A STUDY ON HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF FESTIVALS IN YORUBA LAND: ORANMIYAN FESTIVAL CASE STUDY
Introduction
The Yoruba of Nigeria are from the south west namely Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Kwara and Kogi states with fragments in Edo and Delta States (Oduduwa Books of Records, 2014). Yoruba is one of the oldest and largest cultural groups in Africa. The ethnographic composition of the Yoruba speakers has been established way back before the discovery of their art works. Yoruba is one of the most populous single ethnic group in Nigeria with a population figure of over fifty [50] million people (Oduduwa Books of Records, 2014).The Yoruba speakers interacted with each other for long, so they have common historical experiences, avenues of trade, cultural interactions which reflected in their cultural affiliations. These commercial prowess and genius in their religion, food, costumes, dance, music, extinct Ife arts and other crafts, architecture and traditions are evident even in their present day cultural affiliation. The Yoruba speakers have a highly organized cultural and political institution ever before contact with the Europeans. Art right from traditional to contemporary times in the Yoruba culture has always played a significant role. The Yoruba royal monarchs are known and addressed by their titles, for example: Ooni Ife, Alaafin Oyo, Alake Egba, Olubadan, Ado Ekiti, Olowo, Owa Obokun, and so on. Concepts Clarifications Art Art, according to the researcher, can be described as the ‘sum total of a man’; art can be seen in language, costume, arts, food, myths, norms, beliefs, values, architecture, dance and music, musical instrument, our physiques, religion, even in our geographical locations. Art is also a language of expression and a means of communication; it requires inventiveness, method, mastery, imagination, knowledge, creativity and skill. Art can be imitative when it describes events, it can be formalistic when it involves artistic experiments, and it can be functional and emotional also. Art emphasizes mood, it can be significantly beautiful, ugly, pitiable or sorrowful. Art is the intentional communication of an experience as an end in itself. Art is the machine that brings the cultural manifestation of the people to reality. The aims and objectives of the Yoruba speakers culturally are brought alive through creative art, without which performance would have failed. Thus, it is not an over statement to say art, symbol and royalty amongst the Yoruba speakers in Nigeria is inseparable. In Africa one can extrapolate information from extinct anthropological finds that traditional arts and crafts were practiced solely for three major reasons; prestige immortalization and worship.
Symbol
A symbol can be defined as any shape or designed object or ceremonial outfits or regalia associated with or made for a particular office or position. It can two or three dimensional in shape, made from materials ranging from wood, sculpture, straws,
