Oro Fraternity Songs of Intimidation and Oppression Against Female Gender in Abeokuta, Nigeria

Abstract: Uses and abuses of power in “Oro” fraternity as alternative spirituality among the Egba people of Abeokuta, Ogun state Nigeria has become a phenomenon to grapple with in the ancient city. The paper examines the songs of intimidation and oppression against the female gender who are forbidden to take part in the process of alternative spirituality. The songs are not only targeted to abuse the community females but also used as power to dominate the fragile female gender who are considered second Fido in the Abeokuta society. The paper applies ethnographic and participant observation methods. Secondary data are collected through articles in journal, published books, oral interview and the Internet. The paper finds out that the activities of the “Oro” fraternity have gone beyond mere spirituality process to a case of abuse of spiritual power as a channel to intimidate and oppress the community female gender.

Presenter bio: Olatunbosun Samuel Adekogbe is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Music, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. I specialize in environmental musicology, Popular Music and Musical Acoustics. Some of my publications have discussed environmental noise pollution and climate change, and gender.

Presenter affiliation: Department of Music, OAU, Ile-Ife