Yoruba

The aims of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) 2026 syllabus are to test candidates:

(a) enable candidates speak, read and write competently in Yoruba and communicate effectively with other speakers of the language;

(b) familiarize candidates with the sound system, grammatical structures and other features of Yoruba Language;

(c) acquaint candidates with the necessary tools needed for a thorough appreciation of Yoruba speech usage, literature and ulture (customs and institutions).

SCHEME OF EXAMINATION

The examination will consist of two papers, Papers 1 and 2. It will test the following aspects of Yoruba Language: comprehension, composition, sound system, grammar and translation. It will also test selected texts of oral and written literature as well as Basic Principles of Literary Appreciation, Customs and Institutions. The rubrics shall be written in Yoruba.

PAPER 1 shall contain 60 multiple-choice objective questions on Language, Literature and Culture. The paper shall have three sections, Section A, B and C.

Candidates will be required to answer all the questions in 1 hour for 60 marks. The questions shall be distributed as follows:

Section A: LANGUAGE

Section B: LITERATURE

Section C: CULTURE

CONTENT:

The content for Paper 1 shall be the same as for Paper 2 In Section B, all questions other than those on Basic Principles of Literary Appreciation will be on the set books for Paper 2.

PAPER 2: Shall be essay type questions on language, literature and culture. It will also have three sections, Sections A, B and C, have 2 hour duration and carry 100 marks.

Candidates will be required to answer six questions in all: three questions from Section A; two questions from Section B and one question from Section C.

They will also be required to answer all the questions in Yoruba using the official Yoruba orthography and metalanguage.

CONTENT

Section A: LANGUAGE Composition Candidates are advised to write 300 words and spend not more than 45 minutes on this section. The essay will be any of the following types: (i) Narrative (ii) Descriptive (iii) Argumentative (iv) Expository (v) Dialogue (vi) Debate (vii) Letter writing

Sound System Candidates will be required to answer one question from the two to be set. Areas to cover include: (i) Vowels, Consonants and Syllabic nasal (a) their production in terms of place and manner

(b) their basic phonetic and phonemic classification (ii) Syllable structure (iii) Sound processes, e.g. vowel harmony assimilation elision (iv) Sound system aspect of the orthography (v) Tones and tone notation Grammar

Candidates will be required to answer one question from the two questions to be made available.

Areas to cover are: i. Word structure and word formation ii. Numerals: basic and derived iii. Word classes: nouns, verbs, adverbs, pronouns, adjectives, etc iv.

Grammatical categories: subject, object, complement, predicate, number, person, tense, aspect, mood, etc. v. Phrases and clauses vi. The structure and type of sentences.

SECTION B: Literature This section is made up of Oral Literature and Written Literature. Oral Literature – Prose, Poetry, Drama In Oral Literature, there will be 3 set books covering the different genres. 1 question will be set from each set book and candidates will be required to answer any 1 of the 3 questions.

Written Literature – Prose, Poetry, Drama In Written Literature, there will be three set books covering the different genres.

One question will be set from each set book and candidates will be required to answer any one of the three questions

SECTION C: Culture This section will consist of questions on customs and institutions.

Two questions will be set and candidates will be required to answer any one of them. Areas to cover will include:

Customs (i) Make-up and adornments (ii) In-door and out-door games (iii) Pregnancy and its care (iv) Naming (v) Home training: greetings, respect for superiors, cleanliness, tolerance, integrity, hard work, etc. (vi) Yoruba foods (vii) Non-verbal communication (viii) Funerals: traditional and modern methods (ix) Inheritance: traditional and modern methods.

Institutions (i) Traditional occupations (ii) Marriage (iii) Politics: family structure, age grades, chieftaincy, Obaship, etc. (iv) Child care (v) Ancestors (vi) Yoruba beliefs about Olodumare (God), deities/divinities, other invisible forces, etc. (vii) Modern religions: Islam, Christianity, etc. (viii) Economy: adverts, money lending, cooperative efforts, etc. NB: To enhance the teaching of this language, it is recommended that schools provide audiovisual materials such as television sets, radios, tape-recorders and tapes, cameras, charts and artifacts.

SELECTED TEXTS FOR 2014 – 2015

LANGUAGE

Author	TITLE	PUBLISHER
1. Abiodun, Jibola: (1996)	Aroko Ati Aayan, Ogbufo.	Majab (Ilorin)
2. Owolabi, K: (1989) publications	Ijinle Itupale Ede Yoruba	Extension (Ibadan)
3. Bamgbose, A: (1991) Press	Fonoloji Ati Girama Yoruba.	University(Ibadan)