Nago

Nago is a toponym and ethnonym used in different regions to refer to distinct things. The most widely known uses are a city in Japan and an ethnic group in West Africa.

Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, is a city located on the northern part of Okinawa Island along Nago Bay. It encompasses coastal and inland areas and has a climate and landscape typical of the region. The local economy includes agriculture, with pineapple farming playing a notable role, as well as tourism. Points of interest in or near Nago include Cape Manzamo, Busena Beach, and the Nago Pineapple Park, reflecting the area’s coastal scenery and tropical agriculture.

In West Africa, Nago refers to an ethnic group that is part of the Yoruba-speaking peoples. The Nago are found primarily in Benin and in neighboring areas where Yoruba-speaking communities are present. They speak the Nago language, a Yoruba-based language variety, and share cultural and linguistic ties with other Yoruba groups. The Nago have contributed to the region’s cultural diversity through traditional practices, music, and social organization influenced by Yoruba heritage.

The term Nago thus covers at least two distinct meanings: a Japanese city known for its coastal environment and agricultural tourism, and a West African ethnic and linguistic group within the broader Yoruba-speaking world.