Ìwé

Ìwé is the Yoruba word for a book or bound written work. It denotes any printed or handwritten volume that contains text, including novels, textbooks, diaries, manuscripts, and religious scriptures. In everyday Yoruba, the term can refer to a single volume or to books in general. In standard Yoruba orthography, the word is written as Ìwé, with diacritics that mark tone.

Orthography and usage are central to the term. Yoruba uses the Latin script with diacritics to indicate tonal distinctions, and Ìwé reflects this system. The word can appear in compound forms to specify the type of book, such as Ìwé ìtàn for a history book or Ìwé Mímọ́ for a holy or sacred book like the Bible. The broad sense of ìwé encompasses educational materials, religious texts, and personal records alike.

Cultural and practical significance is evident in Yoruba-speaking communities. Books in Yoruba contribute to literacy, language standardization, and the preservation and transmission of knowledge, history, and proverbs. Public and private libraries, schools, and religious institutions use Yoruba books to support learning and cultural continuity.

In the modern era, the concept of ìwé extends to digital formats and e-books, with Yoruba-language publishers producing literature, educational materials, and media accessible online. The term remains a fundamental part of Yoruba lexicon for discussing literature, education, and documentation, and it appears in literature, media, and discourse across West Africa and in Yoruba-speaking diasporas.