Use of Oriki (Panegyric) in the Construction of History of Igo Aduwo, Ondo State, Nigeria

Oriki was primarily viewed as a source of entertainment while its other important function as a potential tool in the construction and reconstruction of African history was not recognised. Due to the diversity among the different ethnic groups in Yorubaland, the problem of over-generalization and consequent neglect of less prominent and smaller-ethnic groups became prominent. This was due to the emphasis given by scholars to larger and more prominent groups at the expense of smaller sub-ethnic groups, leading to the erosion of their history, culture and tradition. This paper, therefore, traced the peculiar history of Igo Aduwo, a quarter in Ilutitun Osooro from Majuwa, the progenitor of the Osooro people to Eyinmonoren their founder, outlined the Oriki of Igo Aduwo people of Ilutitun-Osooro and the significance of Oriki in the construction of Igo Aduwo history. The study adopted the historical research methodology which included both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources included a purposive sampling of elderly community members which ranged from the age of 50 to 100 years in structured and unstructured, one-on-one, and focused group interviews. Archival materials were also used. The qualitative method of analysis was used to interpret the field data. The secondary sources included journal articles and internet materials. The findings revealed that the Oriki of Igo Aduwo was not like the typical Yoruba Oriki with several delineations and it unveiled the history of Igo Aduwo that would have otherwise been subsumed under the history of general Ikale or Yoruba people.