After chatting with a Chinese student who is considering joining my school next semester, I can safely say that I am not the only one who became interested in learning Yoruba following repeated encounters with this language in books by Nigerian authors, either in the form of dialogues, italicized words, or – yes – character names.

Understanding Yoruba names and dialogues in English langage fiction is usually not necessary to enjoy reading but it can sometimes enrich the experience. It’s part of what makes langage learning so engaging to me!

 

The Alao children’s names explained

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, Lola Shoneyin‘s debut novel, is a brilliantly caustic tale of family drama. The story revolves around Baba Segi’s household, composed of himself, his four wives and seven children :

From the eldest child to the youngest, he called them by their names : Segi and Akin, a daughter before a son, from his first wife ; Tope, Afolake and Motun, three girls born eleven months apart, from the second ; and Femi and Kole, sons smugly birthed by Iya Femi, his third wife. (excerpt from chapter 1)

Have you ever wondered what Baba Segi’s children’s names meant ?

Sẹ̀gi is short for Sẹ̀gilọlá (sẹ̀gi.ni.ọlá). Sẹ̀gi is an expensive type of bead and the name means « Sẹ̀gi is wealth ». Incidentally, this is also the name of the narrator in what is considered to be the first novel in Yorùbá, Itan Igbesi-Aiye Emi Segilola, published as a series of 30 instalments in Akede Eko in 1930. The abbreviated name Sẹ̀gi could also stand for Sẹ̀giladé (sẹ̀gi.ni.adé) « Sẹ̀gi is crown / head ».

Akin means « warrior, brave man »

Tọpe is short for Tèmitọpe (tèmi.tọpe) « Mine / my situation deserves gratefulness »

Afọlákẹ́ (a.fi.ọlá.kẹ́) « the one pampered with wealth »

Motún is a short form of Motúnráyọ̀ (mo.tún.rí.ayọ̀) « I have experienced joy again »

Fẹ́mi is the shortened version of Olúwafẹ́mi (Olúwa.fẹ́.mi) « God loves me »

Kọlé is from Kọlédowó (kọ.ilé.de.owó) «Build a house in anticipation of wealth »

Unfortunately, the fourth and youngest wife Bọlánlé (Bá.ọlá.ní.ilé “the one that met wealth in the house”) has failed to give birth to a child. A new addition to the family, Bọlánlé stands out because of her somewhat more priviledged social background and her university education.

The aptly named retired police officer

In search of a solution to his misfortune, Baba Segi finds himself at a dingy bar where he meets up with a callous retired police sergent, the aptly named Ọláọ̀pá (ọlá.ọ̀pá « the benefit/wealth/glory of the baton »). The name is interesting also because it rhymes with the Yoruba translation of “policeman”: Ọlọ́pàá (the wielder of the baton). This is a name given to them because of how colonial police officers always went about with batons instead of firearms.

Throughout the novel, various characters express their perception of Bọ́lánlé’s social status. In the passage in question, language is put forward as a marker of class by Ọláọ̀pá:

Atanda ! You want to land Baba Segi in jail ? Who would dare to drag a graduate ? When she opens her mouth and English begins to pour from it like heated palm oil, the constable will be so captivated, he will throw our friend behind bars!

Though Ọláọ̀pá is but a secondary character in the novel, I found his boisterous ways endearing. Here is a respected man in the community, husband to four wives, boasting about his manly performance and yet we come to understand just how saddled with insecurities he is when faced with the case of the “graduate wife”.

Can you translate the names of your favourite fictional characters?

---

Photo credit: “Ibadan” by Dassiebtekreuz on Wikipedia. CC BY 2.5  License.