The Yoruba people didn’t always have one common name. Even though they spoke similar languages, each Yoruba community had its own way of speaking, like a dialect. Because of this, they identified themselves based on their town or area. For example, some Yoruba people in Benin and Togo still call themselves “Ife” instead of “Yoruba.”
Today, the Yoruba are a well-known ethnic group, living in Africa and even other countries across the Atlantic Ocean, like some Caribbean nations.
An article in a history journal tells us that before “Yoruba” became the common name, they were called different things in different places. For instance, in Brazil, they were called “Nago,” and in Cuba, they were called “Lucumi.” These names come from Spanish and French influences. In Sierra Leone, they were known as “Aku,” and the Portuguese used the term “Terranova” for Yoruba slaves brought from western Benin.