Nana Burukuu

Yoruba

Alternative forms

• Bùrùkúù, Bùùkúù, Nàná Bùùkúù

Etymology

From nàná (“mother”) +‎ bùrùkúù (“cruel, bad, ruthless”), ultimately from Fon nɔ̀ (“mother”) and burúkú (“cruelty, badness”). Nàná is a term meaning mother found in many Gbe languages, compare with Gun nɔ̀ and Ewe nɔ̀. Folk etymology states that bùrùkúù is said to be a form of the Yoruba term burúkú.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nã̀.nã́ bù.ɾù.kú/

Proper noun

Nàná Bùrùkúù

1. A supreme female (sometimes regarded as androgynous) primordial divinity in the Yoruba religion and other African religions; her worship is believed to be predate that of the Odùduwà era of Ifẹ̀. Among the Yoruba, she was mainly worshipped by the Idàáṣà Yoruba subethnic group; where she was the national deity.

See also

• Nàná (“a title given to women”)

References

• Adediran, Biodun. The Structure of Administration of Pre-Colonial Idaisa [1], 1984
• Adediran, Biodun. The Frontier States of Western Yorubaland [2], p.55-80, 1994