Òsun in the Verbal and Visual Metaphors ˛
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
George Olúsolá. Ajíbádé ˛ Negotiating Performance: Òsun in the verbal and visual Metaphors˛ Bayreuth African Studies Working Papers (October 2005) NNo.o. 4 Bayreuth African Studies Online Die Bayreuther Online-Reihe "Bayreuth African Studies Online" präsentiert Forschungsergebnisse des Afrika-Schwerpunkts der Universität Bayreuth. Sie umfasst Aufsätze, Sammelbände und Monographien. Alle Beiträge durchlaufen ein Peer Review Verfahren. Es gibt keine festen Vorgaben für die Publikationssprache und die Länge der Beiträge. Beiträge zu dieser Reihe können direkt oder über die Hochschullehrer/innen bzw. über die Mitglieder des SFB/FK 560 eingereicht werden. Das Herausgebergremium bestimmt zwei Fachgutachter (auch außerhalb der Universität Bayreuth) und entscheidet auf der Basis der Gutachten über die Aufnahme. Die Schriftenreihe "Bayreuth African Studies Working Papers" ist über den Opus-Service der Universitätsbibliothek mit ISBN-Nummer erfasst. Jeder Band erscheint in elektronischer Version über die Homepage des IAS: http://www.uni-bayreuth.de/Afrikanologie/IAS/index.html und die Home- page des SFB: http://www.uni-bayreuth.de /sfbs/sfb-fk560/index-publikatio nen.html. Weitere Links befinden sich auf den Homepages einzelner Lehr- stühle und Professuren der Universität Bayreuth. Herausgeber: IAS: Herbert Popp (Geschäftsführender Direktor) SFB/FK 560: Dieter Neubert (Sprecher) SFB/FK 560: Verena Kremling (Wissenschaftliche Koordination) Adresse: Universität Bayreuth Institut für Afrikastudien & Kulturwissenschaftliches Forschungskolleg (SFB/FK 560) D-95440 Bayreuth Telefon: 0921/55-2088 Fax: 0921/55-2085 NEGOTIATING PERFORMANCE: ÒŞUN IN THE VERBAL AND VISUAL METAPHORS Copyright @ 2005 Ajíbádé, George Olúşọlá All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without prior permission of the Author or Publisher, except by a newspaper or magazine reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review. ÒŞUN IN THE VERBAL AND VISUAL METAPHORS II Table of Contents Dedication ..............................................................................................................IV Acknowledgements ................................................................................................ V 1. Introduction and Objectives ..............................................................................1 1.1. Introduction.........................................................................................1 1.2. Scope ...................................................................................................3 1.3. Research Methodology........................................................................3 1.4. Review of Related Literature...............................................................5 1.5. Theoretical Framework.....................................................................11 2. Òşogbo Community and Òşun Cult ................................................................23 2.2. The Calendar of Òşogbo Traditional Festivals ................................28 3. Organisation of Òşun Òşogbo Cult .................................................................46 3.1. Òşun Cult: An Overview ...................................................................46 3.2 The Children / Offspring of Òşun Òşogbo .........................................52 4. The Contents of Òşun Òşogbo Cult.................................................................55 4.1. Introduction.......................................................................................55 4.2. Òşun as the Emancipator of Yorùbá Womanhood............................55 4.3. Peculiarities of Òşun as a Doyen of Yorùbá Motherhood................62 4.4. Òşun as a Paediatrician....................................................................67 4.5. Òşun as a Deity of Productivity, Vitality and Fertility .....................71 4.6. The Beauty and the Elegance of Òşun ..............................................75 4.7. The Role of Òşun in Òşogbo Polity...................................................77 4.8. Òşun as Water/River .........................................................................82 4.9. Relationship of Òşun with other Deities in Yorùbá Pantheon..........87 4.10. Òşun as a Witch ..............................................................................92 ÒŞUN IN THE VERBAL AND VISUAL METAPHORS III 5. The Visual Art of Òşun Òşogbo.......................................................................97 5.1. Introduction.......................................................................................97 5.2. Representations of Òşun in the Visual Art ........................................99 5.3. The Visual Art portraying the role of Òşun in Òşogbo Politics......108 5.4. Relationship of Òşun with Other Deities in the Visual Art .............110 6. Traditional and Modern: The Transformation of Òşun Cult in Òşogbo...125 6.1. Introduction.....................................................................................125 6.2. The Impact of Foreign Religions on Òşun Òşogbo.........................126 6.3. The Effect of Modern Medicine on Òşun Cult in Òşogbo...............135 6.4. The Effect of Visual Art on Òşun Cult in Òşogbo ...........................136 6.5. The Effect of Slavery on Òşun Cult in Òşogbo ...............................140 7. Conclusions and Deductions ..........................................................................142 8. Oral Source......................................................................................................146 Respondents ...........................................................................................146 Bibliography...........................................................................................148 ÒŞUN IN THE VERBAL AND VISUAL METAPHORS IV Dedication This piece is dedicated to the Lord God Almighty, who was, is and will continue to exist; and to my late beloved and affectionate father, Enock Ọyátóògùn Ajíbádé, Alias Bàbá Fine. ÒŞUN IN THE VERBAL AND VISUAL METAPHORS V Acknowledgements I give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. One must appreciate what he has received. One good turn deserves another. I give thanks to all who have taken part in the plight of getting this book written. My prayer for you is that God will uphold you in Jesus name. My profound gratitude goes to the Humanities Collaborative Research Centre, Geschäftsstelle des SFB/FK560 of University of Bayreuth, Germany for awarding a scholarship to me to carry out my research on Òşun Òşogbo and for the funding of this book. Most especially, I give thanks to Prof. Peter Probst, his wife Dr. Bühler-Probst, Mrs Gertrud Ziegler and Dr. Verena Kremling who I worked with while enjoying the scholarship both in Nigeria and Germany. I also express my gratitude to Professor Dierk Lange of University of Bayreuth for his constructive criticism that sharpens my analytical skill. I show appreciation to my PhD supervisors, Prof. Revd. Thomas Makanjuola Ilesanmi, Prof. Bade Ajuwon of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and Prof. Peter Probst of Bayreuth University. I appreciate their efforts to make this research successful. I appreciate your love without dissimulation, the time spared to read my work and your constant advice and suggestions. I appreciate your patience and constant guidance. Ilesanmi, a straightforward-man-who-puts-Satan-to-shame, a good father filled with humility. Thanks are to you, a humble elder who is in friendship with younger ones. I really thank you; you are a father indeed. You will never be demoted in the place of honour that God has placed you. Likewise, I want to appreciate my father and my teachers, a Professor in knowledge, Bade Ajuwon. A good father that is full of good characters. The one who inculcates knowledge and characters in a gentle way you are highly appreciated. I appreciate your guidance and suggestions; your own children will never lack mercy. I appreciate Professor Akintunde Akinyẹmi and his wife. He who gives fish to eat has not solved the problem, but he who teaches how to fish. Everything you did for me is not in vain. The people who have not known you will serve you and your sun shall never go down. The mercy of the Lord shall never depart from you and your family. I appreciate all my Lecturers who have fed me with good knowledge. I say a big “Thank you” ÒŞUN IN THE VERBAL AND VISUAL METAPHORS VI to Prof. Lawrence Olufemi Adewole, Dr. James Bode Agbaje, Mr. Ayo Opefeyitimi, Dr. (Mrs) Janet Laide Sheba and Dr. Joshua Abiodun Ogunwale. I also appreciate my colleagues- Mr. Fabunmi Abidemi Felix and Mr. Segun Akeem Salawu for their encouragement. Also, I appreciate Mrs Adeola Faleye. You won’t miss eternity in Jesus name. I show appreciation to my friends everywhere. Death will not part us in Jesus name. I appreciate my Parents – Late Pa Enock Oyatoogun Ajibade and Mrs. Serah Adetohun Ajibade - thank you. I appreciate my In-law Elder. Enock Oyewole Afolabi and Deaconess Lydia Aróláké Afolabi for their support. In the course of conducting this research, I benefited from the cooperation and knowledge of numerous respondents in Òşogbo, Ipole-Ijesa and other places. I express appreciation to the following people: Chief Gabreal Oparanti, Mrs Adenle Omileye, Chief Osuntoogun, Late Prince Adenle, Priest Lekan Orisadare, Mr Adigun Ajani, Chief Olasupo Aremu, Chief Oyegbade Olatona, Chief Oriyomi and Mama, Adunni Iwinfunmike Olorisa- Susanne Wenger. They took time to present me with