How knowledge of oral literature, folklore enhances technological advancement, by Darah The Guardian, Friday, 02 August 2013 00:00 By Anote Ajeluorou Uniqueness of Second NOLA Conference THE first conference was held in December 2010, where the Nigerian Oral Literature Association (NOLA) was inaugurated. Part of the inspiration for NOLA derived from our experience at the conferences of the International Society for the Oral Literatures of Africa (ISOLA) where many Nigerians are active. Many African nations have their national associations of oral literature, being their own platforms for initiating research and documentation and for implementing the global thoughts and themes from the ISOLA conferences. Our Association was set up to meet this national need for Nigeria. The first Conference had the theme of “Fifty Years of Oral Literature Research in Nigeria”. It enabled us to survey the academic and publishing terrain to know the scholars and institutions that were still active. The conference revealed that many experts and institutions had either withered away or become inactive. In the interval of 30 months, NOLA has done extensive networking with old and emerging researchers and investors in Nigeria’s vast oral heritage. Our outreach efforts have broadened the thematic and technical perspectives on oral literatures and popular culture manifested in the 600+ languages in the country. Nigeria hosts about 40% of the 1,500 languages in Africa and is therefore the busiest site of oral literature. This is reflected in the omnibus theme for this year: “Documentation and Safeguarding of Nigerian Oral Literatures and Traditions”. The 13 sub-themes cover all genres, practices, media, and technology of oral creativity and transmission across the millennia. Besides the verbal artists, we are focusing on performances and communications that are dependent primarily on oral media such as telephones, television, festivals, entertainment, comic art and stand-up comedians, narratives of diverse forms, music, mythologies, ideologies, religions, biographies, memorabilia, political and journalistic reportage, proverbs, idioms, and their metaphorical representations, video film, Nollywood, Kannywood and their kindred traditions. Over 60 papers are expected. On conference theme, Documentation & Safeguarding of Nigerian Oral Literatures & Traditions On currency of oral traditions, the answer can be found in the explanation above. Naturally, some traditions of oral and folk art become old-fashioned and obsolete when their purposes or patrons cannot be sustained. But new forms and stars are always emerging to fill new tastes and functions. Even old forms like the Yoruba oriki, the Hausa zambo, or the Urhobo udje or Isoko opiri minstrelsies are constantly being refurbished and renewed for diverse, multi-lingual audiences as we witness in rap and hip hop music and stand-up comedies. In place of the moonlight setting, storytelling has moved into other cyber spheres such as cable television featuring Super Story, K-TV, Disney World, Africa Magic, Nollywood, mobile phones, multi-media tablets, facebook, twitter, blog, and millions of animated cartoon narratives. As Chinua Achebe said, humanity recreates itself through stories. Choice of venue, University of Ibadan The first conference took place at the Kayriott Hotels and Suites, Effurun, Delta State. It was jointly hosted by the Urhobo Studies Association based at the Delta State University, Abraka, and the Udje Heritage Centre, my own documentation outfit. The choice of the University of Ibadan for the second conference is very apt because it was there that Oral Literature Scholarship in Nigeria was cradled in the 1950s. Professor Kenneth Onwuka Dike inaugurated the radical scholarship of African History as the pioneer Direct-General of the Institute of African Studies, and the first African Vice-Chancellor of the university. The disciplines of History, Anthropology, and Linguistics created the first open space for research and documentation of oral knowledge sites such as epics, myths, legends, stories, poetry, rituals and religious ceremonies, and other improvised art forms typical of oral societies. The Dike generation included Saburi Biobaku, Ade Ajayi, Bolanle Awe (Yoruba History), Obaro Ikime, Tekena Tamuno, Ebiegberi Joe Alagoa, and A.E. Afigbo on Niger Delta and Igbo history. It was at the Institute of African Studies that Professor J.P. Clark began the recording and translation of his monumental The Ozidi Saga; Professor Wande Abimbola did much of his work on Yoruba Ifa divination system at the institute. So did Robert Armstrong on Idoma theatre. Oral Literature courses were started at Ibadan by Professor Oyin Ogunba (now the late), who taught and later employed me at Ile-Ife. The zenith of Oral Literature scholarship was reached with Professor Isidore Okpewho, the foremost epic scholar in the world. He trained the largest corps of students and researchers. Professor Olatunde Olatunji globalised studies on Yoruba poetry from Ibadan. In the words of J.P. Clark, Ibadan is also the “running splash” cradle of Nigerian notable creative writers who have exploited oral and folklore resources to give African aesthetic identity to scribal literature. Among them are Achebe, Christopher Okigbo, Wole Soyinka, Chukwuemeka Ike, Flora Nwapa, Elechi Amadi, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Kole Omotoso, Femi Osofisan, Tanure Ojaide, Niyi Osundare, Odia Ofeimun, Emevwo Biakolo, Harry Garuba, Nduka Otiono, etc. Urgency of oral tradition in a modern world But there is always the urgency to record, document and safeguard genres of intangible cultural heritage. This is the mandate of UNESCO Conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory. Regrettably, Nigerian governments do not fund documentation and safeguarding. Government implements economic injunctions from the World Bank but neglects those on culture, which is the foundation of sustainable development and modernisation. Without a systematic interpretation of the sciences and knowledge encoded in oral literature and folklore, Nigeria cannot make progress in her quest for economic and technological advancement as envisioned in President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda and Vision 20-2020. Achebe made the point in 1983 when he said that Nigeria could not expect to become developed in economic and technological terms until the country makes a rendezvous with its ancient civilizations and traditions of accomplishments, which are curated and transmitted in oral literatures and media. Again, urgency is a necessary remedy against perishable wealth such as oral heritage whose libraries are human beings. Perhaps, Ahmadou Hampate Ba of Mali has the final word: “Every old person who dies in Africa is like a library destroyed by fire”. Oral tradition in modern Nigeria writing To answer the question further, I will attach the 60+ topics and paper presenters to give you the range of subjects and spread of institutions. Twenty Professors are expected including Emeritus Professor Ebiegberi Joe Alagoa (the Academic Guest of Honour), Tanure Ojaide from North Carolina, U.S., Chris Wanjala from Kenya, Abuja-based Lindsay Barrett (poet, broadcaster, essayist, columnist and biographer) Olu Obafemi from Jos, Odia Ofeimun of all seasons, Olusegun Adekoya from Ile-Ife, Ademola Dasylva (Ibadan and chair of the Organising Committee), Michael Nabofa (Niger Delta University, Yenagoa) Abba Aliyu Sani from ABU, Nduka Otiono from Canada, Asabe Kabir Usman (Usmanu Danfodiyo, Sokoto) Ben Egede (Ekpoma) Afam Ebeogu and Chinyere Nwahunanya from Uturu, Sophia Ogwude (UniAbuja), James Obitaba and Joseph Enuwosa from DELSU, and Nkem Okoh (UNIPORT). Other distinguished communication specialists are Kunle Ajibade, Editor-in-Chief of The News magazine who will examine stories and rumours about June 12, 1993 crisis and Tim Akano of New Horizons Computers will deliver a lead paper on prospects of digital technology and cultural documentation. The potentials of social media in promoting good governance are the focus of the paper by D. Patrick Akpoghiran of Western Delta University, Oghara. Radical literary theorists and discourse avatars include Dr. Sunny Awhefeada and Godfrey Enita (DELSU), Okey Okwechime (UNIBEN) Mark Osama Ighile, John Iwuh, Ofure Aito, Ferdinand Mbah (RUN), Anya Egwu (Covenant University, Ota), Segun Omosule (Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye), Solomon Iguanre (Babcock University) and Daniel Omatsola (UniAbuja). Women rock the cradle and are the first poets, storytellers, and teachers. About 20 women professors and scholars are expected. Besides Sophia Ogwude and Asabe Usman, there are Leticia Nyitse (Benue State University, Makurdi) Felicia Ohwovoriole, Bosede Afolayan, Philomina Ofuafo and Joy Omoru (UNILAG), Emy Emerhi and Enajite Ojaruega (DELSU), Flora Dairo and Eunice Uwadinma-Idemudia (RUN), EstherJamgbadi (UNIBEN), Linda Onwuka (FUPRE), Bridget Anthonia Yakubu (NOUN), Aghogho Angela Okune (Abuja), Abigail Nabofa and Abigail Tanu (Niger Delta University, Yenagoa). Training of oral experts As Okigbo wrote in one of his poems, in the sphere of creative scholarship, old stars depart and new ones emerge to spread their lustre. The NOLA conference is an opportunity to celebrate established scholars and to inspire younger ones to step out into the arena to display their skills. Thus among the paper presenters are aspiring academicians who are involved in current research and interpretation of novel forms of oral literature and popular culture. Some of them are Dr. Alfred Mulade, Dr. Ojevwe Akpojisheri, Peter Omoko, Alex Omoni, Moses Darah, Godwin Ivworin, Martins Tugbokorowei, Henry Unuajohwofia, Stephen Kekeghe, Florence Ovweriavwose, Okofu Ubaka, Eyituoyo Ovie-Jack, Uche Okuwanye, and Stella Toremi. Surely, the conference promises to be a dance of the forest of oral literature scholars, folklorists, and communicators. Government dignitaries expected are High Chief Edem Duke, the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation; Dr. Barclays Ayakoromo, the Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), and Dr. (Mrs) Mbanaefo, Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism and Development Commission. The highlight of the Conference will be the presentation of the Nigerian Journal of Oral Literature under the editorship of Professor Olusegun Adekoya of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. * Professor G. G. Darah (President, NOLA; he is also Professor of Oral Literature and Folklore, Delta State University, Abraka, former President, Nigerian Folklore Society (NFS), 1988-1995, former member, Nigeria-UNESCO Committee on Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage and former member, National Commission for Museums and Monuments
Posted on: Fri, 02 Aug 2013 20:46:51 +0000
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