Promoting deep learning through aesthetic and educational values in selected Yoruba divinatory poetry
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Date
2019
Authors
Adeosun, A.O
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
New Hope Publishers
Abstract
The Ifa oracle is regraded, among the Yorubas, as the intermediary force between man and the cosmic forces that are believed to control his destiny. In performing this function, the oracle employs the use of divinatory poetry, otherwise called Ifa chants. The study observed that apart from their mythical essence, the chants are imbued with artistic as well as didactic elements as seen in the elaborate and elegant use of language, as well as the human values or morals being promoted; and argued that based on these, the chants are of necessity of relevance in promoting creative and functional learning even in technology-driven 21st century. Using descriptive data and qualitative analysis, the study therefore explores the aesthetic and educational values in two selected divinatory poetry- a core divinatory sub-genre and a socio-political sub-genre of the Ifa verses. The descriptive survey involved 100 purposively sampled, literate and non-literate respondents drawn from five major towns in south-west Nigeria, where the Ifa divination is still relatively practiced. A 20-item questionnaire drawn on Likert scale attached to a printed and audio recordings of the chants are administered with the help of research assistants. Its findings which were similar with literate and non-literate respondents, affirmed that the chants do possess rich use of language and that the ideas therein can withstand the test of time, for not only were the focus applicable to events in the present but also for future occurrences. The qualitative analysis confirmed these findings by exploring the ample use of poetic devices and prosodic systems intended for pleasure and language development as well as highlighting the cultural, socio-political, dialectical and didactical potentials in the two verses. It was recommended that language and literature instructional processes should integrate the teaching of the divinatory chants into their curricula in both English and Yoruba languages.
Description
Scholarly Article
Keywords
Ifa divinatory chants , Educational values , Aesthetic values , Language , Deep learning , Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES::Social sciences
Citation
Adeosun, A. O. (2019). Promoting deep learning through aesthetic and educational values in selected Yoruba divinatory poetry. In Adeosun O. & Olojede K. (Eds.) Connecting Language, Literature and Literacy for Learning (A Festschrift in Honour of Prof. O.O. Lawal) (978-978-56517-2-0). New Hope Publishers; pp. 43-59