Ekiti people
The Ekiti people are one of the largest historical subgroups of the larger Yoruba people of West Africa, located in Nigeria. They are classified as a Central Yoruba group, alongside the Ijesha, Igbomina, Yagba and Ifes. Ekiti State is populated exclusively by Ekiti people; however, it is but a segment of the historic territorial domain of Ekiti-speaking groups, which historically included towns in Ondo State such as Akure (the current capital and largest city of Ondo State), Ilara-Mokin, Ijare, and Igbara-oke. Ogbagi, Irun, Ese, Oyin, Igasi, Afin and Eriti in the Akoko region, as well as some towns in Kwara State, are also culturally Ekiti, although belong in other states today.
Territorial expanse of The Ekiti Yorubas. | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| ~ 4,175,608 (2011-'16) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Ekiti State - 3,270,798 (2016)
Ondo State - 775,420 • Ekiti: 63,200 • Oke Ero: 66,190 | |
| Religion | |
| Primarily: Christianity Also: Islam • Yoruba religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Ìjẹ̀shà, Ifẹ̀, Ìgbómìnà, Àkókó, Yàgbà, Ondó, Other Yoruba people |
| Part of a series on |
| Yorùbá people |
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The name Ekiti is a derivation of an earlier term, Okiti, which means "Hilly" in Yoruba, as characterized by the generally hilly terrain of the areas which the Ekiti inhabit.