Ọ̀kìn — Peacock
Category: Birds
The peacock, prized in Yorùbá culture for its striking feathers, which traditionally adorn royal crowns and regalia.
Peacock feathers ("ìyẹ́ ọ̀kìn") are a traditional adornment on royal beaded crowns, standing for beauty and prestige.
Peacocks aren't native to Yorùbá-land, but their feathers became a prized decorative material historically obtained through trade, prominently used on royal beaded crowns as a symbol of beauty and far-reaching prestige.
The bird's association with royalty means "ọ̀kìn" shows up as a flattering comparison in praise poetry too, much like the lion — both animals are used less for their literal presence in the local environment and more for what they symbolically represent.
Example: Adé ọba náà ní ìyẹ́ ọ̀kìn lórí rẹ̀. — "The king's crown has peacock feathers on it."
Related words:
- Adé — Crown
- Ọba — King