Orúko mi ni Títílayò Àjoké Layiwola. (My name is Títílayò Àjoké Layiwola.)
Osu méjì ti lo ti mo ti wa ni Naijiria. Mo ti di omo Yorùbá bayìí. Mo ti fi orúko òyìnbó mi sílè patapata. Nígbá ti mo pade ènìyàn tuntun, mo máa n fi ara mi han bi Títílayò. Nigba mìíràn, wón máa n beere nipa orúko mi gangan, orúko abenibi mi. Mo máa so wi pé, “mo ti fi oruko náà sílè. Títílayò lorúko mi.” Inu won máa n dun gan lati gbo yìí. Léhìn náà wón máa beere lówó mi pé “Se o mo ìtúmò rè? Ki ni ìtúmò Títílayò?” Mo máa dahun pé “Ey now, mo mo ìtúmò rè. Mo yan fun ara mi. Ìtúmò ni wi pé mo máa ní ayò titi titi laelae. Ayò mi kò ni duro.” Won máa rerin tábì won máa so “patewo fun ara rè.” Mo si tun féràn bi orúko inagije mi se gbo, Títí. Mo féràn rè. Idi gidi wà tí mo yan orúko Títílayò bi orúko Yorùbá mi. Mo rò pé orúko yìî ba ihuwasi mi mu daadaa. Mo máa n saba rérìn. Inú mi máa n saba dun. Kò wópò pé inu mi máa baje. Nítorí náà, ní odún méta sèyìn, lojó kinni kiláàsi Yorùbá ni Yunifasiti ti Wisconsin, ni mo yan orúko Títílayò.
Àbíké àti emi n rérìn si aworan kan ti oun yan. (Abike and I laughing at a picture she took.)
Now, after two and a half months of immersion in Yorùbá culture and language, I feel myself embodying my Yoruba name of Títílayò much more than my English name of Caraline. Caraline or Cara (everyone calls me Cara) is a beautiful name, and I really do like it, but it doesn’t feel like me any more. Títí (pronounced Tee-tee) just fits now with my personality, the way I feel and the way I look. It is foreign to me to hear someone calling me Cara. It is harsh on my ears. Cara. Títí. I don’t know what will happen when I get back to the States, but I think I will be fine with any of my friends and whoever wants to calling me Títí.
Pele o Titilayo,
Mo gbadun blog e gan! O kare o!. Mo gbadura pe, wa gbadun igbayi ni ile yoruba, wa de ma so yoruba bi omo ijinle.
Maa ma ka iwe yi lati fi mo bi o se n gbadun ile mi. Ki ibukun olorun wa pelu re titi lai lai.
Olaoluwatomi
i can barely speak my own language and there you are writing and speaking it with such grace!!! ok time to hang my head in shame!! asides that, YOU GO GAL!!!
Ku’se naa; Ki’n toka si:
“Nígbá ti mo *ba* pade ènìyàn tuntun”.
In’kan to ku fu’en ninu ede yoruba siso ni gbolohun (accent).
Ma gbadun ilu Ibadun!
Hey Titi just found out about u 2day my sis,mum and I are such huge fans.
I actually just left Nigeria after spending about a year there..wish I had found you earlier.
Are you sure you’re going to be able to leave Nigeria when the time comes or stay away?
Cos I’m definitely going back real soon.
Titilayo, omo dada, omo re bi inyan! Nle! Se eko e nlo dede? I discovered your youtube video and blog today and you have no idea how happy it has made me. The bravery with which you ventured into a foreign land, your genuine love and excitement (which by the way is very contagious) for the Yoruba language, it’s people and culture has inspired me greatly. I recently became involved in an African Languages program in my college and I’m more motivated to be a big part of it. Your story and journey has been a wake up call that we Nigerians and Africans in general need to embrace our languages and our cultures and keep them from extinction.
I will be coming back to Nigeria over the Christmas break and I’ll probably be in Ibadan for a few days. While I’m hanging around U.I, I’ll keep an eye out for the pretty ‘Oyinbo’ girl that speaks Yoruba beautifully. Good luck with everything and God Bless! X.
P.S. I some how stalked you and found you on facebook. I had to restrain myself from clicking the ‘Add as friend’ button 😉
O kare Titi,
Inu mi dun pupo nigbati mo gbo bi o se so ede karo ojire; iyun Yoruba. Mo ni igbagbo wipe waa se aseyori ninu eko ede naa.
Mo ki o gidi gidi mo si kan saara si o pelu. Nje o ni igbagbo wipe awon omo ti won bi ni ile kaaro ojire ko le so aabo ede ti o so yi? Eyi buru jai!
O kare Titi, imo re ko ni doba!
Emi ni tire ni tooto,
Omoba Olusegun Daodu.
Winnipeg Manitoba.
Canada.
I would totally call you Titi – it’s a beautiful name and it’s my mom’s name. I’m sure you know what it means and I hope that you continue to experience ‘ayo’ in everything you do. I think this is a bold and daring step that you have taken and would pay off immensely over time. I wish you all the best in your adventures in Ibadan, it’s the city where my parents found love and each other. I will be looking out for new posts on your blog! Odaro o!
Wow, I read this first thing this morning and it was really deep….it just shows how much this experienced has changed you , and I am so glad that it could. TiTi
Nice post Títílayò. I’ve been following your blog and post since when you started… And I must say you’re looking so gorgeous with those cloths! I’m glad the both of you are having a great time in IB (Ibadan). Goodluck Caraline!! 🙂
Dear Cara,
I have been enjoying your blogs and learning about your activities and adventures. After reading the last one , I thought I would send the following proverbs…
It is not what you are called, but what you answer to.
Return to old watering holes for more than water; friends and dreams are there to meet you.
A wise man learns much from his travels but more from his roots.
Glad you are well and happy, Happy Chanukah (Dec 2)
The first 2 are African, the last one is universal.
Love
Marv
Marv, this comment brought tears to my eyes. So sweet. Love you and miss you.
Hello Titi,
Just wanted you to know how much I have been enjoying your posts. I love the headwear…I am hoping to obtain one of those while we are there visiting…I also adore the photo of you and Lauren laughing, it is so good to see you both so happy.
Jeri