Abuja, NIGERIA — Former presidential aide and author Reno Omokri has sparked a cultural conversation regarding the classification of the Yoruba people, asserting that the term “tribe” is a misnomer that belittles the group’s historical and demographic relevance.
In an open letter addressed to chess master Tunde Onakoya on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, Omokri praised Onakoya’s recent cultural display at the Musée du Louvre in Paris.
Okay News reports that while Omokri lauded Onakoya’s “strength of character” in showcasing Nigerian culture, he corrected the use of the word “tribe” to describe the Yoruba people.
Omokri argued that with a global population of approximately 60 million—exceeding that of many European nations like Belgium—the Yoruba (or Lukumi) should be recognized as an ethnic nationality. He noted that the term “tribe” often carries connotations of primitiveness, whereas the Yoruba possess a collective adult literacy rate comparable to several Balkan nations and a sophisticated system of governance that predates colonialism.
The Ambassador Designate to Mexico further explained that “tribe” should instead be used to describe sub-groups within the Yoruba nationality, such as the Egba, Ekiti, Igbomina, and Itsekiri. He cited the 14th-century travels of Ibn Battuta, who referenced Ifẹ̀ as far back as 1352, as evidence of the nationality’s ancient and organized staying power.
Omokri’s intervention comes amid a growing movement among African intellectuals to decolonize the language used to describe the continent’s diverse ethnic groups. He concluded by thanking Onakoya for his role as a cultural ambassador, noting that tens of millions worldwide are proud of his efforts to represent the Lukumi Yoruba on the global stage.
