AN APPRAISAL OF URBANIZATION’S IMPACT ON SKULL MINING PRACTICES IN YORUBA STATES: A STUDY OF URBAN–RURAL DYNAMICS IN OSUN STATE

AN APPRAISAL OF URBANIZATION’S IMPACT ON SKULL MINING PRACTICES IN YORUBA STATES: A STUDY OF URBAN–RURAL DYNAMICS IN OSUN STATE

Background of the Study

Urbanization, the process of population migration from rural areas to urban centres, has led to significant changes in social structures, economic activities, and cultural practices across Nigeria. In Osun State, urbanization has brought with it a clash between modern legal frameworks, cultural values, and traditional practices such as skull mining, an illicit activity where human skulls are exhumed and used for spiritual rituals. While urban areas, with their exposure to modern education, law enforcement, and global values, have witnessed a decline in practices like skull mining, rural areas in Osun State continue to uphold traditional practices that may include skull mining as part of their spiritual or cultural heritage.

 

This study aims to explore the impact of urbanization on skull mining practices in Osun State, focusing on the urban–rural dynamics and how urbanization has influenced the prevalence or transformation of skull mining rituals in these contrasting environments.

 

Statement of the Problem

While skull mining has been increasingly challenged by modern legal systems and urban influences, it continues to thrive in rural communities within Osun State, where traditional practices remain deeply rooted. Urbanization has influenced these dynamics by reducing the practice in urban centres while potentially perpetuating it in rural areas where traditional beliefs are still prominent. This research aims to investigate the effects of urbanization on skull mining practices in Osun State, comparing the urban and rural dynamics and how urbanization influences the continuation or decline of skull mining.

 

Objectives of the Study

To assess the impact of urbanization on skull mining practices in Osun State.

To compare skull mining practices in urban and rural areas within Osun State.

To explore how urban–rural dynamics influence the prevalence and transformation of skull mining rituals.

 

Research Questions

How has urbanization influenced skull mining practices in Osun State?

What are the differences in skull mining practices between urban and rural areas in Osun State?

How do urban–rural dynamics affect the continuation or transformation of skull mining rituals?

 

Significance of the Research

This research is significant because it will provide insights into how urbanization influences traditional practices like skull mining. By focusing on the urban–rural divide in Osun State, the study will contribute to understanding how modernization and legal frameworks impact the persistence or decline of illicit cultural practices. The findings will be valuable for policymakers, law enforcement, and cultural leaders in designing strategies to address skull mining while considering the social dynamics of both urban and rural communities.

 

Scope and Limitation of the Research

The study will focus on Osun State and will compare skull mining practices in urban and rural areas. It will not extend to other forms of ritualistic crime or other regions outside of Osun State. The research is limited by the availability of participants willing to discuss their involvement in illicit activities, particularly in rural areas where traditional practices are more prevalent.

 

Operational Definition of Terms

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

Urbanization: The process by which rural populations migrate to urban areas, leading to social, cultural, and economic changes.

Urban–Rural Dynamics: The differences and interactions between urban and rural areas, particularly in terms of culture, economics, and social practices.

 

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).