20 Yorùbá Riddles and Their Surprising and Exciting Meaning
Yorùbá language, apart from being one of the few poetic languages in the world, has deep and rich other layers to its uses, aside its primary function of communication. The Yorùbá language come to its own, when its use in the cultural evening entertainment art of oral storytelling known as “Àlọ́”
There are two types of Àlọ́: Àlọ́ Àpamọ̀ the riddle style storytelling where the storyteller poses a riddle, and the listener responds to the teller with an answer. Àlọ́ Àpamọ̀ tends to be short, sharp and quick. Àlọ́ Àpagbe, the second storytelling type is much longer format, with the storyteller doing the telling.
This article brings you 20 popular Àlọ́ Àpamọ̀, known in English as Yoruba riddles.
20 Yorùbá Riddles and Their Meaning
- Bàbá kúkúrú wọ ẹ̀wù irin. Kí ni o?
Translation: A short old man wears an iron garment. What is it?
Answer: Èkùrọ́ (Palm kernel)
Explanation: When you try to crack a palm kernel with a stone and it pops out, it makes a sound like iron.
- Mo su ìmí ràbàtà, mo da ewé ràbàtà bò ó o. Kí ni o?
Translation: I did a lot of faeces and covered it with a big leaf. What is it?
Answer: Ọ̀run àti Ilẹ̀ (The sky and the earth)
Explanation: The Yoruba compare the earth to faeces that spread endlessly and the sky to the leaf that covers it. - Ọ̀pá tín-ín-rín kanlẹ̀, ó kan ọ̀run. Kí ni o?
Translation: A tiny rod touches the ground and the sky. What is it?
Answer: Òjò (Rain)
Explanation: The “tiny rod” refers to the drops of rain that fall from the sky. The rain drops to the ground (touches the earth) but also comes from the sky, thus metaphorically connecting both. - Kí ló kọjá níwájú ilé Ọba tí kò kí Ọba?
Translation: What passes in front of the king’s palace without greeting the king?
Answer: Àgbàrá (The Erosion)
Explanation: In Yorùbá land, no one will pass the front of the Kings palace without paying homage to the king, but erosion moves over the land, including in front of the king’s palace, without paying any respect or greeting to the king, just like erosion continues without stopping. - Kí ló bá Ọba jẹun tí kò kó ewé?
Translation: What dines with the king but does not pick leaves?
Answer: Eṣinsin (Flies)
Explanation: The riddle plays on the contrast between flies and human, while flies will have a taste of and elders food without assisting in the packing of leaves, human has to.
Have you heard the Yoruba reincarnation-like belief about people who died and were reborn? It is called Abiku. You can find our article on Abiku here. - Kí ló kan Ọba níkòó?
Translation: What touches the king’s body but does not hurt him?
Answer: Abẹ (Blade)
Explanation: The blade will touch the king’s body while barbing, and no human deet touch a king head in Yorùbá land - Tíṣà jábọ́, ọmọ ilé-ìwé fọ́nkán.
Translation: The teacher falls, and the students break their slates.
Answer: Odi ẹyìn (Palm fruit bunch)
Explanation: The “teacher” falling refers to the moment when the bunch of palm fruits is harvested or falls to the ground. The students breaking their slates refers to the numerous fruits or seeds in the bunch, which break apart once the palm fruit bunch hits the ground, scattering the individual fruits. - A ránmọ nígbó Rẹ́mọ, òkè Ìjẹ̀bú mì tìtì.
Translation: A child is sent to the Remo forest, and the Ijebu hills shake continuously.
Answer: Ìbọn (A Gun)
Explanation: When a gun is fired, the sound travels far and wide, much like the shaking of hills. The metaphor here compares the distant sound of the gunshot to the shaking or reverberation of the hills. - À ń gúnyán, ajá ń jó. Kí ni o?
Translation: We are pounding yam, and the dog is dancing. What is it?
Answer: Ọmú (The breast)
Explanation: This refers to the action of the breast moving when a person is pounding yam. - Ilé bọ́ìsì, kìkì imí ẹran. Kí ni o?
Translation: The room of young men, all is just full of goat faeces. What is it?
Answer: Ìbẹ́pẹ (Pawpaw)
Explanation: The “goat faeces” refers to the appearance of the seeds of a pawpaw which are often dark and resemble small droppings, much like goat faeces.Have you heard the Yoruba reincarnation-like belief about people who died and were reborn? It is called Abiku. You can find our article on Abiku here.
- Mò ń lọ, ó kọjú sí mi, mò ń bọ̀, ó kọjú sí mi. Kí ni o?
Translation: I go, it faces me. When I return, it still faces me. What is it?
Answer: Ìlú Gángan (Gángan drum)
Explanation: No matter where you go, the Gangan drum (a theYorùbá talking drum with two faces) seems to face you. - Òmìrán dúdú, ojoojúmọ́ là ń ta á láyà o.
Translation: A giant giant, we hit its chest.
Answer: Ilẹ̀kùn (Door)
Explanation: The “giant” refers to a door, which can be large and heavy. The “hitting its chest” refers to pushing the door to open. - Mò ń lọ, ó funfun, mò ń bọ̀, ó pupa. Kí ni o?
Translation: I go, it is white. When I return, it is red. What is it?
Answer: Àkàrà Bean cake)
Explanation: Bean cake mixed is always white before it is fried and reddish brown after being fried. - Awẹ́ obì kan, àjẹdỌ́yọ̀ọ́.
Translation:A piece of kolanut, but can sustain you to eat as far has Ọ̀yọ́.
Answer: Ahọ́n (The tongue)
Explanation: The tongue, like a kola nut, is essential for communication and helps you talk through any distance, metaphorically helping you reach as far as the city of Ọ̀yọ́. - Àkùkọ bàbá mi kan láíláí, àkùkọ bàbá mi kan làìlàì, owó ló ń jẹ, kì í jẹ àgbàdo o.
Translation: My father’s rooster eats money but does not eat corn.
Answer: Ilé-ẹjọ́ (Court)
Explanation: This refers to the court, where people spend money on legal matters.
Have you heard the Yoruba reincarnation-like belief about people who died and were reborn? It is called Abiku. You can find our article on Abiku here.
- Ìkòkò dúdú fẹ̀yìn ti igbó.
Translation: A black pot rests its back by the forest.
Answer: Ìgbín (A Snail)
Explanation: The snail, with its dark, curved shell, resembles a “black pot.” Its shell also metaphorically “rests” or sits in nature, much like a pot placed by the forest. - Aṣọ baba mi kan láíláí, aṣọ baba mi kan làìlàì, ẹ̀gbẹ́ ló ti máa ń ya kì í ya láàrin.
Translation: My father’s cloth has never torn in the middle; only the edges.
Answer: Odò (A river or stream)
Explanation: The edges of a river or stream dry, but not the middle the middle remains wet. - Tówẹ́nù tỌ́lọ́run fọ̀ kò lè gbẹ láíláí. Kí ni o?
Translation: A towel that God washes can never be dry forever. What is it?
Answer: Ahọ́n (The tongue)
Explanation: The tongue is constantly wet due to saliva. No matter how much you try to dry it, it will always be moist. - Àwọn ọmọ ìyá mẹ́ta kan wà, wọ́n ń lé ara wọn ṣùgbọ́n wọn ò lè bá ara wọn.
Translation: Three siblings are chasing each other but can never meet.
Answer: Ọwọ́ fáànù (The blades of a fan)
Explanation: The blades of a fan move continuously but never meet in a way. - Ọmọgé tín-ín-rín sunkún wọgbó.
Translation: A thin child cries into the forest.
Answer: Ìbọn (A gun)
Explanation: The fire of bullets into the forest is like a cry of a gun.
Have you heard the Yoruba reincarnation-like belief about people who died and were reborn? It is called Abiku. You can find our article on Abiku here.
Understanding the Essences of The Yorùbá Riddles
Yorùbá riddles, known as Àlọ́ Àpamọ̀ in the Yorùbá language, are a significant part of the Yorùbá oral tradition. These riddles are short, puzzling statements or questions that challenge the mind to think creatively in order to arrive at the correct answer. They are often metaphorical and require one to think outside the box. This makes them an important form of entertainment, education, and social interaction within Yorùbá communities.
The structure of Yorùbá riddles typically involves a description of an object, action, or phenomenon, where the answer is often concealed through imagery or wordplay. They can be about everyday life, animals, nature, or cultural practices and are often used in various settings, such as festivals, ceremonies, or casual conversations.
Like folktales and other moonlight plays, riddles are told at night, usually led by an elder who knows many riddles. The elder asks questions to the children to test their critical thinking. If a child answers correctly, they are applauded, but if a child misses the answer, the elder will pass the question to another child. If none of the children can answer, the elder would say, “Ẹ sọ pé kún-ún-ùn,” which means “Say kùn-ún-ùn.” Once the children say it, the elder would jokingly say, “Mo fi ìmí àjà rẹ́ ẹ yín lẹ́nu bẹ́rẹ́kẹ́tẹ́” meaning “’I spread the dog’s dung wide around your mouth” After this playful remark, the elder would reveal the correct answer.”
Have you heard the Yoruba reincarnation-like belief about people who died and were reborn? It is called Abiku. You can find our article on Abiku here.
Yoruba riddles are passed down through generations as part of oral storytelling traditions. They serve as a way to preserve the language and culture even as they hone the intellectual and social skills of younger generations. Solving riddles requires knowledge of language, culture, and the ability to make connections between seemingly unrelated things.
Do we omit any riddles that you know? Please feel free to drop it in the comment session.
Have you heard the Yoruba reincarnation-like belief about people who died and were reborn? It is called Abiku. You can find our article on Abiku here.