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Yoruba

Yoruba speakers live primarily in southwestern Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, Togo, and even as far west as Ghana, Sierra Leone, Upper Volta, and Ivory Coast. Historically, the trans-Atlantic Diaspora took Yoruba and its descendants to Sierra Leone, Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad, Haiti, and other parts of the Americas. Today, there are 60 million Yoruba on the African continent and in the New World. Yoruba is a name that encompasses numerous pre-colonial groups, all of which spoke various dialects of the same language, some almost unintelligble to one another, and shared common cultural and social practices. According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica (1978), the Yoruba were pre-colonially urbanized at levels unparalleled by other Africans. Yoruba are also famous for their prized bronze and terracotta figures, dating back 1,000 years.

Many African-Americans re-connect with their African ancestry through Yoruba culture. This explains the presence of the Oyotunji Yoruba village in South Carolina, as well as the annual Odunde Festival in Philadelphia. American popular culture also looks to Yoruba aesthetics for inspiration. For instance, Arrested Development, a hip-hop group, always features Baba Oje, a Yoruba-derived grandfather figure who sits on a rocking chair during live stage performances.

The resilience of Yoruba culture is also visible in religious expression, as in the Santeria in Cuba (and North American cities where Cuban Migrants have established homes), in the Candomble of Brazil, and in the Shango of Trinidad. It is found in the music of Felo Anikulapo Kuti of Nigeria, Gilberto Gil of Brazil, and Merceditas Valdez of Cuba. It is also found in the pacific nature of basketball NBA star Akeem Olajuwon and the richness of the writings from Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka.

 

Source: African Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania

Faculty:
Current Course Offerings:

Term A = Spring

Term B = Summer

Term C = Fall


Course Title Term Time
AFRC 171-680 AFRC171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2020A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 271-680 AFRC271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2020A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFRC 517-680 AFRC517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2020A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 534-680 AFRC534 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2020A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 171-680 AFST171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2020A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 271-680 AFST271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2020A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 371-680 AFST371 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2020A CANCELED
AFST 487-680 AFST487 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE II 2020A CANCELED
AFST 518-680 AFST518 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2020A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 532-680 AFST532 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2020A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 588-680 AFST588 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2020A CANCELED
AFRC 171-680 AFRC171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2019A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 271-680 AFRC271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2019A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFRC 517-680 AFRC517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2019A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 534-680 AFRC534 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2019A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 171-680 AFST171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2019A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 271-680 AFST271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2019A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 371-680 AFST371 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2019A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 487-680 AFST487 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE II 2019A TBA TBA-
AFST 518-680 AFST518 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2019A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 532-680 AFST532 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2019A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 588-680 AFST588 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2019A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFRC 170-680 AFRC170 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2018C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 270-680 AFRC270 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2018C TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 170-680 AFST170 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2018C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 270-680 AFST270 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2018C TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 370-680 AFST370 - ADVANCED YORUBA I 2018C TR 0730PM-0900PM
AFST 486-680 AFST486 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE I 2018C TR 0300PM-0430PM
AFST 517-680 AFST517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2018C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 529-680 AFST529 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2018C TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 587-680 AFST587 - ADVANCED YORUBA I 2018C TR 0730PM-0900PM
AFRC 171-680 AFRC171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2018A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 271-680 AFRC271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2018A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFRC 517-680 AFRC517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2018A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 534-680 AFRC534 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2018A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 171-680 AFST171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2018A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 271-680 AFST271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2018A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 371-680 AFST371 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2018A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 487-680 AFST487 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE II 2018A CANCELED
AFST 518-680 AFST518 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2018A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 532-680 AFST532 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2018A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 588-680 AFST588 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2018A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFRC 170-680 AFRC170 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2017C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 270-680 AFRC270 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2017C TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 170-680 AFST170 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2017C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 270-680 AFST270 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2017C TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 370-680 AFST370 - ADVANCED YORUBA I 2017C TR 0730PM-0900PM
AFST 486-680 AFST486 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE I 2017C CANCELED
AFST 517-680 AFST517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2017C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 529-680 AFST529 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2017C TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 587-680 AFST587 - ADVANCED YORUBA I 2017C TR 0730PM-0900PM
AFRC 171-680 AFRC171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2017A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 271-680 AFRC271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2017A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFRC 517-680 AFRC517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2017A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 534-680 AFRC534 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2017A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 171-680 AFST171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2017A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 271-680 AFST271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2017A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 371-680 AFST371 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2017A TR 0230PM-0430PM
AFST 487-680 AFST487 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE II 2017A CANCELED
AFST 518-680 AFST518 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2017A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 532-680 AFST532 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2017A TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 588-680 AFST588 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2017A TR 0230PM-0430PM
AFRC 170-680 AFRC170 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2016C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 270-680 AFRC270 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2016C TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 170-680 AFST170 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2016C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 270-680 AFST270 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2016C TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 370-680 AFST370 - ADVANCED YORUBA I 2016C CANCELED
AFST 486-680 AFST486 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE I 2016C TR 0300PM-0500PM
AFST 517-680 AFST517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2016C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 529-680 AFST529 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2016C TR 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 587-680 AFST587 - ADVANCED YORUBA I 2016C CANCELED
AFRC 171-680 AFRC171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2016A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 271-680 AFRC271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2016A MW 1100AM-0100PM
AFRC 517-680 AFRC517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2016A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 534-680 AFRC534 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2016A MW 1100AM-0100PM
AFST 171-680 AFST171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2016A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 271-680 AFST271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2016A MW 1100AM-0100PM
AFST 371-680 AFST371 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2016A CANCELED
AFST 487-680 AFST487 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE II 2016A RF 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 518-680 AFST518 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2016A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 532-680 AFST532 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2016A MW 1100AM-0100PM
AFST 588-680 AFST588 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2016A CANCELED
AFRC 170-680 AFRC170 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2015C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 270-680 AFRC270 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2015C T 0600PM-0800PM
F 0100PM-0300PM
AFST 170-680 AFST170 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2015C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 270-680 AFST270 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2015C T 0600PM-0800PM
F 0100PM-0300PM
AFST 370-680 AFST370 - ADVANCED YORUBA I 2015C TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 486-680 AFST486 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE I 2015C R 0500PM-0700PM
F 0300PM-0500PM
AFST 517-680 AFST517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2015C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 529-680 AFST529 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2015C T 0600PM-0800PM
F 0100PM-0300PM
AFST 587-680 AFST587 - ADVANCED YORUBA I 2015C TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFRC 171-680 AFRC171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2015A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 271-680 AFRC271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2015A T 0500PM-0700PM
F 0100PM-0300PM
AFRC 517-680 AFRC517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2015A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 534-680 AFRC534 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2015A T 0500PM-0700PM
F 0100PM-0300PM
AFST 171-680 AFST171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2015A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 271-680 AFST271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2015A T 0500PM-0700PM
F 0100PM-0300PM
AFST 371-680 AFST371 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2015A T 0300PM-0500PM
R 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 487-680 AFST487 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE II 2015A R 0500PM-0700PM
F 0300PM-0500PM
AFST 518-680 AFST518 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2015A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 532-680 AFST532 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2015A T 0500PM-0700PM
F 0100PM-0300PM
AFST 588-680 AFST588 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2015A T 0300PM-0500PM
R 0700PM-0900PM
AFRC 170-680 AFRC170 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2014C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 270-680 AFRC270 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2014C T 0600PM-0800PM
F 0100PM-0300PM
AFST 170-680 AFST170 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2014C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 270-680 AFST270 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2014C T 0600PM-0800PM
F 0100PM-0300PM
AFST 370-680 AFST370 - ADVANCED YORUBA I 2014C TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 486-680 AFST486 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE I 2014C R 0500PM-0700PM
F 1000AM-1200PM
AFST 517-680 AFST517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2014C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 529-680 AFST529 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2014C T 0600PM-0800PM
F 0100PM-0300PM
AFST 587-680 AFST587 - ADVANCED YORUBA I 2014C TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFRC 171-680 AFRC171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2014A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 271-680 AFRC271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2014A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFRC 517-680 AFRC517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2014A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 534-680 AFRC534 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2014A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 171-680 AFST171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2014A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 271-680 AFST271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2014A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 371-680 AFST371 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2014A MW 1200PM-0200PM
AFST 487-680 AFST487 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE II 2014A CANCELED
AFST 518-680 AFST518 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2014A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 532-680 AFST532 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2014A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 588-680 AFST588 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2014A MW 1200PM-0200PM
AFRC 170-680 AFRC170 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2013C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 270-680 AFRC270 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2013C T 0700PM-0900PM
F 0300PM-0500PM
AFST 170-680 AFST170 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2013C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 270-680 AFST270 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2013C T 0700PM-0900PM
F 0300PM-0500PM
AFST 370-680 AFST370 - ADVANCED YORUBA I 2013C T 0200PM-0400PM
W 1100AM-0100PM
AFST 486-680 AFST486 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE I 2013C CANCELED
AFST 517-680 AFST517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2013C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 529-680 AFST529 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2013C T 0700PM-0900PM
F 0300PM-0500PM
AFST 587-680 AFST587 - ADVANCED YORUBA I 2013C T 0200PM-0400PM
W 1100AM-0100PM
AFRC 171-680 AFRC171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2013A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 271-680 AFRC271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2013A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFRC 517-680 AFRC517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2013A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 534-680 AFRC534 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2013A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 171-680 AFST171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2013A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 271-680 AFST271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2013A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 371-680 AFST371 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2013A TBA TBA-
AFST 487-680 AFST487 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE II 2013A TR 0300PM-0500PM
AFST 518-680 AFST518 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2013A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 532-680 AFST532 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2013A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 588-680 AFST588 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2013A TBA TBA-
AFRC 170-680 AFRC170 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2012C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 270-680 AFRC270 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2012C TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 170-680 AFST170 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2012C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 270-680 AFST270 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2012C TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 370-680 AFST370 - ADVANCED YORUBA I 2012C TBA TBA-
AFST 486-680 AFST486 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE I 2012C TR 0300PM-0500PM
AFST 517-680 AFST517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA I 2012C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 529-680 AFST529 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA I 2012C TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 587-680 AFST587 - ADVANCED YORUBA I 2012C TBA TBA-
AFRC 171-680 AFRC171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2012A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 271-680 AFRC271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2012A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFRC 517-680 AFRC517 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2012A MW 0500PM-0700PM
MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 534-680 AFRC534 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2012A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 171-680 AFST171 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2012A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 271-680 AFST271 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2012A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 371-680 AFST371 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2012A T 1200PM-0200PM
F 0400PM-0600PM
AFST 487-680 AFST487 - YORUBA LANG & CULTURE II 2012A CANCELED
AFST 518-680 AFST518 - ELEMENTARY YORUBA II 2012A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 532-680 AFST532 - INTERMEDIATE YORUBA II 2012A TR 0700PM-0900PM
AFST 588-680 AFST588 - ADVANCED YORUBA II 2012A T 1200PM-0200PM
F 0400PM-0600PM