Egbona

Yoruba

Etymology

From ègbóná (“smallpox”), ultimately from è- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ gbóná (“to be hot; to become hot”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /è.ɡ͡bó.nã́/

Proper noun

Ègbóná

1. (euphemistic, proscribed, obsolete) a euphemistic name for the deity of smallpox (Ṣànpọ̀nná)

   Synonyms: Ilẹ̀ Tútù, Ṣànpọ̀nná, Ilẹ̀égbóná, Ọbalúayé, Olóde

Usage notes

The name was later proscribed by his priests because of the belief it led to the greater spread of the disease, and was replaced with Ilẹ̀ Tútù.

References

• Buckley, A. D. The God of Smallpox: Aspects of Yoruba Religious Knowledge, [1], 1985