Nagó
/naˈɡo/noun
A historical ethnonym for Yoruba-speaking people, especially in West Africa and Brazil.
Did you know?In Brazil, Nagô became closely associated with Yoruba religious traditions such as Candomblé, preserving language, ritual, and sacred names despite colonial suppression.
Etymological Timeline
Precolonial period
Yoruba
ànàgó
“A term associated with Yoruba-speaking people or their language; the precise original formation is debated.”
18th Century
Ewe/Fon usage
anagó
“An ethnonym used in the former Dahomey region for Yoruba people and their speech.”
18th–19th Century
Portuguese
nagô
“A name for Yoruba-descended Africans, especially in colonial Brazil.”
19th Century
Brazilian Portuguese
nagô
“A cultural and religious designation linked to Yoruba traditions and Candomblé.”
Modern English
English
Nago/Nagô
“A historical or anthropological term for Yoruba people, language, or related cultural traditions.”