Yoruba engagement list (eru iyawo): the items most families ask for, and how to plan around it
· comtev
The Yoruba engagement list, eru iyawo, is written by the bride's family and handed to the groom's family before the engagement. No two families' lists are the same, but the same core items appear on most of them: yams, a Bible or Quran, a suitcase or box of clothes, fruit, the engagement ring, an umbrella and honey, followed by kola nut, salt, rice and drinks. There is also a set of small cash gifts, each with its own name, paid during the ceremony. We compared eight published lists to see which items really are common, and the table below shows how many of them include each one. Use it to prepare and to check your budget, then follow the list the bride's family actually gives you.
Items that appear on most published lists
We read eight published sources that list items: Wikipedia, LoveweddingsNG, Nigerian Queries, DiscoverYoruba, Daily Trust, NaijaGlamWedding, BusinessDay and a list reported by Legit.ng, between 2021 and 2026. Several blogs appear to copy one template, so treat the counts as a guide to what is common, not a rule.
| Item | Sources that list it (of 8) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Yams | 7 | Two sources give 42 tubers; the list Legit.ng reported asked for 50 |
| Bible or Quran | 6 | Depends on the bride's faith; the ring is often presented inside it |
| Suitcase or box of clothes | 6 | Often with aso oke, shoes and jewellery inside |
| Fruit or fruit baskets | 6 | |
| Engagement ring | 5 | |
| Umbrella | 5 | |
| Honey | 5 | |
| Kola nut (obi abata) | 4 | |
| Salt | 4 | |
| Rice | 4 | |
| Drinks | 4 | |
| Bitter kola (orogbo) | 3 | |
| Alligator pepper (atare) | 3 | |
| Shoes | 3 | |
| Jewellery | 3 | |
| Goat | 3 | |
| Aadun (corn cake) | 3 | |
| Aso oke | 2 | Named separately by two sources; others include it in the suitcase |
| Palm oil, sugar, sugarcane, dried fish, palm wine | 2 each | |
| Kitchenware or a dish set | 2 |
Items such as a wristwatch, handbags, a water pot, plantain, coconut and perfume appeared on only one list each.
For Muslim families
The Bible becomes a Quran, and Daily Trust and Nigerian Queries both add a prayer mat, a prayer kettle, a white hijab or veil and prayer beads (tasbih). DiscoverYoruba lists the veil, tasbih, kettle and mat too. The rest of the list follows the same pattern.
The cash gifts (owo)
During the ceremony the groom's family pays a series of small, named cash gifts. Daily Trust, Nigerian Queries and DiscoverYoruba name the same set, including:
- owo ori, the bride price
- owo baba gbo and owo iya gbo, for the father's and mother's consent
- owo ijoko agba, for the elders
- owo iyawo ile, for the wives of the family
- owo omo ile, for the children of the house
- owo ikanlekun, for knocking at the door
- owo isiju iyawo, for unveiling the bride
- owo isigba, for opening the gifts
- owo letter kika, for reading the letter
- owo alaga ijoko, for the bride's family's alaga
Published amounts vary and date quickly. Daily Trust (August 2021) said each payment is usually ₦2,000 to ₦5,000. NaijaGlamWedding (2022) described a bride price of ₦5,000 as "purely symbolic", and BusinessDay (January 2024) gave ₦5,000 to ₦20,000, noting that families often hand the bride price back. These are examples of what families have asked for, not current rates. Ask the bride's family.
The alaga iduro and alaga ijoko
Two masters of ceremony run the engagement. The alaga iduro, the "standing" alaga, speaks for the groom's family, introduces the groom and presents his family's intentions. The alaga ijoko, the "sitting" alaga, speaks for the bride's family, receives the proposal and oversees the presentation of the list. The alaga ijoko's fee is one of the named cash gifts. Book both early, as soon as the date is set.
Every family's list is different
Wikipedia calls the list "a dynamic list with different items while core items are found in most", and Daily Trust and Nigerian Queries both note that items differ by where in Yorubaland the family comes from. Do not shop from a blog. Ask the bride's family for their list in writing, early, and confirm quantities (how many yams, how many bottles, what kind of drinks) before buying.
How planners organise the list
- Get the list in writing from the bride's family, with quantities.
- Split it into what is bought early (the suitcase contents, aso oke, jewellery, ring), what is bought the week of (fruit, honey, yams, drinks) and the cash gifts.
- Prepare the cash gifts in labelled envelopes, one per named owo, so the alaga can call them out without a scramble.
- Assign one person on the groom's side to own the items on the day and one to hold the envelopes.
- Pack the items in presentation trays or baskets the night before, and photograph them against the list.
The engagement is also an event with its own guests, colours and gate. We wrote about the invitation in traditional marriage invitation card wording, and our wedding planning checklist runs the engagement alongside the white wedding.
On Comtev, a planner collects the guest list from both families on WhatsApp, sends invitations with QR access passes, and door staff scan guests in at the engagement. See how it works.
FAQs
What is on a Yoruba engagement list?
Common items include yams, a Bible or Quran, a suitcase or box of clothes, fruit, the engagement ring, an umbrella, honey, kola nut, bitter kola, alligator pepper, salt, rice and drinks, plus a set of named cash gifts. Each family writes its own list, so follow the one you are given.
Who gives the Yoruba engagement list?
The bride's family writes it and gives it to the groom's family before the engagement.
What is eru iyawo?
Eru iyawo means the bride's load: the items the groom's family brings to the engagement as listed by the bride's family.
How many yams are on a Yoruba engagement list?
It varies. Two published lists give 42 tubers and one reported list asked for 50. Ask the bride's family for the number they want.
What is the difference between alaga iduro and alaga ijoko?
The alaga iduro speaks for the groom's family; the alaga ijoko speaks for the bride's family and oversees the ceremony and the presentation of the list.