Tuesday 26 February 2013

YORUBA

History of the Yoruba people

Yoruba people are believed to have migrated from Upper Egypt and Nubia around the time of the Exodus of the Book of Genesis. The Yoruba groups are assumed to have developed out of undifferentiated Volta–Niger populations by at least the 1st millennium BC. Settlements of early Yoruba speakers are assumed to correspond to those found in the wider Niger area from about the 4th century BC, especially at Ife.

The prehistoric settlement at Ife appears to have entered a "golden age" with the appearance of urban structures by the 12th century. This seems to be the formative period of the Yoruba people as reflected in oral tradition and continues to be seen as the "spiritual homeland" of the Yoruba. Ife was surpassed by the Oyo Empire as the dominant Yoruba military and political power in the 17th century. The oba or ruler of Ife is referred to as the Ooni of Ife.


The Oyo Empire was active in the African slave trade during the 18th century. The Yoruba often demanded slaves as a form of tribute of subject populations, who in turn sometimes made war on other peoples to capture the required slaves. Part of the slaves sold by the Oyo Empire entered the Atlantic slave trade. The oba or ruler of Oyo is referred to as the Alaafin of Oyo.
Most of the city states were controlled by Obas (or royal sovereigns with various individual titles) and councils made up of Oloyes, recognised leaders of royal, noble and, often, even common descent, which joined them in ruling over the kingdoms through a series of guilds and cults. Different states saw differing ratios of power between the kingships and the chiefs' councils. Some such as Oyo had powerful, autocratic monarchs with almost total control, while in others such as the Ijebu city-states, the senatorial councils held more influence and the power of the ruler or Ọba, referred to as the Awujale of Ijebuland, was more limited.

YORUBA KINGDOMS


There were about 20 Yoruba kingdoms at one time with a different king ruling over each one. Ife was known as the center of cultural and religious life.
Oyo was the strongest kingdom with the largest military and political system. The kingdom of Oyo was close to the Niger River. The rich soil in Oyo allowed the people to grow more crops than they needed. This helped the kingdom of Oyo to easily trade with neighboring groups. They also created a strong military. Oyo was in control of 6,600 towns and villages by the end of the 18th century. Internal wars and fighting with neighboring groups, along with the beginning of the slave trade, eventually led to the decline of these great kingdoms.

In the 18th century, European countries were beginning to create colonies all over the world. Europeans were taking villagers from West Africa and bringing them to the New World to be slaves in the new colonies. The British came to Yorubaland in 1852. By 1884 European nations were meeting to discuss how they would break-up Africa into different colonies. The British were granted the right by the other European nations to colonize Yorubaland, and in 1893 Yorubaland became part of a larger colony known officially as Nigeria.

FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND TRADE

Yams are the most important food for the Yoruba in their homeland of Nigeria. Grains, plantains, corn, beans, meat, and fish are also eaten. Poultry, goats, sheep, pigs, and cattle are raised as livestock. Large rivers, lagoons and the ocean provide fish and shrimp for the Yoruba. Fisherman sells fresh and dried fish through traders at the local markets. The Yoruba make stews out of yams, plantains, corn, cassava, and taro. Palm oil from the nuts of the palm oil tree is often used to cook with.

Every country has an economy. People create economies through employment, trade, and the buying and selling of goods. Around 1900 cacao became the most important crop that Nigeria sold to other countries in order to earn money. Cotton and indigo were also grown and sold. Today natural resources like crude oil, coal, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood, corn, rice, millet, cassava, and yams are exported. Many men are employed as farmers. Women are responsible for selling goods at the markets.

Potters, blacksmiths, carvers, and leather and bead workers are important to Yoruba society because they all contribute to the economy. The goods that they produce are made to be used and also have great artistic value.

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Traditional Yoruba beliefs see the world made up of two connected realms. The visible world of the living is called Aye, and the spiritual world of the Orisas, the ancestors and spirits, is called Orun. Ase is the life force that is given to everything by the Creator of the universe. Ase is in everything: plants, animals, people, prayers, songs, rocks, and rivers. Existence is dependent upon Ase because Ase is the power to make things happen and change.

The Yoruba believe in the Creator who rules over the entire universe along with many other gods that serve underneath him. The Creator of the universe is called Olorun. Olorun lives in the sky and is considered to be the father of all the other gods. Olorun is the only god that never lived on earth. Olorun is the supreme god and has no special group of worshippers or shrines, like the other gods do.

The Yoruba people worship over four hundred different deities. These gods are called Orisas. Some of the Orisas are worshiped by all of the Yoruba. Other gods are only worshiped by certain towns or families. Every person is given or receives a special deity to worship. A person usually worships the god of his father, but some worship the god of their mother. Some people are contacted by a particular god in their dreams and are instructed to worship them.

MUSIC AND DANCE




Music and dance have always been an important part of Yoruba culture for those living in Nigeria as well as in the Diaspora. Yoruba music and dance are used for many different occasions in life such as religious festivals, royal occasions, and entertainment.
Yoruba traditional music focuses on Yoruba deities. Drums and singing are the main elements of Yoruba music. Instruments such as metal bells and wind instruments are sometimes used. Yoruba is a tonal language. Words must be pronounced in the appropriate tone (pitch) in order to understand speech in its correct meaning. There are three major tones: high, mid, and low. Most of Yoruba music is based on these tonal patterns of speech.
Juju emerged in the 1920’s and is the most well known form of Yoruba popular music in Nigeria. Juju has its roots in traditional Yoruba drum based music. Juju is dance music played by large ensembles centered on guitars and drumming. Singing is a major part of Juju music and is inspired by Yoruba poetry, proverbs, praise songs, and the musical character of the language.


THE FESTIVAL IN YORUBA LAND

THE olokun festival foundation has in the last few years become at the forefront of the development of the Yoruba cultural heritage. One of the efforts to reposition Yoruba culture was the introduction of the annual olokun festival, which has become a yearly ritual for tourists and fun seekers, from several parts of the world.
Prior to the grand finale, which served as the climax of the festival, which was tagged “Sustaining Yoruba   Cultural Heritage for the coming Generation” series of events aimed at showcasing the rich cultural values of the Yoruba’s, from all the parts of the world, were  staged.
As parts of the belief  of the Yorubas in the supernatural role of the almighty God, two prayer sessions  were held for the successful hosting of the event, while two royal courtesy visits were made on the  Akran of Badagry, Oba Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi.


Army Cantonment High School, Ikeja, Lagos State emerged as the winner of the Late Obafemi Awolowo‘s first  prize during the 2010 edition of the Olokun Festival Yoruba Quiz Competitions for secondary schools in the state while two other schools won  the Late Babatunde Fafunwa and Gani Adams second and third prizes, respectively.
The chief promoter of the foundation, Chief Gani Adams, who bagged a honourary  doctorate degree of public relations  by the Isles International Universite, Malaysia, during the event while speaking on the quiz competition stated ascribed the need to explore the Yoruba cultural heritage through the learning and teaching of the Yoruba language to the motivation behind the introduction of the quiz competition

The beauty pageant was another opportunity to  present the Yoruba tradition to other ethnic groups in Nigeria as a non Yoruba descendant. Miss Evan Ezenneka, emerged as the  winner in the contest, thereby becoming the new Miss Olokun, and automatically a life time ambassador of the festival.

Ezenneka, an undergraduate of the department of Computer Science, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, emerged in an unanimous  decision amidst cheers  and loud ovation from the audience, that filled the 10 Degrees Event Centre venue of the  contest. The chief promoter of the foundation, Chief Adams, while speaking during the beauty pageant, described the beauty pageant as a unique pageant, which showcases African beauty.”

He also added that the pageant underscores the importance of African art and culture in a competitive manner whereby young and well–groomed ladies, representing different states showcase their beauty, talent and intelligence in a classy manner using  international and African contents.
Adams also noted that the beauty pageantry was aimed at encouraging wider participation  in  the attempt to explore to its fullness, the excellence of the Yoruba cultural heritage

At the grand finale, Adams  stated that the significance of the event  lies on the need to reawaken and sensitise the participants of the ideals of cultural promotion and applications of moral values on the daily and socio economic activities of the Yoruba race.
He also claimed that the annual Olokun Festival, like other cultural festivals, served as a forum, that brought intellectuals, scholars, local and foreign tourists and audience alike together, for a reflective thinking and exchange of ideas and appraisal of cultural programme in national development.

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