<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The Yoruba people (Yoruba: Ìran Yorùbá, lit .' Yoruba lineage'; also known as Àwon omo Yorùbá, lit .' Children of Yoruba', or simply as the Yoruba) are an ethnic group of southwestern and north - central Nigeria, as well as southern and central Benin . Together, these regions are known as Yorubaland . The Yoruba constitute over 40 million people in total . The majority of this population is from Nigeria, and the Yoruba make up 21% of the country's population, according to the CIA World Factbook, making them one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa . The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language, which is tonal, and is the Niger - Congo language with the largest number of native speakers . </P> <P> The Yoruba share borders with the Bariba to the northwest in Benin, the Nupe to the north and the Ebira to the northeast in central Nigeria . To the east are the Edo, Ẹsan and the Afemai groups in mid-western Nigeria . Adjacent to the Ebira and Edo groups are the related Igala people found in the northeast, on the left bank of the Niger River . To the southwest are the Gbe speaking Mahi, Egun, Fon and Ewe who border Yoruba communities in Benin and Togo . To the southeast are Itsekiri who live in the north - west end of the Niger delta . They are ancestrally related to the Yoruba but chose to maintain a distinct cultural identity . Significant Yoruba populations in other West African countries can be found in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia and Sierra Leone . </P>

Where is the yoruba tribe located in africa