The Awori Tribe is a sub-group of the Yoruba ethnic group of Nigeria. They speak a distinct dialect of the Yoruba language. The people are traditionally found in Ogun and Lagos States of Nigeria. Major cities and towns where they are found include Isheri, Ota, Igbesa, Ilobi, Tigbo, Iddo, Idumota, Badagry and so on.
The people originate from Ile-Ife just like every other Yoruba people. It was said that Oduduwa (founder of the Yorubas) gave Olofin, also known as, Ogunfunminire (founder of the Awori) a mud plate and instructed him to place it on the water and follow it until it sank in the river.
Several days after leaving Ile-Ife with his followers, the plate suddenly stopped at Olokemeji near present-day Abeokuta. After seventeen days, it began moving again only to stop at Oke-Atu for 17 days. After another 17 days, it stopped at Isheri, where it remained for a much longer time, but after 289 days (17 x17) the mud plate began moving again. It stopped briefly at Iddo and finally at Idumota Lagos where it whirled around in the water and sank to the bottom.
The people got their name here when their people asked their leader about the whereabouts of the plate. He replied ‘’Awo Ti Ri’’ meaning ‘’The Plate has sunk’’.
The Awori people speak a distinct North-West Yoruba dialect of Yoruboid languages that belong to the larger Niger-Congo language group. The Awori, as a sub-group, possess a distinguished dialect. Their language is the low and slurred dialect of the Yoruba language. They are bilingual as they speak Yoruba, Ogun, and Edo (Bini) languages.
The people practice traditional religion asides Christianity and Islamic religions. They consult the oracle (Ifa); a way of speaking to their god.
The people engage mostly in fishing and farming. Those that live in the coastal areas of Lagos are fishermen. The farmer cultivates food crops such as maize, yam, cassava, plantain and so on. The development of industries in some of their lands has made some of them concentrated in industry.
Oro, Egungun, and Gelede festivals are the major festivals in their land. Awori sons and daughters return home to celebrate these festivals just like Christmas and Sallah celebrations. Masquerades are a major part of their tradition; Ogogo Kulodo, Eyo masquerades are popular among the people.
View Comments
Aworis do not speak Bini language in any way shape or form. I can categorically tell you that, both my parents or grandparents never spoke Bini neither did anyone spoke Bini in Ota, Igbesa, or Agbara and Otto when I used to visit during holidays in the 60s and 70s. I can even speak some sentences in Awori dialect myself which I picked up then.
Thank you for this insight. The thing is you can not rule out trade relations between communities - language is what facilitates them. The Aworis had to learn the Bini language to interact with the Bini people.