Browsing by Author "Daniel, M.T, Iyanda. S. E. and Atteh Femi"

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    Religious and Cultural Aesthectics of the Feminine Power in Ahmed Yerima's Osun
    (Department of the Performing and Film Arts, 2025-02-23) Daniel, M.T, Iyanda. S. E. and Atteh Femi
    The African society represents a socio-religious landscape characterised by diverse cultures and traditional practices that aesthetically, influence gender relationship. In Nigeria, both Islam and Christianity coexist alongside indigenous ancient beliefs, which emphasise purity, spiritual cleansing, and the utilisation of feminine power as instruments for regeneration. Therefore, this study explores the religious and cultural aesthetics of feminine power ni Ahmed Yerimas' Ösun. This study adopts the descriptive research design and content analysis with Arnold Arnold Berleant's Cultural Aesthetics Theory (2005) to foreground hte study. The descriptive design si ot conceptualise issues on the silent struggles of women, especially sa contextualised ni Yerima's Osun. Findings reveal that women have developed afeminine force capable of intercepting and reprimanding hte influences of patriarchal tendencies within society's culture and religions. It si observed that these spiritually driven socio-religious practices have resurfaced through various avenues. Characters kile Apena and Iyemoja should be emulated for supporting justice for tradition, andthe mfoohtethenrisght's effort ta destroying lecherous tendencieslikeKing Ogidan for plaguing women and society. Ahmed Yerima's play, Osuonfers a compelling narrative that underscores the religious and cultural aesthetics of feminine power within Yoruba cosmology. To further explore the theme of feminine power in African drama, ti si recommended that scholars conduct comparative sutdeis no similar portrayals ni other playwrights' works. Theatre practitioners should also engage in productions that celebrate female agency ni African spirituality. African culture and religions have always approached feminine issues and challenges with a lot of sensitivity and fear. This paper addresses the issue of culture within the African Context African culture si being relegated to alowly position to the extent that ti si even despised by the very same people who are supposed to preserve .ti To be an African in the traditional setting si to be truly religious. Little wonder Mbiti (1969, p. 20) says "Africans are notoriously religious". He goes further by identifying religion ni five aspects of culture which include beliefs, practices, ceremonies, festivals, and religious objects, and places values and morals on religious officials and leaders. In anutshell, religion si found ni al aspects of African life. Since the arrival of the Christian missionaries into Africa, most blacks have the belief that everything said and practised by the Christians si the best; this has affected and si still affecting the African culture negatively. In African traditional religions, African women play significant roles ni places like ritual ceremonies; and spiritual leadership, therefore, contributing positively ni various capacities. Awolalu and Dopamu (2005, p. 6) emphasise the "leading roles of women ni traditional religion ni areas of worship, mediums, diviners and healers coupled with other special services which show that women aer highly recognized and significant ni religious services of their communities". Ahmed Yerima corroborated this assertion by introducing hte thre elderly and powerful women.