ABSTRACT
Oral literature is an unwritten relation that encapsulates African values and aspiration through which their philosophy, customs, beliefs, history etc. are preserved and transmitted from one generation to another by word of mouth. The critical examination of festivals in Nigeria presents highly Aesthetics performances, debunking the Euro Centric assertion that Africans have no literature. The focus of this research work is to attempt/investigate the aesthetic value of Osun festival celebrated by the osun people through the invocation rendered during the festival, which makes it magical in nature. This falls under the category of Religious poetry.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Abstracts v
Table of contents vi
CHAPTER ONE
1.1. Introduction 1
1.2. History of Osogbo 2
1.3. Osun Osogbo annual festival 3
1.4. Purpose of study 11
1.5. Justification 11
1.6. Scope and delimitation 11
1.7. Methodology 12
END NOTES 12
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. Introduction to Oral literature 14
2.2. Forms of oral poetry 17
2.2.1 Proverbs 18
2.2.2 Praise poetry 19
2.2.5 Funeral poetry 20
2.2.6 Religious poetry 21
END NOTES 24
CHAPTER THREE
3.1. Aesthetics of Osun Osogbo festival 26
3.2. Invocation poem in Osun Osogbo festival 28
3.3. Analysis of the magical poetry in Osun Osogbo festival 30
END NOTES 37
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1. Findings 38
4.2. Recommendations 39
4.3. Summary and Conclusion 40
END NOTES 41
BIBLIOGRAPHY 42
INTRODUCTION
It is said that literature reflects life, whether in oral or written works of art. The Eurocentric scholars believe that African is with neither culture nor history which leads this research into some scholar’s definition of culture
Harris (1971, p1) says “culture refers to the learned, socially acquired traditions of thought and behaviors found in human societies “
Taylor (1871:1) holds the view that culture:
… Taken in its wide ethnographic sense is that
complex whole which includes knowledge, Believe,
arts, morals, law, customers, and any other Capabilities
and habits acquired by man as a member of
society. (Taylor 1)
The beauty of our culture can never be underestimated because; it is part of what makes up literature. African literature is classified into two parts; the traditional or oral literature and written literature. Oral literature, which is the focus of this study can further be classified into three parts; oral prose, drama and poetry. The oral poetry, the main focus of this study, is forms which are either chanted on sung. There are different forms of oral poetry; praise poetry, religious poetry, occupational, Lullaby, public funeral, poetry. Invocation is one of the sub-parts of religious poetry, which is the focus of this research work on the Osun Osogbo festival.