COMMUNAL LIVING IN IFÁ DIVINATION: FUNCTIONAL INTERPRETATIONS OF OGBÈTÚRÁ AND OGBÈROSÙN IN NIGERIA CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
Keywords:
communal living, Ifá divination, mythology, Nigeria, social cohesionAbstract
This paper examines the representation of communal living in Ifá divination and explores its relevance to contemporary Nigerian society. Specifically, it investigates the communal values embedded in Ifá mythology and examines how these values address current social challenges in Nigeria. The study adopts Myth Theory as its analytical framework. Primary data consist of myths from Àpólà Ogbè, collected through interviews with an Ifá priest. Two selected myths from Àpólà Ogbè serve as the basis for the analysis. The findings reveal that these myths promote unity, cooperation, and collective responsibility as fundamental principles of communal living. They further demonstrate that traditional Yoruba society regarded communal life as essential to social stability and harmonious coexistence. The study concludes that the ethical values embedded in Ifá mythology provide enduring lessons for contemporary Nigerian society by encouraging communal solidarity, peaceful coexistence, and mutual support. Revitalizing these values can contribute to social harmony, national cohesion, and sustainable societal development.
References
Abe, O. E. (2024). Yoruba oral traditions and communal aesthetics in Olu Obafemi's selected drama. Àgídìgbo: ABUAD Journal of the Humanities, 12(2), 576–589. https://doi.org/10.53982/agidigbo.2024.1202.40-j
Adélékè, D. (2005). Yoruba myths on the origin of language. In Egbe Ifie & D. Adelugba (Eds.), African culture and mythology. End Time Publishing House.
Ajayi, A. (2005). Oral history in Africa and the diaspora: Theory and practice. Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization.
Amadi-Nche, A., Aniagboso, B., & Ukachukwu, G. (2026). Communal living in Acts 2:42–47 as a paradigm for socio-economic liberation in Nigeria. International Journal of Social Sciences, 9(1), 139–150.
Aniagboso, B., & Ukachukwu, G. (2026). Communal living in Acts 2:42–47 as a paradigm for socio-economic liberation in Nigeria. International Journal of Social Sciences, 9(1), 139–150.
Anselm, A. J., Nnaemeka, O., Ibrahim, S., Sambo, K., Abubakar, A., Chikeize, O., Umar, A., Muhammad, B., & Bello, M. (2025). Study of the cultural impact of communal living by the indigenous settlers in rural communities within Abuja City. International Journal of Advanced Natural Sciences and Engineering Researches, 9(1), 129–137.
Anukan, N., & Obineche, J. (2022). Re-reading Acts 2:44–45 and the extent of communal living in the Anglican Diocese of Owerri during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transatlantic Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 4(2), 44–61.
Beier, U. (1972). The origin of life and death: African creation myths. Heinemann.
Bolarinwa, A. O. (2019). Recreation of oral poetic genres in selected Yorùbá home-video films. Afrika Focus, 32(1), 13–34.
Bolarinwa, A. O. (2020). The Yoruba news as a political tool and avenue for cultural revival. Yoruba Studies Review, 5(1), 241–256.
Bolarinwa, A. O. (2022). Representation of new trends in Yorùbá family institution in selected video films. In O. C. Orimogunje & C. A. Akangbe (Eds.), New trends in Yorùbá language, literature, and culture (pp. 682–695). Ilemeve Media Konsult.
Boskovic, A. (1995). Anthropological perspective on myth. University of Witwatersrand.
Childs, P., & Roger, F. (2006). The Routledge dictionary of literary terms. Routledge.
Eliade, M. (1963). Myth and reality (W. R. Trask, Trans.). Princeton University Press.
Halpé, A. (2010). Between myth and meaning: The function of myth in four postcolonial novels (Doctoral dissertation, University of Toronto).
Hubert, L. (1965). Myth, alchemy and artificial intelligence. Seminar paper presented at the University of California.
Koning, H. (2021). The aetiology of myth. In A. B. Wessels & J. J. H. Klooster (Eds.), Euhormos: Greco-Roman studies in anchoring innovation (pp. 164–182). Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004500433_010
Kumar, T. (2019). The historical development of mythology and its relevance in literature. European Academic Research, 7(9).
Meslin, M. (1993). Ştiinţa religiilor [The science of religions]. Editura Humanitas.
Ojo, E. T., & Bolarinwa, A. O. (2021). Tones and stylistics of people's reception of coronavirus in African society: The Yorùbá example. Yorùbá Journal of Yorùbá Studies Association of Nigeria, 10(3), 31–47.
Oladipupo, L., & Oluwadayisi, A. (2023). Communal and criminal justice: The quest for social order in Yoruba culture. Journal of the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, 1(11), 19–28.
Olatẹju, A. (2005). The language of myths: The Yoruba example. In Egbe Ifie & D. Adelugba (Eds.), African culture and mythology. End Time Publishing House.
Ọdẹgbọla, I. (2014). Ìwé mímọ Ifá: Ẹ̀sìn àkọ́dá Olódùmarè. Odegbola Global Service.
Oyebamiji, K., & Bolarinwa, A. O. (2025). African riddles and their pedagogical values: The Yorùbá example. IKR Journal of Education and Literature, 1, 1–8.
Rani, R. (2015). Introduction of various modern theories of myth. International Journal of English, Language, Literature and Humanity, 3(2). [Page numbers not provided.]
Strauss, L. (2016). Myth and meaning. Henan University Press.
Scott, L., & McClure, M. (2024). Myth and knowing: An introduction to world mythology. McGraw-Hill.
Uti, I. (2008). Meaning and multifunction of myths. Indiana University Press.
Zharylgapov, Z. (2023). Myth and mythological discourse in literary studies (Mito e discurso mitológico nos estudos literários). https://doi.org/10.1590/2176-4573e63680