Becoming Olorisa: Ede Town (Nigeria) in the Making of Ulli Beier and Susanne Wenger

• Authors: Siyan Oyeweso , Raheem Oluwafunminiyi
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This paper examines the place of the historic Yoruba town of Ede, southwest Nigeria and the institution of Timi (traditional title of all Ede kings) in the evolution and development of Ulli Beier and Susanne Wenger’s thoughts on Yoruba art, culture and religion. At Ede, under the guardianship of its king, Timi John Adetoyese Laoye I (1946–1975), Beier and Wenger were introduced into Yoruba culture and its religious cults and belief systems. Beier, in particular, was also introduced to the prominent traditional rulers in Yorubaland who were generally regarded as the custodians of Yoruba heritage and culture. This paved way for many of his discoveries and experiences on African cultures and religion where he was exposed to vast troves of sacred arts, rites, artefacts and the divination system of the Yoruba. Similarly, Wenger acknowledged that she was introduced into the mysterious world of the Yoruba belief systems by the Ajagemo (head of Obatala cult in Ede). The pair later became the purveyors and propagators of Yoruba art, culture and religions, although each one followed different approaches. They went on to influence and preserve Yoruba belief systems and culture. Beier was instrumental to the propagation of Yoruba talking drums and the recording of traditional history, festivals and Oriki (praise poetry) of Ede. Wenger, on the other hand, became a priestess and member of several cults in Osogbo. The paper draw its analysis on the use of secondary sources.

Keywords

EN

Initiation; Ajagemo; Ede; Ulli Beier; Olorisa; Timi Laoye I; Yoruba; Susanne Wenger

• Publisher: University of West Bohemia, Pilsen, Czech Republic
• Journal: West Bohemian Historical Review
• Year: 2022
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 97-112

Contributors

author

Siyan Oyeweso

• Department of History and International Studies, Osun State University, P.M.B. 4494, Oke Bale Street, Osogbo, Nigeria

author

Raheem Oluwafunminiyi

• Department of Tourism Studies, Osun State University, P.M.B. 4494, Oke Bale Street, Osogbo, Nigeria