Our working theory is that Yoruba men get inspiration for their sweet-talking abilities from their daddies鈥 social circles.
These men have the most-hilarious nicknames for their friends, and the monikers add a certain spice to the bromance. Your Yoruba daddy definitely has a friend or two that goes by these names.
Ojii (pronounced or-ji)
This is the comedian of the group. He knows how to crack everyone up and is always the life of the party.
Isalu
Is your daddy even Yoruba enough if he doesn鈥檛 have an Isalu in his friend group? Isalu is the custodian of history in the circle.聽
The law
He needs no introduction. He鈥檚 the one friend that shows up late to every function because he鈥檚 too busy settling court cases. He鈥檚 also always available to give free legal counsel.
Oloye
This is the one friend that has a connection to the royal family but isn鈥檛 quite certain of his ascension to the throne.聽 He wears his beads and bracelets to every function.
Doki
Usually the family doctor, Doki knows the medical history of everyone. He also gets special treatment at family functions because he鈥檚 often watching his weight or what he consumes.
Wadee (pronounced way-de)
He鈥檚 the street-smart guy in the group. He often makes comments like 鈥淭his your child is not sharp鈥, but no one takes offence because he always comes through when there鈥檚 trouble.
Alagba
He鈥檚 the Christian spiritual father of the group. Only makes appearances at important functions like weddings, naming ceremonies and round-figure birthdays.
Yalufa
He鈥檚 the Muslim spiritual father of the group. He shows up at every function but never takes a drop of alcohol.
Alhaji
Alhaji is a businessman who doubles as a polygamist. He鈥檚 often the butt of jokes like 鈥淎h, Alhaji, is that a bottle of stout I see in your front?鈥 The other guys tease him because he鈥檚 been on Holy Pilgrimage but doesn鈥檛 adhere to the Islamic laws of avoiding alcohol.
Colonel
He鈥檚 the retired military official that doesn鈥檛 take nonsense; not from his friends, definitely not from their children.
