The Yoruba Population

            The Yorubas are an ethnic group of West Africa. Worldwide, they number about 45 million, with 35 million in Nigeria. They constitute about 21% of Nigeria's population. Along with the Akan, Hausa/Fulani, and the Igbo, they are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. There are also significant Yoruba populations in Benin and Togo.  Inside Nigeria, they are one of the three largest  and most important ethnic groups. The others are the Hausa/Fulani and the Igbo. The three ethnic groups together constitute more than half  of Nigeria's population. For more than a century, the Yoruba were the dominant group among Nigeria's educated elite. Prior to 1937, when Nigeria's first president Nnamdi Azikiwe rose to prominence, they provided political leadership in the development of Nigerian nationalism. Following Nigeria's independence in 1960, they became the minority party when the Igbo and Hausa  formed a coalition, but still remained very influential. 

            The Yoruba language group includes several ethnicities and Yoruba-speakers are also found in neighboring Benin. Some Yoruba have converted to Christianity and others to Islam. Many Yoruba have, however, retained their traditional belief system. The group is identifiable in comparison to other groups in Nigeria due to physical characteristics. The Yoruba dialect continuum itself consists of several dialects. The various Yoruba dialects in the Yorubaland of Nigeria can be classified into three major dialect areas: Northwest, Central, and Southeast.  Of course, clear boundaries can never be drawn and peripheral areas of dialectal regions often have some similarities to adjoining dialects.

-Kyle Shapiro

Citations:

Olumuyiwa, Olubunmi Taiwo. A History Of Anglican / Methodist Collaboration In Nigeria Within The Yoruba Socio-Cultural Context [Electronic Resource]. n.p.: Oxford : Peter Lang AG, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften, 2013., 2013. University of South Florida Libraries Catalog. Web. 5 Nov. 2013.