By Taiye Olayemi
The Yoruba folks of Nigeria have lengthy been the custodians of wealthy oral traditions that replicate their distinctive tradition, philosophy, and identification.
However, at the moment, key traditions corresponding to Ijala, Ìrèmọ̀jé, and Ẹkún Ìyàwó are beneath menace.
Modernisation, globalisation, and diminishing curiosity amongst youthful generations are inflicting these necessary cultural practices to fade into obscurity.
Ijala, a poetic chant historically carried out by hunters, honours Ogun, the god of iron, whereas celebrating bravery, nature, and Yoruba cosmology.
Ìrèmọ̀jé, a funerary chant, is recited to honour deceased hunters and displays on the transition of demise.
Also, Ẹkún Ìyàwó, the bride’s lament, marks the emotional journey of a bride leaving her household to affix her husband’s, capturing the communal essence of Yoruba marriages.
In spite of their cultural significance, observers consider that these traditions should not merely inventive expressions, however they function invaluable cultural archives.
Without rapid motion, they threat being forgotten solely.
Data on the decline of Yoruba tradition, language, and traditions paints a worrying image.
A 2018 UNESCO report cautions that indigenous Nigerian languages, together with Yoruba, might face extinction by 2100 as a result of lowered use amongst youthful generations.
Also, city yoruba households are more and more favouring English over their native tongue, particularly in formal, academic, {and professional} settings, additional accelerating this decline.
The passing of elders, who’ve lengthy been the guardians of those traditions, compounds the issue.
As the youthful era turns into extra enamoured with Western tradition and know-how, there’s a rising disinterest within the customs and practices of their ancestors.
Prominent figures are sounding the alarm concerning the disappearance of those invaluable traditions.
Mufu Onifade, a famend Visual Artist and Culture Administrator, not too long ago revealed the rising extinction of Ijala, Ìrèmọ̀jé, Ẹkún Ìyàwó, and different tonal poetry kinds integral to Yoruba tradition.
Onifade explains additional that Ijala, or hunter poetry, is historically recited by hunters to alleviate boredom throughout expeditions and to unwind at residence.
“Ijala is historically recited by hunters throughout their expeditions to alleviate boredom or at residence to unwind.
“Ìrèmọ̀jé, a variation of Ijala, is recited at funerals to honour deceased hunters.
“Ìrèmọ̀jé is a unique variation of Ijala, specifically recited to bid farewell to deceased hunters”.
Similarly, he describes how Ẹkún Ìyàwó is carried out by brides as they go away their household properties for his or her marital properties, receiving presents and cash within the course of.
“Ẹkún ìyàwó is recited by the new bride as she journeys from her parents’ home to the marital home, receiving gifts and money from relatives along the way”.
Onifade expresses his concern over the speedy disappearance of those artwork kinds, stressing the necessity for preservation and revitalisation.
“I am dismayed at the rapid extinction of these cultural heritage forms,” he says.
He additionally factors to different endangered cultural practices, corresponding to Yoruba soap-making, drum-making, and calabash-making, that are slowly vanishing.
“Our conventional music can now solely be encountered in distant communities.
“The affected communities must speak out, and the government should reach out to UNESCO to help safeguard these heritage forms”.
Furthermore, Award-winning grasp drummer Isioma Williams, additionally underscores the vanishing artwork of conventional Yoruba drumming.
Williams, who’s the National Coordinator of the Guild of Theatre Arts Drummers (GOTHAD), laments that many indigenous drums are disappearing.
“Drumming holds a vast oral knowledge, But even the renowned Ayan family, traditionally associated with drumming, is reluctant to adopt the art form due to its perceived lack of financial viability”.
Williams additionally notes the influence of modernisation on Yoruba vogue, with conventional clothes just like the Agbada and Iro and Buba being altered into extra ‘modern’ types.
“Civilisation has achieved extra hurt than good, Our drums, type of drumming, dressing, and language are our identification, they have to be preserved.
“As a practitioner, I do not get to see the Koso drums again, even those drums made with calabash like: Bolon, Donso Ngoni, Kora, Soku, and Djidunun all known as water drums,” Williams provides.
In addition, Prof. Adisa Ogunfolakan, a professor of analysis and archaeology at Obafemi Awolowo University, additional laments the decline within the giving of indigenous Yoruba names to kids.
“Names are not just labels in Yoruba culture, They carry deep meaning and a sense of identity”.
He argues that the decline in using conventional names is a blow to cultural preservation and urges the Yoruba folks to return to their roots.
Prof. Ogunfolakan additionally advocates for the return to conventional marital rites, free from trendy influences such because the Alaga-Iduro or Alaga-Ijoko, which have altered the essence of Yoruba marriages.
“We have to be deliberate in preserving our tradition, Governments and faculties should take duty for educating the subsequent era concerning the significance of our heritage.
“In view of points of our tradition going into extinction, we should return to the fundamentals as Africans, different climes defend and jealously protect their tradition and traditions.
“We have to be deliberate in preserving ours, Marriages ought to be consummated within the identified conventional method, not with the engagement of Alaga-Iduro or Alaga-Ijoko.
“The households of the husband and the spouse ought to be correctly investigated within the conventional methods to information towards issues.
“Government at completely different ranges have loads to do in preserving our tradition, faculties have to be mandated to inculcate historical past, tradition, and indigenous languages of their curriculum.
“This is necessary in order that kids will be taught the significance of preserving our tradition early sufficient.
“Government must also organise workshops and sensitisation programmes to educate the people on the essence of upholding our culture”.
All in all, the stakeholders say the erosion of Yoruba cultural heritage is a urgent concern that calls for rapid motion.
They say preserving these traditions requires collective motion from communities, authorities, and academic establishments.
Through community-led initiatives, authorities assist, and focused training programmes, it’s potential to safeguard and promote these vanishing cultural heritage (NANFeatures).