Àbíkú: A Yoruba concept of Reincarnation

by | Jan 30, 2025 | Baba Onigba | 4 comments

A fading child's spirit walking into a dense forest, symbolizing the Abiku cycle. The child appears translucent, with a ghostly glow, slowly dissolving into the misty trees. The forest is dark and mystical, with eerie light filtering through the branches. Traditional Yoruba spiritual symbols, such as calabashes and sacred markings, are subtly placed in the background, adding to the supernatural theme.

Àbíkú – who or what in Yorùbá culture?

The concept of Àbíkú holds rich cultural and philosophical significance. Though this article may not fully capture its deep depth, it aims to provide a foundation for understanding. For those unfamiliar with Yorùbá culture, Àbíkú is a phenomenon referring to children believed to be in a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. It can be compared to the concept of reincarnation as understood in Hindu philosophy, where human existence is seen as a continuous cycle of death and rebirth.

Although the Yoruba philosophy surrounding Àbíkú differs significantly from Hindu beliefs in its causes, interpretations, and spiritual implications, they share the same view of existence as a cyclical journey of life and death.

Àbíkú children – Stop them while they are young

In Yorùbá society, there is a belief in the phenomenon of àbíkú, which refers to children who are born and die repeatedly. This belief has to do with their deep understanding of the occurrence. Among the Yorùbá people, the occurrence of Àbíkú is believed to be linked to a series of factors, such as witchcraft, hereditary influences, or the actions of a pregnant woman, like setting out on a hot, sunny afternoon or very late at night. It is also believed that if a pregnant woman goes to fetch water from the river during late hours, it could contribute to the occurrence of Àbíkú. 

Children who die and are reborn are referred to as àbíkú. If a child is born into a family, dies, and is reborn, only to die again, this cycle continues and is referred to as the child being àbíkú. When a child dies and is reborn, elders often perform certain rituals to prevent the child from dying again. Among the practices often associated with àbíkú children are:

i. Burning the child’s corpse:

This practice is believed to prevent the child from returning to die again. It is thought that if the body is burned, the child’s spirit will not be able to reunite with its peers in the afterlife, which would stop the cycle of death and rebirth.

ii. Beating the child’s corpse: 

Another ritual involves beating the body of the deceased child. The idea is that the physical punishment of the corpse will somehow prevent the child from returning to life.

iii. Throwing the body into the forest without burial

This is another method used to stop àbíkú children from returning. The child’s body is discarded in a forest without any formal burial rites, which is believed to prevent the spirit from re-entering the cycle of death and rebirth.

iv. Throwing the child’s body into a river

Elders believe that if a child who has been àbíkú dies and is thrown into a river, the spirit will be carried away, and the child will not be able to return. The flowing water is thought to carry the spirit far away, ensuring that the child will not be reborn.

A mystical Yoruba child standing near a river with an eerie, supernatural aura. The child has glowing eyes and traditional tribal marks, dressed in tattered yet ethereal clothing. The background features a dense forest with mist rising from the river, creating a mysterious atmosphere. In the distance, a village elder is seen performing a ritual by the riverbank, surrounded by ritual items such as calabashes and white cloths. The scene evokes the spiritual cycle of Abiku in Yoruba folklore.

v. Placing the child in a pit that is not deep

In this practice, the body is placed in a shallow grave, which is believed to prevent the spirit from lingering near the family and coming back to life. If the body is not deeply buried, it is thought that evil animals or spirits may interfere, preventing the child’s spirit from finding peace.

vi. Scratching the body with a knife or other sharp object

This practice is used to prevent the child from coming back. The idea is that by marking or injuring the body, it will prevent the àbíkú child from returning, because the scars will make it impossible for the spirit to reunite with its former companions.

Aside from those previously mentioned, another way the Yoruba people attempt to prevent the death of an abiku child is by giving them specific names known as Abiku names. Here are popular abiku names;

10 popular Àbíkú names in Yorubaland

    1. Dúrójayé: This means “may the child wait to live.” It signifies the hope that the child will survive and live a full life.
    2. Málọmọ́: This means “may the child not leave again.” It is synonymous with “may the child not die again.”
    3. Kòkúmọ́: The parents use this name to express their faith that the child will not die again.
    4. Dúrósinmí: This means “may the child wait and bury their parents.” It reflects the desire for the child to stay alive and to witness the death of the parents.
    5. Dúrooríkẹ̀ẹ́: Parents use this name to appeal to the abiku child to stay, so they can nurture the child properly and to receive the care the child deserves.
    6. Ikúkọ̀yí: This name signifies a declaration that death has no claim over this child, expressing the parents’ faith that death will not touch the child.
    7. Kọ̀sọ́kọ́: Parents often give this name to advise the child that no matter what, the child must not die because there is no hoe to dig to bury them.
    8. Ọ̀kọ́ya: Similar to Kọ̀sọ́kọ́, this name means “the hoe to laid the child to rest if he/she die, has tore” urging the child to be cautious and avoid death.
    9. Mákùú: This name is a direct plea for the child not to die, as it literally means “do not die.”
    10. Ìgbẹ́kọ̀yìí: This refers to a belief that the forest, which symbolizes a place where the child is to be buried, rejects the child’s death, signifying that the child will not be claimed by death.

Àbíkú in popular culture

    1. Ogunde’s Àbíkú play
    2. Abiku by J.P Clark and Wole Soyinka
    3. Debo Kotun Abiku

Please feel free to add any Àbíkú names we committed in the comments section below.