Ọmọ lèrè ayé

Ọmọ lèrè ayé
Translation: A child is the reward of society

How important is a child in Yoruba society? This old song describes.           

Ọmọ lèrè ayé, àmín àṣẹ.
Bʻ wọn ba rí ẹ l’òde
Wọn ò ní bèrè aṣọ, wọn ò ní bèrè owó
Wá l’ọ́mọ rẹ ńkọ́? wá tún l’aya rẹ ńkọ́?
Ọmọlèrè ayé, àmín, àṣẹ

A child is the crowning glory of life.
When people greet you on the street
They won’t ask you about your clothes, nor will they ask you about your money.
They ask you about the welfare of your child and that of the child’s mother.
A child is the reward of society, amen and amen.

In traditional Yoruba society, people judge a person as wealthy, with many wives and children. Having many children was the best kind of prosperity. People hold such a man in high regard in the community. His children provided the source of labor and wealth. The boys helped him with farm work, and the girls helped sell farm products at the market with their mothers. The girls also brought ample dowry to the father. More dowry meant more wealth.

In modern Yoruba society, while children are still considered a blessing from God, the perspective on their number has shifted. The focus is now on quality rather than quantity. This is reflected in the Yoruba proverb, 'Children are desirable, but not in excess, as in traditional culture.’ 

“Ọmọ bẹẹrẹ, òṣì bẹẹrẹ.” 
The Yoruba prover' a multitude of children, a multitude of misery' reflects the traditional belief that while children symbolize prosperity, having too many can lead to financial strain and other challenges.

The painting depicts a mother and her children, symbolizing the traditional Yoruba belief in the importance of children. The unasked question of how many children are too many is a thought-provoking element, inviting viewers to reflect on the cultural shift in the perception of children in Yoruba society.