Proverb 52

Excerpt from A Discussion of 250 Deep Yoruba (African Proverbs.
By 
Alaba J. Babalola
Available Online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Jumia


PROVERB 52
It is the House that one considers before naming a child.

TEASER THOUGHTS
The Yoruba name as the embodiment of overall identity comprising heritage, orientation and purpose in life.

YORUBA ROOTS
Ile l'a nwo ka to s'ọmọ l’orukọ.

EXPLANATION / MEANING
This proverb needs a very good explanation.
Naming a child in the traditional Yoruba community is a serious business. First, it happens in a somewhat official ceremony which brings to the fore a very good amount of the people's religious beliefs and philosophy of life. Describing the naming ceremony is outside the scope of this work, suffice to say that the new born is formally welcome into the world with the sayings of abundant blessing as he or she is inducted and verbally exposed to the reality of intertwined good and evil that life is. The ceremony is replete with symbolism of life that mirrors our philosophical beliefs.
Ile, translated as house or home above means a lot more in this context. Ile here means not just the physical buildings that people live or the family - mother, father and children who live there. It means a lot more than the western meaning of a home, which connotes a happy and harmonious nuclear family. In addition it means the specific grand profile of the lineage (paternal) into which the child has been born. That grand profile must contain preoccupation such as religious leaning with emphasis on family deity worshipped by the lineage, family trade or source of livelihood as well as the social standing of the family in the society. Of great importance also is whether or not the child is born into nobility or a lineage of warriors, or musicians etc.
Now this is the point of the proverb. The grand profile of the lineage into which a child is born must be encapsulated in the meaning of the names given to the child at birth. The significant thing about that is that the given names not only stand as an apt or correct identity for the child as a human being and member of his community; it also serves as a constant reminder of "who he is", who he can become, and how he must preserve the good name of his family and lineage. In other words, a person's name stands to remind him of the foundation that his heritage offers for him to develop himself successfully as a human being.
Perhaps the most important reason for this culture is the belief that knowing the overall profile of a person which is derivable from the profile of his "ile" and having that person in homogeneity with it and his environment should help him find peace, harmony and well-being in his life and future.

MORE
The underlying philosophy within this proverb derives from how one must apply things in an appropriate way. For example only things that go together should be applied to each other or used together, so that there can be harmony of purpose and less awkwardness. It is believed that, by so doing, peace, happiness and good relationship with others are more achievable. Specifically, names chosen for a new born must have overall relevance to his heritage, circumstance of birth and hope for his future. Let's look at a more mundane example. If one is thinking of giving a gift to a person, one should consider first what item is appropriate in the circumstance. If one gives a gift of a wheelchair to a crippled person, that is quite an appropriate gesture, rather than giving the same person a gift of athletic training shoes. You have to consider the "house" first before giving the name. Ile la nwo, ka to s'ọmọ l'orukọ.

DEFINITIONS
Ile - House (N), or home - see a deeper definition under Explanation
Li - Is (V) - used in place of Ni - Is (V) - as abbreviated in "l'a"
A - We (PR) - A contraction of Awa (We Us)
Wo - To look (V), or to consider - Nasalized as in "nwo" 
Sọ -To name (V) e.g. a child
Ọmọ; - Baby or child (N) (The former is more appropriate in this context.
Orukọ - Name (N) - such as given at birth

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