Yoruba

Yoruba is a language spoken by the Yoruba people, the largest ethnic group in Africa. It's a tonal language with three tones (high, mid, low) that distinguish meaning. Yoruba has a rich literary and oral tradition and maintains significant presence in the diaspora, particularly in Brazil and Cuba where it influenced local religions and cultures.

The Yoruba language has ancient roots in West Africa, with the Yoruba people establishing powerful kingdoms like the Oyo Empire. The language survived the transatlantic slave trade and evolved into creole variants in the Americas, such as Lucumí in Cuba and Nagô in Brazil.