ÈKÓ ILÉ and ÈKÓ AKÉTE

ÈKÓ ILÉ and ÈKÓ AKÉTE

Eko, aka Lagos, is a Yoruba word.

Eko is from the verb kó, which means “mature,” “ready,” “ripe,” and “primed,” with the implications of “established,” “developed,” “complete.”

It is an idea that emanates from agriculture.

When is a plant ready to be harvested (kó)?

Is it ready to be harvested? (Ṣé ó ti tó ó KÓ?).

Kó (the root of Èkó), therefore refers to harvesting, gathering, reaping, collecting, as farmers do when the time of the year comes.

Kó ẹja means to gather fishes, or to fish.

Kó refers to plentifulness, abundance and loads, because you don’t use gather “kó” for one or just a few items. It is about plenitude, plenteousness.  

Kó, on a second view, has another layer to it.

To steal is also kó, a synonym for jí.

Kó, as in steal, could mean plunder, pillage, as in ko owo (steal money), or ogun ko ilu lo (war torn settlement).

Kó might imply overripe, as in ilá ti kó (overripe okro).

On a third level, you find KÓ used for beauty, aesthetics and design, as in kó irun, the entire complexity of caring for a woman’s hair.

It is at that beautiful level that you find Kó ọmọ, the elaborate process of ìkómọ or naming ceremony among Yoruba people.

Level 4 of Èkó: Kó as in control—kó ara ẹni ní ìjánu (self-control).

Nowadays, people say dẹ́rẹ́bà kó bíréèkì—slammed on the brake..

You will find Èkó in Yoruba proverbs: Èkó ilá gbara ẹ̀ lọ́wọ́ ọ̀bẹ (the overripe okra escapes the pain of the kitchen knife—because it will not be suitable for cooking, of course!).

Èkó has oríkì.

Èkó has orílẹ̀

Èkó has orin.

The full name of Èkó is Èkó Ilé, just as you say Ilé Ifẹ̀.

Eko has a Yoruba political system.

Eko also has an adage: Èkó akété, ilé ọgbọ́n.

Akété, I believe, means island—ta kété láàrin omi.

Èkó ò ní bàjẹ́.

Ati Eko Ile ati Eko Akéte—(mainland and island Eko)

Èkó ò ní sọnù.

Moyo Okediji