Traditions of Oyotunji, Yorùbá Village in America

Traditions of Oyotunji, Yorùbá Village in America

In Oyotunji, land ownership is tied to marriage. Land is not sold but given based on one’s needs. To acquire land, a man must marry and submit a petition to the Oba, who then grants the land. Expansion requires additional wives. More wives and children lead to more land being granted for continuous building.

Residents of Oyotunji must adhere to Yoruba etiquette. There is no moral system but an etiquette system that outlines expected behaviors. The ethics of Oyotunji require that one “dobale” (prostrate) before elders or “tesile” (touch the ground and kiss the hand) as a sign of respect.

Traditional Yoruba attire is mandatory. Foreign clothing is generally not permitted, though jeans and dashikis are accepted. Women are not allowed to wear pants. Visitors wearing tight dresses are covered with a cloth by the village women, in accordance with cultural laws.

Fighting is prohibited in Oyotunji. If a fight occurs, the aggressor must pay a penalty. Persistent fighters are taken to the forest (igbo) to continue, after which the matter is considered resolved.

Each person must pay an assessment to the crown. Young boys and girls are not allowed to fraternize and date as in Western societies, which helps prevent teenage pregnancies. Men and women live in separate compounds, and at age 14, boys join the Akinkanju society (society of courage), while girls join the Egbe Moremi, inspired by the heroine Moremi.

Women in Oyotunji aspire to be like Moremi. The village upholds the laws and rules of their Yoruba culture.