Ethno-ornithological knowledge and uses of birds in Omi aro and Labaka villages, Kwara State, Nigeria
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
West African Ornithological society
Abstract
Information was gathered in two villages of western Nigeria on the vernacular
names, food value, ornamental value, use in traditional healing, associated
superstitions and augury, folklore, proverbs and quotes, and behavioural
aspects such as feeding, mating, nesting and vocalizations, of 21 species of
bird. Guided interviews using a questionnaire were employed to elicit
responses from the informants, complemented by photographs of the 21
species. The villagers provided vernacular names and information on the
cultural significance of the 21 bird species shown to them. Thirteen of the 21
species are common food sources, four species have magico-medicinal uses,
feathers of six species are used in ornamentation and ten species are objects of
superstitions. Birds are important in the language, with proverbs, idioms, wise
sayings and poems rich in local bird names. The villagers in Omi-aro and
Labaka have a strong relationship with birds, which have considerable
cultural and economical significance to them. Further studies on traditional
healing practices using birds, hunting methods and seasonality in hunting, are
needed to improve understanding of the harvesting of birds for these purposes.
Description
Keywords
Ornithology, birds, culture, kwara
Citation
Ornithology, Kwara