Reconstruction:Proto-Yoruboid/ò-gwṹ

This Proto-Yoruboid entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Yoruboid

Etymology

The concept of Ogun as the embodiment of iron and hunting likely dates to the Iron Age and is present in traditional practices and spirituality of the ethnic groups who speak languages in the Volta-Niger and Benue-Congo language groups. Two groups of cognates exist in Volta-Niger. Among the YEAI group of Volta-Niger (Yoruboid, Edoid, Akokoid, and Igboid) peoples, there exists a deity or god associated with hunting, war, and iron. See Edo Ogun, Fon Gu. However, amongst the other Volta-Niger groups, see Nupoid, Idomoid, and Ebiroid, other cognates maintain an older noun-form of the definition and do not regard *ò-gwṹ as a deity, but rather associate it with the energy and behaviors that are believed to inhabit and be displayed by hunters and warriors. This definition also exists among some Yoruboid groups that were influenced by the Idomoid. See Igala ògwú (“killer instinct”), Idoma ògwú (“honor given to a successful hunter or warrior; display of behavior when someone has killed a large animal”). For more possibly cognates, see Igbo òdogwu (“mighty hunter”). The root term *gwṹ could be cognate with Volta-Niger language terms for "kill," see Igbo ògbú (“killer”) or perhaps Igbo nwụ (“to kill”), Proto-Edoid *ghu, Nupe wu, Ede Idaca woot, Akan wu, Kamo yu.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ò.ɡwṹ/

Noun

*ò-gwṹ

killer instinct; energy or behavior displayed by those who have hunted an animal or killed
the honor or glory associated with hunting and war

Proper Noun

*ò-gwṹ

the energy associated hunting, war, and iron deified as an primordial deity or divinity; precursor to Ogun

Related terms

*ɛ́-bɔ (“deity, divinity”)

Descendants

Igala: ògwú (“killer instinct”)
Ifè: Ògú (“deity of iron, hunting”)
Ede Idaca: Ogu
Yoruba: ògún
Yoruba: Ògún