METAPHYSICAL ELEMENTS IN YORÙBÁ WRITTEN LITERATURE

Abstract

Metaphysics constitutes an integral aspect of Yorùbá sociocultural life. Previous studies on Yorùbá metaphysical elements have largely been situated in film and philosophical studies, with little attention paid to their manifestations across the three genres of Yorùbá literature. This study was, therefore, designed to investigate the manifestations of metaphysical elements in Yorùbá literary texts with a view to determining their roles in the textual worlds. Hippolyte Taine’s Approach to Sociology of Literature and Charles Peirce’s Semiotic Representation Theory were adopted as the framework. The interpretive design was used. Twenty-six Yorùbá literary texts, covering the three genres, were purposively selected based on the availability of metaphysical elements in them. The prose texts were Ayé Daiyé Òyìnbó (ADO), Orí Adé Kìí Sùn’ta (OAKIS), Ẹ̀dá O̩mọ Oòduà (EOO),Ọmọ Olókùnẹs̩in (OO),Orílawẹ̀ Àdìgún (OA),Ojú Rí (OR),Ògbójú O̩dẹ Nínú Igbó Irúnmalẹ̀ (OONII),Kékeré E̩kùn (KE),Ọmọ Oníyán,Kò Sáyè Láàfin (KSL),Ìgbẹ̀yìn Laláyò Ń Ta (ILNT)andÀdìtú Layé (AL). The drama texts were Ọba Kòso (OK),Ìsújú Ọ̀sanyìn (IO),Ẹfúnṣetán Aníwúrà (EA),Ìyàwó Ifá (II),Ààrẹ-Àgò Aríkúyẹri (AAA), Iná Ràn (IR)and Àpótí Alákàrà (AA). The poetry texts were Àádọ́ta Àròfò,Wá Gbọ́ (WG),Ìgbàlonígbàákà (I),Àwọn Ojú Odu Mẹ́rẹ̀ẹ̀ríndínlógún (AOOM), Adé Orí Ò̩kín (AOO),Akọ̀wé Kọ Wúrà Àti Àwo̩n Ìjìnlè̩ Àròfò̩ Mìíràn (AKWAAIAM)andÀwọn Akéwì S̩às̩àrò (AAS). Data were subjected to literary analysis. The metaphysical elements identified are ikú (death), yè̩ńwò (divination), àlá (dream), o̩fò̩ (incantation), orí-inú (inner-head), n̄ǹkan abàmì (strange signs), and àjé̩/os̩ó (witchcraft/wizardry). Ikú is deployed in Àádọ́ta Àròfò̩, I, ILNT, OK, IO and OONII for revelation, suspense, sociocultural reflection, hope and justice. Yè̩ńwò, in Àádọ́ta Àròfò̩, AAA, AOO, AA, EOO, KE, II, OO and OA, is employed to reveal the hidden issues and proffering solutions towards human challenges. Àláis deployed in ADO, EA, AOOM, O̩mo̩ Oníyán andOAKIS for divine revelation, warning, and prevention of evils. O̩fò̩ is exploited to create suspense, command, security and to hypnotise subjects and enemies in AA, AAA, EOO, EA, IR, IO, II, KE, KSL. Orí-inú features in AOO, AAA, AKWAAIAM, EOO, WG andAOOM as a symbol of passing judgement, destiny’s determination, success attainment and a paramount lesser òrìs̩à. In AL, ADO, EA, WG, OONII, AOOM andOA, n̄ǹkanabàmì is deployed as a semiotic code for prediction, warning, precaution, awareness creation and revelation. Àjé̩/Os̩ó is employed to portray the import of sacrifice, places and activities of witches and wizards. The activities include spiritual inflictions, recounting of one’s ordeals, possession and use of spiritual birds within the Yorùbá cosmos as portrayed in OONII, OA andAOOM. Metaphysical elements were deployed across the three genres to establish their realities in both physical and spiritual occurrences of life. This emphasises that there is the existence of metaphysical elements in Yorùbá society.