Ìṣàmúlò Eré àti Ewì Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ fún Àyípadà Àwùjọ àti Àtúnṣe ní Orílẹ̀-èdè Nàìjíríà
Exploring the Use of Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ Performance and Poetry in Fostering Social Change and Reconstruction in Nigeria
Mots-clés :
Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́, Ìṣèré, Ewì, Àyípadà Àwùjọ, Àtúnṣe, Àṣà YorùbáRésumé
ÀṢAMỌ̀ (yoruba)
Ìṣèré Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ jẹ́ eré ẹ̀fẹ̀ tí àwọn Yorùbá máa ń ṣe lọ́dọọdún pàápàá jù lọ àwùjọ ìran Yorùbá tí wọ́n wà ní ilẹ̀ Olómìnira Bìnì ní agbègbè Kétu, Sábẹ̀ẹ́, Ìpòbẹ́, Nàgó, Ọ̀họ̀rí, Ìdànín àti àwọn àwùjọ mìíràn ní orílẹ̀-èdè Nàìjíríà bí Ẹ̀gbádò, Ìmẹ̀kọ, Ìgbógilá, Ìlaròó ní ìpínlẹ̀ Ògùn. Ìṣèré Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ tún máa ń wáyé ní àwọn ìlú bí i Ìjìó, Ìgànná, Igbó-ọrà àti ní agbègbè Ìbàràpá méjèèje ní ìpínlẹ̀ Ọ̀yọ́. Eré Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ tún máa ń wáyé ní ìsàlẹ̀ Èkó, ní ìpínlẹ̀ Èkó. Tẹ́lẹ̀tẹ́lẹ̀, pàtàkì eré Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ ni láti fi bu ọlá, iyì àti ẹ̀yẹ fún àwọn alágbára obìnrin àwùjọ. Bákan náà ni wọ́n tún ń ṣe eré yìí láti fi ṣe àpọ́nlé fún àwọn Ìyàmi, àwọn Àgbà tàbí Àjẹ́ láti lè fi wá ojú rere wọn tàbí yẹ́ wọn sí kí wọ́n baà lè fi gbogbo agbára tí ó bá wà ní ìkáwọ́ wọn láti lè fi tún àwùjọ ṣe. Ní báyìí, ọpọ́n orin àti ewì Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ ti sún, ó ti kúrò ní àwùjọ àwọn Ìyàmi, ó ti di èyí tí à ń lò níbi onírúurú ayẹyẹ gbogbo. Onírúurú orin ni àwọn ẹlẹ́fẹ̀ Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ máa ń kọ, oríṣìíríṣìí ewì ni wọ́n sì máa ń ké lásìkò tí wọ́n bá ń ṣe eré Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́. Ewì àti orin Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ kún fún àfihàn ọ̀rọ̀ òṣèlú, ètò ọrọ̀-ajé, ọ̀rọ̀ ẹ̀sìn, ẹ̀fẹ̀ ní ọlọ́kan-ò-jọ̀kan, èébú àti ẹ̀kọ́ ìwà ọmọlúàbí tí ó jẹ mọ́ àwùjọ. Ohun tí iṣẹ́ yìí dá lé gan-an ni ṣíṣe àfihàn ipa tí orin àti ewì Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ ń kó, láti lè mú àyípadà tó dúróore, bá orílẹ̀-èdè. Àkíyèsí fi hàn pé onírúurú ìwà àìtọ́ tí Yorùbá lòdì sí, àti àwọn ìwà tí ò ṣe é mú yangàn fún àyípadà orílẹ̀-èdè sí rere ni orin àti ewì Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ máa ń tẹpẹlẹ mó. Èyí sì ni iṣẹ́ ìwádìí yìí tún gbé yẹ̀wò. Iṣẹ́ yìí wá dá a lábàá, ó sì tún fìdí rẹ̀ múlẹ̀ pé bí a bá lè tẹ́wọ́ gba àmúlò orin àti ewì Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ nínú ètò ìṣèjọba orílẹ̀-èdè Nàìjíríà, tí a sì ń lò ó níbi ayẹyẹ gbogbo, ó dájú pé àyípadà rere yóò bá ètò òṣèlú, ètò ọrọ̀-ajé àti ọ̀rọ̀ amúlùúdùn ní orílẹ̀-èdè Nàìjíríà.
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Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́, a traditional Yorùbá satirical performance art form is celebrated yearly particularly among the Yoruba descendants of Benin Republic in Kétu, Sábẹ̀ẹ́, Ìpòbẹ́, Nàgó, Ọ̀họ̀rí, Ìdànín and several other communities in Nigeria like Ẹ̀gbádò, Ìmẹ̀kọ, Ìgbógilá, Ilaro in Ògùn State, Nigeria. Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ ritual performance is also prominent in some communities like Ìjìó, Ìgànná, Igbó-ọrà and among the seven communities in Ọ̀yọ́ and Lagos states of Nigeria respectively. From time immemorial, Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ performance was majorly centred on the celebration of powerful women, witches (àwọn àjẹ́, àwọn àgbà or àwọn ìyàmi) in the society so as to receive their favour and in turn explore all the powers at their disposal to reconstruct the society. Today, Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ performances have been reformed, repackaged and utilized as catalyst for social change apart from utilizing it to placate the powerful women only. Findings have shown that Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ performances and its poetry are full of entertainment, showcasing political, economic, religious, social commentary, critique, philosophical, satirical and ethical values. Therefore, this paper examines the ways in which Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ performances and poetry have been utilized as a catalyst for social change and reconstruction, through a critical analysis of Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ texts, performances, and interviews with the practitioners, this paper reveals the art form’s potential to challenge dominant narratives, promote social justice, economic development, political system, religious harmony; and foster community empowerment. By exploring the intersections of art, culture, and social change, this research demonstrates the significance of Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ as a tool for reconstructing and imagining a more equitable Nigeria.
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Bàbá Èkó, Ká Ṣiṣẹ́ Ilé (Fíìmù Orin). Méré Production.
Tchabi, T. Fidele, Eré Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ tí ó ti ká sínú fọ́nrán ní Sarè (Sábẹ̀ẹ́) tí a gbà ní 2017 ní Sábẹ̀ẹ́, Bìnì.
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Tchabi – T. Fidele, 55yrs, Òkè-Odò, Kingoun-Sarè (Sábẹ̀ẹ́), 25/04/2015.
Sàlámì Àlàbí, 79yrs, Ìjìó, 19/07/2015.
Ọ̀kẹ́ Sàláwù Àkànjí, 72yrs, Ìgànná, 18/07/2015.
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