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Imagery In Etsako Proverbs
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The totality of verbal expressive forms and beliefs evolved in tribal
societies for social entertainment and fro the ordering of society and
passed on orally from one generation to another.
The imaginative
compositions distinguished by their beauty of forms of expressions and
local ideas developed over the years by a people and handed down from
one generation to another by words of mouth Songs, stories, beliefs and
legends which have artistic merit and cultural values and which form the
cultural traditions of a people and are usually handed down from one
generation to another.
The unwritten traditions of a nation their
religious beliefs, stories, myths and legends which express the artistic
life and moral beliefs of the people.
According to Chief Felix Odior
in an interview, he says that Oral Literature in Etsako community can
be classified into major genres and minor genres. The major genres have
three parts which are oral narratives, oral poetry and traditional
drama. The minor genres consist of proverbs and riddles.
(Interview).Major Genres
Chief Odior further says that “A majority of
the narrative in Etsako are told in the evening after a hard day workâ€.
This is done for relaxation and entertainment (interview). These
stories are usually told by an oral artist who is usually and elder in
the community or an elderly member in the family. (Interview). Oral
narratives in Etsako community can be divided into three sub-groups
namely; myths, legends and folktales.
In Etsako, myths (Okhakekan)
are stories that are usually sacred and associated with religious. Odior
says that they are usually set in the remote past, they feature
supernatural beings and are often believed to be true and held sacred by
the Etsako people. An example of myths in Etsako is the story of “How
Snake Lost his Legsâ€.
Legend – (Okha Arevbose)
Legendary stories
in Etsako are like M.H. Abrahams says that the protagonist is usually a
person rather than a supernatural being. Chief Odior says that they tell
the deeds of founding fathers, exploits of heroes and worriors; of
migration etc. these tales are regarded as historical and believed by
the people as true. An example is “Azima the Brave Warrior†(interview).
Folktales
– (Okha Umaranmwe); are imaginative and functional stories. They are
told primarily for entertainment and instructions. Animal and human
characters feature in folktales.
In an interview with Aluagbaya
Imoso, he says that “Etsako folktales are fictions prose narrative which
recounts the adventure of trickster’s animals, human beings, objects
and godsâ€. An example is the excessive greed of the Tortoise, his
cleverness and his subsequent punishment (interview).7
Oral Poetry –
(Okharha): The term oral poetry refers to a wide variety of expressions
which have poetic qualities. These forms of expressions could be songs,
chants or incantations. Oral poetry in Etsako is classified into many
forms. The common classification of Etsako oral poetry are Lullaby,
dirges (funeral), war songs (special purpose), marriage songs, festival
songs and panegyric. (in an interview with Aluagbaya Imoso).8
Lullaby:
Lullabies are poems rendered in a soft and gentle manner to lure a baby
to sleep or stop the baby from crying. For example: Owime (omomo) kha
ge vie (baby don’t cry).
Festival Songs (Ihuan Ugie): Festival songs
which are mostly sung during festival periods to thank the ancestors
connected with the festivals. For example Esie festival (yam gestival)
Otu festival (age mate), Ine festival and Uneme festival.
Panegyric
(praise) song (Urhomwen): Is the type of court poetry and it is one of
the most developed and elaborated poetic genres in Africa for example;
Ai mien onwa no ye vbe rue.
Marriage Song (Ihuan Orhonmwe): Marriage
song are sung when a girl is given out in marriage, it could be song on
the day of paying bride price as well as on the wedding day and
excursion day. The song becomes very interesting and meaningful if the
girl is beautiful, a virgin and of a good behavior.
War Song (Ihuan
Iubiyokuo): War Songs are rendered in Etsako to inspire the warriors.
The songs make them bold and very courageous. War songs may also be
rendered during a festival to mimic past war heroes who went to fight in
defence of their communities and clans.
Dirges/Funeral (Aron): A
dirge expresses grief on the occasion of some one’s death. It is short,
less formal and is usually represented as a text to be sung. A dirge in
Etsako is sung to mourn the death and it is rendered during the funeral
of the deceased.
Satiric (Otagie): Satirical songs are used either to
correct or to mock. This song are sung to satirize neighbours,
co-wives, mates and even husbands when there is a misunderstanding
between them.
Traditional Drama (Ikuarre): According to Aristotle,
drama is “imitated human actionâ€. This means that what is acted on stage
mirrors human traits or society. Traditional drama like other forms of
literature is a product of the people’s culture.
Traditional Etsako
drama includes various festivals, ceremonies, ritual displays, harvest,
marriages, coronations, seasonal changes and religious festivals. They
entails the introduction into life’s normal pursuit with dominant
element of impersonation of role playing.
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