They are noted as being great craftsmen and farmers, and also developed on the West Africa's greatest empires (the �y� Empire). Their language belongs to the Kwa linguistic group, and over the years has incorporated English (b�coni for "balcony") and Arabic (�l�f�� for peace/good health) words.
Before the 19th Century, Yor�b� people didn't refer to themselves as "Yor�b�." The ethnic group is composed of several sub-groups, �y�, Ekiti, Ijesha, Egba and many, many others; people used to describe themselves as belonging to one of the sub-groups rather than the all-encompassing Yor�b�. The term itself is not of Yor�b� origin, but is a Hausa word that the Hausa used to describe their southern neighbors of �y� origin. When the Anglicans, however, came to spread Christianity in Nigeria they adopted the Hausa word and began using it to refer to all southwestern Nigerians with a language and overall culture similar to the �y� natives. Therefore the collection of sub-groups came to be known as the Yor�b� people.
The sub-groups have much in common like food, music and religion. While some have labeled the religion of the Yor�b� simply as "Yor�b� Religion" I would argue instead that there are several Yor�b� religions; each religion focuses on a central figure or Deity though they may all share common principles. There is the religion of If�, Og�n, �b�t�l�, �sh�n, Yem�ja, and many more of the 401 Deities in existence in Yor�b� belief.
Some areas are more prominent in the worship of certain Deities than others. For example, Oshogbo in �sh�n State is known for its worship of the River Deity �sh�n. Abeokuta, Og�n State is known for its worship of Yem�ja, the Deity of the Sea and Mother of Fish. �y� State is identified with Sh�ng�, the master of Thunder and former King of �y�. The worship of each of these Deities and all the others in the Yor�b� pantheon have different rules, and modes of worship. They have different festival dates, and intricate histories behind them.
Through the slave trade the Yor�b� who were once centralized in Nigeria, Benin and Togo began to spread to Ghana, Sierra Leone, and other nations in West Africa. In Benin and Ghana they are known today as Nago. In Sierra Leone they are called Aku. Outside of Africa, many Yor�b� were taken to Trinidad, Cuba, Brazil, Haiti and many other developing nations in the Western Hemisphere. They are known by a variety of names, among which are Nago (Haiti and Brazil) and Lukumi (Cuba). Wherever the Yor�b� have set foot, their tradition was able to thrive in a new land. Visit the links to see how Yor�b� culture manifested in the West, mainly Haiti, Cuba and Brazil.