Àfihàn agbára èṣù nínú àsàyàn ewì ajẹméṣù: The Reflection of Èṣu’s Power in the Selected Èṣù-Related Poetry

Taofiq  SA’ADU

Authors

Taofiq SA’ADU Adéyemí Federal University Of Education, Ondo, Nigeria, https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1708-2805

Keywords:

Èṣù, Èsè-Ifá, Lítíréṣọ̀ Alohùn Yorùbá, tíọ́rì ìfojú ìmọ̀-ìbára-ẹni-gbé-pọ̀-wo lítíréṣọ̀

Abstract

Isé yìí ṣe àfihàn agbára Èṣù nínú ewì ajẹméṣù. Iṣẹ́ yìí tún ṣe ìtúpalẹ̀ bí agbára Èṣù ti ṣe jẹyọ nínú àṣàyàn ewì-ajẹméṣù pàápàá jùlọ ẹṣẹ-Ifá. A ṣe èyí pẹ̀lú èrò láti ṣ̣àlàyé àgbékalẹ̀ àti àkóónú ewì ajẹméṣù gẹ́gẹ́ bí ó ti ṣe wà nínú ẹsẹ Ifá àti àlàyé nípa àbùdá agbára Èṣù. Abala méjì ọ̀tọ̀ọ̀tọ̀ ní ọgbọ́n ìṣèwádìí tí a lò nínú iṣẹ́ yìí. Abala àkọ́kọ́ ni a ti ṣe ìfọ̀rọ̀wáni-lẹ́nu-wò fún àwọn Babaláwo, àwọn olùsìn Èṣù àti àwọn apohùn ìbílẹ ní ìpínlẹ̀ Ọ̀ṣun àti Ọ̀yọ́. Ìdí tí a fi ṣe àṣàyàn ìpínlẹ̀ wọ̀nyí ni pé, ibẹ̀ ni a ti lè rí àwọn ìlú ìṣẹ̀ǹbáyé tí a ti lè rí ewì ajeméṣù gbà ní ẹ̀kúnrẹ́rẹ́. Ní abala kejì ọgbọ́n ìṣèwádìí yìí ni a ti yẹ ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ àwọn ìwé tí ó wúlò fún iṣẹ́ ìwádìí yìí wò bí i; àwọn ìwé Ifá, átíkù inú jọ́nà àti ìtàkùn àgbáyé. Àwọn àkójọ-èdè-fáyẹ̀wò wọ̀nyí ni a ṣe ìtúpalẹ̀ wọn pẹ̀lú tíọ́rì àbùdá oníbejì. Àbájáde iṣẹ́ yìí fi Èṣù hàn gẹ́gẹ́ bí Òrìṣà ti ó lágbára àyínìke àti àyínnìpadà, tí ó sì ń pè fún ìdájọ́ òdodo àti àyípadà rere. dípò ojú aṣebi tí àwọn èsìn àjèjì fi wò ó. Iṣẹ́ yìí ṣe àfikún ìmọ̀ tí ó ti wà nílẹ̀ tẹ́lẹ̀ lórí lítíréṣọ̀ alohùn Yorùbá, ìmọ̀ abínibí Yorùbá àti láti ṣe àtunṣe sí èrò àti ìgbàgbọ́ àwọn ẹ̀sìn àjèjì nípa Èṣù.

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This study examines the reflection of Èṣù’s power in the selected Èṣù-related poetry, analyzing how the deity's influence is embedded in the Yoruba oral poetry, most especially Ifá literary corpus. The research adopts both primary and secondary sources of data collection. The primary data were obtained through in-depth interviews with Ifá priests, Èṣù worshipers and traditional orature in Ọ̀ṣun and Ọ̀yọ́ states, Southwestern Nigeria, to collect Èṣù-related poetry that encapsulates the power and role of Èṣù divinity. Secondary data were gathered from relevant Ifá texts, scholarly articles, and online resources. The collected data were transcribed and analyzed within the theoretical framework of binary complementarity, which emphasizes the dual yet interdependent nature of forces in literature, culture, and societal structures. Findings reveal that Èṣù embodies the principle of duality, functioning as both a positive and negative force -an agent of balance, mediation, and transformation within the esu-related poetry, especially Ifá literary tradition. This challenges colonial distortions that depict Èṣù as purely malevolent. The study contributes to the discourse on Yoruba oral literature, indigenous knowledge systems, and the nuanced reinterpretation of African religious traditions in contemporary scholarship.

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Àfihàn agbára èṣù nínú àsàyàn ewì ajẹméṣù

The Reflection of Èṣu’s Power in the Selected Èṣù-Related Poetry

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