In Yoruba culture, AROKO is a non-verbal semiotic system of communication. For Example, Sending a broom to someone means – you no longer want to see them in your house.
PรKร (chewing stick) When you receive a chewing stick from an opposite sex, hmmm… It means “I LOVE YOU” แปSรN (Orange) When you receive an orange from someone, maybe sent through somebody else, it means I am pleased with you. It could also mean I love you.
รYARUN/รรYร (comb) A comb is used ordinarily for combing hair, I.e for separation of tangled hair. This phenomenon is transferred in coded Yoruba รrokรฒ. Sending a comb to someone far away means separation or ending Of friendship or love affair.
แบธNร (mat) The sending of a piece of mat raffia especially of ore type is an indication that someone is sick in the household of the receiver and such a person is very lean.
แปฬJร/GBรJร Receiving some part of cloth used to tie Baby means the pregnant woman you left home has successfully put to bed.
IGBร รFรFO (An empty Calabash) When a king receives an empty Calabash, parrot egg or skull. It means the people are no longer pleased with him, he should commit suicide.
OWร แบธYแป (cowrie shells) Owรณ แบนyแป is an object widely used to indicate many things in different ร rokรฒ, depending on the packaging and their number. A cowrie shell with a string attached to it is a sign of bad thing or that unfavorable thing happened. Two cowries shells tied together facing each other sent to a party or another group means we are in agreement with you or your view, there is harmony. But when the two shells are tied backing each other, it means disagreement, it means discord. symbolizes rejection and unfavorable message.
Traditionally, the Yoruba abhor the giving of things in three (3). Three in Yoruba numerology is confusing. Six cowries tied together in 3 pairs, it is an expression of emotion.
แบธฬfร (6) is symbolic in Yoruba numerology, it Means attraction. แบธฬfร lรณ nรญ kรญแบน fร mรญ mแปฬra (It is six that says draw me closer). So this รrokรฒ means the sender is longing to see the receiver. Or simply put, it means I MISS YOU.
รRรKแบธฬRแบธฬ (flywhisk/horsetail) Sending of Irukere – flywhisk and cowrie shells from one monarch to Another is a request for agreement or solidarity or farewell.
รBแปN/แบธฬTร (Gun or gunpowder) Gun or gunpowder is a communication means between states or towns to express a conflict or war. It tells the receiving town or village to prepare for an imminent war with the sender.
IYแปฬ (salt) Salt or honey is sent in opposite meaning to gunpowder. It means peace, harmony and solidarity between the two towns or parties. Sending both sword and salt to another party in an unresolved issue means the receiver should choose between war and peace.
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