Òjìjígògún

Pronunciation

Meaning of Òjìjígògún

My shadow has climbed the fig (ògún) tree.[verification needed]

Extended Meaning

This is an old Àkúrẹ́ saying meaning, "I am old/aged." It is believed to have been uttered by the Déjì (king) of Àkúrẹ́ Òjìjígògún when he became king in 1852, as he was quite elderly at the time, and did not believe who would reign for a long time. Òjìjígògún was then used as his regnal name, (his given name was Aládégbùjì, which interestingly also refers to "shadow"). Ògún here may refer to the god Ògún, but also possibly in reference to the common wild fig tree (ficus thonningii), which is known as igi ògún, and is sacred in the Àkúrẹ́/Èkìtì regions, as well as in other African cultures.

Morphology

òjìji-gun-ògún

Gloss

òjìji - shadow, shade
gun - mount, ride (rode/climb)
ògún - Ògún, Yorùbá god of iron, war, hunting, and technology; a type of sacred tree

Geolocation

Common in:
AKURE

Famous Persons

• Òjìjígògún

• Déjì of Àkúrẹ́ (r.1852-1882)