ORISA-OKO: THE SPIRITUAL OINTMENT FOR FARMER’S BREAKTHROUGH IN IGBETI, OYO, NIGERIA

Òrìsà-Oko is a divinity connected to farming in Igbeti area of Oyo State. It is a festival celebrated once a year by farmers so they will not be plunged into primeval darkness of infertility during harvest. By implication, Òrìsà-Oko is a deity of fertility. The priests of the deity, during the festival are carefully functioning as religious leaders and are consciously precept to every rule as everything becomes invalid if one rule is obliterated. During the festival, the priests put up a sterling and stellar performance not only to religionize the process but to humorously entertain thecguests. That is why traders are allowed to sell bear, gin and all manner of local foods and traditional dancers are allowed to entertain those in attendance. Òrìsà-Oko, being the Yoruba deity of harvests, fertility, farmers is very important in the theoratic setting of the people and the deity deserves scholarly attention with a view to investigating its socio-cultural importance and its religious indispensability among farmers in the study area. Despite various studies on the deity, scholars have not discussed how important the deity is, to the farmers in Igbeti Primary and Secondary sources were used to elicit information. Òrìsà-Oko is very important among farmers in Igbeti, so much so that, if bad harvest is experienced, the farmers attribute it to the anger of the deity and the latter is immediately appeased to avoid future occurrence. The tradition of celebrating the deity must not be carpeted to ensure constant food security.