The Yoruba calendar (Yoruba: or KojodaAdeleke, Abraham Ajibade, "Intermediate Yoruba: Language, Culture, Literature, and Religious Beliefs, Part II." Trafford Publishing (2011), p. 265, . ) is a calendar used by the Yoruba people of southwestern and north central Nigeria and southern Benin. The calendar has a year beginning on the last moon of May or first moon of June of the Gregorian calendar. The new year coincides with the festival.

The traditional Yoruba week has four days.Gyllenbok, Jan, "Encyclopaedia of Historical Metrology, Weights, and Measures." Volume 1. (Volume 56 of Science Networks. Historical Studies). Birkhäuser (2018), p. 418, . (accessed Jan 2, 2026) The four days that are dedicated to the Orisha () and other supernatural beings go as follow:

Day 1 is dedicated to Obatala, Ṣọpọna, Iyami Aje, and the Egungun Day 2 is dedicated to Orunmila, Esu, and Osun Day 3 is dedicated to Ogun and Oshosi Day 4 is dedicated to Sango and Oya

Beier (1959) notes that:

"It is the priests of the Orisa Oko (the farm god) who are responsible for keeping the 'calendar' and the fixing of festival dates is usually done in consultation with them. The priests of Orisa Oko keep count of the months by sacrificing a pigeon at every new moon abd keeping the head of the pigeon in a special calabash."

To reconcile with the Gregorian calendar, Yoruba people also measure time in seven days a week and four weeks a month. The four-day calendar was dedicated to the Orishas and the seven-day calendar is for doing business.

The seven days are: (Sunday), (Monday), (Tuesday), (Wednesday), (Thursday), (Friday) and (Saturday).

Time () is measured in (seconds), (minutes), (hours), (days), (weeks), (months) and (years).

There are 60 seconds () in 1 minute (); 60 minutes () in 1 hour (); 24 hours () in 1 day (); 7 days () in 1 week (); 4 or 5 weeks () in one month (); 52 weeks (), 12 months (), and 365 days () in 1 year ().

Calendar examples

The Yoruba traditional calendar is called “KỌ́JỌ́DÁ” 'Kí ọjọ́ dá,' meaning: may the day be clearly foreseen. KỌ́JỌ́DÁ 10053(2053CE)/ CALENDAR 2011-2012ÒKÙDÚ 10053(2053CE) / June 2011Ọsẹ̀ 91st 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8thỌjọ́-Ṣàngọ́/Jàkúta 2 6 10 14 18 22 26 30 Ọjọ́-Ọ̀rúnmìlà/Ifá 3 7 11 15 19 23 27 Ọjọ́-Ògún 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 Ọjọ́-Ọbàtálá 1 5 9 13 17 21 25 29 The traditional Yoruba calendar (Kọ́jọ́dá) has a 4-day week, 7-week month and 13 months in a year.Beier, U. (1959). A Year of Sacred Festivals in One Yoruba Town. (n.p.): Nigeria magazine. p. 7 The 91 weeks in a year added up to 364 days. The Yoruba year spans from 3 June of a Gregorian calendar year to 2 June of the following year.Adeleke, Abraham Ajibade, "Intermediate Yoruba: Language, Culture, Literature, and Religious Beliefs, Part II." Trafford Publishing (2011), p. 265, According to the calendar developed by Remi-Niyi Alaran, the Gregorian year AD is the year of Yoruba records of time. With the British colonial and European cultural invasions, came the need to reconcile with the Gregorian calendar: Yoruba people also measure time in seven days a week and 52 weeks a year.

Calendar terminologies ỌSẸ̀ (Ọjọ́ ỌSẸ̀- Days of the Week) in Yoruba calendar Day in Gregorian calendarỌjọ́-Àìkú (Day of Immortality) SundayỌjọ́-Ajé (Day of Wealth/Money) Monday Ọjọ́-Ìṣégun (Day of Victory) Tuesday Ọjọ́rú (Day of Confusion & Disruption) Wednesday Ọjọ́bọ̀ (Day of Rituals) ThursdayỌjọ́-Ẹtì (Day of Postponement & Delay) FridayỌjọ́-Àbámẹ́ta (Day of the Three Suggestions) Saturday

Oṣù in Yoruba calendar Months in Gregorian calendarÒkúdù JuneAgẹmọ (Month of the Agemo festival of the Ijebus) July Ògún (Month of the òrìṣà Ògún and Ogun festivals) AugustỌwẹ́wẹ̀ or Owewe SeptemberỌ̀wàrà or Ọ̀wààrà (Month of the many Rain Showers) OctoberBélú NovemberỌ̀pẹ (Month of the Palm Tree) DecemberṢẹrẹ JanuaryÈrèlé (Month of Blessings of the Home) FebruaryẸrẹ́nà MarchIgbe (Month of Proclamation) AprilẸ̀bìbì (Month of the Ẹ̀bìbì festival of the Ìjẹ̀bú) May

Worship of the in specific months

(January) Dedicated to Obatala.

(February) Dedicated to ( of , the deep seas or oceans), patron of sailors, and guardian of souls lost at sea. February 21–25

(March) Annual rites of passage for men March 12–28 Dedicated to Oduduwa "Iyaagbe," of Earth and matron of the (the world), father of the Yoruba people March 15–19 Also dedicated to ( of Adventure and the hunt). March 21–24:

(April) Onset of rainy season

(May) Dedicated to (Commemoration of the Ancestors, including community founders and illustrious dead).

(June) June 3: Onset of the Yoruba New Year ( is the year of Yoruba culture). = of Divination and custodian of the . It includes a Mass gathering of the Yoruba in the city of Ife, regarded as the center of creation. Sopona – of Disease and smallpox, also known as Obaluaye. Ṣọ̀pọ̀na is also the word for smallpox disease. Ọ̀sanyìn – of Plants, magic, Medicine, and patron of the healing professions 10–23: Annual rites of passage for women 18–21: Yemoja = mother of the , of fertility, women, and water).

(July) : first and second weeks in July Oko (Agriculture) – Harvests & worship of the Òrìṣà of Farming Oko Dedicated to "" – one who has power to seize. He is the great Communicator and Messenger of the will of . Dedicated to "Jakuta" – the of Energy, (Thunder), and (lightning)

August The annual festival occurs in August Dedicated to – of Fertility and custodian of the female essence who guides pregnancies to term. Dedicated to Ogun – of iron/metals (i.e. a smith), war crafts, hunting, technology and engineering. The custodian of truth and executioner of justice, as such patron of the legal and counselling professions who must swear to uphold truth while biting on a piece of metal. (last weekend of August)

(September) It is the month in which festivals such as New Yam Festivals, are being celebrated and it is a month of blessing. It celebrates the richness of Yoruba culture. September 8th the day of mama oshun

(October) refers to the intense rain showers that occur during the month Dedicated to Oya ( of the river Niger whose is the guardian of gateway between the physical realm (Aye) and the spiritual realm (Òrún). Also dedicated to – of , the realm of the unsettled spirits and the ghosts of the dead that have left Aye and are forsaken of (Heaven). Also the onset of the dry season

(November)

(December) Dedicated to ( of disease & healing). Onset of the Harmattan Season – ""

References

External links , Afropedea