 feet long);
peaceful animal. Sleeps for less than four hours in a day; always alert to dangers
from predators such as: lion, tiger, and leopard.
Cow

Abo-Malu

Source of meat, milk; has economic.

Crab Akan Sea-food, rich in protein.

Wild Pigeon Oriri
Porcupine

Oor, Eer, Ojigbn

A kind of Green Wild Pigeon

garrulous or chatty person.
Black-Ants

Tanpp

A variety of bird
Centipede

Orofo, A talkative bird, use metaphorically for

Found on Palm-tree date, carries painful sting.

Tangala

Tanisanko

Edible.

Stings and painful

Millipede
kun Known for its several legs. Crawls, metaphor for someone that
is very slow.
Frog pl No economic value, not edible. Use metaphorically for something of
no value.
Young fowl

Orom-Adi Food for hawks. Simile for the weak.

Nocturnal Animal Ajao Animal that has the features of bird and mammals.
Metaphor for things or persons with multiple or several identities.
Hound

Aja-d

Elephant

Erin/Ajanaku

(Ajanaku ki n bi rara; m ti ya ba bi ya ni n j).

The biggest land
mammal, weighs between 5 and 10 tons; extremely powerful; tusk from it has

economic value. Symbol for power and strength. Use as metaphor to justify
action carried out to show or to demonstrate courage, bravery, and to cover up
evil; even when such action will have adverse effect on others.
SheepAguntan
Source of meat, has social, religious and economic value.
Simile for peacefulness, submissiveness, yieldingness, meekness, gentleness,
humility.
Ram Agbo Male sheep, source of meat, has religious value; has very strong
horns stuck to forehead. Horn has medical value. It is used as metaphor, when
two equals are struggling/competing for recognition or dominance in/within the
same territory.
Woodcock Agbe One of the three birds, use metaphorically, to express a deep
loss; or to express enviable position. Valued for its dark/dye color. Yoruba will say
Agbe lo laro; Aluko lo losun; Lekeleke lo lefun.
A species of Woodcock
color (Osun).

Aluko Second of the three birds; valued for it cam wood

White-feathered Bird
Lekeleke
Third in the class of metaphoric birds.
Symbolizes purity, holiness, and cleanness.

Chamelon ga, Alagm

Belongs to the class of reptile; not edible,
mercurial; use metaphorically to represent unreliable person.
Crane-Bird

Ak

Parrot Odidr
Ostrich

Talkative bird. Simile for garrulous.

Ogongo

Largest bird about eight feet tall.

White-Ant Ikan, Ikamudu

Very destructive ants live in a molehill. Metaphor
for a destructive person, or act.
Tortoise
Yanrinbo.

Ijapa Known for tricks, and deceptions. The mythical husband of

Tiger kun ( Ekun a bija wara. Yi y kun bi tojo k)

The biggest known cat
in the wild , extremely powerful and ferocious; it symbolizes agility, strength,
courage and fearlessness. A full grown Tiger is about 12 feet long from the head
to the tip-end of its tail, and weighs between 650-800 pounds. It is a solitary
animal, and highly territorial. It roars, but not as strong, not as poweful as lion. It
traces and looks for female through urine track for mating. Average life span in
the wild is fifteen years, in captivity, 18 to 20 years.

Lion Kiniun Oloola-Iju The king of jungle, a big cat that lives in group as a
pride. It represents royalty, power, strength, courage and ferocity. The pride has a
profound social system, which may have three full grown males, several female
relatives and cubs. Lion, especially the (lioness/female) does the hunting, eating
arrangement within pride follows the order-of-seniority. Generally, lions(males)
are lazy; they sleep for two-thirds part of a day, mate, and eat, if available.
Average life span in the wild is fifteen years, but in captivity is between 18 and 22
years. Lions are very territorial, at times territory overlap between cousins.
Large bird of Goose family

Ehuru -

Nightingale y -Olorin didun

Known for its beautiful songs.

Pigeon
yle (yle ko ni boni l j, ko bo ni le mu; ko yri ni j iku).
Loved for its loyalty to owner; metaphor for loyalty.
Pig/Swine
ld Source of fatty meat; highly valued for fertility; hates for dirt.
Simile for dirt, unkempt.
Eagle y-Idi
knowledge.

Valued for its powerful sight; metaphor for insight and

Guinea Fowl Awo

Like chicken, rich in protein.

Guinea Fowl tu

Like Awo, source of meat.

Guinea Pig

m-Ile

Source of meat.

Jelly-Fish

ja-Odo

Sea food.

A species of Bird

Afrgbojo/Afe-imojo

A brown feathered Bird lulu SpiderAlantakun(Owu Alantakun, ko s ni to le fi ran) Known for its complex
web design. Metaphor for impossibility. Owu Alantakun, ko se ni to le fi ranso.
Butterfly
Labalaba- (Laba-laba to ba digbolgun; A afa ya.). Which
means, when one behaves ignorantly and arrogantly, he suffers dire
consequences.
Insects with variety of color carry pollens from flower to
flower. Metaphor for act with dire or serious consequences.
Bee

Oyin Source of honey; stings, lives as swarm in beehive.

Cockroach

Ayan Domestic insect known for its destructiveness.

Cricket

Ir

Insect.

Crabs Akan Edible.

Housefly

Einin/Ein Disease carrying domestic insect.

Gnats Kokoro-Ojuti

Wall-Gecko mnle

Belongs to reptile, not edible.

A species of Deer Ekulu Edible.

Mouse

Eliri

Long Crested Bird Agufn

Colt Young Horse

Agodongbo For transportation.

Animal of Iguana class

A type of fish

Agility-

jan -

A kite-like fish with poison

A large she Goat

Ake

Ajibt

Edible.

Woodpecker Akoko Makes hole on tree trunk with its powerful beak.
A bird with Red Peak
Palm -Bird

ga

Apn -

Noisy and chatty. Simile for a noisy person or object.

A species of insect like Mosquito

A species of Horse Ira
Insect Ipin

Red-Ant

Abonilejpn

Civet-cat

ta

Emukuru

A sleepy animal. Metaphor for lazy and sleepy person.

Zebra Ktkt-Abila

Owl Owiwi A symbolic bird. It portends or (foreshadows) something imminent.

Although, many will dispute this reasoning scientifically, and put forward, share
coincidence. However, this has been Yorubas belief for centuries.
Lice

Ina-Ori

Bed-bug

Idun

Bloodsucking insect.
Bloodsucking insect.

Leopard
Amtkun Animal in cat family has dark spot; carnivorous, strong,
deadly and ferocious. It is used as a metaphor to denote un-change personality
or something constant.
Hind Abo-Agbnrin

Source of meat.

Cat
Ologinni
Sneaky, eats flesh; domestic, but can become wild. Has a
metaphoric use for individual who has sneaky personality.
Turkey

Tolotolo

Swallow

y-Alapandd

Kine

Abo-Malu

Good source of meat.

Source of meat.

Stallion

Ak-in

Gadfly

Iru, Einin- N la

Duck Ppy

Strength, power and royalty.

Causes sleeping sickness.

Source of meat. Metaphor for parental guidance.

A species of Black-Ant.

Aladi This insect build its house on the stem of a tree.

Jackal Akata/Ajako Edible. Has a metaphoric use for when one does something
unauthorized; or when goes beyond (his/her) legal/social limits.