ágba

Ágba, written in Yoruba as Àgbà, is a term used in Yoruba-speaking communities to denote an elder or an older person. It functions as a respectful designation for someone with age and experience and can appear as a social title, in proverbs, and in names. The word reflects a cultural emphasis on age, wisdom, and authority in many West African societies.

Linguistically, Àgbà is a two-syllable word in Yoruba orthography, with tone marks indicating its proper pronunciation. When diacritics are omitted, it is commonly rendered as Agba. The term is widely used across Yoruba-speaking regions in Nigeria and Benin and has cognates or related forms in neighboring languages.

Usage of Àgbà includes addressing or referring to an elder with deference in everyday conversation, as well as appearing in titles associated with leadership or familial lineage. In some contexts, it can designate a person of respected status within a community or family, and it may be found in phrases that emphasize mentorship, guidance, or governance by elders.

In contemporary settings, the term remains common in formal speech, literature, and in names—both given names and surnames—within West African communities and the diaspora. The anglicized form Agba is frequently used in international contexts where diacritics are not employed.

See also: Yoruba language, Elders, West African social structures.