DOCSLIB.ORG

The Practice of Inheritance in Esan: the Place of the Female Child 49

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

CULTURA CULTURA INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF CULTURE CULTURA AND AXIOLOGY Founded in 2004, Cultura. International Journal of Philosophy 2011 of Culture and Axiology is a semiannual peer-reviewed jour- 1 2011 Vol VIII No 1 nal devoted to philosophy of culture and the study of value. It aims to promote the exploration of different values and cultural phenomena in regional and international contexts. The editorial board encourages the submission of manuscripts based on original research that are judged to make a novel and important contribution to understanding the values and cultural phenomena in the contemporary world. CULTURE AND AXIOLOGY CULTURE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY INTERNATIONAL ISBN 978-3-89975-251-9 CULTURA CULTURA INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF CULTURE CULTURA AND AXIOLOGY Founded in 2004, Cultura. International Journal of Philosophy 2011 of Culture and Axiology is a semiannual peer-reviewed jour- 1 2011 Vol VIII No 1 nal devoted to philosophy of culture and the study of value. It aims to promote the exploration of different values and cultural phenomena in regional and international contexts. The editorial board encourages the submission of manuscripts based on original research that are judged to make a novel and important contribution to understanding the values and cultural phenomena in the contemporary world. CULTURE AND AXIOLOGY CULTURE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY INTERNATIONAL CULTURA INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF CULTURE AND AXIOLOGY Cultura. International Journal of Philosophy of Culture and Axiology E-ISSN (Online): 2065-5002 (Published online by Versita, Solipska 14A/1, 02-482 Warsaw, Poland) ISSN (Print): 1584-1057 Advisory Board Prof. dr. Mario Perniola, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy Prof. dr. Paul Cruysberghs, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium Prof. dr. Michael Jennings, Princeton University, USA Prof. Emeritus dr. Horst Baier, University of Konstanz, Germany Prof. dr. José María Paz Gago, University of Coruña, Spain Prof. dr. Maximiliano E. Korstanje, John F. Kennedy University, Buenos Aires, Argentina Prof. dr. Nic Gianan, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines Prof. dr. Alexandru Boboc, Correspondent member of the Romanian Academy, Romania Prof. dr. Teresa Castelao-Lawless, Grand Valley State University, USA Prof. dr. Richard L. Lanigan, Southern Illinois University, USA Prof. dr. Fernando Cipriani, G.d’Annunzio University Chieti-Pescara, Italy Prof. dr. Elif Cirakman, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey Prof. dr. David Cornberg, University Ming Chuan, Taiwan Prof. dr. Carmen Cozma, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Iassy, Romania Prof. dr. Nancy Billias, Department of Philosophy, Saint Joseph College, Hartford, USA Prof. dr. Christian Möckel, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany Prof. dr. Leszek S. Pyra, Pedagogical University of Cracow, Poland Prof. dr. A. L. Samian, National University of Malaysia Prof. dr. Dimitar Sashev, University of Sofia, Bulgaria Prof. dr. Kiymet Selvi, Anadolu University, Istanbul, Turkey Prof. dr. Traian D. Stănciulescu, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Iassy, Romania Prof. dr. Gloria Vergara, University of Colima, Mexico Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief: Co-Editors: Prof. dr. Nicolae Râmbu Prof. dr. Aldo Marroni Faculty of Philosophy and Social- Facoltà di Scienze Sociali Political Sciences Università degli Studi G. d’Annunzio Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti B-dul Carol I, nr. 11, 700506 Iasi, Romania Scalo, Italy [email protected] [email protected] Executive Editor: PD Dr. Till Kinzel Dr. Simona Mitroiu Englisches Seminar Human Sciences Research Department Technische Universität Braunschweig, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Bienroder Weg 80, Lascar Catargi, nr. 54, 700107 Iasi, Romania 38106 Braunschweig, Germany [email protected] [email protected] Editorial Asssitants: Radu Vasile Chialda, Adina Romanescu, Marius Sidoriuc, Daniel Ungureanu Designer: Aritia Poenaru Editorial Office Address: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Philosophy and Social-Political Sciences, The Seminar of Philosophy of Culture and Axiology, Carol I, nr. 11, 700506, Iasi, Romania, Tel.:0040/232/201054; Fax: 0040/232/201154; e-mail: [email protected] Indexing and Abstracting: Thomson Reuters (ISI) – Arts & Humanities Citation Index; EBSCO Humanities International Index; EBSCO Humanities International Complete; SCOPUS (Elsevier); MLA International Bibliography; The International Consortium for the Advancement of Academic Publication (ICAAP); Summon by Serial Solutions; Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory Cultura International Journal of Philosophy of Culture and Axiology Vol. 8, No. 1 (2011) Editor-in-Chief Nicolae Râmbu Bibliografische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detaillierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über http://dnb.d-nb.de abrufbar. © 2011 Martin Meidenbauer Verlagsbuchhandlung, München Umschlagabbildung: © Aritia Poenaru Alle Rechte vorbehalten. Dieses Werk einschließlich aller seiner Teile ist urheberrechtlich geschützt. Jede Verwertung außerhalb der Grenzen des Urhebergesetzes ohne schriftliche Zustimmung des Verlages ist unzulässig und strafbar. Das gilt insbesondere für Nachdruck, auch auszugsweise, Reproduktion, Vervielfältigung, Übersetzung, Mikroverfilmung sowie Digitalisierung oder Einspeicherung und Verarbeitung auf Tonträgern und in elektronischen Systemen aller Art. ISBN 978-3-89975-251-9 Verlagsverzeichnis schickt gern: Martin Meidenbauer Verlagsbuchhandlung Schwanthalerstr. 81 D-80336 München www.m-verlag.net CONTENTS DEBATES and DIRECTIONS. AFRICAN STUDIES Anton CARPINSCHI, Bilakani TONYEME Cultural Minorities and Intercultural Dialogue in the Dynamics of Globalization. African Participation 7 Jacob Ale AIGBODIOH Stigmatization in African Communalistic Societies and Habermas’ Theory of Rationality 27 Justina O. EHIAKHAMEN The Practice of Inheritance in Esan: the Place of the Female Child 49 Nicolito A. GIANAN Delving into the Ethical Dimension of Ubuntu Philosophy 63 Uyi-Ekpen OGBEIDE, Lambert Uyi EDIGIN Military Establishments and The Stability Of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: Toward The Realization Of Vision 2020 83 Elvis IMAFIDON Rethinking the Individual’s Place in an African (Esan) Ontology 93 Francis Xavier GICHURU Creating a New Society, New Nation and New Leadership Quality in Kenya through African Traditional Education Principles 111 Solomon A. LALEYE Democracy in Conflict and Conflicts in Democracy: The Nigerian Experience 127 VIEWS upon ETHICS, TRUTH and LANGUAGE Jim I. UNAH Self-discovery: Who am I? An Ontologized Ethics of Self-mastery 143 Seungbae PARK Defence of Cultural Relativism 159 Simona MODREANU A Different Approach to the “Theater of the Absurd”. With Special Reference to Eugene Ionesco 171 Mario PERNIOLA Impossible, yet real! 187 Simona MITROIU To collect in order to survive: Benjamin and the necessity of collecting 213 Radu Vasile CHIALDA Weak Barbarism 223 10.3726/975251_49 Cultura. International Journal of Philosophy of Culture and Axiology 8(1)/2011: 49–62 The Practice of Inheritance in Esan: the Place of the Female Child Justina O. EHIAKHAMEN Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts Ambrose Alli University P. M. B. 14, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria [email protected] Abstract. The act of discrimination against the female sex is an undeniable phenomenon in virtually all human societies, though the severity varies from one society to another. It is against this backdrop that this paper is aimed at exposing the inadequate nature of the primogeniture rule of inheritance towards the female, as practised by the Esan people. The paper tests the validity of the logic on which the disinheritance of females rests, and discovers that it is invalid as it violates such moral principles as the categorical imperative and utilitari- anism, among others. It therefore advocates for possessive right for females for the sake of justice and equity. Keywords: inheritance, Esan, female child, utilitarianism, justice INTRODUCTION The arduous task before African philosophers today is, according to Oladipo (1992: 1), the crisis of relevance. That is, African philosophers should begin to busy themselves with how philosophy can be made effectively relevant to the struggles and destiny of African peoples. It is in acknowledgement of this indisputable fact that this paper is designed to philosophically review the practice of inheritance among the Esan people, particularly the extent to which the female child is affected. Among others, it is aimed at illuminating the idea behind the application of inheritance among the Esan people and outlines its defects in the face of equity and fairness. Suggestions are comparatively made in order for the practice to accommodate contemporary changes. 49 Justina O. EHIAKHAMEN / The Practice of Inheritance THE PRACTICE OF INHERITANCE AMONG THE ESAN PEOPLE In an attempt to fashion a well-ordered society with good human relationships, the Esan people evolved native laws and customs which govern the practice of inheritance. The Esan people are Edo indigenes occupying the central part of Edo State in Nigeria, for whom the issue of inheritance is a highly esteemed socio-cultural heritage. What, then, is inheritance? Inheritance is defined by Black’s Law Dictionary as an estate or property that a man acquires “by descent” and which can be transmitted to
Recommended publications
  • Widowhood in Esanland

    Widowhood in Esanland

    IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 25, Issue 5, Series. 1 (May. 2020) 06-17 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org Widowhood in Esanland Thomas Oseyi Ebhomienlen Corresponding Author: Thomas Oseyi Ebhomienlen ABSTRACT Biblical accounts reveal that the office of the Deacon was created for the purpose of handling the benevolence ministry in the New Testament Church (Acts 6:1 - 3). By benevolent ministry we mean a deliberate action geared towards a generous care for the widow within a giving community. This office, over time, changed to “serving table” which in the present day Church has assumed diverse nomenclature: Mass, Thanksgiving, Eucharist, Fellowship Meal and Holy Communion, to mention a few. Today, the act of deliberate generous cares for the widow within the Church, particularly the Anglican Communion in Esanland, has been said to be of low priority, far from the New Testament‟s level. This study articulates the benevolent ministry of deliberate love and care for widows by Jesus Christ and his early apostles. This was aimed at re-enacting the New Testament model of pastoral love and care. The research examined the plight of widows among the people of Esan. Particular attention was given to Ihumudumu and Ujoelen –Ekpoma, both in Esan West Local Government Area; Uromi in Esan-North-East; Ubiaja in Esan South East and Amahor in Igueben Local Government Areas, all in Edo State. Historical, phenomenological and descriptive methods were adopted for this study. Two hundred respondents were randomly selected within the Local Government Areas in Esanland.
  • Succession Under Esan Customary Law in Nigeria: Grounds for Disinheriting an Heir from Inheriting His Deceased Father’S Estate Under Esan Customary Law

    Succession Under Esan Customary Law in Nigeria: Grounds for Disinheriting an Heir from Inheriting His Deceased Father’S Estate Under Esan Customary Law

    www.ijird.com August, 2018 Vol 7 Issue 8 ISSN 2278 – 0211 (Online) Succession Under Esan Customary Law in Nigeria: Grounds for Disinheriting an Heir from Inheriting His Deceased Father’s Estate under Esan Customary Law Paul Okhaide Itua Senior Lecturer, Department of Commercial and Industrial Law, Ambrose Alli University, Nigeria Abstract: In Nigeria, there are three main ethnic / tribal groups; these are Hausa - Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba. Apart from these major ethnic groups, there are about 371 (three hundred and seventy-one) other ethnic groups with diverse languages and phonological structures, which are some time noticeable even within the same socio cultural setting. Majority of these ethnic groups share a lot of historical and deep cultural relationship between them as evidence mostly in the application of customary law that regulate their private life on one hand and the relationship that exist between them on the other hand. Apart from these rules of customary law, the common law and statutory law equally plays a major role in the regulation of these relationships. Some time these rules of customary law are subjected to certain test as prescribed by the common law and the statute in other to determine their validity and applicability. These regulatory mechanisms, also apply to the people that constitute Esan ethnic group. They presently occupy Edo Central Senatorial District consisting of five local government areas in Edo State of Nigeria. Historically they share cultural relationship with the Edos in the area of customary law, however with some noticeable differences in its application in certain areas. One of such area is succession.
  • An Atlas of Nigerian Languages

    An Atlas of Nigerian Languages

    AN ATLAS OF NIGERIAN LANGUAGES 3rd. Edition Roger Blench Kay Williamson Educational Foundation 8, Guest Road, Cambridge CB1 2AL United Kingdom Voice/Answerphone 00-44-(0)1223-560687 Mobile 00-44-(0)7967-696804 E-mail [email protected] http://rogerblench.info/RBOP.htm Skype 2.0 identity: roger blench i Introduction The present electronic is a fully revised and amended edition of ‘An Index of Nigerian Languages’ by David Crozier and Roger Blench (1992), which replaced Keir Hansford, John Bendor-Samuel and Ron Stanford (1976), a pioneering attempt to synthesize what was known at the time about the languages of Nigeria and their classification. Definition of a Language The preparation of a listing of Nigerian languages inevitably begs the question of the definition of a language. The terms 'language' and 'dialect' have rather different meanings in informal speech from the more rigorous definitions that must be attempted by linguists. Dialect, in particular, is a somewhat pejorative term suggesting it is merely a local variant of a 'central' language. In linguistic terms, however, dialect is merely a regional, social or occupational variant of another speech-form. There is no presupposition about its importance or otherwise. Because of these problems, the more neutral term 'lect' is coming into increasing use to describe any type of distinctive speech-form. However, the Index inevitably must have head entries and this involves selecting some terms from the thousands of names recorded and using them to cover a particular linguistic nucleus. In general, the choice of a particular lect name as a head-entry should ideally be made solely on linguistic grounds.
  • Folktale Tradition of the Esan People and African Oral Literature

    Folktale Tradition of the Esan People and African Oral Literature

    “OKHA”: FOLKTALE TRADITION OF THE ESAN PEOPLE AND AFRICAN ORAL LITERATURE 1ST IN THE SERIES OF INAUGURAL LECTURES OF SAMUEL ADEGBOYEGA UNIVERSITY OGWA, EDO STATE, NIGERIA. BY PROFESSOR BRIDGET O. INEGBEBOH B.A. M.A. PH.D (ENGLISH AND LITERATURE) (BENIN) M.ED. (ADMIN.) (BENIN), LLB. A.A.U (EKPOMA), BL. (ABUJA) LLM. (BENIN) Professor of English and Literature Department of Languages Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa. Wednesday, 11th Day of May, 2016. PROFESSOR BRIDGET O. INEGBEBOH B.A. M.A. PH.D (ENGLISH AND LITERATURE) (BENIN) M.ED. (ADMIN.) (BENIN), LLB. A.A.U (EKPOMA), BL. (ABUJA) LLM. (BENIN) 2 “OKHA”: FOLKTALE TRADITION OF THE ESAN PEOPLE AND AFRICAN ORAL LITERATURE 1ST IN THE SERIES OF INAUGURAL LECTURES OF SAMUEL ADEGBOYEGA UNIVERSITY OGWA, EDO STATE, NIGERIA. BY BRIDGET OBIAOZOR INEGBEBOH B.A. M.A. PH.D (ENGLISH AND LITERATURE) (BENIN) M.ED. (ADMIN.) (BENIN), LLB. A.A.U (EKPOMA), BL. (ABUJA) LLM. (BENIN) Professor of English and Literature Department of Languages Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa. Wednesday, 11th Day of May, 2016. 3 “OKHA”: FOLKTALE TRADITION OF THE ESAN PEOPLE AND AFRICAN ORAL LITERATURE Copyright 2016. Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa All Rights Reserved No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or by any means, photocopying, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa/Publishers. ISBN: Published in 2016 by: SAMUEL ADEGBOYEGA UNIVERSITY, OGWA, EDO STATE, NIGERIA. Printed by: 4 Vice-Chancellor, Chairman and members of the Governing Council of SAU, The Management of SAU, Distinguished Academia, My Lords Spiritual and Temporal, His Royal Majesties here present, All Chiefs present, Distinguished Guests, Representatives of the press and all Media Houses present, Staff and Students of Great SAU, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
  • African Value System and the Impact of Westernization: a Critical Evaluation of Esan Society in Edo State, Nigeria

    African Value System and the Impact of Westernization: a Critical Evaluation of Esan Society in Edo State, Nigeria

    African Journal of History and Archaeology Vol. 3 No. 1 2018 ISSN 2579-048X www.iiardpub.org African Value System and the Impact of Westernization: A Critical Evaluation of Esan Society in Edo State, Nigeria Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma Department of History and International Studies, Edo state, Nigeria, P.M.B. 14 Abstract Africans from the pre-colonial era have their unique and distinct culture which is evidenced in their entire ways of life – socially, politically, religiously, economically and technologically. Their value systems as elements of their culture are depicted in marriage and family institutions, religious practices, social and economic systems, cultural values and legal system and so on. However, the eventual contact with Western culture through colonialism and, with the subsequent upsurge of globalization and modernity, these values are not only being challenged but also eroded. Consequent upon this onslaught on the Esan value systems by western values, which has been tagged “cultural imperialism”, with its affirmative, debilitating and disruptive impact, what would be the response of Esans to salvage their pristine values that shaped their society morally, economically, politically and religiously in the past. This paper is an attempt to make a critical evaluation of the western values viz-a-viz Esan value system, stressing that Esans have some valuable and enriching cultures that are worthy of preservation in the face of western cultural onslaught. The methodology adopted in this work is both primary and secondary sources. Keywords: Value System, Impact, Westernization, Critical Evaluation, Africa, Esan Society Introduction Esan people are in Edo State of Nigeria.
  • You Need to Know About the Esan People of Edo State, Nigeria

    You Need to Know About the Esan People of Edo State, Nigeria

    ESAN AKUGBE WORLDWIDE HISTORY: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ESAN PEOPLE OF EDO STATE, NIGERIA The Esan people (Esan: Ẹ̀bhò Ẹ̀sán) are an ethnic group of south-south Nigeria who speak the Esan language. The Esan are traditionally agriculturalists and hunters. They cultivate palm trees, Irvingia gabonensis (erhonhiele), Cherry (Otien), bell pepper (akoh) coconut, betel nut, kola nut, black pear, avocado pear, yams, cocoyam, cassava, maize, rice, beans, groundnut, bananas, oranges, plantains, sugar cane, tomato, potato, okra, pineapple, paw paw, and various vegetables. The modern Esan nation is believed to have been organized during the 15th century, when citizens, mostly nobles and princes, left the neighbouring Benin Empire for the northeast; there they formed communities and kingdoms called Eguares among the aboriginal peoples whom they met there. There are on the whole 35 established kingdoms in Esanland, including Ebelle, Ewohimi, Ekpoma, Ubiaja, Uromi, Uzea, Igueben, Ewatto, Irrua, Opoji, Ugboha and Ewu. The Esan people primarily speak the Esan language, an Edoid language related to Edo, Urhobo, Owan language, Isoko, and Etsako. It is considered a regionally important language in Nigeria, and it is taught in primary schools in addition to being broadcast on radio and television. The Esan language is also recognized in the Census of the United Kingdom. It is estimated that the Esan people who reside in Esanland number about one million to 1.5 million citizens in Nigeria and there is a strong Esan diaspora. Esan-speaking communities exist in the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Canada, Spain, and Italy. Pan-Esan groups such as the Esan World Congress have kept the Esan community tight-knit.

  • Africans Concept of Masquerades and Their Role in Societal Control and Stability: Some Notes on the Esan People of Southern Nigeria

    Asian and African Studies, Volume 25, Number 1, 2016 AFRICANS CONCEPT OF MASQUERADES AND THEIR ROLE IN SOCIETAL CONTROL AND STABILITY: SOME NOTES ON THE ESAN PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA Emmanuel Osewe AKUBOR Department of History, Faculty of Arts Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria [email protected], [email protected] In every culture there are certain ideas explicit in the interaction of different elements which in turn sometimes act as an instrument of social control with which different cultural segments are held together. Thus, prior to the spread of Islamic and Christian influences, most societies in Africa believed in a complex structure of spirits and ancestors who influenced the living. This was contained in the traditional belief which reflects the wholeness of the universe, i.e., the various elements of which constituted not only the living, but also the dead and spirits. Thus among the Esan, the Erinni (Elimin masquerades) are organic to their myth of creation. In this way, they function as the major stabiliser of the people’s destiny. As far as the people are concerned, they are ancestral spirits who periodically visit their living forebears in masquerade forms. Their visits are regarded as spiritual interventions to the world of the living and as a result are highly venerated. They are a symbolic resurrection of the ancestors. To the Ifeku-Ibaji, Egwu (masquerade) symbolised both the ancestral shrine as well as represented the resurrected spirits of a dead elder, whose appearance and performance played a protective and regulatory role in the affairs of the living.

  • The Socio-Cultural Context of Health Behaviour Among Esan Communities, Edo State, Nigeria*

    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by The Australian National University 125 The socio-cultural context of health behaviour among Esan communities, Edo State, Nigeria* Francisca I. Omorodion Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria Abstract This paper reports on health beliefs and their influence on treatment decisions and behaviour among the Esan people of mid-west Nigeria. The sources for the study are my own experience of growing up in Esan society, anthropological field work, and focus groups. The research revealed a transitional society where both traditional and modern medicine are employed and where the choice between them is determined by belief systems which are themselves in the process of change, as well as by distance and costs. The traditional health-belief system was one which placed most responsibility and blame upon women, and a system of social control over the adult female population. Changing health beliefs are less the result of the introduction of a new health philosophy than of the retreat, under the impact of Christianity, of traditional religion which embodied the older health philosophy. Introduction This paper examines how Esan people perceive sickness and the mechanisms of treatment. The emphasis is on the cultural beliefs associated with the sickness and the type of treatment chosen and used in treating the ailment. The Esan people form a small linguistic and ethnic group, to which the author, an Esan woman and also an anthropologist, belongs. They number about half a million people and are found in Edo State, midwestern Nigeria, about 100 kilometres northeast of Benin City, between two larger and better known Nigerian peoples, the Benin Edo to the west and the Igbo to the east (Okojie 1960).
  • Categorization of Urban Centres in Edo State, Nigeria

    Categorization of Urban Centres in Edo State, Nigeria

    IOSR Journal of Business and Management (IOSRJBM) ISSN: 2278-487X Volume 3, Issue 6 (Sep,-Oct. 2012), PP 19-25 www.iosrjournals.org Categorization of Urban Centres in Edo State, Nigeria 1Ojeifo .O. Magnus, 2Joseph O. Eseigbe 1,2 Department of Geography and Regional Planning Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria Abstract: This study examined the urbanization process of towns in Edo State. The major objectives were to determine the causes of urbanization of settlements in Edo State and also to categorize the urban centres according to their sizes. The objectives also identified the problems of urbanization in the state. Data for the study were collected from secondary sources including published books, articles in journals, student’s thesis, and the census data of the National Population Commission. The data obtained by this means, were presented in tables. The study revealed that there has been a multiplication of urban centres in Edo State in the last 20 years, especially since 1991 and the creation of more local government councils and headquarters was responsible. It was also revealed that, the centres are urbanizing and population was the major factor of urbanization. Although, all the centres were urbanizing, the level of urbanization was found to vary among the centres, and it is upon this that the centres were categorized. Three categories of urban centres were identified for the state according to their population, they are, first, second and third order urban centres. The problems confronting the urban centres were identified to include, housing shortages, traffic congestion, decaying infrastructure and invasion of agricultural land.
  • A Survey of Uvinmi Body Tattoo As a Curative Procedure in Esanland, Edo State, Nigeria

    A Survey of Uvinmi Body Tattoo As a Curative Procedure in Esanland, Edo State, Nigeria

    Journal of Arts & Humanities Recapturing Traditional Culture - A Survey of Uvinmi Body Tattoo as a Curative Procedure in Esanland, Edo State, Nigeria Fatimah Mohammed Palmer1 ABSTRACT Body tattooing in traditional Nigerian culture was basically believed to be used for identification as well as aesthetic purposes. In some cultures, such as seen amongst the traditional ethnic Hausa and Fulani people, permanent facial marks were used to identify slaves within a community and also used to enhance the beauty and appearance of the women folk especially. In the southern part of Nigeria, amongst the Yorubas, it is used as a tribal identification symbol that provides information about the individual, as well as some culturally-related beliefs. The use of tattoos among the Esan ethnic people transcends the purposes of identification and enhancement of physical appearance as discovered. Thus this study examines the use of tattoo as a curative process for the illness called Udeh among the Esan ethnic people of Edo state Nigeria. Udeh is an illness associated with infection of the spleen. Data was collected through visitation of traditional healing venues, oral interview of some traditional doctors and elders as well as direct observation of the treatment processes. Findings indicated that the practice of Uvinmi has been in existence from time immemorial and it is a familial profession inherited from generation to generation as the most effective medium for treating spleen related diseases among the Esan people. It was also discovered contemporarily modern medical anaesthesia is employed to help reduce the agony felt in the process of blade incision as practiced by one of the traditional doctors.
  • An Examination of the Characteristics of Esan Traditional Music of Edo State, Nigeria

    An Examination of the Characteristics of Esan Traditional Music of Edo State, Nigeria

    AN EXAMINATION OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ESAN TRADITIONAL MUSIC OF EDO STATE, NIGERIA. DR. CHARLES O. ALUEDE ABSTRACT Nigeria is made up of autochthonous groups with diverse musical cultures. In this essay, the researcher observes that over generalization associated with the characteristics of African music in general and Nigerian music in particular can no longer hold sway because each ethnic group has its peculiar musical attributes. In this connection, he gives an in depth examination of Esan music, of Nigeria by highlighting what he sees to be unique in the musical performances of this people. INTRODUCTION It is a common knowledge that traditional African music is that musical genre that was associated with the Africans in the pre-colonial era, which has survived all the forces of acculturation in the colonial era to date. Music in Africa has been talked of as being very functional because no event passed by in African societies without profuse music making. African music has its own unique attributes or characteristics. Such attributes have been observed by Nketia (1974), Bebey (1975), Southern (1983) and Agordoh (1994). Given that these music scholars have dealt with some issues which relate to musical features of African music, why a re-examination? Music of the African continent is too varied to allow for straight generalizations. This is so because Africa is highly autochthonous and three times more than the size of America. They also speak over 700 different languages. In spite of urbanization, Christianity and their associated industrial developments, over half of the continent’s communities still hold religiously their mores.
  • Esan Traditional Medicine: Problems and Prospects

    Esan Traditional Medicine: Problems and Prospects

    International Journal of Advancements in Research & Technology, Volume 3, Issue 2, February-2014 16 ISSN 2278-7763 Esan Traditional Medicine: Problems and Prospects BY J. A. Onimhawo [email protected] Phone No: +2348036045261 DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS MANAGEMENT AND CULTURAL STUDIES AMBROSE ALLI UNIVERSITY, EKPOMA EDO STATE, NIGERIA and T. O. Ebhomienlen [email protected] IJOART Phone No: +2348066839635 DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS MANAGEMENT AND CULTURAL STUDIES AMBROSE ALLI UNIVERSITY, EKPOMA EDO STATE, NIGERIA Copyright © 2014 SciResPub. IJOART International Journal of Advancements in Research & Technology, Volume 3, Issue 2, February-2014 17 ISSN 2278-7763 ABSTRACT This paper discusses Esan Traditional Medicine (ETM} with emphasis on its problems and prospects. The ETM flows together within the network of African traditional heritage. It forms part of African metaphysical belief and an essential element of the people’s life since good health and good living is the core expectation of all humans existing on earth. This paper further examines ETM as a phenomenon that revolves round all the people’s life and activities. That ETM does not only concern itself with the healing, cure and prevention of diseases and ailments. That it goes beyond the physical to the psychosomatic and spiritual levels. The paper also discusses that in Esan there is medicine for planting, good luck, and so on. Nevertheless the main concern of this treatise is how the response to social change has adversely affected the practice of ETM. Besides, the paper further conveys that deforestation, poor attitude to ETM and traditional practitioners, the death of traditional experts and others form the factors militating against the ETM.