AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF FOLKLORE IN SUSTAINING SKULL MINING RITUALS IN YORUBA STATES: A CASE OF ORAL TRADITIONS IN OGUN STATE

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF FOLKLORE IN SUSTAINING SKULL MINING RITUALS IN YORUBA STATES: A CASE OF ORAL TRADITIONS IN OGUN STATE

Background of the Study

Folklore plays a vital role in preserving and transmitting cultural values, beliefs, and practices across generations, especially in Yoruba societies. In Ogun State, where traditional spiritual beliefs and practices are deeply ingrained, folklore serves as a medium through which stories about deities, ancestors, and ritualistic practices are passed down. These oral traditions often contain narratives that justify or perpetuate practices such as skull mining, which involves the illegal exhumation of human skulls for ritual purposes. The myths, legends, and proverbs told through folklore may present skull mining as a spiritual necessity or an essential component of Yoruba religious practices.

 

Despite modern legal prohibitions against skull mining, folklore continues to sustain and legitimize these rituals in certain parts of Ogun State. This study aims to assess the role of folklore in perpetuating skull mining practices in Ogun State, focusing on how oral traditions influence contemporary perceptions of these rituals and their continued practice within the community.

 

Statement of the Problem

Although skull mining is illegal, the practice persists in some parts of Ogun State, largely due to the cultural significance of the rituals involved, which are often perpetuated through oral traditions. Folklore, as a cultural vehicle, plays an important role in sustaining these rituals by reinforcing spiritual beliefs tied to skull mining. However, there is limited research on the specific role that folklore and oral traditions play in sustaining skull mining practices. This study seeks to fill this gap by investigating how folklore, particularly oral traditions, sustains skull mining rituals in Ogun State.

 

Objectives of the Study

To examine the role of folklore in sustaining skull mining rituals in Ogun State.

To explore how oral traditions and stories contribute to the perpetuation of skull mining practices.

To assess the impact of folklore on contemporary attitudes toward skull mining in Ogun State.

 

Research Questions

How does folklore sustain skull mining rituals in Ogun State?

What role do oral traditions and narratives play in the perpetuation of skull mining practices?

How do folklore and oral traditions influence contemporary attitudes toward skull mining in Ogun State?

 

Significance of the Research

This research is significant as it provides a deeper understanding of the cultural factors that sustain skull mining, particularly through the medium of folklore. By highlighting the role of oral traditions in perpetuating these rituals, the study will offer insights into how cultural beliefs continue to influence illegal practices. The findings will be important for policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and cultural leaders working to address skull mining and other ritualistic crimes while respecting cultural heritage.

 

Scope and Limitation of the Research

This study will focus on Ogun State and will investigate the role of folklore and oral traditions in sustaining skull mining rituals. The research will not extend to other regions or explore other forms of ritualistic crime. The study is limited by the availability of folklore narratives and the sensitivity of the topic, as participants may be reluctant to discuss illicit practices openly.

 

Operational Definition of Terms

Skull Mining: The illegal exhumation and trafficking of human skulls for spiritual or ritual purposes.

Folklore: The collection of myths, legends, proverbs, and stories that are passed down orally within a community, often containing cultural values and beliefs.

Oral Traditions: The passing down of cultural narratives, values, and practices through spoken word, including folklore.

 

List of References

Adenuga, A. O., Aborisade, R. A., & Atere, A. A. (2024). Stemming the tide of violent conflicts in southwest Nigeria: The role of Yoruba indigenous security system. Fuoye Journal of Criminology and Security Studies, 3(2).