By Ogbeifun Paul Ehizogie
Nigeria is a multicultural state inhabiting over 250 ethnic groups, three are the largest and dominant ones in Nigeria since times, these are the yoruba, igbo and hausa culture. We can say most of the yoruba culture can be the one to derive parts of the igbo and the fulani culture. An example is in the case of the Edos which have been believed to have originated from the yoruba culture. Oduduwa with of utmost importance and hierarchy gave birth to sons and of of his sons, Oranmiyan, founded the edo culture and that's why it's seen that some of the edo languages and ways of life is more of like that of the yoruba.
Great emphasis has been laid on Yoruba culture as it is one of the most diverse culture in the world. Yoruba is located on the western part and their leadership is monarchical in nature. Yoruba have lots of Aasa & Arise which in the English word is called culture and traditions. This have been existing for a long time and still existing despite the fact that Christianity & Islam have been introduced to the world as it is considered that they(traditions and cultures) must be followed as not abiding by it can be considered a breach and may pose great threat to human nature. Placing much emphasis on tradition, a topic of knowledge has piqued the interest of researchers over the world of archeology, "oko-orun" known as spirit husband in modern Word.
Is oko-orun a Farce or a Fact?
Oko-orun also known as spirit husband according to yoruba concept can be classified under the emi - airi (spirit) as they are not visible to the naked eyes. This spirit husband, to most women are considered an advantage to them because of the benefit they derive from them as some give them some benefits like wealth and the likes. In a nutshell, oko-orun is considered dangerous and has brought so many misfortune to Nigerian ladies. Barrenness isn't any woman's wishes, but these spirit husband cases has made some of the Nigerian women unable to conceive as they are believed to have mated with husband not visible to the naked eye.
Oko-orun shouldn't be considered a farce because, right from time and presently, there has never been an ending case to it. Lots of women has testified for a very long time that they do have sex frequently in their dreams (apart from the normal puberty wet dreams) and infact ejaculation do occur and they enjoy it greatly. Some say they have seizures of their menstrual period after having those dreams and some say they do breastfeed children in their dreams and yoruba consider them to have given birth for the oko - orun and therefore, can never conceive in real life again. In some cases, after consulting the oracle some women are found out to be part of egbe "spirit cult" right or before they were boom and that they have chosen their spouses before coming to life resulting in the re-occurence of their spouse oko-orun in their dreams.
Oko - orun plays a major role in the inability to find a male suitor and women are faced with barrenness worldwide. It isn't a farce but a fact because they don't happen only to cultural people but even with believers of faith. Islam's considers oko - orun as part of and aggressive prayers are made for their deliverance from it and Christianity also carry out serious deliverance for their women too. Yoruba believes is to consult the oracle and carry out what they call etutu "sacrifice" to deliver them from it, some wash their heads on the ocean or the assembling of seven maidens to walk around the village square in the midnight with the Ifa "chief priest" where incantations are done to deliver their women.
The dominant religions in Nigeria are Islam and Christianity, imported to west Africa generations ago. But traditional African religion and culture has not been forgotten and taken lightly, with especially among the yoruba ethnic group.
OGBEIFUN PAUL EHIZOGIE is a student of icon universal polytechnic
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