THE ROLE OF ALAAFIN 'S WIVES IN PALACE MANAGEMENT AND IN CONSTRUCTING YORUBA ROYAL POETRY
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Date
2013
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Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, University of Ilorin, Ilorin
Abstract
This paper discusses the role of Alafin's wives in palace management and Yoruba royal poetry. In an attempt to justify the position of Alaafin's wives, the study looks critically into rara version of the Alaafin 's royal poetry to demonstrate the expressive power of Yoruba women especially in palace administrations. The assumption m different quarters is that royal poetry as well as palace management are carried out by men alone. Our observation is that the formal state production of Yo rub a royal poetry is ritualy identified with male because of its militaristic overtone. This exclusionary approach does not allow for a complete and accurate viewpoint because rara royal chants is reserved exclusively for the wives of the Alaafin. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyse palace organization as well is the expected roles of Alaafin's wives in the politics and administration of Oyo. After a careful examination, a conclusion is drawn that Yoruba royal poetry is a field of expression is not dying out; it's a product of a changing society being recycled from time to time by the Alaafin's
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Keywords
ALAAFIN 'S WIVES, YORUBA ROYAL POETRY, PALACE MANAGEMENT, Yoruba women