abiku

Yoruba

Etymology

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ bí (“to give birth to”) +‎ kú (“to die”), literally “That which is given birth to and dies”. Cognate with Igala àbíkwú.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /à.bí.kú/

Noun

àbíkú

1. In Yoruba tradition, a malevolent spirit that causes the premature death of a child, often successive children. It is often addressed through several rituals. (Compare with ogbanje).
2. the act of giving birth to a child who dies prematurely
3. infant mortality
4. a child who dies prematurely
5. child believed to be a reincarnation of a previously deceased àbíkú child

   Synonym: àbíkú ọmọ

Derived terms

• orúkọ àbíkú (“unique names given to abiku children”)
• alábìíkú (“a woman who repeatedly has children who die in infancy”)