THE OSUN OSOGBO FESTIVAL: ITS FUNCTIONS AND AESTHETICS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page                                                                                                          i
Certification                                                                                                      ii
Dedication                                                                                                        iii
Acknowledgements                                                                                          iv
Table of contents                                                                                              v
CHAPTER ONE
- Introduction               1
- The Concept of Aesthetics in the Osun Osogbo Festival 4
- Purpose of study 7
- Scope of study               8
- Methodology               8
1.6Â Â Â Â Justification
CHAPTER TWO
2.1 The concept of oral literature                                                           10
2.2 The Origin of OsunOsogboRiver                                         12
2.3  The Osun Festival                                                                          16
CHAPTER THREE
3.1 The Aesthetics in the Osun Osogbo Festival                                   25
3.1.1 Drums                                                                                            25
3.1.2 Dance                                                                                            27
3.1.3 Costumes                                                                                      28
3.1.4 Music                                                                                            29
3.1.5 Languages                                                                                    32
3.2 Major Roles at The Osun Osogbo Festival.                              32
3.2.1 The Ataoja (king)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 33
3.2.2Â The Iya osun (osun priestess)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 33
3.2.3Â The Arugba osun (osun bowl carrier)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 33
3.2.4 The Aworo osun (osun priest)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 34
3.2.5 The Audience                                                                               35
CHAPTER FOUR.
4.1 Importance of Osun Osogbo festival                                                36
4.2 Findings on the Osun Osogbo festival                                            37
        Â
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Summary                                                                                          41
5.2 Conclusion                                                                               41
5.3 Recommendations                                                                            42
Appendix 1 Oriki of Osun                                                                      44
Bibliography
Appendix IIÂ ( Pictures Taken during the Festival)
CHAPTER ONE
1.1Â Â Â Â Introduction
Festival is an event usually set by a local community. It centres on and some unique Aspects of that community. It is a set of activities and practice designed to entertain the People of that particular community.
Among many religions, a ‘feast’ is a set celebration in honour of God or gods. A Feast and a festival is historically inter-related. Festival of many types serves to meet specific Needs as well as to provide entertainment. These types of celebration offer a belonging to Religious, social or geographical groups. Festivals also reminds people of their traditions and in resents times also helps in unity among family.
There are numerous types of festival in the world, though many have religious origin, Others have some cultural significance. Also, certain people celebrate their own festival to mark some significance occasion in their history.
Festival is also a set of activities and practice designed to educate and to entertain the People of a particular community through ritual performance, celebrations or social activities.
Ekpeyong (1981:31) opines that
Festivals are periodic re-occurring days or seasons of merry-making sets aside by a community, tribe, clan, for the observance of sacred celebration, religious, solemnities Or musical and traditional performance of social significance.
It is an occasion of public manifestation of joy. It can take the form of the form of religious celebration during which sacrifices are offered to the different gods having power over rain, sunshine, marriage, thunder, and good harvest.
