Meaning of "Ogede wo koko ye tan, o di igi buruku"

The significance of each Yoruba proverb cannot be under-emphasized. Proverbs made by Yoruba people convey a special meaning, and such statement is used to pass across messages. One of the popular Yoruba proverbs is "Ogede wo koko ye tan, o di igi buruku". In this post, we will explore the reason behind the saying.

Cocoa is one of the key cash crops in Southwestern Nigeria, particularly in Yorùbá-speaking states like Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, and Oyo. Cocoa played a crucial role in the development of the Western Region under leaders like Obafemi Awolowo, funding free education and infrastructure in the 1950s and '60s.


Yorùbá land has humid tropical climate and well-drained, fertile loamy soil ideal for cocoa cultivation. Cocoa does well in dry land and takes a considerable number of years to grown into fruiting. So, whenever any farmer wants to plant cocoa, they often plant both cocoa and banana/plantain together so the latter can provide shied for the formal during drought.

At maximum of two years, the banana/plantain must have began fruiting and this will be obstructing the growth of cocoa this time. Hence, they will use cutlass to cut the matured fruit of the banana/plantain to give the cocoa maximum space and breath. Hence, the banana/plantain become "Igi Buruku", after the cocoa has matured.

LESSON: During the early planting of cocoa, the banana/plantain provide proper shield and protection for cocoa.

TAKE HOME: People will only find you worthy as long as you're valuable.