Publication Title Urhobo Verbal Arts (Proverbs), Globalization and Threat of Extinction Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher AFRICA DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE (ADRRI) JOURNAL
Publication Authors Akporherhe Friday1 and Udi Peter Oghenerioborue2
Year Published 2021-12-12
Abstract Verbal arts particularly the proverbs are performed in traditional African societies using the indigenous language of the people. The apprehension of most people in recent time is that the new technologies like the Internet, Instagram, Twitter, MP3, WhatsApp, and Youtube, western cultures and influence would eventually push most indigenous languages with oral traditions into extinction. The aim of this research is to examine the future of Urhobo language and the verbal arts particularly the proverbs in our globalized society. The information and data for this study were gathered through in-depth interviews and focused discussions. They were drawn from a handful of communities that cut across diverse Urhobo kingdoms and qualitatively analyzed. Our findings revealed that the extinction of Urhobo language with verbal arts such as the proverbs, myths, folktales, riddles and so on, is indeed worrisome to language scholars. However, most respondents argued against the threat of extinction stating convincing reasons. They affirmed that readers should be educated about the utilitarian functions of oral products in order to preserve them for future generation despite the challenges posed by globalization. It is recommended that conferences, seminars and studies on Urhobo language and verbal arts should be organized regularly for their documentation and transfer to successive generations. The new technologies should also be employed to preserve these elements of Urhobo cultural heritage.
Publication Title FOLK MEDICAL PRACTICES AND TREATMENTS IN AFRICAN FICTION Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher Health Economics and Management Review
Publication Authors Akporherhe Friday, Udi Peter Oghenerioborue, Esemedafe Emmanuel,
Year Published 2022-12-31
Abstract This paper examines the enactment of cultural medical practices in the narratives of African writers. It aims at promoting the application of folk medicines in addressing the health problems of patients as enacted in artistic productions of fiction writers. It will celebrate, propagate and preserve these approaches to preventive and curative medical practices, which are indigenous to the African people. The study will be beneficial to health caregivers, researchers, health educators, health agencies and policy formulators, who are determined to promote the cultural healthcare system in society. It will reawaken and strengthen medical practitioners, patients and researchers, who may which to apply folk medical practices as an alternative treatment for health problems in socio-cultural settings. This research is field survey and library-based, with the literary texts carefully and purposively selected according to their thematic thrust and qualitatively analysed. Oral interviews were conducted to gather first-hand information and data on traditional medical practices from respondents, who have profound knowledge of the topic. The respondents were elderly men and women with profound knowledge of traditional medical practices, and they were drawn from various Urhobo communities, such as Ughelli, Akperhe-Olomu, Orogun, Okparabe, Edjekota-Ogor, and Agbarha-Otor. Among those interviewed were traditional medical practitioners, diviners, and patients, who often apply trado-medicines as alternative and supplementary treatments. Apart from the primary materials, scholarly works that are relevant to the current study were also consulted by the researchers. Findings showed that African societies are endowed with diverse forms of folk medicine, including the use of herbs, hydrotherapy, heat therapy, use of ointments, hot food as an intervention, talk therapy, etc. The study concluded that African writers are conscious of the utilitarian functions of their indigenous healthcare interventions, and so they integrate some of the practices into their artistic works, not only for the documentation but also to activate the awareness of readers on the efficacy of the traditional medicines. The various folk medical practices can serve as alternative and complementary treatments for people who cannot afford western healthcare interventions in contemporary societies.
Publication Title Urhobo Proverbs and Traditional Judicial Proceedings Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher Journal of Humanities and Social Policy Vol. 2 No.1 2016
Publication Authors UDI, Peter Oghenerioborue
Year Published 2016-05-05
Abstract Conflicts are natural phenomena which cannot be completely eliminated from any dynamic society. In the past few decades, the world particularly Africa has been marred with wars generated by various acts of violence such as inter-ethnic clashes, ethno-religious conflicts, political unrest, insurgency and terrorism, and so on. The research findings show that the Urhobo nation is not free from the ugly scenario painted above since it is situated in one of the volatile states in the Niger Delta region. In order to maintain peace and harmonious coexistence in a society, the use of proverbs must come to the fore because proverbs are of great significance especially during dispute settlement. They are considered as integral aspect of language and communication so they are often skilfully introduced into utterances made by conflict mediators basically to ensure reconciliation of warring parties. This study, therefore, examines contexts, forms and functionalities of some Urhobo proverbs utilized during traditional judicial proceedings. It drew on both in-depth interviews and focus group discussions in order to obtain conflict-related proverbs and unravelled their forms and potency in conflict resolution and management among the Urhobo people. A total of thirty-one proverbs that are relevant for peace and conflict resolution are collected randomly in various communities in Urhobo land and analysed.
Publication Title AGBON-URHOBO FESTIVALS AND FEMALE PROHIBITIONS: A 21ST CENTURY DISCOURSE Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher KIU Interdisciplinary Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences
Publication Authors Akporherhe Friday 1 Udi Peter Oghenerioborue 2*
Year Published 2021-05-05
Abstract The Urhobo nation is endowed with several forms of traditional festivals which are celebrated periodically to preserve and promote the cultural values and heritages of the people. In this paper, we investigated the cultural reasons for the seclusion of the womenfolk from certain rituals during traditional festivals in Agbon-Urhobo communities in Delta State. The data for this study were collected through in-depth interviews of respondents that have insight into Agbon festivals and women prohibitions from certain rituals. The study adopted the purposive sampling technique which gives the researchers freedom to select respondents who have profound knowledge of traditional festivals in Agbon Clan. The interviews lasted for three days with the interviewer recording the oral data with a tape and also taking notes of respondents. The oral data obtained from the key informants were carefully transcribed and translated into the English version. Two research assistants were recruited to handle the tape recorder and take notes while the researcher asked the unstructured questions. Besides the primary data, secondary materials were consulted to substantiate the arguments and the views of the respondents from the field. The qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive and analytic methods since the information is non-numerical based. The findings show that traditional festivals in Agbon Clan are characterized with female prohibitions. Though culture is dynamic, the Agbon people still hold unto their strong cultural beliefs and practices, hence women are excluded from certain rituals during traditional festivals. Informants argue that the men serve as mediators between the living and the dead, and they also preserve and protect the cultural values and heritage of their communities. Unlike the men, the women cannot keep family or community secrets and oaths taken during traditional rites and rituals. They are regarded as “unclean” and so during festivals they could desecrate sacred places especially when they are under their menstrual period.