Awori People: Distinct Sub-Yoruba Coastal People Of Lagos State, Badagry Expanse Together With Osun State
The Awori are peaceful, coastal agro-fishery too distinct Yoruboid-speaking people that forms a sub-ethnic grouping of the larger Yoruba people of West Africa, especially inwards Nigeria too Benin. The Awori are found inwards large concentrated inwards Ogun State too Lagos State, Nigeria.
Zangbeto cultural troupe of Awori people of Badagryland
The Awori who are organized laid of people part mutual cultural values inwards varying degrees amongst other Yoruba too Edo groups. Though the Awori are mainly Yoruba speakers, but due to trans-national too inter-ethnic interactions, the bulk of the Awori Yoruba of coastal southwestern
Nigeria is bilingual, speaking the Yoruba too Ogu languages (previously erroneously referred to every bit Egun). Such Awori Yoruba peoples are found at Apa, Igbogbele, Iworo, amidst others. The Ogu are also bilingual, speaking both the Ogu too Yoruba languages too they are found across coastal due south western Nigeria, Republic of Benin Republic, Togo too Ghana. the Awori Ogu of the Badagry coastal expanse of southwestern Nigeria.
The legendary hunter Ogunfunminire was their progenitor too he traces his beginning or secondary affinity to Ile Ife, the cradle of Yoruba civilization too civilization too undoubtedly class. Ogunfunminire inwards his go from Ile Ife outset founded Isheri amongst other migrants who were in all probability hunters similar him. According to Awori traditions, before migrating to Isheri, Ogunfunminiri consulted Ifa oracle which counseled the migration. It is said that Ogunfunminiri too his friend Adeyemi Onikoye, also a bang-up hunter left their habitation for a hunting expedition too overstayed thereby absenting themselves from the funeral of their father. Their relations thinking them dead, set their junior blood brother on the throne too this annoyed the 2 powerful princes when they arrived.
However, they were afraid of the bang-up harm they powerfulness drive if they make upwards one's heed to struggle hence, the Olofin took the calabash which was willed to him yesteryear his bang-up father. The tradition continued that he followed the displace of the ritual pot on H2O until it sank too they settled inwards the region. The advert AWORI, translates every bit "The plate sank". It was adopted every bit the group`s advert till today. The formation of Isheri was the nucleus of other Awori settlements such every bit Iro, Ogudu, Agboyi, Ojo Ado-Ode,Ota etc. The establishment of Lagos Island, Eko yesteryear Edo (Bini) human being Aromire would appear to receive got encouraged members of his immediate trouble solid unit of measurement too other Awori groups to settle inwards other parts of Lagos Island such every bit Itolo, Ikoyi, Iru. Ajiran, too other parts of Lagos yesteryear the Lagoon. While the Awori were consolidating their concur on the Island too it immediate vicinity, the Edo speaking people of Republic of Benin Kingdom founded a village at Enu Owa, close their Awori brethren too amongst time, their presence had profound outcome on the development of traditional establishment inwards Lagos.
Another tradition pointed out that Adeyemi Onikoye of Lagos (Bini or Edo village formerly known every bit Eko/Oko yesteryear the Yoruba) was given inwards the volition of their father, a crown of beads, Ifa Oracle Olokun deity, Awo Ipa, Osugbo too the gods of his begetter Lakaba. On getting to Isheri, Adeyemi consulted Olokun the goddess of the sea who counseled some other migration for him too he moved until he got to Ikoye.
Eyo masquerade of Awori people of Lagos. Circa 1912
It is clear that Awori people are conglomeration of Yoruba migrants. Fabuyi (1987) citing authors Agiri too Barnes echoed this point: "There are rigid indication that people right away known every bit Awori stand upwards for a long too uneven displace of people from Ketu, Egbado, Oyo too no doubt, other regions who were forced yesteryear warfare too slave raids too this was occurring every bit early on every bit 14th too 15th centuries prior to too possibly extending into the same catamenia that saw Bini (Edo/Benin) March Southwards. (emphasis mine)
The Awori are distinguished yesteryear 4 main characteristics; the linguistic communication which is of Yoruba dialect, traditions of ancestral migration from Ile Ife, traditions of mutual descent from Oduduwa, the eponymous hero of the Yoruba too traditions of consanguineous human relationship resulting from the ancestry of ruling classes too cultural heritage every bit good every bit diffusion through migration too interaction. Awori Yoruba dialect remained a uniform strength amidst the diverse groups; an Awori identifies himself amongst some other Awori yesteryear greeting term "Kitigbe o?" (How are you?) too the familiar reply is "O gbe re" (It is fine).
The Awori could live on grouped into 2 major divisions. These are the early on Awori too the latter Awori groups. Among the early on Awori grouping of village are Isheri, Otto-Olofin, Iddo, Ebute Metta, Apa, Ibereko every bit good every bit Otta too Ado-Odo inwards Ogun nation of Nigeria. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 mutual characteristic of these settlements is that they were founded before 1500. They also receive got a related migratory history too recognise Ogunfunminire every bit their progenitor. The later on village include Ojo, Itire, Mushin, Iba, Otto-Awori, Ijanikin, Ilogbo Elegba, Ilogbo-Eremi, Iworo, Agbara etc all of which are ship service 1500 settlements.
It must live on noted that inwards Ogun State, the village of the Awori people preceded the establishment of Abeokuta every bit an Egba kingdom inwards 1830. Otta, the initiatory of all Awori town inside introduce solar daytime Ogun State, which is also the State’s industrial nerve-centre, for instance, was already inwards existence inwards the 15th century. The outset crowned Oba at Ota was Oba Akinsewa Ogbolu inwards 1621, spell the outset Alake inwards Abeokuta, Sagbua Okekenu was crowned on eighth August 1854.
The Awori constitute the volume of the indigenous population of seventeen, out of the 20 local regime areas of Lagos State every bit at the yr 2003, the alone exceptions beingness Epe, Ikorodu too Ibeju-Lekki amongst minimal Awori inhabitants. In these areas, they receive got developed many kingdoms too chiefdoms.
Ogogo kulodo masquerade from Ota Awori inwards Ogun State
On the other hand, the Badagry expanse is of import historically to Awori people because it is 1 of the outset places to receive got had contact amongst the exterior world. It is, inwards fact, commonly referred to every bit the gateway to Christianity inwards Nigeria, for it was at Badagry town that Christianity was outset preached inwards Nigeria inwards September 1842. Christmas was celebrated at that spot on Dec 25 of that yr (Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I—the Akran of Badagry, 1994; Alabi, 1996). The outset storied edifice inwards Nigeria was also built at that spot inwards 1845. The town also served every bit an of import terminus during the trans-Saharan merchandise too the notorious trans-Atlantic slave merchandise (Ogunremi et al., 1994).
Language
The Awori verbalise a distinct North-West Yoruba (NWY) dialect of Yoruboid languages that belong to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication group. The Awori every bit a sub-group possesses a distinguished speech.
An anthropologist, W.G. Wormalin inwards his Intelligence Report on the Badagry district of the colony (1935) gives a graphic description of the early on Awori when he writes that:
"They verbalise depression too slurred dialect of the Yoruba language. They mostly engage inwards farming too fishing. Their lack of figure too unity seems to receive got combined amongst the unfavourable nature of their habitat to homecoming them a ‘poor’ lot from the breeding indicate of sentiment amongst the exception of those of them inside the part of Lagos from earliest fourth dimension to date."
As explained before Awori are bilianghual. They verbalise Yoruba, Ogun too Edo (bini) languages.
Awori Yoruba people of Lagos at traditional marriage gathering
Economy
In the distant past, agriculture was the main economical activity of Aworiland. The master copy Awori inhabitants proficient crop farming, poultry farming, too cattle/sheep rearing, line-fishing too hunting on a modest scale. Of all these, the people concentrated to a greater extent than on crop farming too fishing.
Crop farming was of 2 geographical categories: chemical compound farmland called Oko-Etile too distant farmland called Oko Egan. It is inwards Oko Egan that most of the permanent crops similar cocoa, palm trees too crops of commercial value similar maize cocoyams, cassava, guinea corn etc, were grown. The Oko Etile is marked yesteryear tillage of garden crops such every bit pepper, tomatoes too onions, Okro lemons, melon, vegetables, pumpkins, too soya beans, etc (Olatunji, 1998). Oko Etile was visited at brusk intervals, especially when at that spot was the possibility of the farmer having an important
visitor at home. On the other hand, Oko Egan was unremarkably located at a far distance too the farmer unremarkably spent a relatively longer catamenia at that spot compared to the Oko Etile.
Swamp farming was really mutual inwards Aworiland. On these swamp farms, vegetables, rice, maize too other consumables were cultivated. Though, the women did non characteristic prominently inwards farming but they had the responsibleness of accompanying their husbands to the farm inwards club to assist them especially during the harvesting of farm products, such every bit cassava. The women processed them into finished products such every bit gari, the staple nutrient of all Aworis. The women harvested, peeled, washed too processed the cassava into either gari or fufu.
The peasant farmers also proficient some shape of animate beingness husbandry. They engaged themselves in
keeping too rearing of such animals every bit goats, sheep, short-horned cattle, local pigs too domestic fowls inwards trouble solid unit of measurement compounds. These animals, amongst the exception of fowls are kept inwards special places (within the trouble solid unit of measurement compound) variously called Ogbo Maalu, Ogbo Ewure, Ogbo Elede etc. every bit the instance may be. These animals were unremarkably taken to the land yesteryear immature children for pasture or they are fed amongst cassava or other edible leaves spell other people kept their animals inside the
chemical compound too fed them or proficient guarded pasturing inwards club to avoid conflicts amongst other farmers inwards instance the animals destroy the crops.
The Awori also engaged inwards fishing. This is done either early on inwards the morning, belatedly inwards the even out or nighttime depending on the line-fishing implement to live on used too the conditions condition. The people,
particularly, the women engaged inwards swamp fishing. They unremarkably had a land solar daytime during the dry out flavor when the swamps were relatively dry, thereby allowing unhindered access to the fish. There was also line-fishing through the utilization of combination of hooks too nets. The hooks, armed amongst bait, such every bit earthworms, are laid inwards the H2O amongst a float on the surface of the water. The float helps the fisherman inwards knowing whether a fish had been trapped or non (i.e the float sinks whenever fish is caught). The fisherman may become to river the next solar daytime to collect his catch, or await some until a choose grip of is made, depending on the catamenia of the day. In addition, the people fished via the utilization of Ogu, a conical basket-like trap made from Opa, raffia palm fronds. This trap that permits alone H2O to current inwards betwixt the woven pieces is tied to some reeds or a rigid tree at the border of the
river. As the river flows, the fish which are unaware of the trap come inwards it too remain at that spot until the fisherman comes for inspection. The economical value of this venture was that the fish were sometime sold fresh to standby
customers or taken habitation to live on preserved through
smoking before selling at the neighborhood market
unremarkably at a higher value than the fresh type.
Gender Roles
Traditionally, Awori women performed such roles every bit cooking, washing, fetching of firewood, drawing water, nursing too cleaning of their surroundings. Among the Iba clan, they cleaned the markets too swept the whole town, from its centre to Oba Oyonka’s shrine too to the Oniba’s palace (Balogun, 1999).
Women also served every bit the earliest laid of teachers for the child. They tutored them on pronunciation, greeting, dressing, toileting too bodily care. Furthermore, women helped their husbands inwards line-fishing too farming activities. They carried cassava, maize, banana, coconut, vegetables too sea foods to the marketplace for sale. They also engaged inwards nutrient processing too preservation, gathering too processing of local herbs for medical purpose. Indeed, women inwards Aworiland contributed greatly to the physical too mental well-being of their communities. Some of
these women, variously called Iya Alagbo or Elewe Omo, were traditional physicians too chemists who saved many people from dying from curable diseases. The women were highly skilled inwards the training too utilization of traditional medicine. As early on every bit the pre- 1900 period, at that spot were medicine for curing diverse diseases, keeping away evil forces too attracting prosperity (Ajetunmobi, 1996).
Women also contributed immensely to the socio-cultural festivals of the area. As an illustration,
women featured inwards varying degrees inwards the festivals of Gelede, Oro, Ogun too Egungun. In fact, the Iya Agan performed a primal role during Egungun festival. After obtaining the Oba’s consent, the Iya Agan inwards conjuction amongst Alaagba (head of all Egungun worshippers), proceeds to brand necessary arrangements for the comport of a successful festival. She joined the Alaagba at the Igbale for necessary preliminary rituals. The Iya Agan also performed the responsibilities of informing her associates almost arrangements, including the engagement too attire for the festival (Balogun, 1999).
According to tradition, the Agan who is the traditional spiritual leader of Egungun is similar a boy to Iya
Agan. Significantly, without Iya Agan no Agan could come upwards out too no Egungun festival could receive got place. Iya Agan is a ship service held yesteryear a adult woman who is side yesteryear side inwards rank to Alaagba. She is the caput of the woman individual fly of Egungun adherents. She is highly respected yesteryear the cult to the extent that she is allowed access to the Igbale, by too large a no-go-area for women. Moreover, all masquerades
too females pay homage to her during the festival. She performs spiritual functions of belongings Isan (a special cane), giving the sword to special Egungun, handing over religious ability to them too withdrawing it during the visitation to Igbale (Ajetunmobi, 1996)
The Oloris (kings wives) too Iya Oba (kings mother) also performed of import roles inwards the traditional socio-political set-up of Awori. These women gave moral too psychological back upwards to the Oba. They were unremarkably gaily dressed, too sat some him, especially during ceremonies inwards the palace. It was unheard of for an Olori to abandon the side of the Oniba during such occasions. Sometimes the Oloris treated the Oba to trip the calorie-free fantastic toe steps. They also coordinated too oversaw feeding too other domestic requirements. In the contemporary period, women inwards Iba withal perform much of the traditional roles, although to a lesser grade due to the effects of modernization.
Source: http://docsdrive.com/pdfs/medwelljournals/sscience/2012/289-296.pdf
Egungun masquerade
Zangbeto cultural troupe of Awori people of Badagryland
The Awori who are organized laid of people part mutual cultural values inwards varying degrees amongst other Yoruba too Edo groups. Though the Awori are mainly Yoruba speakers, but due to trans-national too inter-ethnic interactions, the bulk of the Awori Yoruba of coastal southwestern
Nigeria is bilingual, speaking the Yoruba too Ogu languages (previously erroneously referred to every bit Egun). Such Awori Yoruba peoples are found at Apa, Igbogbele, Iworo, amidst others. The Ogu are also bilingual, speaking both the Ogu too Yoruba languages too they are found across coastal due south western Nigeria, Republic of Benin Republic, Togo too Ghana. the Awori Ogu of the Badagry coastal expanse of southwestern Nigeria.
His Royal Highness Oba Gbedegbo I,1898 - 1920
The legendary hunter Ogunfunminire was their progenitor too he traces his beginning or secondary affinity to Ile Ife, the cradle of Yoruba civilization too civilization too undoubtedly class. Ogunfunminire inwards his go from Ile Ife outset founded Isheri amongst other migrants who were in all probability hunters similar him. According to Awori traditions, before migrating to Isheri, Ogunfunminiri consulted Ifa oracle which counseled the migration. It is said that Ogunfunminiri too his friend Adeyemi Onikoye, also a bang-up hunter left their habitation for a hunting expedition too overstayed thereby absenting themselves from the funeral of their father. Their relations thinking them dead, set their junior blood brother on the throne too this annoyed the 2 powerful princes when they arrived.
However, they were afraid of the bang-up harm they powerfulness drive if they make upwards one's heed to struggle hence, the Olofin took the calabash which was willed to him yesteryear his bang-up father. The tradition continued that he followed the displace of the ritual pot on H2O until it sank too they settled inwards the region. The advert AWORI, translates every bit "The plate sank". It was adopted every bit the group`s advert till today. The formation of Isheri was the nucleus of other Awori settlements such every bit Iro, Ogudu, Agboyi, Ojo Ado-Ode,Ota etc. The establishment of Lagos Island, Eko yesteryear Edo (Bini) human being Aromire would appear to receive got encouraged members of his immediate trouble solid unit of measurement too other Awori groups to settle inwards other parts of Lagos Island such every bit Itolo, Ikoyi, Iru. Ajiran, too other parts of Lagos yesteryear the Lagoon. While the Awori were consolidating their concur on the Island too it immediate vicinity, the Edo speaking people of Republic of Benin Kingdom founded a village at Enu Owa, close their Awori brethren too amongst time, their presence had profound outcome on the development of traditional establishment inwards Lagos.
Sir Adeniji-Adele II, Oba of Lagos (1894-1964), Ruler too Paramount Chief of Lagos.
Another tradition pointed out that Adeyemi Onikoye of Lagos (Bini or Edo village formerly known every bit Eko/Oko yesteryear the Yoruba) was given inwards the volition of their father, a crown of beads, Ifa Oracle Olokun deity, Awo Ipa, Osugbo too the gods of his begetter Lakaba. On getting to Isheri, Adeyemi consulted Olokun the goddess of the sea who counseled some other migration for him too he moved until he got to Ikoye.
Eyo masquerade of Awori people of Lagos. Circa 1912
It is clear that Awori people are conglomeration of Yoruba migrants. Fabuyi (1987) citing authors Agiri too Barnes echoed this point: "There are rigid indication that people right away known every bit Awori stand upwards for a long too uneven displace of people from Ketu, Egbado, Oyo too no doubt, other regions who were forced yesteryear warfare too slave raids too this was occurring every bit early on every bit 14th too 15th centuries prior to too possibly extending into the same catamenia that saw Bini (Edo/Benin) March Southwards. (emphasis mine)
The Awori are distinguished yesteryear 4 main characteristics; the linguistic communication which is of Yoruba dialect, traditions of ancestral migration from Ile Ife, traditions of mutual descent from Oduduwa, the eponymous hero of the Yoruba too traditions of consanguineous human relationship resulting from the ancestry of ruling classes too cultural heritage every bit good every bit diffusion through migration too interaction. Awori Yoruba dialect remained a uniform strength amidst the diverse groups; an Awori identifies himself amongst some other Awori yesteryear greeting term "Kitigbe o?" (How are you?) too the familiar reply is "O gbe re" (It is fine).
The Awori could live on grouped into 2 major divisions. These are the early on Awori too the latter Awori groups. Among the early on Awori grouping of village are Isheri, Otto-Olofin, Iddo, Ebute Metta, Apa, Ibereko every bit good every bit Otta too Ado-Odo inwards Ogun nation of Nigeria. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 mutual characteristic of these settlements is that they were founded before 1500. They also receive got a related migratory history too recognise Ogunfunminire every bit their progenitor. The later on village include Ojo, Itire, Mushin, Iba, Otto-Awori, Ijanikin, Ilogbo Elegba, Ilogbo-Eremi, Iworo, Agbara etc all of which are ship service 1500 settlements.
It must live on noted that inwards Ogun State, the village of the Awori people preceded the establishment of Abeokuta every bit an Egba kingdom inwards 1830. Otta, the initiatory of all Awori town inside introduce solar daytime Ogun State, which is also the State’s industrial nerve-centre, for instance, was already inwards existence inwards the 15th century. The outset crowned Oba at Ota was Oba Akinsewa Ogbolu inwards 1621, spell the outset Alake inwards Abeokuta, Sagbua Okekenu was crowned on eighth August 1854.
The Awori constitute the volume of the indigenous population of seventeen, out of the 20 local regime areas of Lagos State every bit at the yr 2003, the alone exceptions beingness Epe, Ikorodu too Ibeju-Lekki amongst minimal Awori inhabitants. In these areas, they receive got developed many kingdoms too chiefdoms.
Ogogo kulodo masquerade from Ota Awori inwards Ogun State
On the other hand, the Badagry expanse is of import historically to Awori people because it is 1 of the outset places to receive got had contact amongst the exterior world. It is, inwards fact, commonly referred to every bit the gateway to Christianity inwards Nigeria, for it was at Badagry town that Christianity was outset preached inwards Nigeria inwards September 1842. Christmas was celebrated at that spot on Dec 25 of that yr (Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I—the Akran of Badagry, 1994; Alabi, 1996). The outset storied edifice inwards Nigeria was also built at that spot inwards 1845. The town also served every bit an of import terminus during the trans-Saharan merchandise too the notorious trans-Atlantic slave merchandise (Ogunremi et al., 1994).
Language
The Awori verbalise a distinct North-West Yoruba (NWY) dialect of Yoruboid languages that belong to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication group. The Awori every bit a sub-group possesses a distinguished speech.
An anthropologist, W.G. Wormalin inwards his Intelligence Report on the Badagry district of the colony (1935) gives a graphic description of the early on Awori when he writes that:
"They verbalise depression too slurred dialect of the Yoruba language. They mostly engage inwards farming too fishing. Their lack of figure too unity seems to receive got combined amongst the unfavourable nature of their habitat to homecoming them a ‘poor’ lot from the breeding indicate of sentiment amongst the exception of those of them inside the part of Lagos from earliest fourth dimension to date."
As explained before Awori are bilianghual. They verbalise Yoruba, Ogun too Edo (bini) languages.
Awori Yoruba people of Lagos at traditional marriage gathering
Economy
In the distant past, agriculture was the main economical activity of Aworiland. The master copy Awori inhabitants proficient crop farming, poultry farming, too cattle/sheep rearing, line-fishing too hunting on a modest scale. Of all these, the people concentrated to a greater extent than on crop farming too fishing.
Crop farming was of 2 geographical categories: chemical compound farmland called Oko-Etile too distant farmland called Oko Egan. It is inwards Oko Egan that most of the permanent crops similar cocoa, palm trees too crops of commercial value similar maize cocoyams, cassava, guinea corn etc, were grown. The Oko Etile is marked yesteryear tillage of garden crops such every bit pepper, tomatoes too onions, Okro lemons, melon, vegetables, pumpkins, too soya beans, etc (Olatunji, 1998). Oko Etile was visited at brusk intervals, especially when at that spot was the possibility of the farmer having an important
visitor at home. On the other hand, Oko Egan was unremarkably located at a far distance too the farmer unremarkably spent a relatively longer catamenia at that spot compared to the Oko Etile.
Swamp farming was really mutual inwards Aworiland. On these swamp farms, vegetables, rice, maize too other consumables were cultivated. Though, the women did non characteristic prominently inwards farming but they had the responsibleness of accompanying their husbands to the farm inwards club to assist them especially during the harvesting of farm products, such every bit cassava. The women processed them into finished products such every bit gari, the staple nutrient of all Aworis. The women harvested, peeled, washed too processed the cassava into either gari or fufu.
The peasant farmers also proficient some shape of animate beingness husbandry. They engaged themselves in
keeping too rearing of such animals every bit goats, sheep, short-horned cattle, local pigs too domestic fowls inwards trouble solid unit of measurement compounds. These animals, amongst the exception of fowls are kept inwards special places (within the trouble solid unit of measurement compound) variously called Ogbo Maalu, Ogbo Ewure, Ogbo Elede etc. every bit the instance may be. These animals were unremarkably taken to the land yesteryear immature children for pasture or they are fed amongst cassava or other edible leaves spell other people kept their animals inside the
chemical compound too fed them or proficient guarded pasturing inwards club to avoid conflicts amongst other farmers inwards instance the animals destroy the crops.
The Awori also engaged inwards fishing. This is done either early on inwards the morning, belatedly inwards the even out or nighttime depending on the line-fishing implement to live on used too the conditions condition. The people,
particularly, the women engaged inwards swamp fishing. They unremarkably had a land solar daytime during the dry out flavor when the swamps were relatively dry, thereby allowing unhindered access to the fish. There was also line-fishing through the utilization of combination of hooks too nets. The hooks, armed amongst bait, such every bit earthworms, are laid inwards the H2O amongst a float on the surface of the water. The float helps the fisherman inwards knowing whether a fish had been trapped or non (i.e the float sinks whenever fish is caught). The fisherman may become to river the next solar daytime to collect his catch, or await some until a choose grip of is made, depending on the catamenia of the day. In addition, the people fished via the utilization of Ogu, a conical basket-like trap made from Opa, raffia palm fronds. This trap that permits alone H2O to current inwards betwixt the woven pieces is tied to some reeds or a rigid tree at the border of the
river. As the river flows, the fish which are unaware of the trap come inwards it too remain at that spot until the fisherman comes for inspection. The economical value of this venture was that the fish were sometime sold fresh to standby
customers or taken habitation to live on preserved through
smoking before selling at the neighborhood market
unremarkably at a higher value than the fresh type.
Gender Roles
Traditionally, Awori women performed such roles every bit cooking, washing, fetching of firewood, drawing water, nursing too cleaning of their surroundings. Among the Iba clan, they cleaned the markets too swept the whole town, from its centre to Oba Oyonka’s shrine too to the Oniba’s palace (Balogun, 1999).
Women also served every bit the earliest laid of teachers for the child. They tutored them on pronunciation, greeting, dressing, toileting too bodily care. Furthermore, women helped their husbands inwards line-fishing too farming activities. They carried cassava, maize, banana, coconut, vegetables too sea foods to the marketplace for sale. They also engaged inwards nutrient processing too preservation, gathering too processing of local herbs for medical purpose. Indeed, women inwards Aworiland contributed greatly to the physical too mental well-being of their communities. Some of
these women, variously called Iya Alagbo or Elewe Omo, were traditional physicians too chemists who saved many people from dying from curable diseases. The women were highly skilled inwards the training too utilization of traditional medicine. As early on every bit the pre- 1900 period, at that spot were medicine for curing diverse diseases, keeping away evil forces too attracting prosperity (Ajetunmobi, 1996).
Women also contributed immensely to the socio-cultural festivals of the area. As an illustration,
women featured inwards varying degrees inwards the festivals of Gelede, Oro, Ogun too Egungun. In fact, the Iya Agan performed a primal role during Egungun festival. After obtaining the Oba’s consent, the Iya Agan inwards conjuction amongst Alaagba (head of all Egungun worshippers), proceeds to brand necessary arrangements for the comport of a successful festival. She joined the Alaagba at the Igbale for necessary preliminary rituals. The Iya Agan also performed the responsibilities of informing her associates almost arrangements, including the engagement too attire for the festival (Balogun, 1999).
According to tradition, the Agan who is the traditional spiritual leader of Egungun is similar a boy to Iya
Agan. Significantly, without Iya Agan no Agan could come upwards out too no Egungun festival could receive got place. Iya Agan is a ship service held yesteryear a adult woman who is side yesteryear side inwards rank to Alaagba. She is the caput of the woman individual fly of Egungun adherents. She is highly respected yesteryear the cult to the extent that she is allowed access to the Igbale, by too large a no-go-area for women. Moreover, all masquerades
too females pay homage to her during the festival. She performs spiritual functions of belongings Isan (a special cane), giving the sword to special Egungun, handing over religious ability to them too withdrawing it during the visitation to Igbale (Ajetunmobi, 1996)
The Oloris (kings wives) too Iya Oba (kings mother) also performed of import roles inwards the traditional socio-political set-up of Awori. These women gave moral too psychological back upwards to the Oba. They were unremarkably gaily dressed, too sat some him, especially during ceremonies inwards the palace. It was unheard of for an Olori to abandon the side of the Oniba during such occasions. Sometimes the Oloris treated the Oba to trip the calorie-free fantastic toe steps. They also coordinated too oversaw feeding too other domestic requirements. In the contemporary period, women inwards Iba withal perform much of the traditional roles, although to a lesser grade due to the effects of modernization.
Source: http://docsdrive.com/pdfs/medwelljournals/sscience/2012/289-296.pdf
Egungun masquerade
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