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Among the Yoruba, the growth of a child is celebrated at every stage — from the first crawl, to the first steps, and especially the first spoken words. Speech is regarded as a divine gift that connects the child to family and the society. A child who delays in speaking often becomes a source of worry for parents, because in Yoruba thought, language is more than communication — it is identity, destiny, and social belonging.
Our forefathers developed Ogun Bí Ọmọdé Kò Bá Tete Sọ̀rọ̀, a traditional healing practice designed to quicken speech in children who experience unusual delays. This was not only seen as a medical or developmental matter, but also as a cultural responsibility. A child who speaks early is believed to carry confidence, intelligence, and the blessings of the lineage, while one who delays may be spiritually “held back” or physically weaker in the mouth and tongue.
In Yoruba belief, helping a child to speak is a balanced process: herbs and roots are applied to strengthen the tongue and body, while invocations are performed to remove unseen barriers. For many years ago, parents and elders trusted these methods, long before modern pediatric care was available. Even today, some families still use these remedies as part of their heritage, alongside medical checkups and therapy.
Disclaimer
Yoruba Library and its Team will not be held liable for improper usage or any loss arising from improper use, wrong application, inability to find needed materials, or misinterpretation of this article. This article is provided strictly for guidance and educational purposes.
Symptoms Yoruba People Linked to Delayed Speech
Elders in Yoruba society observed both physical and spiritual signs to identify when a child was experiencing abnormal delay in speaking. These signs guided them in preparing and applying remedies.
• Child grows beyond 2 years without saying clear words.
• Excessive tongue-tie or stiffness noticed in the mouth.
• Difficulty pronouncing even basic sounds.
• Child communicates only with gestures, humming, or crying.
• Restlessness and frustration when trying to communicate.
• Frequent crying without clear cause, seen as “blocked expression.”
• Sudden quietness or lack of attempt to imitate sounds compared to other children.
How Our Forefathers Prepared Ogun Bí Ọmọdé Kò Bá Tete Sọ̀rọ̀ in the Past
When faced with a child who delayed in speaking, Yoruba elders combined gentle herbal care. These remedies included:
1) Herbal applications — Mild herbs rubbed on the tongue or lips to loosen stiffness and stimulate movement.
2) Decoctions in small doses — Carefully prepared liquid herbs given in tiny amounts to strengthen the child internally.
3) Symbolic acts — Sometimes elders would place honey or palm oil mixed with herbs on the tongue, representing sweetness and fluidity of speech.
Some of the herbs, roots and plants which have recorded high potency in treating Bí Ọmọdé Kò Bá Tete Sọ̀rọ̀ include:
1) Ewe Akoko
2) Ewe Eyin Olobe
3) Ewe Odundun
4) Ewe Osepotu
5) Ewe Irewu
6) Ewe Gbodogi
7) Ewe Osibata
Have you heard of our Herb Dictionary? This contains names of Yoruba Leaf, Roots, Barks and more. Characteristics & Uses included with HD Pictures. Order below or download sample here
GET A-Z YORUBA HERBS PDF #3KThe Healing Process in Traditional Practice
When preparing remedies for Ogun Bí Ọmọdé Kò Bá Tete Sọ̀rọ̀, Yoruba elders followed structured steps to ensure both gentle effect and spiritual backing:
(i) Collecting mild herbs and roots specifically safe for infants and toddlers.
(ii) Purifying materials and preparing them in liquid, paste, or powder form.
(iii) Chants or incantations were spoken to “open the mouth” spiritually.
(iv) Observation of child’s response before continuing use.
Differences Between Yoruba and Modern Speech Development Treatment
Both Yoruba and modern systems aim to support children in overcoming delayed speech, but their approaches differ:
• Focus of healing — Yoruba remedies emphasize spiritual blockage, destiny, and body readiness; modern medicine focuses on developmental milestones, therapy, and neurology.
• Materials used — Yoruba healers use herbs, roots, honey, or palm oil; modern systems use therapy sessions, exercises, and sometimes medical procedures (like tongue-tie correction).
• Approach to recurrence — Yoruba remedies often include prayers and protective charms to prevent delay from recurring; modern medicine emphasizes continuous therapy and parental engagement.
Safety First: Important Contraindications and Considerations
1) Dosage control — Children’s bodies are tender; herbs must never be given in excess.
2) Underlying conditions — If hearing, neurological, or tongue-structure issues exist, remedies alone may not suffice.
3) Quality of source — Herbs from unsafe environments should never be used.
Needed Materials (Leaves, Roots, Bark, etc.)
The medicinal approach for this requires careful selection of natural materials traditionally known to our elders. These are combined to ensure potency.
The instruction you will receive is the original account of our forefathers, preserved and tested over time. Many people have used them with testimonies of relief. Just ensure you follow the correct guidelines. Click Unlock Secret below
Application Process
The strength of Yoruba medicine depends on how materials are handled. Proper pounding, boiling, or steeping — done in the right way and at the right time — ensures the remedy remains potent. Click Unlock Secret below
Uses
The prepared remedy must be applied in the correct manner — whether for drinking, steaming, bathing, or chest rubbing — and taken in the right dosage for it to remain effective.
1) Some leaf required special utterances/chants before they can be effective. Where applicable, this will be stated in the PDF
2) The methods of getting the needed items like leaf, bark, roots by yourself is covered in the PDF
3) Saa bi Ologun ti wi, ki o le baa je... (Follow instructions for it to remain potent). You're getting a Real and Original account of our fore fathers.
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