Oríkì includes both single praise names and long strings of “attributive epithets” that may be chanted in poetic form. According to the Yoruba historian Samuel Johnson, oriki expresses what a child is or what he or she is hoped to become. If one is male, a praise name is usually expressive of something heroic, brave or strong. If one is female, the praise name may be a term of endearment. In either case, the Reverend Johnson said that it was intended to have a stimulating effect on its bearer.
Because of the variety of performance modes, oríkì defies classification as music or poetry, and it has been studied from both perspectives. Historically, oríkì was delivered by a specialist in a particular vocal style. For example, ìjálá is acoustically open and intense, while ewì is spoken in a high-falsetto, wailing voice quality. According to Waterman, “The words that placate gods and drive kings to suicide are made more potent by the patterning of timbre, texture, pitch, and rhythm.” According to Vidal, Yorùbás have oríkì for “almost everything.
1. Àkànbí- It means one that is consciously or deliberately born.
2. Àlàbí– It means one born to the white cloth – a child of piety and reverence.
3. Àyìnlá- A child meant to be praised, feted, and disciplined.
4. Àjàní- Yoruba Oriki name meaning a child we fought for to have. It is a name given to a son that is valued and cherished because of the victory fought and overcame to have him.
5. Àdìsá – The literal meaning of this Oriki is one bundled up and spread to dry.
6. Àjàdí- Yoruba Oriki name meaning the end of a conflict.
7. Àkànní– It means one that is special to have.
8. Àlàní– It means one we survived to have.
9. Àyìndé – Meaning one who arrives when praised.
10.Àdìgún – It means the perfectionist.
11.Àkàndé Àgàn – Yoruba Oriki name meaning favourite of the prince.
12. Àjàlá– It means the one who has fought and survived.
13. Àkàndé- It means one who purposefully came.
14. Olùkó Àròkọ: Ọgbẹni Ọlárewájú Senge Dáúdà.
15. Atunke – One who would continually be taken care of
