Oriki is a kind of Yoruba literary genre used to inspire people. It is usually in the form of poetry, consisting of songs of praise. Oriki can also take the name form as well. One must learn, memorize, and be able to chant the oriki of individuals and families. The Yorubas believe that a person's name relates to his/her spiritual essence, so they take their time giving names to their children. It's believed if you call a person by his/her oriki, it inspires them.
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