Talk:Oyinbo

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Linguistics: Etymology Low‑importance

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Meaning of Oyibo

I do not think the word has anything to do with the word "igbo", as the two words have completely different pronunciations.

Yoruba being such a tonal language, such an error would be unlikely.

The most reliable origin I've found has something to do with Yoruba translation of "missing skin".

This makes more sense because (a) it addresses what might have been the jarring differences in caucasian skin tone from west African skin, and (b) "bo" (with the same 'mi' tonality as in "oyibo") means "peel". So 'missing/peeled skin makes sense. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 206.53.157.26 (talk) 20:55, 7 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I have lived and worked for three years in Nigeria in the early 1980's, mainly around Port Harcourt in the [[Igbo region]]. All whites (including me) were systematically cally called "Oyibo" by the locals. I've asked Nigerian colleagues what it meant and the answer I got was Oyibo means "man with no skin" - including persons of mixed black and white ancestry and albinos, while "Ibo" (or Igbo, or Heebo, altenative words for Igbo) means "man" (i.e. black man). So this confirms above comment and the article should be corrected accordingly. Could a native Nigerian confim, so that the article can be corrected? Thanks, --Jacques de Selliers (talk) 11:43, 16 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Oyibo or Oyinbo

I believe the word derives from the Yoruba language as a contraction describing a person whose skin is completely peeled all over. The phrase would be 'O yika bo'. or 'O Yinka bo'. Translated as O (person), Yika (all over)Bo (Peeled). This can be contracted to O Yi Bo or O Yin Bo. It is usually not meant in a derogatory manner but rather as a descriptive depiction of a caucassian or any light skinned person including other Africans, orientals etc Adebayo O. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 204.152.32.251 (talk) 06:00, 20 February 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Correction

The word has been in use in Yoruba for so long that you can find it in the Crowther's dictionary of 1854. It has nothing to do with "Igbo" demmy (talk) 06:27, 4 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Could you cite and add that, then? Gus andrews (talk) 01:46, 14 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]