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{{Short description|Calendar used by the Yoruba people}}
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{{Orisa-Ifá sidebar|Topics}}
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The '''Yoruba calendar''' (''Kojoda'') is a calendar used by the [[Yoruba people]] of southwestern and north central [[Nigeria]] and southern [[Benin]]. The calendar has a year beginning on the last moon of May or first moon of June of the Gregorian calendar. The new year coincides with the [[Ifá]] festival
The '''Yoruba calendar''' (''Kọ́jọ́dá'') is a calendar used by the [[Yoruba people]] of southwestern and north central [[Nigeria]] and southern [[Benin]]. The calendar has a year beginning on the last moon of May or first moon of June of the Gregorian calendar. The new year coincides with the [[Ifá]] festival.


The traditional Yoruba week has four days. The four days that are dedicated to the [[Orisha|Orisa]] go as follow:
The traditional Yoruba week has four days. The four days that are dedicated to the [[Orisha|Orisa]] go as follow:


* Day 1 is dedicated to [[Obatala]] (Sopanna, Iyaami, and the Egungun)
* Day 1 is dedicated to [[Obatala]], Sopona, [[Iyami Aje]], and the [[Egungun]]
* Day 2 is dedicated to [[Orunmila]] (Esu, Ifá and Osun) *
* Day 2 is dedicated to [[Orunmila]], [[Eshu|Esu]], and [[Osun]]
* Day 3 is dedicated to [[Ogun]] (Osoosi)
* Day 3 is dedicated to [[Ogun]] and [[Oshosi]]
* Day 4 is dedicated to [[Shango|Sango]] (Oya)
* Day 4 is dedicated to [[Shango|Sango]] and [[Oya]]


To reconcile with the Gregorian calendar, [[Yoruba people]] also measure time in seven days a week and four weeks a month. The four-day calendar was dedicated to the Orisas and the seven-day calendar is for doing business.
To reconcile with the Gregorian calendar, [[Yoruba people]] also measure time in seven days a week and four weeks a month. The four-day calendar was dedicated to the Orisas and the seven-day calendar is for doing business.


The seven days are: Ọjọ́-Aiku ([[Sunday]]), Ọjọ́-Aje ([[Monday]]), O̩jọ́-Iṣẹgun ([[Tuesday]]), Ojo-Irú ([[Wednesday]]), Ọjọ́-Bo̩ ([[Thursday]]), Ọjọ́-E̩tì ([[Friday]]) and O̩jọ́-Àbamé̩ta ([[Saturday]]).
The seven days are: Ọjọ́-Àìkú ([[Sunday]]), Ọjọ́-Ajé ([[Monday]]), O̩jọ́-Ìṣẹ́gun ([[Tuesday]]), Ọjọ́rú ([[Wednesday]]), Ọjọ́bo̩ ([[Thursday]]), Ọjọ́-E̩tì ([[Friday]]) and O̩jọ́-Àbamé̩ta ([[Saturday]]).


Time (Ìgbà, àsìkò, àkókò) is measured in ìṣẹ́jú-àáyá (seconds), ìṣẹ́jú (minutes), wákàtì (hours), ọjọ́ (days), ọ̀sẹ̀ (weeks), oṣù (months) and ọdún (years).
Time is measured in iṣeju (minutes), wakati (hours), ọjọ́ (days), o̩sẹ̀ (weeks), oṣu (months) and o̩dun (years). There are 60 (ọgọta) iṣẹju in 1 (ookan) wakati; 24 (merinlelogun) wakati in 1 ọjọ́; 7 (meje) ọjọ́ in 1 ọsẹ̀; 4 (mẹrin) ọsẹ̀ in 1 oṣu and 52 (mejilelaado̩ta) ọsẹ̀ in 1 (ookan) o̩dun. There are 12 (mejila) oṣu in 1 (ookan) ọdun.

There are 60 seconds (ọgọ́ta ìṣẹ́jú-àáyá) in 1 minute (ìṣẹ́jú kan); 60 minutes (ọgọ́ta ìṣẹ́jú) in 1 hour (wákàtì kan); 24 hours (wákàtì mẹ́rìnlélógún) in 1 day (ọjọ́ kan); 7 days (ọjọ́ méje) in 1 week (ọ̀sẹ̀ kan); 4 or 5 weeks (ọ̀sẹ̀ mẹ́rìn tàbí márùn-ún) in one month (oṣù kan); 52 weeks (ọ̀sẹ̀ méjìléláàádọ́ta), 12 months (oṣù méjìlá), and 365 days (ọjọ́ mẹ́rìndínláàádọ́rinlélọ́ọ̀ọ́dúnrún) in 1 year (ọdún kan).


==Calendar examples==
==Calendar examples==


“KỌ́JỌ́DÁ” - 'Ki ọjó̩ dá: may the day be clear(ly foreseen), calendar'.
The Yoruba traditional calendar is called “KỌ́JỌ́DÁ” 'Kí ọjọ́ dá,' meaning: may the day be clearly foreseen.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!KṒJṒDÁ 10057/ CALENDAR 2014-2015
!KỌ́JỌ́DÁ 10053(2053CE)/ CALENDAR 2011-2012
|-
|-
|'''ÒKÙDÚ 10053''' / June 2011
|'''ÒKÙDÚ 10053(2053CE)''' / June 2011
|-
|-
|'''ȮSĖ''' || 91st || 1st || 2nd ||3rd || 4th || 5th || 6th || 7th || 8th || 9th
|'''Ọsẹ̀''' || 91st || 1st || 2nd ||3rd || 4th || 5th || 6th || 7th || 8th
|-
|-
|'''O̩jó̩-Ṡàngó /Jakuta''' || || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9 || 10
|'''Ọjọ́-Ṣàngọ́/Jàkúta''' || || 2 || 6 || 10 || 14 || 18 || 22 || 26 || 30
|-
|-
|'''O̩jọ́-Ȯrùnmílá /Ìfá / Awo''' || || 11 || 12 || 13 || 14 || 15 || 16 || 17 || 18 || 19
|'''Ọjọ́-Ọ̀rúnmìlà/Ifá''' || || 3 || 7 || 11 || 15 || 19 || 23 || 27 ||
|-
|-
|'''Ọ́jọ́-Ògún''' || || 20 || 21 || 22 || 23 || 24 || 25 || 26 || 27 || 28
|'''Ọjọ́-Ògún''' || || 4 || 8 || 12 || 16 || 20 || 24 || 28 ||
|-
|-
|'''Ọjọ́-O̩bàtálá''' || 1 || 29 || 30 || || || || || || ||
|'''Ọjọ́-Ọbàtálá''' || 1 || 5 || 9 || 13 || 17 || 21 || 25 || 29 ||
|-
|-
|}
|}
The traditional Yoruba calendar ('''Kọ́jọ́da''') has a 4-day week and 91 weeks in a year.
The traditional Yoruba calendar ('''Kọ́jọ́dá''') has a 4-day week, 7-week month and 13 months in a year. The 91 weeks in a year added up to 364 days.
The Yoruba year spans from 3 June of a Gregorian calendar year to 2 June of the following year.
The Yoruba year spans from 3 June of a Gregorian calendar year to 2 June of the following year.
According to the calendar developed by Remi-Niyi Alaran, the Gregorian year {{CURRENTYEAR}} AD is the {{formatnum:{{ordinal|{{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}}+8042}}}}}} year of Yoruba records of time.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160324223145/https://www.ralaran.com/documents/fawa/yorubakojoda2011_2012.pdf YÒRÚBA KỌ́JỌ́DÁ 10053]</ref>{{Verify credibility|date=May 2020}} With the British colonial and European cultural invasions, came the need to reconcile with the [[Gregorian calendar]]: Yoruba people also measure time in seven days a week and 52 weeks a year.
According to the calendar developed by Remi-Niyi Alaran, the Gregorian year {{CURRENTYEAR}} AD is the {{formatnum:{{ordinal|{{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}}+8042}}}}}} year of Yoruba records of time.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160324223145/https://www.ralaran.com/documents/fawa/yorubakojoda2011_2012.pdf YÒRÚBA KỌ́JỌ́DÁ 10053(2053CE)]</ref>{{Verify credibility|date=May 2020}} With the British colonial and European cultural invasions, came the need to reconcile with the [[Gregorian calendar]]: Yoruba people also measure time in seven days a week and 52 weeks a year.
{| class="wikitable"
!KỌ́JỌ́DÁ 10053 / Calendar 2011–2012
|-
|'''ÒKÙDÚ 10053''' / June 2011
|-
|'''O̩SẸ̀''' || Week || 22nd || 23rd || 24th || 25th || 26th
|-
|'''o̩jọ́-Àíkú''' || Sunday || || 5 || 12 || 19 || 26
|-
|'''o̩jọ́-Ajé''' || Monday || || 6 || 13 || 20 || 27
|-
|'''o̩jọ́-Ìṣẹ́gun''' || Tuesday || || 7 || 14 || 21 || 28
|-
|'''o̩jọ́-Rírú''' || Wednesday || 1 || 8 || 15 || 22 || 29
|-
|'''o̩jọ́-Bo̩''' || Thursday || 2 || 9 || 16 || 23 || 30
|-
|'''o̩jọ́-E̩tì''' || Friday || 3 || 10 || 17 || 24 ||
|-
|'''o̩jọ́-Àbámẹ́ta''' || Saturday || 4 || 11 || 18 || 25 ||
|-
|}


==Calendar terminologies==
==Calendar terminologies==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!ȮSĖ in Yoruba calendar || Day in [[Gregorian calendar]]
!ỌSẸ̀ in Yoruba calendar || Day in [[Gregorian calendar]]
|-
|-
|'''Ọjọ́-Àíkú''' || Sunday
|'''Ọjọ́-Àìkú''' (Day of Immortality) || Sunday
|-
|-
|'''Ọjọ́-Ajé''' || Monday
|'''Ọjọ́-Ajé''' (Day of Wealth/Money) || Monday
|-
|-
|'''Ọjọ́-Ìṣẹgun''' || Tuesday
|'''Ọjọ́-Ìṣégun''' (Day of Victory) || Tuesday
|-
|-
|'''Ọjọ́-Irú''' || Wednesday
|'''Ọjọ́rú''' (Day of Confusion & Disruption) || Wednesday
|-
|-
|'''O̩jọ́-Bọ́''' || Thursday
|'''Ọjọ́bọ̀''' (Day of Rituals) || Thursday
|-
|-
|'''O̩jó̩-Ẹtì''' || Friday
|'''Ọjọ́-Ẹtì''' (Day of Postponement & Delay) || Friday
|-
|-
|'''Ọjọ́-Àbámẹ́ta''' || Saturday
|'''Ọjọ́-Àbámẹ́ta''' (Day of the Three Suggestions) || Saturday
|}
|}


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Oṡu in Yoruba calendar || Months in Gregorian calendar
!Oṣù in Yoruba calendar || Months in Gregorian calendar
|-
|-
|'''ÒKÙDÚ''' || June
|'''Òkúdù''' || June
|-
|-
|'''AGḖMṐ''' || July
|'''Agẹmọ''' (Month of the [[Agemo]] Festival of the Ijebus) || July
|-
|-
|'''ÒGÚN''' || August
|'''Ògún''' (Month of the òrìṣà [[Ogun|Ògún]] and Ogun festivals) || August
|-
|-
|'''OWḖWḖ''' || September
|'''Ọwẹ́wẹ̀''' or '''Owewe''' || September
|-
|-
|'''Ọ̀wàrà''' or '''Ọ̀wààrà''' (Month of the many [[Shower (precipitation)|Rain Showers]]) || October
|'''ṐWAWA''' || October
|-
|-
|'''BḔLU''' || November
|'''Bélú''' || November
|-
|-
|'''ṐPḖ''' || December
|'''Ọ̀pẹ''' (Month of the Palm Tree) || December
|-
|-
|'''ṠḔRḔ''' || January
|'''Ṣẹrẹ''' || January
|-
|-
|'''ÈRÉLE''' || February
|'''Èrèlé''' (Month of Blessings of the Home) || February
|-
|-
|'''ḔRḔNA''' || March
|'''Ẹrẹ́nà''' || March
|-
|-
|'''IGBE''' || April
|'''Igbe''' (Month of Proclamation) || April
|-
|-
|'''Ẹ̀bìbì''' (Month of the Ẹ̀bìbì festival of the Ìjẹ̀bú) || May
|'''ḔBÍBÍ''' || May
|}
|}


==Worship of the Òrìṣà in specific months ==
==The year in festivals==


===Ṣẹrẹ/January===
Note: since there are thirteen months in the Youruba calendar, the relation between the Gregorian and Yoruban months is approximate only.
* Dedicated to [[Obatala]]


===Èrèlé/February===
Ajȯdun Yoruba
* Dedicated to [[Olokun|Olóòkun]] = [[Orisha|Òrìṣà]] of òkun, the deep seas or oceans, patron of sailors, and guardian of souls lost at sea.
Èrèlé/Feb 21-25


===Sere/ January===
===Ẹrẹ́nà/March===
* Annual rites of passage for men
[[Obatala]]
Ẹrẹ́nà/March 12 – 28


* Dedicated to [[Oduduwa]] "Iyaagbe," Òrìṣà of Earth and matron of the Ayé (the world), father of the Yoruba people
===Erele / February===
Ẹrẹ́nà/March 15 – 19
[[Olokun|Olokún]] = [[Orisha|Oríṣà]] of Okún, the deep seas or oceans, patron of sailors, and guardian of souls lost at sea.
Erele/Feb 21-25


* Also dedicated to [[Oxossi|Ọ̀ṣọ́ọ̀sì]] = Òrìṣà of Adventure and the hunt
===Erénà / March===
Ẹrẹ́nà/March 21 – 24:
Annual rites of passage for men
Èrèna/March 12 – 28


===Igbe/April===
[[Oduduwa]] (odudu, the dark pigment; ni ewa, is the beauty) / Iyaagbe (iya, mother; agbe, who receives) = Oríṣà of Earth and matron of the Ayé. Oduduwa endows the ebony dark skin pigment that accords greatest gifts of spirituality, beauty and intellect to the bearer. The essence of procreative love.
* Onset of rainy season
Èrèna/March 15 – 19


===Èbìbí/May===
[[Oxossi|Oshosi]] = Oríṣà of Adventure and the hunt
* Dedicated to [[Egungun|Egúngún]] (Commemoration of the Ancestors, including community founders and illustrious dead).
Èrèna/March 21 – 24:


===Igbe / April===
===Òkúdù/June===
* June 3: Onset of the Yoruba New Year ({{currentyear}} is the {{formatnum:{{ordinal|{{#expr:{{currentyear}}+8042}}}}}} year of Yoruba culture). [[Orunmila|Ọrúnmilà]] / Ifá = Òrìṣà of Divination and custodian of the [[Ifa|Ifá]]. It includes a Mass gathering of the Yoruba in the city of [[Ile-Ife|Ife]], regarded as the center of creation.
Onset of wet season (Spring)
* [[Sopona]] - Òrìṣà of Disease and smallpox, also known as [[Babalu-Aye|Obaluaye]]. Ṣọ̀pọ̀na is also the word for [[smallpox]] disease.
* [[Osanyin|Ọ̀sanyìn]] - Òrìṣà of Plants, magic, Medicine, and patron of the healing professions
* Òkúdù 10 - 23: Annual [[rites of passage]] for women
* Òkúdù 18 - 21: [[Yemaja|Yemoja]] = mother of the Òrìṣà, Òrìṣà of fertility, women, and water).


===Èbìbí / May===
===Agẹmo/July===
* Agẹmo: first and second weeks in July
Egungun (Commemoration of the Ancestors, including community founders and illustrious dead.
Èbíbí: starts last Saturday of May, for 7 days

===Okudu / June===
* June 3: Onset of the Yoruba New Year ({{currentyear}} is the {{formatnum:{{ordinal|{{#expr:{{currentyear}}+8042}}}}}} year of Yoruba culture). [[Orunmila|Ọrúnmilà]] / Ifá = Oríṣà of Divination and founder of the Ifá sciences, whose divination is with 16 palm nuts. Mass gathering of the yoruba
* Shopona (Oríṣà of Disease, shopona, [[small pox]] is a viral disease) and Osanyin (Oríṣà of Medicine and patron of the healing professions: osan, afternoon; yin, healing)
* Okudu 10 - 23: Annual [[rites of passage]] for women
* Okudu 18 - 21: [[Yemaja|Yemoja]] = matriarch of the Òrún-Rere). Oduduwa gave birth to a boy Aganju (Land) and Yemoja (Water) from marriage to Ọbàtala. Yemoja in turn birthed many other Oríṣà.

===Agẹmo / July===
Agẹmo: first and second weeks in July
Oko (Agriculture) Harvesting of the new Yam crop.
* Oko (Agriculture) - Harvests & worship of the Òrìṣà of Farming [[Oko (orisha)|Oko]]


Ẹlégba-Bara (Ẹlégba, one who has power to seize) / Eṣu (shu, to release eject from; ara, the body) = Oríṣà of male essence and Power, who is the great Communicator and messenger of the will of Olódùmarè. No woman should bara (ba ra, to rub with, have intercourse with) a man who has not done Ikola ([[circumcision]]: ike, cutting; ola, that saves) in sacrifice to Ẹlégba.
* Dedicated to [[Eshu|Èṣù]] "Ẹlégba" - one who has power to seize. He is the great Communicator and messenger of the will of Olódùmarè.
Agẹmo second weekend of July


* Dedicated to [[Shango|Ṣàngó]] "Jakuta" - the Òrìṣà of Energy, àrá (Thunder), and Mànàmáná/Mọ̀nàmọ́ná (lightning)
Ṣàngo (shan, to strike:/ Jakuta:ja, fight; pẹlu okuta, with stones). The Oríṣà of Energy – Ara (Thunder) and Manamana, make fire (Lightning) whose divination is with 16 cowries and whose messenger and water-bearer is Oshumare (the Rainbow).
Agẹmo: third week of July


===Ogun / August===
===Ògún/August===
* The annual Ọ̀ṣun-Òṣogbo festival occurs in August
Oṣun-Oṣogbo
[[Oṣun]] = Oríṣà of Fertility and custodian of the female essence. who guides pregnancies to term.
* Dedicated to Ọ̀ṣun - Òrìṣà of Fertility and custodian of the female essence who guides pregnancies to term.
Ogun: last weekend of August


[[Ogun]] = Oríṣà of the metal and war crafts, and engineering. The custodian of truth and executioner of justice, as such patron of the legal and counselling professions who must swear to uphold truth while biting on a piece of metal.
* Dedicated to [[Ogun]] - Òrìṣà of iron/metals (i.e. a [[Blacksmith|smith]]), war crafts, hunting, technology and engineering. The custodian of truth and executioner of justice, as such patron of the legal and counselling professions who must swear to uphold truth while biting on a piece of metal. (last weekend of August)

===Òwéré / September===
It is the month in which festivals are being celebrated and a month of blessing. It celebrates how Yoruba is a rich culture.

===Ọwara / October===
[[Oya]] (Orísà of the odo Oya ([[river Niger]]) whose messenger is Afefe (the Wind), and guardian of gateway between the physical realm (Aye) and the spiritual realm (Òrún).
Ọwaro
Ọwaro third weekend of October


===Ọwẹ́wẹ̀ or Owewe/September===
Onset of the dry season (Autumn)
* It is the month in which festivals such as New Yam Festivals, are being celebrated and it is a month of blessing. It celebrates how Yoruba is a rich culture.


* September 8th the day of mama oshun
Shigidi (Orísà of Òrún-Apadi, the realm of the unsettled spirits and the ghosts of the dead that have left Aye and are forsaken of Òrún-Rere. Custodian of nightmares and patron of assassins.
Solemn candlelight to guide the unsettled away from your residence, else they settle in your dolls or other toys.


===Ọ̀wàrà or Ọ̀wààrà/October===
===Bèlu / November===
* Ọ̀wàrà refers to the intense rain [[Shower (precipitation)|showers]] that occur during the month
* Dedicated to [[Oya]] (Òrìṣà of the [[river Niger]] whose is the guardian of gateway between the physical realm (Aye) and the spiritual realm (Òrún).
* Also dedicated to Ṣìgìdì - Òrìṣà of Òrún-Apadi, the realm of the unsettled spirits and the ghosts of the dead that have left Aye and are forsaken of Òrún-Rere (Heaven).
* Also the onset of the dry season


===Òpé / December===
===Belu/November===
Obaluaye (Oríṣà of Ṣòwò (Commerce) and owo (wealth).
Òpé 15


===Ọ̀pẹ/December===
Onset of the second dry season ([[winter solstice]])
* Dedicated to [[Babalu-Aye|Ọbalúayé]] (Òrìṣà of disease & healing).
* Onset of the [[Harmattan|Harmattan Season - "Ọyẹ́"]]


==References==
==References==
Line 198: Line 167:


{{DEFAULTSORT:Yoruba Calendar}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yoruba Calendar}}
[[Category:Yoruba|Calendar]]
[[Category:Yoruba culture|Calendar]]
[[Category:Specific calendars]]
[[Category:Specific calendars]]

Latest revision as of 12:18, 13 May 2024

Part of a series on
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The Yoruba calendar (Kọ́jọ́dá) is a calendar used by the Yoruba people of southwestern and north central Nigeria and southern Benin. The calendar has a year beginning on the last moon of May or first moon of June of the Gregorian calendar. The new year coincides with the Ifá festival.

The traditional Yoruba week has four days. The four days that are dedicated to the Orisa go as follow:

To reconcile with the Gregorian calendar, Yoruba people also measure time in seven days a week and four weeks a month. The four-day calendar was dedicated to the Orisas and the seven-day calendar is for doing business.

The seven days are: Ọjọ́-Àìkú (Sunday), Ọjọ́-Ajé (Monday), O̩jọ́-Ìṣẹ́gun (Tuesday), Ọjọ́rú (Wednesday), Ọjọ́bo̩ (Thursday), Ọjọ́-E̩tì (Friday) and O̩jọ́-Àbamé̩ta (Saturday).

Time (Ìgbà, àsìkò, àkókò) is measured in ìṣẹ́jú-àáyá (seconds), ìṣẹ́jú (minutes), wákàtì (hours), ọjọ́ (days), ọ̀sẹ̀ (weeks), oṣù (months) and ọdún (years).

There are 60 seconds (ọgọ́ta ìṣẹ́jú-àáyá) in 1 minute (ìṣẹ́jú kan); 60 minutes (ọgọ́ta ìṣẹ́jú) in 1 hour (wákàtì kan); 24 hours (wákàtì mẹ́rìnlélógún) in 1 day (ọjọ́ kan); 7 days (ọjọ́ méje) in 1 week (ọ̀sẹ̀ kan); 4 or 5 weeks (ọ̀sẹ̀ mẹ́rìn tàbí márùn-ún) in one month (oṣù kan); 52 weeks (ọ̀sẹ̀ méjìléláàádọ́ta), 12 months (oṣù méjìlá), and 365 days (ọjọ́ mẹ́rìndínláàádọ́rinlélọ́ọ̀ọ́dúnrún) in 1 year (ọdún kan).

Calendar examples

[edit]

The Yoruba traditional calendar is called “KỌ́JỌ́DÁ” 'Kí ọjọ́ dá,' meaning: may the day be clearly foreseen.

KỌ́JỌ́DÁ 10053(2053CE)/ CALENDAR 2011-2012
ÒKÙDÚ 10053(2053CE) / June 2011
Ọsẹ̀ 91st 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
Ọjọ́-Ṣàngọ́/Jàkúta 2 6 10 14 18 22 26 30
Ọjọ́-Ọ̀rúnmìlà/Ifá 3 7 11 15 19 23 27
Ọjọ́-Ògún 4 8 12 16 20 24 28
Ọjọ́-Ọbàtálá 1 5 9 13 17 21 25 29

The traditional Yoruba calendar (Kọ́jọ́dá) has a 4-day week, 7-week month and 13 months in a year. The 91 weeks in a year added up to 364 days. The Yoruba year spans from 3 June of a Gregorian calendar year to 2 June of the following year. According to the calendar developed by Remi-Niyi Alaran, the Gregorian year 2024 AD is the 10,066th year of Yoruba records of time.[1][unreliable source?] With the British colonial and European cultural invasions, came the need to reconcile with the Gregorian calendar: Yoruba people also measure time in seven days a week and 52 weeks a year.

Calendar terminologies

[edit]
ỌSẸ̀ in Yoruba calendar Day in Gregorian calendar
Ọjọ́-Àìkú (Day of Immortality) Sunday
Ọjọ́-Ajé (Day of Wealth/Money) Monday
Ọjọ́-Ìṣégun (Day of Victory) Tuesday
Ọjọ́rú (Day of Confusion & Disruption) Wednesday
Ọjọ́bọ̀ (Day of Rituals) Thursday
Ọjọ́-Ẹtì (Day of Postponement & Delay) Friday
Ọjọ́-Àbámẹ́ta (Day of the Three Suggestions) Saturday
Oṣù in Yoruba calendar Months in Gregorian calendar
Òkúdù June
Agẹmọ (Month of the Agemo Festival of the Ijebus) July
Ògún (Month of the òrìṣà Ògún and Ogun festivals) August
Ọwẹ́wẹ̀ or Owewe September
Ọ̀wàrà or Ọ̀wààrà (Month of the many Rain Showers) October
Bélú November
Ọ̀pẹ (Month of the Palm Tree) December
Ṣẹrẹ January
Èrèlé (Month of Blessings of the Home) February
Ẹrẹ́nà March
Igbe (Month of Proclamation) April
Ẹ̀bìbì (Month of the Ẹ̀bìbì festival of the Ìjẹ̀bú) May

Worship of the Òrìṣà in specific months

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Ṣẹrẹ/January

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Èrèlé/February

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  • Dedicated to Olóòkun = Òrìṣà of òkun, the deep seas or oceans, patron of sailors, and guardian of souls lost at sea.

Èrèlé/Feb 21-25

Ẹrẹ́nà/March

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  • Annual rites of passage for men

Ẹrẹ́nà/March 12 – 28

  • Dedicated to Oduduwa "Iyaagbe," Òrìṣà of Earth and matron of the Ayé (the world), father of the Yoruba people

Ẹrẹ́nà/March 15 – 19

Ẹrẹ́nà/March 21 – 24:

Igbe/April

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  • Onset of rainy season

Èbìbí/May

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  • Dedicated to Egúngún (Commemoration of the Ancestors, including community founders and illustrious dead).

Òkúdù/June

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  • June 3: Onset of the Yoruba New Year (2024 is the 10,066th year of Yoruba culture). Ọrúnmilà / Ifá = Òrìṣà of Divination and custodian of the Ifá. It includes a Mass gathering of the Yoruba in the city of Ife, regarded as the center of creation.
  • Sopona - Òrìṣà of Disease and smallpox, also known as Obaluaye. Ṣọ̀pọ̀na is also the word for smallpox disease.
  • Ọ̀sanyìn - Òrìṣà of Plants, magic, Medicine, and patron of the healing professions
  • Òkúdù 10 - 23: Annual rites of passage for women
  • Òkúdù 18 - 21: Yemoja = mother of the Òrìṣà, Òrìṣà of fertility, women, and water).

Agẹmo/July

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  • Agẹmo: first and second weeks in July
  • Oko (Agriculture) - Harvests & worship of the Òrìṣà of Farming Oko
  • Dedicated to Èṣù "Ẹlégba" - one who has power to seize. He is the great Communicator and messenger of the will of Olódùmarè.
  • Dedicated to Ṣàngó "Jakuta" - the Òrìṣà of Energy, àrá (Thunder), and Mànàmáná/Mọ̀nàmọ́ná (lightning)

Ògún/August

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  • The annual Ọ̀ṣun-Òṣogbo festival occurs in August
  • Dedicated to Ọ̀ṣun - Òrìṣà of Fertility and custodian of the female essence who guides pregnancies to term.
  • Dedicated to Ogun - Òrìṣà of iron/metals (i.e. a smith), war crafts, hunting, technology and engineering. The custodian of truth and executioner of justice, as such patron of the legal and counselling professions who must swear to uphold truth while biting on a piece of metal. (last weekend of August)

Ọwẹ́wẹ̀ or Owewe/September

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  • It is the month in which festivals such as New Yam Festivals, are being celebrated and it is a month of blessing. It celebrates how Yoruba is a rich culture.
  • September 8th the day of mama oshun

Ọ̀wàrà or Ọ̀wààrà/October

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  • Ọ̀wàrà refers to the intense rain showers that occur during the month
  • Dedicated to Oya (Òrìṣà of the river Niger whose is the guardian of gateway between the physical realm (Aye) and the spiritual realm (Òrún).
  • Also dedicated to Ṣìgìdì - Òrìṣà of Òrún-Apadi, the realm of the unsettled spirits and the ghosts of the dead that have left Aye and are forsaken of Òrún-Rere (Heaven).
  • Also the onset of the dry season

Belu/November

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Ọ̀pẹ/December

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References

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  1. ^ YÒRÚBA KỌ́JỌ́DÁ 10053(2053CE)
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