“Ilé là ń wò ká a tó sọmọ́lórúkọ́” it is believed in the Yorùbá society that a child’s name should connote such child background, which can be as a result of circumstances surrounding his or her birth, family occupation, deity or family belief among others.
Using Culturalism theory as pedestrian of analysis Jens-Martin and Fredrik (2009) points out that:
“Culturalism is the idea that individuals are determined by their culture, that these cultures form closed, organic wholes, and that the individual is unable to leave his or her own culture but rather can only realise him or herself within it”.
The name Dúró’oríkẹ̀ẹ́ is indisputably an ancient Yorùbá name which can be categorized under Orúkọ Àmútọ̀runwa (names that comes with situations around child birth), the name just like Táyé, Ìlọ̀rí, Àìná, Babárímisa among others are names which are not just determined by the child’s parents or family but by situations surrounding such child birth.
The term Dúró’oríkẹ̀ẹ́ has passed through some phonological transition before being, that is not the concern of this piece but the meaning it connotes.
Dúró’oríkẹ̀ẹ́ epistemologically denotes “wait let’s pamper you”
Dúró= Wait, Stay, endure, be patient etc,
Pending on the state of usage, while
Ríkẹ̀ẹ́ (Rí ìkẹ́) = to see care, to be pampered, to be cater for, etc.
The name is assigned to a child believed to be element of reincarnation (Àbíkú). The Yorùbá believe that “Orúkọ ọmọ ni ìjánu ọmọ ( the child’s name controls his/her character), names like Dúró’oríkẹ̀ẹ́ is belief to serve as plea to their Orí and Ẹgbẹ́ to let go of the child to the parents for earthly care and pampering.
Hence, other Yorùbá proverbs also points to the the importance of names like Dúró’oríkẹ̀ẹ́ such proverbs as “Orúkọ ọmọ ni ń romọ” it is believed that the child’s name serves as a motivating factor for such child.
In conclusion, name is a significant phenomenon to the Yorùbá people, they are more concerned about it meaning, significance and relevance before naming their children as such.
Olúkúnlé J. Ọláyínká
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