Ogboni

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Yoruba Ògbóni.

Proper noun

Ogboni

1. A fraternal institution indigenous to the Yoruba-speaking polities of Nigeria, Benin and Togo, as well as among the Edo people. It performs a range of political, religious and judicial functions.

   Synonym: Osugbo

Yoruba

Etymology

From ògbóni, from ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ gbó (“matured, experienced”) +‎ ẹni (“people”), literally “The wise ones”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ò.ɡ͡bó.nĩ̄/

Proper noun

Ògbóni

1. (historical) In precolonial Yorubaland, a male secret society of chiefs that performed religious, judicial, and legislative functions, including the advising and checking of a monarch. They were also the main worshippers of the orisha Ẹdan, and in some towns, they were also the cult of the orisha Orò.
   • They consisted of three classes of chiefs, the Ògbóni in charge of administration, Pàràkòyì in charge of trade and commerce, and the Ológun, in charge of security and war, and their leaders were the Ìwàrẹ́fà.

   Synonym: Òṣùgbó (Ìjẹ̀bú)

   Synonym: ẹgbẹ́ Ògbóni

Derived terms

• ológbòóni (“A member of the Ogboni”)

Descendants

• English: Ogboni