| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by mikaeli01: 1:26am On Jan 19, 2020 |
I've been reading so many things some people wrote to try to correct but make errors themselves. It's not thier fault but rather than blame them I commend them, they are trying to show they know something about their race and culture. I will simply ask for the name of an animal that is called "Idagiri". If you know it then problem solved. The name Ekun is a general name used to refer the spotted and stripped big cats family such cheetah and leopard commonest in Africa. The professionals who name the animals are local hunters who categorised them based on their look, ability and behaviour. If you are in doubt about my what I put up here clear your doubt by interviewing as many Yoruba hunters as possible from different states with the picture of a leopard and cheetah then show them any other stripped cat such as tiger, lynx, jaguar, etc and record what name is called each one. GemUnique:
.
In the process of you tryna correct, there are errors
Owawa isn't cheetah (I suspect you got that info form Yorubablog)
Owawa (I don't know the English name, but certainly not Cheetah) is not even close to big cat family
not too small animal, has white furs that run from its back to tail, makes its sound at night.
You can ask a Yoruba Hunter if you wanna know more about it.
Tiger can't possibly have a Yoruba name as it's not found here in Nigeria.
What I think is Ekun and Ogidan are just Yoruba Adjectives which by time are used to qualify the Animal (Tiger) due to it's courage and Size
1 Like |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by nlPoster: 1:29am On Jan 19, 2020 |
aywhy93:
Read and comprehend. Millions of Yorubas resided in Africa and beyond Africa (other continents) over those years. Tigers are native to Asia, Yorubas were carried west. They wouldn't have encountered tigers in South or central America. If you're looking for Yorubas who went eastward, then that's where you should begin your search. |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by nlPoster: 1:31am On Jan 19, 2020 |
Niccoloimhotep:
proof to the fact that op is probably right I dont know where the confusion is coming from. Perhaps the nollywood adherents. Not saying nollywood isnt doing a good job, but many Nigerians take whatever they see there very seriously and regard it as fact. |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by HBB1(m): 1:33am On Jan 19, 2020 |
SonofDevil:
Tiger didn't exist in Nigeria ,so yoruba don't have word for it And Elephants exist in England?  2 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by nlPoster: 1:42am On Jan 19, 2020 |
History of Elephants in Europe (besides mammoths) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_elephants_in_EuropeThe first historically recorded elephant in northern Europe, the animal brought by emperor Claudius during the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43 Hansken, a female elephant from Ceylon that became famous in early 17th-century Europe, touring through many countries Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/24–79), called Pliny the Elder (/ˈplɪni/), was a Roman author, a naturalist and natural philosopher. . . of the early Roman Empire . . . . He wrote the encyclopedic Naturalis Historia (Natural History), which became an editorial model for encyclopedias. He spent most of his spare time studying, writing, and investigating natural and geographic phenomena in the field. From Pliny's Book on Terrestrial Animals
Pliny on Elephants
The elephant is the largest of all land animals. It remembers all the duties which it has been taught. It is sensible alike of the pleasures of love and glory, and to a degree that is rare among men even, possesses notions of honesty, prudence, and equity. They purify themselves by sprinkling their bodies with water; after which they return to the woods. When about to cross the sea, they cannot be prevailed on to go on board the ship until their keeper has promised on oath that they shall return home again.
Their teeth are very highly prized, and from them we obtain the most costly materials for forming statues.
Tusks of enormous size are constantly to be seen in the temples...
Africa produces elephants, they are found also in the countries of the Æthiopians and the Troglodytæ
Source: www 1 Like |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by Nature8(m): 1:45am On Jan 19, 2020 |
Venerable612:
This is wrong.
First off the name Amotekun has nothing to do physical semblance as such.
It literally translates - “one who knows as Ekun”.
Again, you are wrong that Yoruba doesn’t have a transalation for Tiger - because our fathers didn’t have an encounter with them.
In fact Tiger has two Yoruba names. It could be called OGIDAN or EKUN. That’s why they say this provide - “Ogidan o ni se Barber, ki aja de be lo ge irun”.
And “KAKA KI KINIUN SAKAPO EKUN, OLODE A MAA RODE.“ Mind you Lion in Yoruba is Kiniun. And no one will ever compare a Lion with a Leopard. No animal can stand the Lion grit for grit amongst the Cat Family other than the Tiger; hence, the comparison.
Also, when Yorubas jokingly refer to someone as Ekun - it’s to represent that the person is a Strong man.
Thus,
Lion - Kiniun
Tiger - Ogidan and Ekun
Leopard - Amotekun
Cheetah - Owawa.
Hope this helps.
Nice |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by macof(m): 1:46am On Jan 19, 2020 |
HBB1:
And Elephants exist in England? . Elephant is not an original English word Just as Rakumi (camel) is not an original Yoruba word Some have suggested Taiga for the Yoruba word for Tiger |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by 4X4: 1:55am On Jan 19, 2020 |
Amutokun means pussy cat � |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by nlPoster: 2:00am On Jan 19, 2020 |
4X4:
To me, Amotekun means pussy cat � |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by aywhy93(m): 2:06am On Jan 19, 2020 |
nlPoster:
Tigers are native to Asia, Yorubas were carried west. They wouldn't have encountered tigers in South or central America.
If you're looking for Yorubas who went eastward, then that's where you should begin your search. Don't misplace our priorities here, that is if it's possible for the Yorubas to have sighted Tigers to give it that name, Ekun. Your post is also based on assumptions. There are countless possibilities to that. Mind you, the yorubas didn't have to rear the tigers to name them, mere sighting is enough which is possible during their movement since the Tigers are not only in Asia, they've been sighted and recorded in some parts of Europe and other continents too. 1 Like |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by nlPoster: 2:20am On Jan 19, 2020 |
aywhy93:
Don't misplace our priorities here, that is if it's possible for the Yorubas to have sighted Tigers to give it that name, Ekun. Your post is also based on assumptions. There are countless possibilities to that. Mind you, the yorubas didn't have to rear the tigers to name them, mere sighting is enough which is possible during their movement since the Tigers are not only in Asia, they've been sighted and recorded in some parts of Europe and other continents too. You're referring to millions of Yorubas residing elsewhere. I assume you mean south and central America. There are no tigers in those areas. If you want to consider the possibility of Yorubas encountering tigers in ancient times, then your search should begin towards the eastern direction, not the west. If Yorubas encountered the now extinct tigers in the following link somehow: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_tigerthen there are possibly no records of that?  |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by apotek: 2:26am On Jan 19, 2020 |
Xisnin:
Wrong analysis.
Ekun is Tiger, an animal need not be local before having a local name and in science
parlance you don't rely on one evidence to make a conclusion.
Ekun gains its reputation by being ferocious and strong and even seen as a rival of the lion.
No person with knowledge of wildlife will compare a leopard to a lion in any way when an
an average lion could snap a leopard's neck if it got the chance.
Only the tiger can match a lion muscle for muscle and pound for pound. What is the yoruba name for bear? and kangaroo? |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by nlPoster: 2:31am On Jan 19, 2020 |
Is there any site that suggests names for animals that are not found in Nigeria or perhaps Africa. I guess the best way is simply to name them after the closest animal resembling them on the African continent. Eg penguin, bear, walrus, kangaroo, orangutan, armadillo.
Please let me know if there's anything like this currently online, I'd like to check it out.
Most of the reptiles and fish are pretty much almost the same across continents (generally speaking, not specifically), with a few distinctions here and there. The mammals and birds probably show more striking diversity. |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by akigbemaru: 2:40am On Jan 19, 2020 |
Venerable612:
This is wrong.
First off the name Amotekun has nothing to do physical semblance as such.
It literally translates - “one who knows as Ekun”.
Again, you are wrong that Yoruba doesn’t have a transalation for Tiger - because our fathers didn’t have an encounter with them.
In fact Tiger has two Yoruba names. It could be called OGIDAN or EKUN. That’s why they say this provide - “Ogidan o ni se Barber, ki aja de be lo ge irun”.
And “KAKA KI KINIUN SAKAPO EKUN, OLODE A MAA RODE.“ Mind you Lion in Yoruba is Kiniun. And no one will ever compare a Lion with a Leopard. No animal can stand the Lion grit for grit amongst the Cat Family other than the Tiger; hence, the comparison.
Also, when Yorubas jokingly refer to someone as Ekun - it’s to represent that the person is a Strong man.
Thus,
Lion - Kiniun
Tiger - Ogidan and Ekun
Leopard - Amotekun
Cheetah - Owawa.
Hope this helps.
|
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by Powersurge: 3:06am On Jan 19, 2020 |
Bigflamie:
What's this shi.t doing on front page and what's the usefulness of it's name to us?
Fvck these Nairaland mods for forcing shi.ts on our throat as if we all care about Yoruba language. Shut the Bleep up mofo!! 
|
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by Benwallt(m): 4:05am On Jan 19, 2020 |
Lie lie. Tigers were badly hunt down. Forefathers came in contact with them 1 Like |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by Benwallt(m): 4:15am On Jan 19, 2020 |
Venerable612:
This is wrong.
First off the name Amotekun has nothing to do physical semblance as such.
It literally translates - “one who knows as Ekun”.
Again, you are wrong that Yoruba doesn’t have a transalation for Tiger - because our fathers didn’t have an encounter with them.
In fact Tiger has two Yoruba names. It could be called OGIDAN or EKUN. That’s why they say this provide - “Ogidan o ni se Barber, ki aja de be lo ge irun”.
And “KAKA KI KINIUN SAKAPO EKUN, OLODE A MAA RODE.“ Mind you Lion in Yoruba is Kiniun. And no one will ever compare a Lion with a Leopard. No animal can stand the Lion grit for grit amongst the Cat Family other than the Tiger; hence, the comparison.
Also, when Yorubas jokingly refer to someone as Ekun - it’s to represent that the person is a Strong man.
Thus,
Lion - Kiniun
Tiger - Ogidan and Ekun
Leopard - Amotekun
Cheetah - Owawa.
Hope this helps.
The only advantage lions have over the tiger is that they are in pack but talk about brutal force a does not stand a chance against the tiger. That guy calling cheetah amotekun is on a long thing 1 Like |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by pacespot(m): 4:33am On Jan 19, 2020 |
hotwax:
Ajanaku was described to be dinosaurs...yet no record of dinosaurs in yoruba land...
pounder on that too They might have used the same name to describe more than one cat, how about panther? Which cat is called "ogidan"? Do you know that English language is more wordy than any language in the world? |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by Academicwizman(m): 5:02am On Jan 19, 2020 |
Instead of jubilating over a mere name, I think the focus should be on the composition of the Amotekun. The Yorubas are fond of playing to the gallery, playing on semantics and being too theoretical and academic. Does it really matter the name it is called? Does the name the outfit bears determine its strength to protect the people?
How does a person wearing only "Amotekun" tag on his/her forehead prevents a 'marauder' with AK 47 from wrecking havoc?
What matter at this point are:
1. Giving the outfit a legal backing
2. Rigorous discussions on the personnel; personnel training, welfare and finance
3. Arms
4. Envisage frictions in operation and alternative courses of action among other important things 2 Likes |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by ladman(m): 5:20am On Jan 19, 2020 |
godspeed:
It's not that simple.
First, you have to look at the origin of the Yoruba language and how it has developed over the centuries.
No doubts, contact with foreigners either thru trade, slavery or colonialism would have had a large influence on the Yoruba language.( Much like the English language is heavily influenced by Latin and French) .
That the yorubas never saw tigers does not mean they never heard about it or didn't at least get a description.
Remember, one of the stories about oduduwa is that he came to Ife from Arabia haven fled the peninsula when Mohammad the prophet was ridding Arabia of idolaters, infact, oduduwa brought the IFA religion from Arabia.
No doubts, oduduwa arrival in Ile Ife would have had an effect on the local language as a lot of new words would have been introduced into the Yoruba lexicon.
So as regards' Ekun' , it could have been a borrowed word from oduduwa's language, or a coinage from the description of the animal as given to them by oduduwa.
Remember, Arabia is neighbors with India, so the tiger will not be strange to them.
BTW, amotekun means Leopard, cheetahs also not native to west Africa.
 Oduduwa did not arrive ife from anywhere. He was just a warrior who united ife into a formidable state, gave birth to one child, who birthed eight others. Seven out of these eight travelled to other places to create new formidable states. Arabic influence on yoruba language came due to sahara trade with muslim businessmen And cheetah (amotekun) was known in different parts of what constitutes present Nigeria but it is now locally extinct. Tiger has no yoruba name, but ekun (originally for leopard) is sometimes used to represent it. Thank you 1 Like |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by Blackeuropean: 5:27am On Jan 19, 2020 |
Venerable612:
This is wrong.
First off the name Amotekun has nothing to do physical semblance as such.
It literally translates - “one who knows as Ekun”.
Again, you are wrong that Yoruba doesn’t have a transalation for Tiger - because our fathers didn’t have an encounter with them.
In fact Tiger has two Yoruba names. It could be called OGIDAN or EKUN. That’s why they say this provide - “Ogidan o ni se Barber, ki aja de be lo ge irun”.
And “KAKA KI KINIUN SAKAPO EKUN, OLODE A MAA RODE.“ Mind you Lion in Yoruba is Kiniun. And no one will ever compare a Lion with a Leopard. No animal can stand the Lion grit for grit amongst the Cat Family other than the Tiger; hence, the comparison.
Also, when Yorubas jokingly refer to someone as Ekun - it’s to represent that the person is a Strong man.
Thus,
Lion - Kiniun
Tiger - Ogidan and Ekun
Leopard - Amotekun
Cheetah - Owawa.
Hope this helps.
House which should will follow now,i OP on the quoted? Confusion Everywhere. Even the Physical Amotekun is also being confused by the Nigeria Government, So which one to follow now? |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by ladman(m): 5:31am On Jan 19, 2020 |
UnitedFront:
But there are English names for all animals even including the ones that couldn’t be found in their environment. Explain that English was the language of the world's biggest colonizer. It gave names to most animals found in places colonized by britain and other colonizers. |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by Chochovini: 5:38am On Jan 19, 2020 |
Demzlent:
The picture is that of a cheetah not leopard
This settles it . Waow! Nairaland forum ia a place 2 be. I learn a lot here. If u are NOT here u are nowhere. Pls Sir, kindly tell us the name for Puma in Yoruba language if u know. Just being curious, Thanks. |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by Chochovini: 5:46am On Jan 19, 2020 |
aywhy93:
@OP, Demzlent... While trying to show us and impress us that you're a true Yoruba. You were doing the opposite.
@Mods, Lalastica... Please edit the topic on the front page, it's misleading to everyone.
Venerable612 has done justice to the post. He explained exactly the way it is.
So for anyone who really wants to know.
In Yoruba,
Lion is Kìnìún
Tiger is Ẹkùn/Ògìdán
Cheetah is Ọ̀wàwà
Leopard is Àmọ̀tẹ́kùn
PS: For those who care to read, this is a comprehensive article on EKUN (Yoruba Article) - https://wol.jw.org/yo/wol/d/r36/lp-yr/101996845
Thank You! . GOOD JOB. Now, pls what about Lynx. Panther. Puma, etc... |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by ejimatic: 6:07am On Jan 19, 2020 |
Demzlent:
The launching of operation amotekun has exposed the fact that we yorubas are losing touch with our language to the extent that our leaders are calling leopard amotekun.
So I am taking this opportunity to educate my fellow yorubas
Many of us believe that tiger is ekun, leopard is amotekun,this is wrong.
Tiger is an animal that is not found in africa,Yoruba land included,so our fore fathers did not come in contact with it,so they couldn't have given a name to it.
The correct translation is
Leopard - ekun
Cheetah - amotekun
Amotekun means like 'ekun' because if you look at leopard and cheetah,they look alike only that leopard is bigger. Tiger doesn't look like these two , it has stripes not spots like the two
There is a Yoruba proverb that says ''asunkun pani bi amotekun' this is because of the stripes below the eyes of the cheetah
Thanks . Yorubas also call Tiger Ekun |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by Goziesolar: 6:11am On Jan 19, 2020 |
Demzlent:
The launching of operation amotekun has exposed the fact that we yorubas are losing touch with our language to the extent that our leaders are calling leopard amotekun.
So I am taking this opportunity to educate my fellow yorubas
Many of us believe that tiger is ekun, leopard is amotekun,this is wrong.
Tiger is an animal that is not found in africa,Yoruba land included,so our fore fathers did not come in contact with it,so they couldn't have given a name to it.
The correct translation is
Leopard - ekun
Cheetah - amotekun
Amotekun means like 'ekun' because if you look at leopard and cheetah,they look alike only that leopard is bigger. Tiger doesn't look like these two , it has stripes not spots like the two
There is a Yoruba proverb that says ''asunkun pani bi amotekun' this is because of the stripes below the eyes of the cheetah
Thanks op is right such confusion also exist in the Igbo language some interchange 'agu' an Igbo name for leopard and refer it to a tiger I keep telling them that our ancestors had no contact with tigers . the name 'agu' means leopard while lion is named ' odum' ,cheetah is called agu owulu. I think mixing these names stems out of ignorance towards nature, west Africa had no tigers so locals had no name for them, Igbo's substitute the name 'agu' ( leopard) also for tiger out of ignorance. 1 Like |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by VanTee20(m): 6:14am On Jan 19, 2020 |
Venerable612:
This is wrong.
First off the name Amotekun has nothing to do physical semblance as such.
It literally translates - “one who knows as Ekun”.
Again, you are wrong that Yoruba doesn’t have a transalation for Tiger - because our fathers didn’t have an encounter with them.
In fact Tiger has two Yoruba names. It could be called OGIDAN or EKUN. That’s why they say this provide - “Ogidan o ni se Barber, ki aja de be lo ge irun”.
And “KAKA KI KINIUN SAKAPO EKUN, OLODE A MAA RODE.“ Mind you Lion in Yoruba is Kiniun. And no one will ever compare a Lion with a Leopard. No animal can stand the Lion grit for grit amongst the Cat Family other than the Tiger; hence, the comparison.
Also, when Yorubas jokingly refer to someone as Ekun - it’s to represent that the person is a Strong man.
Thus,
Lion - Kiniun
Tiger - Ogidan and Ekun
Leopard - Amotekun
Cheetah - Owawa.
Hope this helps.
Lion is Ogidan, not tiger. |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by 13october: 6:19am On Jan 19, 2020 |
movement2020:
Thanks for the lecture. Appreciate Learn don't just put anything online Lion. kiniun Tiger. Ekun Leopard ikooko Cheetah. Amotekun |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by Goziesolar: 6:28am On Jan 19, 2020 |
neyobills:
Lol I actually saw the hides of the tiger with my eyes and not some hearsay in my grandfather's words only seasoned hunters dare a face off with a live tiger as they can also hypnotize their prey with their fierce look.
There is a Yoruba folklore song
Oju EKUN Yi pon Iru EKUN Yi Le loosely translated as The tigers eyes is bloodshot and the tigers tail is hard
Tigers have the most vicious bloodshot eyes of all the big cats,their eyes are bloodshot red even in cartoons so u do the math.
What makes u think there are no Tigers in Africa really,just google？
im not a professional zoologist studied something close however im a conservationist.
what you saw was not a tigers skin bro tigers never roamed the African Plains,tigers are endemic to Asia alone |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by TAO11(f): 6:29am On Jan 19, 2020 |
13october:
Learn don't just put anything online
Lion. kiniun
Tiger. Ekun
Leopard ikooko
Cheetah. Amotekun Ikooko is not even in the cat family. It's an animal in the dog family --- It's Wolf to be precise. Let's be guided. 3 Likes |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by supereagle(m): 6:34am On Jan 19, 2020 |
TAO11:
Owawa ke!!??
Owawa does not even belong in the cat family.
It's not even a full blown wild animal like the aforementioned ones.
It's actually a semi-wild animal that is pretty small-sized like a grass-cutter. Its head resembles a dog's.
I've seen it killed before. And its name according to the hunters stuck since then. You're right. My father and I killed them many times. It is an Ariel animal and feeds in the night. It barks like dogs in the night. I was surprised to see owawa there . 1 Like |
| Re: Amotekun Is Cheetah Not Leopard by TAO11(f): 6:36am On Jan 19, 2020 |
supereagle:
You're right. My father and killed many times. It is Ariel animal and feeds in the night. It barks like dogs in the night. I was surprised to see owawa there . I was shocked too. People be spreading misinformation fast. |
