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Indigenous Oral Poetry in Nigeria As a Tool for National Unity

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Indigenous Oral Poetry in Nigeria As a Tool for National Unity © Kamla-Raj 2011 J Communication, 2(2): 83-91 (2011) Indigenous Oral Poetry in Nigeria as a Tool for National Unity Luke Eyoh Department of English, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria GSM: 08023569440; E-mail: lukeeyoh@ yahoo.com KEYWORDS Insights. Similarities. Ethnic. Frontiers. Development ABSTRACT The paper adopts the stylistic critical approach to the study of selected ethnic oral poetry in Nigeria. Its findings disclose ample insights into copious similarities in interests, thoughts, worldviews and values across the various ethnic groups in Nigeria. These findings constitute an effective tool for national integration, unity and development. The paper recommends the preservation, propagation, teaching and learning of Nigerian oral poetry across ethnic frontiers with emphasis on its unifying properties as a means to achieving national unity and development in the country. INTRODUCTION Indicator of Cultural Unity in Nigeria: Similari- ties in Ibibio and Ijo/Urhobo Animal Symbol- The paper explores and illuminates indi- ism in J. P. Clark-Bekederemo’s Poetry” genous oral poetry in Nigeria as a tool for na- published in Essays in Language and Literature tional unity. It comprises six sections, section one in Honour of Ime Ikiddeh at 60 reveals, through being this introduction. Section two focuses on ample research, copious similarities in animal a review of literature germane to the study, three symbolism in Ibibio, Ijo/Urhobo and other Ni- on the critical approach used for the study and gerian cultures. The work suggests that reading four on ten (10) selected ethnic poetic forms in Nigerian poems “rich in cross-cultural animal Nigeria. The ten (10) items, obtained from symbolism stimulates and sustains national con- resource persons and secondary sources, are sciousness and unity in Nigeria” (61). analysed in pairs as follows: musical instruments Three other works by Eyoh, like the forego- and dance songs; names and greetings/oratory; ing, relate to this study: “Proverbs as Evidence proverbs and symbols/symbolism; divination of Ethnic Unity in Nigeria: A Study in Ijo, Urhobo and myths. Section five of the paper raises and Ibibio Oral Literatures” (presented at issues about the vexed questions of authorship, Proverb Conference in Nigeria, Obafemi performance and language while section six deals Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, August 1 – 5, 2006); with conclusion and recommendations. “Cross-Ethnic Literary Semiotics in Nigerian Languages as a Tool for National Unity” (pre- Review of Related Literature sented at First Annual Conference on National Development: Challenges to the Humanities in Copious critical works exist on Nigerian oral the 21st Century, organized by Faculty of Arts, literature, a few on Nigerian oral poetry and few University of Abuja, August 22 – 26, 2006), and on the relevance of ethnic oral poetry in Nigeria “Nigerian Oral Poetry as a Source of Democratic to national unity and development. Certainly, Principles: A Study of Selected Ibibio Proverbs” none bears the title and contents of this study. (presented at 5th Faculty of Arts National Con- Ime Ikiddeh (2005), in his Historic Essays on ference organized by Benue State University, African Literature, Language and Culture, enun- Makurdi, on the theme: “Democratization and ciates the fact that “literature, particularly of the the Rule of Law in Nigeria: The Challenges of oral mould, is a social product that has its roots the Humanities”, 7th – 11th July, 2008). How- in a defined cultural context” (59), by which he ever, this study differs from those four in that it implies that oral literature of a people is intri- pursues an interest in specific forms of ethnic cately tied to the social, cultural and political oral poetry in Nigeria, though in the same con- aspirations and goals of the people which invari- text of national unity and development. ably encompass national unity and national de- In his contribution to the deployment of our velopment attainable through peaceful co-exist- national literatures to national unity and devel- ence. Ikiddeh’s submission pertinently relates, opment, C. T. Maduka (1994) in an Inaugural though it bears no direct exactitude, to our study. Lecture entitled Across Frontiers: Comparative Luke Eyoh’s (2002) “Animal Symbolism as Literature and National Integration envisions 84 LUKE EYOH the efficacy of literature as a tool in nation-build- titutions, as Alekwu would not eat in an unclean ing and for national unity: house (122). This scenario indicates the Literature enhances man’s awareness of the sanitizing function of the oral form: it abhors interlocking relationship between human corruption and promotes uprightness, a feature freedom, self-determination of people and of national development. progress in society and the necessity of erecting Nkem Okoh (2008) in his Preface to Oral systems that sustain the life of social institutions. Literature, reminiscent of William Wordsworth’s Each national literature encodes values which “Preface to the Lyrical Ballads”, extensively guide the people towards the development of enunciates and elucidates the importance of oral effective mechanisms of response to the literature in Nigerian national life. As he puts it: challenges of civilization in the modern world […] oral literature has enormous didactic … Our national life is in chaos because there is dimensions which can be channeled to the no poetry in the head of our leaders (17 – 18). benefit of our society. In addition to being an Maduka, however, expresses doubt about the art, oral literature constitutes a pleasurable capacity of Nigerian national literature in English mode of learning. In other words, there are other language to foster unity and development in the possibilities beyond this element of enjoyment country in view of its accessibility to only a neg- (236). ligible, elitist segment of the population. Okoh further assures that oral literature in Nige- In his “Nigerian Literature in English and the ria deals with certain serious issues about life, National Question”, Maduka (1999) submits that man, his relationships with his environment and the literatures of the various ethnic groups with other human beings, all of which are … constitute the cornerstone of the Nigerian liter- pertinent in the society today. Oral literature, as ary life and therefore calls on the various levels he concludes, “has an enormous role to play in of government to accord recognition to Nigerian national development” (236). languages and literatures in them as viable tools Similarly, as reported by Ajuwon (1981), the for national development. He argues that Yoruba Ijala oral poetry frowns against Nigerian literatures in English “can only contrib- amassing wealth but sees the essence of life in ute something to the national development by the attainment of personal merit and in service harping on themes and forms that could orient to the society for which a place of honour is the attitudes of the minority elite towards the carved for one in the community (196). This cause of national unity” (114). honour is attainable through the principles and Maduka’s other work, “The Clouds Are Gath- practice of industry, humility, integrity and hero- ering: Nigerian Languages and Literatures in ism which Ijala oral poetry teaches. Apart from National Development” (2003) calls for the use its entertaining function therefore, Ijala oral of “Nigerian languages and literatures for con- poetry contributes to society’s stability and structing bridges across the various ethnic groups development. in the country and establishing a foundation for Like Ijala oral poetry, the Udje dance songs the mutual co-existence of the ethnic groups” among the Urhobo, as reported by Udoeyop (16). Maduka’s faith in the efficacy of our na- (1973) and Ojaide (2001), check misdemeanours tional literatures in national unity and develop- and vices in the society and therefore promote ment permeates all his contributions cited in this communal/national stability and development. work. The language issue which rings in all his We shall revisit the Alekwu, Ijala and Udje in cited contributions will be revisited in this study this study in the segment dealing with selected in due course. forms of ethnic oral poetry in Nigeria. For now, Further critical opinions on the role of oral we shall take on the views of such scholars as poetry in nation-building and national develop- Liz Gunner, Abiola Irele, Isidore Opkewho, Mary ment are expressed by such critics as Anyebe, Kolawale, Chike Aniakor and Wole Soyinka on Okoh, Ajuwon and Ojaide. According to Anyebe the subject of oral literature and national unity. (2005), the ceremony for the resurrection of Gunner (2007) asserts that: alekwu, which constitutes oral poetry among the […] orality need to be seen in the African Idoma people of Nigeria, is preceded by inten- context as the means by which societies of sive preparations including cleansing whereby varying complexity regulated themselves, offenders against the land confess and make res- organized their present and their pasts, made INDIGENOUS ORAL POETRY IN NIGERIA AS A TOOL FOR NATIONAL UNITY 85 formal spaces for philosophical reflections, ties share the common view of life “as a cosmic pronounced on power, questioned and in some envelope using the technique of theatre as a pro- cases contested power, and generally paid cess of integration” (63) – they apprehend life homage to “the word”, language, as the means as a duality; things are made up of two’s as re- by which humanity was made and constantly flected in the various elements of creation: fir- refashioned (67). mament/earth, men/women, man/spirits, etc.” This role of orality need not be seen in the past; (63). This illustrates the common origin, and it is surely in force among the non-literate and common espitemological view of cosmogony minimally literate societies. Exploitation of this among the different ethnic groups in Nigeria. A character of orality for the unity of the hetero- study of these details indubitably intensifies the geneous groups in Nigeria remains the vision of ties and bonds of unity among the ethnic com- this essay and accords relevance to Gunner’s munities.
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