The living archive of Yoruba praise poetry

Sing the names that made us.

Oriki passed down by lineage, town, and compound — recorded in the voices that still carry it, understood through transcription and translation, and kept for the people they name.

Open archive·Community-verified·Always free to listen
How it works

From a voice, to a legacy.

01

Record the voice

Capture a family, town, or lineage oriki in the voice that still carries it — right in your browser.

02

Add the words

Write the Yoruba transcription, an English translation, and what the praises mean.

03

Verified by elders

Community elders and reviewers authenticate recordings so the archive stays trustworthy.

04

Heard forever

Explore by town, family, and type; listen, save, and share the sacred words.

Three kinds of praise

Types of Oriki.

Lineage Oriki

Praise names of ancestry, origin, and inherited identity.

"Omo ile, omo orile, omo eni rere..."

Town Oriki

Praise names of towns, cities, rulers, and civic memory.

"Ibadan mayin, omo ajorunkunmosin..."

Family Oriki

Praise names held by families and recited across generations.

"Omo ade, omo owo, omo ile..."

Your family’s voice belongs here

Add a voice to the archive.

Record an elder, write down the words, and let their praise be heard for generations. It only takes a few minutes — and it’s free.

Start recording