Aya but not Iyawo is the original Yoruba word for wife.

Did you know that AYA, not IYAWO, is the Yoruba language’s original word for wife? These days, the latter is utilized more frequently than the former. I’ll explain how Iyawo came to be. Wura, the first child and daughter of the King of Iwo (a town in Yoruba), was in the process of picking a bride and had to decide which one would be best for her.
Like Sango, Ogun, and other well-known male Orisa, Yoruba Orisa traveled to Iwo to ask for her hand in marriage. They were mistreated by Wura, who was extremely impolite and impolite. She treated her suitors with the worst behavior imaginable.

Wura was so difficult that they all gave up on their mission on the first day, failing to fulfill the dream of marriage because they could not take her behavior. But when it was Orunmila’s turn, he used Ifa to ask Olodumare for wisdom before leaving for Iwo. He was well advised to have patience and a great deal of endurance, regardless of the treatment Wura would inflict on him. He was strongly advised not to provoke Wura but to expect disgrace.

When Orunmila arrived in Iwo, Wura gave him a disdainful glance, snarled at him, called him a variety of derogatory names, and did not even provide him any food or entertainment. Her attitudes were simply disregarded by Orunmila. the first, second, and roughly seventh days. In addition to taking Orunmila’s Pouch [Apo Ominijekun] from him, Wura also used Orunmila’s Opon-Ifa [divination board] as firewood. Orunmila was really enraged by this, yet he still behaved appropriately. Despite being warned of the dangers of disregarding advise, he chose not to respond to her actions.

Over time, the King observed that Orunmila was well-behaved and modest, and he was astounded that, in spite of the humiliation, Orunmila did not respond or display any signs of rage at his daughter. He was reassured by Orunmila’s actions that he would provide for his daughter Wura if she were to marry him. Unbeknownst to them, Wura’s actions had been a litmus test for all of the potential suitors.

After a while, the King called Orunmila and gave Wura to him as his wife. He then divided his estate in half. He handed half of it to Orunmila, who became wealthy and married Wura. His folks greeted Orunmila with great enthusiasm when he returned home and questioned him about his new wife. His response was straightforward: Iya-ti-mo-je-ni-Iwo (the result of my fury at Iwo town). The eight-syllable word “Iya-ti-mo-je- ni-Iwo” evolved into Iya-Iwo and, more recently, Iyawo.

By: Bola Olalekan
As Oral History Specifies