The story behind the term ‘’Owun‘’

The term « Owun » (or « Ohun ») means “voice” in Ede Yoruba. Ede Yoruba is a language spoken by more than 34 million people in southern Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. Originating from the Volta-Niger family, the proto-Yoruboid people once formed a single group with other ethnic communities now scattered around the Bight of Benin, notably the Gbe peoples, such as the Fon and the Ewe.

In this ethnographic context, the term « Owun » signifies “voice.” As a manifestation of speech, the voice is considered sacred. In Yoruba belief, it is the vehicle of the Ase, the “active force” emanating from God, which sustains the beings and forces of the universe and allows matter to interact to perpetuate the cycle of creation.

This deeply rooted belief has influenced the Gbe language, where the term Ohun now means “vehicle,” “blood,” and “drum.” Indeed, the voice is a vehicle of the active force, just like blood, but also, and above all, the talking drum. This is a sacred type of drum used by the Volta-Niger people to communicate with their environment and the divine. In summary, the term « Owun » conveys the sacred significance of drums and music for the people of the Bay of Benin.

Owun Sample Pack Extract