Numbers & Measurements

 
 
 
For years, even before the arrival of Europeans, Yoruba had created a numerical system used for daily economic transactions, events marking, measurements, time-keeping, and record purposes.

It is a time tested, error proof numerical system. The numeral on the face value looks simple; but a critical examination of it, shows its complexity. It is based on vigesimal (vicenary), which uses both addition and subtraction to express numbers after; Yoruba numeral has both Ordinal and Cardinal, which makes arithmetic of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division possible.

The numeral made timing (when no mechanical watch) and measurements (when there were no complex calibrated gauges) possible; and above all, it made documentation and record-keeping of events in the times past plausible.

The cardinal numbers in Yoruba numeral are the regular numbers use in simple counting, they provide answers to (How Questions: how many, how long, how far a distance, how old, how big). The answers are represented in simple noun of ten, two, three, twenty, or thousand as counted, or in adjective form of twelve girls, thirty boys, five snakes, and fifty miles.

On the order hand, the ordinal from the word order means number designating (things, places, people, and object) in terms of arrangement by sequence, or reverse sequentially. Numbers like first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth.

Yoruba numeral, like English has both odd and even numbers. Even numbers are divisible by two, but, odd numbers are not.

 

Ordinal numbers are not different from the Cardinal, except the in pronunciation. The cardinal numbers are formed (and pronounced) with any of the five out of seven Yoruba vowel letters (Ẹ, O, Ọ, E, and A); or with a consonant letter (M). On the other hand, ordinal numbers always take or start with the consonant letter (K), which shows order or arrangement of things by precedence.

Counting in Yoruba after the first unit numbers (1-10) is done by addition and subtraction. Counting from the second unit takes addition on numbers (11- 14) by adding one after each number; but changes to substraction from numbers (15-19) by subtracting one from each number as you move upward to 20. It is a convention, which continues at every mid-point number such as 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95, 105, 115,125,135, 145 etc.

After forty (40), every none-divisible-tenth number by twenty such as: 50, 70, 90,110, 130, 150, 170, 190 has inflectional word (din, which is less). On the other hand, every divisible tenth by twenty (60, 80,100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200) has Yoruba word for twenty as a root word for these figures.

Twenty (20) and two-hundred (200) are very important in Yoruba numeral. The two numbers play the functions of divisor and etymology for other Yoruba numbers. With the exception of (400 known as Irinwo in), other numbers divisible by 200 derived their names by the multiple or numbers of divisor,(for example 200 × 3 = 600; Ẹgbẹta, which means Igba lọna mẹta); the none-divisible hundreds, except (300, Ọdunrun) also have, Yoruba word for 200 as root word but, in a subtractive format.

 

From the table, it shows that Yoruba has a very strong numerical system, which makes simple arithmetic of addition, subtraction, division and multiplication possible.

Addition then, and now is still same, it involves combing or putting together of two or more numbers, symbols such as sticks, stones, pebbles, grains (maize, corn) were used as counters. At times, lines could be drawn on wall to do addition.

Next to addition, is subtraction, which is the taking away of low numbers from the high numbers; finding differences between numbers were not uncommon in the time past, farmers used it to ascertain the extent or degree of jobs done by the hired workers. It is a record-keeping tool by money lenders of ancient time, and even now; a major tool to the keep track of payments and outstanding debts.

Multiplication- is the process of increasing a number by another; farmers always use this arithmetic method to match up numbers of seeds/crops to available heaps.

Division is the opposite of multiplication, it is a process of breaking numbers into equal parts; at times, the divisor determines how the division will go. Besides, there are fractions in Yoruba numerals. These are numerical representations, or the quotients of two numbers such as (1/2;3/4; 5/7; ⅔, ⅗, ⅘, ⅚).

In Yoruba we have (abọ/ilaji; ilarin; ilajọ,7) and so on. This makes division very possible.

 

Time Keeping

Before the introduction of mechanical watch by Europeans into Yoruba land, people used variety of things to indicate time, people observed movements of certain objects (living and non living) and behavior of some animals to read time.

Prominent among the time indicators is the Sun, from dusk to dawn, Yoruba followed the movement of the Sun to know where they were in their daily affairs; they also listened to cock whenever it crowed. Cock crows many times a day, but the most attention gaining crows were the (early morning, mid and late evening). These were time indicators for daily responsibility of an average Yoruba person in the ancient times.

Although, the introduction of precision equipment has helped significantly in knowing and managing time better, but, a regular Yoruba day in the times past was divided into a seven time period.

The Church, and later, the elites changed the time keeping system. At first, time indicators (clocks) were located at the Church premises, belfry or bell tower (till date) is found on Church premises; it is a room or an enclosure for a chain-drawn-giant bells, to call worshippers to early morning  and late evening services.

Similarly, giant clocks were also located at Mosques, on top of minaret, where muezzins go to call the faithful to prayers.

The introduction of western civilization into Yoruba land, had positive impact on the standard of living; the first generation of Church workers, teachers, traders, artisans, sanitary officers became the elite, and they started buying imported goods, including wrist-watches.  A wrist-watch back then could serve a whole community. But as industrialization got under way, with improved living condition, more people were able to buy goods, which ultimately changed people’s ways of life.

 

Measurements in Yoruba

Yoruba has various measuring devices for different situation; for instance, they have different types of clay pots or pans for flour-based foods (Garri, Yam flour, Cassava flour, Millet, maize, beans, and cereal);even, the introduction of commercial and private scales, have not changed local methods, because older market women (without formal education) still prefer these pans or pots to the calibrated measuring devices. Yoruba has (measurements in three graduated forms: kekere, arin/ilaji ati n la).

Similarly, those who sell liquid materials like (palm-oil, ground-nut oil, coco-nut, palm-kernel oil) sell in different sizes of locally made clay and metal pots, which are still common in villages, and even in cities. For landed property, measuring in length, breadth, and width are done by long poles, and Peregun tree is used as landmark.

Yoruba has different shapes, these include:

Circle                   Obirikiti/Obiri/Ayika

Cone                   Okoto

Triangle              Onigun Mẹta

Area                   Ile (with mark) ti a pa’la si

Square               Igun Mẹrin, Lọgba-Lọgba

Oblong             Gigun ju Ibu lọ

 

Months of the Year

Yoruba calendar has twelve months which makes a year, before the introduction of calendar month (Gregorian) by the Europeans, lunar calendar was in vogue, months were counted by moon’s revolution or cycle. This method is slightly different from the Gregorian calendar year introduced by colonial government, but made popular by the church. The Gregorian calendar is few days longer than lunar calendar.

Nevertheless, both the lunar and Gregorian calendars have the same features: each year begins with second, to minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and then the year.