THE RELEVANCE OF ÌBÀ IN THE YORÙBÁ INDIGENOUS HEALING SYSTEM
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Date
2016-02-01
Authors
Orimoogunje, O.C
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Publisher
Literature, Language and The Human Essence
Abstract
This study explores essentially the relationship of ìbà(homage), health and health-related issues in the Yorùbá belief system. It also interrogates the rationality of this genre in terms of its therapeutic significance. The idea is to ascertain the relevance of this verbal art as mechanism used in the indigenous healthcare delivery system of the Yorùbáboth in the modern and traditional society. The paper is a contribution to the understanding of the therapeutic element of Yorùbá orature; that is, how the verbal art is used in healing. It has been observed that much interest has not been shown in the Yorùbá verbal art as used on health-related issues; therefore, this paper will be an avenue to stirring up an awareness of the importance of orature in the healing system. In their collections of ọfọ̀ (incantations) and Ifá literary corpus, Olábimtán (1971), Abimbola (1975), Adeniji (1982), Fábùnmi (1972), Àjàyi (1995) and Ọ̀pefèyitìmi (1998) describe ìbà as the genre that paves ways for the desire of enchanter.