Àgídìgbo: ABUAD Journal of the Humanities

Linguistic Features and Symbolic Communication in Àgídìgbo Music of the Yorùbá of Southwestern Nigeria

2025-01-25T21:09:00+00:00

Music and language are inseparable, their relationship manifests in various contexts. Àgídìgbo music is one of the traditional music through which Yorùbá language is expressed and preserved because musicians usually deploy certain linguistic elements and communication devices in navigating their artistic creativity. Existing studies on music have not sufficiently examined how language, text and interpretation make sense in àgídìgbo music. This paper therefore, examined how language, text and interpretation in àgídìgbo music are used in express linguistic features, symbolic communication and nuances in African language. Ethnographic design was used and a purposive sampling technique was deployed to select three notable àgídìgbo exponents in Èrúwà (Oyo state), Abeòkúta (Ogun state) and Ìwó (Osun state) all in southwest Nigeria where àgídìgbo music performance is prevalent. Observation and In-depth interviews were employed as methods of data collection during social ceremonies of the key informants. Musical excerpts were recorded from live performances and data were subjected to content analyses. The findings revealed that the linguistic elements used in àgídìgbo music were proverbs and figures of speech such as hyperbole, metaphors, simile, fable, parables, repetition and digression clearly expressed communication device and nuances in Yorùbá language. The versatility and musical prowess of àgídìgbo musicians are not only measured by their virtuosity on the instrument but also by their ability to use the right and appropriate language elements such as òwe and other figures of speech in driving home their points thereby making àgídìgbo music to serve as repository for future generation.

Retracing African Moral Values and Balancing Afro-Pop Music

2025-01-25T21:39:59+00:00

This study examines the complex relationship between Afro Pop music and traditional African moral values. Through a critical analysis of lyrics, music videos, and artist interviews, this research investigates how Afro-Pop’s increasing commercialization and global influence affects its representation of African cultural norms. The study combines a mixed-methods approach with content analysis and surveys to interrogate the data samples of 16 collected Afro-pop songs. A riveting exposition of respect and modesty versus vulgarity and profanity was juxtaposed to reposition and validate the status of African morality through the festering of Afro Pop Music. The study contributes to the ongoing debates on cultural globalisation, African identity, and the role of music in shaping moral values.

Metaphoric Representations of Spirituality in Ebenezer Obey’s Music

2025-01-25T22:03:40+00:00

This paper investigates the synergy that exists between metaphor and spirituality within the Yoruba cosmology as exemplified in the music of Ebenezer Obey. The study underscores the authenticating role metaphor plays in the concretisation of Yoruba beliefs in the existence of a supernatural world. The existing variations of independent studies on both concepts attest to the rich cognitive influence both ideologies evoke within the academia. However, most of the extant studies carried out on these concepts have mainly honed their distinctive strengths. The corpus of research on metaphor relates its relevance mainly to the academic sphere where it acts as diagnostic tool for the analysis of literary terms and by extension to specified human experiences and restricts its versatile application to the significant influence metaphor has on spirituality, thus, de-emphasising the strengthening potency the connection between both ideologies can have on the social and economic lives of people. This notion of irreconcilable difference has resulted in undermining the veritable possibility of an alignment between metaphor and spirituality. This is against the backdrop of paucity of scholarship on this creative hybridisation. This study, therefore, foregrounds the essence of this metaphorical appropriation on the Yoruba ability to re-interpret their disillusioned post-independence realities. Conceptual metaphor theory is deployed as a tool by which underlying metaphor of spirituality is pointed out in the selected music texts of Ebenezer Obey.

Business Studies in Secondary Schools: Exploring the Teaching and Learning Strategies in Oyo State, Nigeria

2025-01-25T22:34:33+00:00

The aim of this research was to investigate the teaching methods used by teachers to effectively teach business principles to high school students in the Oke-ogun region of Oyo State, Nigeria. The study includes all the teachers and students in the secondary schools of Oyo State, Nigeria. According to the Post Primary School Management Board (PPSMB), there are 342 secondary schools in Oyo State for the 2023/2024 academic session. The research was conducted in the Oke-ogun region of Oyo State, Nigeria, which comprises 10 local government areas. The researchers purposefully chose 2 pilot schools from each local government, making a total of 20 secondary schools. The JSS 3 students were the target respondents. The study used a well-structured questionnaire and a simple random sampling technique to draw a sample size of 400 (20 students per school). The data collection instrument used was the “Business Studies in Secondary Schools: Exploring the Teaching and Learning Strategies in Oyo State, Nigeria Questionnaire.” The research questions were analyzed using Mean and Standard Deviation. It was found out in the study that the students had not been introduced to the innovative and effective methods mentioned in this research. The teachers were less familiar with strategies like experiential learning, financial literacy, cooperative learning, and integration of soft skills, as indicated in this study, and as a result, these strategies were not in use. Teachers of business studies in Oyo State secondary schools should be provided with more effective contemporary teaching strategies through regular conferences, workshops, seminars, lectures, and symposia, among others to ensure effective service delivery

A Critical Performativity Analysis of Religious Laws on Homosexual Discourse in Nigeria: A Study of “Under The Udala Trees” and “Born On A Tuesday”

2025-01-25T23:08:51+00:00

This manuscript delves into the ideological underpinnings embedded in the traditional religious doctrines governing homosexuality. Leveraging insights from a curated selection of Nigerian literary works, it illuminates the thematic intersections of Christianity and Islam, seeking to unravel the symbolic nuances of Biblical and Quranic precepts on homosexuality. This exploration asserts that these ancient laws stand detached from the diverse sexual orientations prevalent in contemporary society. While there exists a rich tapestry of discourse encompassing aspects such as LGBTQ+ rights and identity formation, a significant void remains in the scholarly exploration of the religious dimensions of homosexuality. Addressing this lacuna, essential in shaping informed gay law policies in the African context. Drawing upon the seminal theories of Judith Butler’s “Gender Performativity” (1990) and Fairclough’s “Critical Discourse Analysis” (1995) as analytical lenses, this paper scrutinises two poignant literary narratives – “Under the Udala Trees” and “Born on a Tuesday”- offering a deep dive into the religious discourse on homosexuality they encapsulate. The findings illuminate the overarching universal ethos present in the reversed texts of Bible and Quran, evincing a grand design that accommodates the multifaceted tapestry of human behavior of sexual orientations. It compellingly argues that the homophobic undertones discernible in these texts are emblematic, anchored in historical contexts, rather than prescriptive mandates for the modern era.

Voters Apathy During Students’ Union Elections: Implication for Social Studies and Political Science Students

2025-01-25T23:55:56+00:00

The study assesses the implications of voter apathy during students’ union elections on Social Studies and Political Science Students. The study assesses the levels of student voter apathy; examine reasons for voter apathy and influence of Social Studies and Political Science on students’ political participation in the student union election. Three (3) research questions were raised and answered in the study. The study adopted descriptive research design. The target population of the study consists of all the Social Studies and Political Science of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State. Six hundred and twenty (620) students were selected for the study, using purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. A self-designed questionnaire tagged “Students and Voting Apathy Questionnaire” (SVAQ) was used to obtain information from the respondents. The data were analysed using descriptive analysis of frequency, percentage mean and standard deviation. The findings show that voter apathy among social studies and political science students during students’ union elections is unabated; popular students' inclination that voting during a students’ union election is a voluntary exercise; students have negative perceptions about candidates fulfilling their electoral promises; and Social Studies and Political Science have an influence on students' active participation and voting during student unions’ election. The study recommended that voting during students’ union election should be made compulsory for the students of Social Studies and Political Science and that management of higher institutions of learning must adopt e-voting to de-radicalise students’ elections and enhance active participation of students’ confidence of students in voting during student union elections.

Sacred Sounds and Contested Spaces: Navigating Musical Ambivalence in NASFAT’s Islamic Worship Practices in Nigeria

2025-01-25T23:31:19+00:00

Music occupies a contested space within Islamic worship, reflecting tensions between tradition, cultural adaptation, and contemporary spiritual practices. While many religious traditions, including Christianity and African Traditional Religions in Nigeria, seamlessly integrate music into worship, Islamic perspectives on music remain complex and ambivalent. This study explores the reception of music within the Nasrul-Lahi-il Fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), a prominent Muslim prayer organisation known for its innovative approaches to Islamic practice. Employing ethnographic methods, including interviews and observation at the Samonda branch in Oyo State, Nigeria, the research investigates how NASFAT members navigate the intricate relationship between music and sacred spaces. Findings reveal that NASFAT adherents exhibit a nuanced understanding of music, recognising its pedagogical and spiritual potential for enhancing religious education and fostering devotion. However, significant ambivalence persists, with respondents distinguishing between the permissibility of music in secular versus liturgical contexts. While music is embraced during informal gatherings for its ability to convey sacred teachings and build community, its inclusion in formal worship settings remains contentious, with clerics citing concerns about preserving the sanctity of sacred spaces. This research concludes that music, as a dynamic form of spiritual expression, plays an essential role in fostering religious engagement and communal identity. It calls for a re-evaluation of traditional perspectives that restrict its liturgical use, advocating for a more inclusive understanding of music’s potential within Islamic worship practices. The findings contribute to broader discussions on religious identity formation, cultural innovation, and the evolving role of music in Islamic worship.

The Impact of Christianity on the Extinction of Ekau Feminine Cult in Ekori

2025-01-26T00:10:30+00:00

There is no argument that Christianity played a great and positive role in Ekori by getting rid of heinous cultural practices, provision of health care services and educating the people, but it has also robbed the people of certain cultural institutions and heritage. Ekau Cult was a highly placed and important social institution that played a variety of roles in the community; ranging from maintaining ethical order and stability, judicial, economic and security roles. The qualitative method of data collection and analysis which includes both primary and secondary materials. Primary data were gathered from the field through extensive oral interviews under a conducive atmosphere void of external influences which attest to the originality of the information obtained. The secondary data includes works written by scholars found in journals, textbooks and Internet. It was discovered in the course of this research that the extinction of Ekau Feminine Cult has resulted to insecurity, moral decadence, infertility and infidelity, broken relationships, domestic violence, among others. The need for cultural revivalism, self identity and religious tolerance is among the recommendations made in this work.

“Hallelujah”, “Iye”, “Hosannah”: Investigating the Conversational Dynamics in Prayers of the ESOCS Church

2025-01-26T00:26:13+00:00

This study utilizes Conversational Analysis (CA) theory to examine the discourse and conversational dynamics in the prayers of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim (ESOCS) Church, a spiritually vibrant community known for its fervent, linguistically rich prayers. ESOCS prayers are rooted in distinctive traditions that incorporate scriptural references, ritualistic expressions, and emotional outpourings, offering a rich domain for linguistic analysis. The study analyzes 4 prayer samples, selected from an initial pool of 45 prayer recordings collected across 22 ESOCS church branches worldwide, focusing on dialogicity, foregrounding, cohesion, adjacency pairs, and prosody. The findings reveal that an interactive exchange between linguistic structure, cultural practices, and spirituality characterizes ESOCS prayer dialogue. Dialogicity, rhetorical strategies, and prosody play a significant role in fostering the congregation's active engagement, unity, and reverence. Furthermore, cohesion techniques and the use of adjacency pairs reflect the cultural values that shape the prayer experience, enhancing both clarity and emotional depth. This investigation offers insights into the unique conversational dynamics of ESOCS prayers and contributes significantly to the growing literature on religious discourse analysis, particularly, in the context of prayers.

From The Gongola to The Forcados: Colonial Water Transport and Economic Development In Nigeria

2025-01-26T08:38:06+00:00

In the course of European imperial expansion, movement was done through rivers to penetrate the interior of Africa and establish colonial rule, thereby promoting commercial and industrial development at the expense of Africans. Following the British imperial penetration of the Nigerian area and the military conquest of its peoples, they utilized navigable rivers from the South to the North in the transportation of goods and services to a number of port-towns for redistribution and consumption in the hinterland. European manufactured goods were brought to the Nigerian coastal areas, including Burutu, one of the major ports through which goods were imported and evacuated by cargo ships. Through Burutu port on the Forcados River in the Niger Delta, large quantities of imported goods were transported by ships to Lokoja on the Niger River, Makurdi and Numan on the Benue River, to Nafada and Dadin Kowa ports on the Gongola River. At the same time, large tons of agricultural and forest products were exported through the same waterway. This paper, which is based largely on the use of archival records, examines the process of the utilization of the Gongola River flood waters in Northern Nigeria in the colonial water transportation of goods and services to the Forcados River in Southern Nigeria, thereby facilitating the process of the economic development of the country.

Chinese Companies in The Nigerian Construction Industry Since 1999: Issues and Contentions

2025-01-26T08:55:27+00:00

There is no gainsaying the fact that China (and her multinational corporations) has penetrated a large portion of the global economy in the last three decades. There is hardly any country in and a sector of the African economy (Nigeria in particular) that does not have a significant presence of Chinese transnational corporations. The economic inter-relationships between Nigeria and China has witnessed a tremendous increase since the birth of the fourth republic in Nigeria. From the backdrop of the country’s infrastructural deficiency and colonial experience, the Nigerian construction industry has been exposed to participation from different foreign multinational corporations from Germany, Egypt, Italy, and China among others. In the last two decades, however, Chinese companies have dominated the Nigerian construction industry. Through the lens of historical scholarship, this study examines the factors that seem to have provided the Chinese an edge over other multinational construction companies in Nigeria. Using the theories of international economic relations such as the liberal theory, the comparative advantage theory, the factors proportion theory, and the strategic trade policy theory the study expatiates on some of the issues and contentions relating to the presence of Chinese companies in the Nigerian construction industry. It adopts a qualitative research methodology using historical approach to data collation and interpretations. Information is derived majorly from secondary sources via extant literature, media reportage, and internet materials from the websites of companies. Few oral interviews are also conducted to verify some of the information from the media and the internet.

Niger Delta Poetry and Traumatic Inscriptions: A Reading of Sophia Obi’s Tears in a Basket

2025-01-26T09:16:45+00:00

Environmental degradation, beyond being a global phenomenon, is fast becoming a major cause of concern in Africa with severe impacts on humans and non-humans. This mindless exploitation of natural resources, particularly in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, does not only adversely affect aquatic and terrestrial habitats, making them endangered species, but also leaves scathing impacts on humans, which range from physical to psychological. Previous studies have largely focused on analysing the destructive consequences of environmental degradation on non-humans and the effects on the material well-being of humans in Sophia Obi’s Tears in a Basket. However, this study argues that the destruction of the environment in the Niger Delta region directly affects the psychological and mental health of the inhabitants in the affected communities, causing trauma. Therefore, this study is a critical reading of Sophia Obi’s Tears in a Basket as a narrative of trauma. The study adopts ecocriticism (the study of nature in literature), Stef Craps’ model of trauma theory, which redefines trauma to include unending, quotidian kinds of brutality that befall persons in lower factions, and engages Rob Nixon’s concept of “slow violence”, which focuses on the accretive, cumulative impact of environmental degradation on marginalised communities. The text is subjected to literary and critical textual analysis to examine its preoccupation with the subject of trauma, through the prisms of individual and collective suffering among the Niger Delta people. The study establishes that environmental degradation possesses the potential to generate trauma.

The Intersection between Artificial Intelligence, Interdisciplinary Collaboration and African History

2025-01-26T09:35:14+00:00

This paper basically considered the effects of AI on African history, vis-à-vis interdisciplinary collaboration, either overtly or covertly. It posited that recent historical works embrace interdisciplinary perspective, thus, it was examined in light of the emergence of AI. Being a historical piece of work, historical methodology was adopted as secondary sources in this case, which consist of published and unpublished works. These formed the gamut of data collection used to prosecute and enrich this research. The paper sought to answer the following questions: what is the connection between artificial intelligence, interdisciplinary collaboration and African history? What are the effects of AI on African history as a specialization? The core of the paper is necessitated by the emergence of AI. As such, it was juxtaposed vis-a-vis African history and other related disciplines. On the whole, the study established or found out that artificial intelligence (AI), though with its negative impact, has enhanced and strengthened new trends and perspectives in African historical research vis-à-vis the relationships between History, Social and Natural Sciences; History, Sociology and Anthropology; History and Psychology; History, Economics and Demographic Studies; History and Literature; which was exhaustively explained in the paper. While the paper noted that AI, when used properly, could provide relevant information critical to historical studies. It also highlighted the challenges which stem from the use of artificial intelligence, which include: data bias and representation, contextual understanding, source reliability and verification, ethical considerations, complexity of interpretation, technical limitations, preservation of historical integrity, among others. The study concluded that historians generally, and African historians in particular exercised caution in the use of AI for comprehensive historical research.

Negotiating Sexual Boundaries through Reality Shows: A Multimodal Study of Paraphilic Behaviours in Big Brother Naija

2025-01-26T10:02:39+00:00

Allegations in the public space persist that the Big Brother Naija (BBN) show glamorises sexual gratification. It is perceived to constantly rupture the conservative narratives that surround the public expression of sex in many Nigerian cultures. Interestingly, many of these opinions have not been empirically substantiated. The current study, therefore, explores the nature of sexual boundary negotiation, the communicative tools employed in the negotiation, and the forms of sexual gratification embedded in the show. The data for the study are videos from seasons two and three of Big Brother Naija, with excerpts and video stills used for exemplification. The analysis and discussions are explored relying on Multimodal Interaction Analysis (MIA). The findings illustrate that Big Brother Naija participants are prosumers who do not only produce content to negotiate sexual boundaries but also consume the content produced by other participants in the show for the same purpose. Exhibitionism and frotteurism are linked to content production while voyeurism is linked to content consumption. These sexual behaviours position the show as one aimed at deliberately stretching the sexual boundaries imposed by cultures, ethnicity and religion in Nigeria.

Yoruba Oral Traditions and Communal Aesthetics in Olu Obafemi’s Selected Drama

2025-01-27T14:04:28+00:00

The history of African oral literature is located in oral tradition which is tied to communal living. African oral literature is a conglomerate of communal traditions that reflect African culture, experiences, and societies. Studies affirmed that Olu Obafemi’s ideological stance and investigation of the society is revolutionary and is geared towards seminal social change. This paper examines the aesthetics of oral literature, and explores the society through the prism of Olu Obafemi’s Naira Has No Gender and Scapegoats and Sacredcows by highlighting the different explication of oral forms portrayed by the dramatist. The paper reveals the writer's ideological disposition and vision as informed by his discursive engagement of larger issues through various oratory means. The placement of Nigerian songs and dance, proverbs, role-play technique, and audience participation are identified as signposts of Nigerian oral literature. The paper adopts Cultural Studies theory as its theoretical paradigm for its capacity to analyse and provides an assessment of the contributions that cultural practices and artifacts make to the society. This study reveals how African oral literature combines traditional and modern theatrical techniques to sustain communal living and cultural practices such as veneration, education, and moral instruction.

Maritime Piracy and the Sustainable Development of Nigeria’s Blue Economy

2025-01-27T14:33:15+00:00

Maritime security is critical to economic stability, international trade, and national sovereignty, yet the sector faces persistent challenges, particularly in regions like the Gulf of Guinea (GoG). Threats such as piracy, illegal fishing, smuggling, oil theft, and terrorism undermine regional stability and economic development. Nigeria, as a major player in the GoG, has prioritised maritime security through national diplomacy to address these challenges. Therefore, the study examined the detrimental impact of maritime piracy on Nigeria’s blue economy. The study employed a mixed-method design, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide a comprehensive analysis. Key Informant Interviews were conducted to gather qualitative insights, while structured questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data from stakeholders. The study identified significant challenges of maritime security in Nigeria, such as poor performance in fishing, fisheries and maritime tourism. The study revealed a strong correlation between piracy and the decline of Nigeria’s blue economy, highlighting the need for robust security measures to curb piracy and unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s coastal resources for sustainable economic development. The study concludes that national diplomacy is indispensable for tackling the complexities of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG). The study recommended that Nigerian government should strengthen its maritime security diplomacy, enhance regional collaboration, and secure its maritime interests effectively by expanding bilateral and multilateral partnerships, enhancing resource allocation for maritime operations, fostering trust through transparent engagements, and strengthening institutional frameworks.