Emi Omo Eso is the name ascribed to the

moral code Morality () is the categorization of intentions, decisions and actions into those that are ''proper'', or ''right'', and those that are ''improper'', or ''wrong''. Morality can be a body of standards or principles derived from a code of conduc ...

of the

Eso Ikoyi {{Short description, Aristrocratic attribute in Yoruba culture Eso Ikoyi (also appearing as Esho Ikoyi) is an Aristocracy (class), aristocratic attribute amongst the Yoruba people which denotes an eminent warrior. It has been used as everything from ...

warrior caste of the Yorubas of

West Africa West Africa, also known as Western Africa, is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations geoscheme for Africa#Western Africa, United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Gha ...

. Its literal translation is ''I am the child of an Eso''.

History

Following the establishment of the

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...

division of the imperial army of

Old Oyo Old Oyo, also known as Oyo-Ile, Katunga, Oyo-Oro, and Eyo is the site of a ruined medieval city that was once the capital of the Oyo Empire in what is now modern-day Nigeria. It has been abandoned since 1835. It was a major cultural and politic ...

in about the 17th century, the dynasties of Eso chieftains that developed out of it in the metropolitan town of Ikoyi became famous over time for a manner of conduct that came to be synonymous with the noble titleholders themselves. Eventually coming to describe the proper behaviour of both the Esos and their numerous lineal heirs, the code was encapsulated in a series of proverbs that were passed down through the generations of the Eso families, proverbs which served by way of tradition as

mnemonic device A mnemonic device ( ), memory trick or memory device is any learning technique that aids information retention or retrieval in the human memory, often by associating the information with something that is easier to remember. It makes use of e ...

Proverbs

The proverbs that make up the body of the ''Emi Omo Eso'' philosophical credo include the following: One of two things befits an Eso: The Eso must fight and conquer or the Eso must fight and perish. An Eso must never be shot in the back, his wounds must always be right in front. One that wears a coronet must never flee in battle.

Affirmation

''Emi Omo Eso'' also affected the succeeding generations of Eso heirs. Following the disbanding of the cavalry itself in the 19th century, the children and grandchildren of its former members began to use its name as an affirmation in a manner similar to the usage of the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

dictum infra dignitatem. Seeing as how a classical Eso was both traditionally obligated and widely considered to be noble in both word and deed, stating that you were a descendant of such a personage was seen within this culture as a means of subconsciously causing yourself to live up to his legacy. The phrase therefore could variously symbolize your contempt for anything mean or low, or your scorn for difficulty, danger or - potentially - death itself. By stating that you were a child of an Eso, you were effectively declaring that you knew no fear, or that a particular thing was beneath your dignity. Johnson (1921), pp. 73-75.

References

{{Reflist Yoruba culture Yoruba words and phrases Poetic forms African poetry Warrior code

History

Proverbs

Affirmation

See also

References