Ìwọ̀ntúnwọ̀nsì: Deconstructing Cognomen of Money Obsession in Ìjẹ̀bú Oríkì

Abstract

One of the ways through which Africans exhibit the quality of their past heroes and heroines is panegyric called oríkì in Yorùbá. Oríkì is a lineage or praise poem that habours the history, qualities and characters that becomes the habit of a lineage. While positivity in oríkì is celebrated, the bearers of oríkì also pick strength in the negativity that surface in their oríkì. Excessive and immodest sought for wealth is one of the negative qualities people attribute to Ìjẹ̀bú through their oríkì.  In this study, the Aristotle’s golden mean that is synonymous with one of Yorùbá ethics ìwọ̀ntunwọ̀nsì will be used to appraise Ìjẹ̀bú lineage to justify or reprimand the quest for money as one of the attributes of Ìjẹ̀bú. The primary data for this study will be solely extracted from Ìjẹ̀bú lineage oríkì and will be subjected to Aristotle’s golden mean principle deemed ìwọ̀ntunwọ̀nsì in this study. It is projected that seeking money excessively as indicated in the panegyric of Ìjẹ̀bú contravenes principle of ìwọ̀ntunwọ̀nsì and ọmọlúàbí ethic by extension which Aristotle Golden mean also goes against. Yet, their quest for money is justified giving that geography positions them for wealth creation and they labour for money not at others’ detriment. It is therefore proven in this study that Oríkì does extravagantly present some facts beyond how they tend to be projected because it is silent a bit about how diligent the said lineage is but only concerned about how they amass wealth excessively.