Indigenous Ritual Performance in Ile-Ife: A Further Light into the Edì Festival
Loading...
Files
Date
2017-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Black Culture and International Understanding
Abstract
Michael J. Walsh's interesting study on Edì provides an insight into one of the most important festivals celebrated at Ile-Ife, southwest Nigeria. Festivals in Yorubaland, most especially in pre-colonial times, were deeply ritualistic and conjure up esoteric posturing that leaves discerning minds with ambivalent explanations or interpretations of peculiar traditional phenomena. Walsh's work, as he confessed, was rudimentary, thus, leaving readers with more grounds to cover on Edì festival among the Ile-Ife people. Based on fieldwork conducted in Ile-Ife, and drawing primarily on evidence from oral sources, the study digs deeper into the personality of Mòremí, on the one hand, and her role in the founding of the Edì festival, on the other hand. It explores the varied processes, practices and procedures carried out in the performance of this all-important festival. The study examines reasons Edì is celebrated and its importance to the interminable existence or survival of Ile-Ife as the fulcrum of the Yoruba race. Following the foray of monotheistic beliefs and colonial rule in Nigeria vis-à-vis Ile-Ife, the festival typically witnessed significant modifications and later new adaptations on some of its ritual practices and performances. This, however, has not diminished the vigour of Edì. Though a source of contention in recent time, Mòremí's personage (which is linked to Edì itself) share insight into female royal power and influence and illustrates their categorical position in African societies.
Description
Keywords
Edi, Ile-Ife, Festival, Ooni, Yoruba