A HISTRIO-LINGUISTIC PERSPECTIVE OF ALÁÀFIN LAMIDI OLAYIWOLA ADEYEMI III’S ORIKI WITHIN YORUBA EPISTEMOLOGY

Abstract

The value attached to Yoruba oriki (Panegyrics) is waning in our contemporary society. Despite the efforts towards stemming the tide, the problem persists. The use of oriki (Panegyrics)is multifarious, one of which is its use to trace the origin of an individual. The oriki (Panegyrics)of Alaafin is dynamic in so many ways. It is in this view that this work seeks to explore the historical angle of the oriki (Panegyrics)of Alaafin. For instance, Al fin of Oyo‘s oriki (Panegyrics)can be used to tell the history of successive Aláàfins. Further to this study is the effort made to look at the linguistic features of this oriki (Panegyrics), which makes it unique among other oriki (Panegyrics)available in the literature. This paper observes that Oriki (Panegyrics)Alaafin is a master key to the secret room of an Alaafin because chanters and listeners can know about the history and strength of an Alaafin. With this traditional relevance, it is suggested that more importance should be attached to oriki (Panegyrics) in the lesson plan both at primary and post-primary schools so that literature and orature of the Yoruba could be sustained.