Nagô
/naˈɡo/noun
A historical term, especially in Brazil, for Yoruba-speaking people and their cultural and religious traditions.
Did you know?In Brazil, Nagô traditions profoundly shaped Candomblé, especially through Yoruba orixá worship, sacred language, music, and ritual vocabulary.
Etymological Timeline
Precolonial period
Yoruba
à Nàgó
“A Yoruba designation associated especially with the Oyo-speaking Yoruba population; the precise original sense remains debated.”
18th Century
Fon/Ewe
anagɔ́
“A term used in the Kingdom of Dahomey for Yoruba people and their language.”
18th–19th Century
Portuguese
nagô
“A name applied in Brazil to Yoruba-speaking Africans and their cultural practices.”
19th Century
Brazilian Portuguese
nação nagô
“The Nagô cultural or religious community, particularly in Afro-Brazilian contexts.”
Modern English
English
Nagô
“A historical and anthropological term referring to Yoruba people, language, culture, or religious traditions in Brazil.”