ewi

Ewi is a traditional Yoruba form of oral poetry from the Yoruba-speaking regions of southwestern Nigeria and parts of Benin. The term Ewi is often translated as “poem” or “song” in Yoruba, and it designates a lyrical, performative genre within Yoruba oral literature. Ewi shares affinities with oriki, the broader praise-poetry tradition, but is typically understood as a distinct mode that can encompass praise, lament, narration, and social commentary.

Performance and form

Ewi is usually delivered by a bard or chanter, sometimes accompanied by percussion such as drums. The performance emphasizes rhythmic speech, melodic intonation, and call-and-response interactions with the audience. Elegant use of metaphor, proverbs, and repetition is common, and the tradition often situates the speaker in relation to kings, ancestors, or communal events.

Themes

Common themes include kingship and governance, historical remembrance, morality and social criticism, love and personal experience, and the expression of cultural identity. Ewi can serve as praise of rulers, as a vehicle for political or social critique, or as a vehicle for lament and warning.

Origins and evolution

Ewi emerges from long-standing Yoruba oral traditions that circulated in courts, markets, and communities. It has evolved with urbanization and contact with other literary forms, and it continues to adapt in contemporary settings, including universities, festivals, and modern performance spaces.

Relation to other forms

Oriki is a closely related praising tradition, but ewi is often treated as a broader, more narrative or commentary-driven genre. In practice, distinctions can vary among performers and communities.

Contemporary usage

Today, ewi remains an important cultural expression within Yoruba communities and is studied in literary and ethnographic contexts. It also appears in modern poetry, music, and theatre, reflecting both continuity and innovation in Yoruba oral arts.