Ẹmilalẹ
Yoruba
Alternative forms
- Ẹ̀mị̀nialẹ̀
- Ẹlẹ́mị̀lalẹ̀
Etymology
Cognate with Igbo Ọmenala (“Igbo culture”), Igbo òmenàànị̀. From ẹ̀mị̀ + ni + alẹ̀ (“ground, earth”) + is, literally “Ẹ̀mị̀ is the ground” This term likely predates the concept of òrìṣà and the modern concept of the Yoruba religion, and points to the overarching beliefs of the Proto-Yoruboid and Igboid people.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɛ̀.mɪ̃̀.lā.lɛ̀/
Proper noun
Ẹ̀mị̀lalẹ̀
- (Ekiti) a divinity and spirit of the Earth worshipped mainly by the Eastern Yoruba people. It is regarded as a divinity of prosperity, fertility, as well as the protector, guardian, and origin of the land, each town has its own beliefs and forms of Ẹ̀mị̀lalẹ̀.
- Synonyms: Èṣìdálẹ̀, Erínlẹ̀
Related terms
- ụ̀ṣẹ̀dálẹ̀