Share a Line From Your Family’s Oríkì or Panegyric

In many African communities, family history was preserved through oral traditions such as praise poetry, cognomens and lineage recitations. These words often carried memories of ancestors, occupations, achievements and places of origin. In my own case, a line from both my maternal and paternal oríkì describes us as “Omo Atere tibon tibon,” which I understand as the child of a slim man who moved around with a gun. It suggests that some of my ancestors were hunters. I am from Ekiti, and my cognomen includes Omo Owa, Omo Ekun. Owa is associated with royalty in some Ekiti towns and Ilesha, while Ekun is linked to the early history of Akure. What line from your family’s oríkì, panegyric or pedigree do you know?

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