Classics

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Art and pragmatism of prayers in homer: some reflections in Yoruba prayers
(Department of Classics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 2019) Adekannbi, G. O.
The Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer continue to reveal much about the socio-religious life of the Greeks. An aspect of this is the use of prayer in meeting human needs or desires. Parallels of pragmatic use of prayer are found in the Yoruba traditional religion which has some common approaches to worship with that of ancient Greek. This paper therefore engages in an extensive interpretive analysis of the phrasing of words in Homeric prayers in order to serve as a contrastive template for examining the Yoruba belief system. Three parts of the Homeric prayers: invocatio, hypomnesis and precatio are highlighted. The concept of reciprocity, as expressed by the formulaic expressions da qaiadedisti, da quiadedi and da at recipias are interrogated to underscore how humans make requests, seek aids and get emotional anchorage from the gods. The paper indicates that, while the use of prayer to cater for diverse human purposes is commonplace, the use of prayers in seeking vengeance, or personal glory/honour tends to be more prominent. Although it is noted that skilful ordering of phrases is not the sole determinant of whether a prayer will be answered or not, the paper highlights its key place in the two belief systems. More research can be done to determine the place of a mortal’s piety or impiety in guaranteeing favourable responses in both religions.
Athens and the tyranny of a democratic state
(2017) Adekannbi, G. O.
Democracy, the celebrated symbol of socio-political success, seems the most popular legacy of Athens to the modern world. Yet, Athens also has a record of what has been seen as tyrannical use of power and ‘abuse of human right’ in her inter-state relations. Thucydides’ account of the Peloponnesian war (The History of the Peloponnesian War) has been a basis for the theory of political realism, ‘might is right’ which is used to explain the international aggression of the democratic Athens. Using an interpretive research approach, this paper takes some look at the Athenian path to democracy and particularly considers the Melian Dialogue, a passage in Thucydides’ work that enunciates the implications of political realism exemplified by the Athenians' treatment of the Melians. While political realism implies international anarchy when power and conflicting national interests set the standard of what is deemed right, a democratic government led by this code could also act tyrannically despite its leaders 'profession of justice and equity. Therefore, the paper concludes that since democracy is no limitation to morality and justice becoming subjective, when interests are at variance in domestic politics, such tendency in individuals or groups who constitute a democracy would continue to account for political instability.
Contextualising the impact of ancient Greek and Roman superstition on public life
(Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2018-06) Adekannbi, G. O.
Consensus on the meaning of superstition remains elusive. Even when dangers allegedly exist, the controversy over the subject has engendered caution against sounding polemical or judgemental by labelling any belief as superstitious. This paper considers undue restraints as insidious and identifies when superstition is inimical to the society. The study indicates various degrees of damage caused by seemingly innocuous traditional/religious beliefs in ancient Greek and Roman climes. Max Weber's social action theory has been adopted as theoretical framework to do a library study of works of Theophrastus, Plutarch, Livy and Petronius. These ancient sources offer the platform for examining superstition as clinging to certain behavioural patterns even when no relationship exists between causes and effects. Attention is paid to how superstition surreptitiously becomes hostile to private and community interests. The paper argues that superstition emerges when customs, routines or habits that lack empirical basis take on harmful legislative powers on people and diminish the quality of their lives. The submission is that admission of past and present errors in perception of esoteric experiences should be unambiguous if the grip of superstition would be eliminated. Viewed as a clog in the wheel of meaningful social development, superstition should be stripped of its overbearing garb of subjective thinking that riddles life with morbid fear and places unfair burden of guilt on the human society.
A critique of irrational elements in African beliefs
(The Department of Religious Studies, Ibadan, 2009-12) Adekannbi, G. O.
Various researches show that irrational elements in human beliefs^ otherwise known as superstition, just as they were criticised in ancient Greek and Roman societies, have been challenged in Europe and America as well. This paper highlights how individuals and organizations in Africa have similarly raised their voices against the increasing controversial stories of claims of supernatural influences or interferences in human affairs, suppression of thoughts, sexual abuse and extra-judicial inflicting of punishment or killing by individuals professing authority from spiritual realm. After a brief consideration of the socio-religious atmosphere that engenders the romance with the supernatural sphere, this work shows how the prevalent recourse to mystery in providing reasons for extraordinary occurrences could be most subjective. It then relates how what may seem a private expression of socio-cultural or religious views is confronted with criticism when it infests the public domain with disquieting concerns. The paper illustrates how practices rooted in superstition are perceived as growing threats to people's welfare in the continent. When the subject is understood in these terms, more meaning could be added to the search for a solution to sporadic religious, political and social conflicts in Africa.
Democracy and the people empowerment (Part II)
(Department of European Languages, University of Lagos, Nigeria, 2015-04) Adekannbi, G. O.
The concept, of empowerment of the people, is understood as a political process that involves the people selecting their leaders, making meaningful contributions to decision-making as members of a population and gaining absolute control over the system that produces their representatives. This artic 1 e is a continuation of 'Democracy and People Empowerment (Part I) publisher earlier, briefly reviews how power developed or was acquired by the people c: Athens. The work emphasises to what extent the non-altruistic background: the emergence of the demos as apolitical force in the Athenian direct democracy threatened the supremacy of the people. As the demos stirred the political ship c : Athens, evidence of their being manipulated by selfish elements c: undemocratic descents persisted and this ancient trend provides a parameter for explaining what sometimes undermines the empowerment of the people in modem representative democracy where broader participation is encouraged While people may have the power to thumbprint in elections or express their wishes through speeches, the article, using contemporary examples particularly from Nigeria, indicates how the 'original impetus' that is scarcely selfless continues to impede empowerment of the people. This is a picture of the power that marginalises, disenfranchises or refuses to let the power of the people out in a democracy.
An examination of the integral nature of slavery in classical Greek states
(The Nigerian Association for Biblical Studies, 2017) Adekannbi, G. O.; Akinboye, O. A.
This paper examines why slavery, despite what is now legally known to be its obnoxious status, was not only fundamental to the Classical Greek society but was also endorsed by its intellectual community that was renowned for advocating individual freedom and justice. By discussing the place of slaves among the Greeks, the paper posits that the people saw slavery as crucial to realising socio-economic as well as political goals. Hence, the Greeks came to terms with chattel slavery as one of the realities of human existence. While enslaving others could be an expression of a superior might, the paper reasons that the utilitarian motivations for it in the Classical period are obvious. Therefore, individuals, both rich and poor, saw slaves as part of household features, indispensable to meeting socio-economic needs or sensual gratification. The functional use of slaves also extended to the state, hence, Sparta and Athens got all the leisure needed for political and military activities from slaves being always at their service. The paper concludes with brief allusion to the Biblical Onesimus to describe the reality of slavery as integral part of the social order of the ancient society. In view of the modern situations of labour and sexual exploitation at the international level, it is added that, whether with legislation against slavery or what is sometimes insincerity in fighting it, slavery/slavery condition might remain a modern institution; patronised by both private and public figures as long as human values remain similar to the Greeks‘.
The fundamental principles of ancient Greek participatory democracy for contemporary Nigerian community development
(Community Development Association of Nigeria, 2016-06) Akinboye, G. A.; Adekannbi, G. O.
Most scholarship on system of rule in ancient communities generally emphasized monarchic, aristocratic, and oligarchic forms of governments. Least accentuated is the system of participatory democracy whose provenance and prevalence has also been situated more in relative parts of contemporary Europe, America, Africa, and Asia. This gives the impression that communal participatory democracy was not very deep in the remote ancient world. The concept of participatory democracy underscores the principles of direct inclusive participation of citizens in political decisions and socio-economic policies that affect their lives in their communities, as opposed to contemporary representative participation. In classical antiquity however, the Greeks extolled the idea of communal participatory democracy by their establishment of communities (the polis, city-state), whose very existence thrived on certain fundamentals such as equality, freedom, rule of law, accountability and full citizens’ participation in communal affairs. Using the ancient city-state of Athens as a case study, this paper discusses the fundamental principles of Greek participatory democracy with a view to highlighting its implications for the development of contemporary Nigerian communities. Its main contention is that a simple revisit to the basic vital principles of Athenian democracy may positively fast-track the socio-economic and political development of many communities in contemporary Nigeria.
The gloom and the ray: a collection of poems
(Oputoru Books, Ibadan, 2002) Adekannbi, G. O.
An introduction to ancient Greek society
(Department of Classics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 2019) Adekannbi, G. O.; Nwoko, P.
Perception of mental illness in ancient Greek and contemporary
(Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2018-06) Adekannbi, G. O.; Adebowale, B. A.; Ademiluwa, A.
Mental illness is one of the most dreaded illnesses in human societies. Recent studies have investigated the phenomenon as neurosis with psychotic manifestations in individuals across societies. However, there are diverse opinions on the cause(s) of mental illness. Therefore, interrogating the subject from the worldviews of two traditional societies— Ancient Greece and Yoruba - the study classifies the causes of mental illness into three: natural, physical and supernatural. It further investigates attitudinal correlation between societies in the classical era and modern times in the perception of mental disorders. The aims to detarmine if prejudices or biases are proximal or distal in both societies and to highlight the social implications for interpersonal relationships, especially as bases for the acceptance and social instability of those who experience mental illness. The study, which is basically descriptive, adopts philosophical and cultural analytical methods to foreground textual explication, using the works of Plato, Hippocrates, Oluwole and Jegede. The paper shows that both in Ancient Greece and Yoruba societies, mental illness is attributed to retribution from the gods and accounts for the preponderance of Greek mythologies and tragedies, contextualising madness as inflicted by wrathful or envious gods or goddesses. It concludes that the stigmatisation of affected persons often emasculates them as they are deprived of proper healthcare during the period of illness, and denied social protection and recognition if they are fortunate enough to receive treatment. Invariably, the society is impoverished through this latent brain drain.
Perception of mental illness in ancient Greek and contemporary Yoruba religious beliefs
(Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, 2018-06) Adekannbi, G. O.; Adebowale, B. A.; Ademiluwa, A.
Mental illness is one of the most dreaded illnesses in human societies. Recent studies have investigated the phenomenon as neurosis with psychotic manifestations in individuals across societies. However, there are diverse opinions on the cause(s) of mental illness. Therefore, interrogating the subject from the worldviews of two traditional societies— Ancient Greece and Yoruba - the study classifies the causes of mental illness into three: natural, physical and supernatural. It further investigates attitudinal correlation between societies in the classical era and modem times in the perception of mental disorders. The aims to determine if prejudices or biases are proximal or distal in both societies and to highlight the social implications for interpersonal relationships, especially as bases for the acceptance and social instability of those who experience mental illness. The study, which is basically descriptive, adopts philosophical and cultural analytical methods to foreground textual explication, using the works of Plato, Hippocrates. Oluwole and Jegede. The paper shows that both in Ancient Greece and Yoruba societies, mental illness is attributed to retribution from the gods and accounts for the preponderance of Greek mythologies and tragedies. contextualising madness as inflicted by wrathful or envious gods or goddesses. It concludes that the stigmatisation of affected persons often emasculates them as they are deprived of proper healthcare during the period of illness, and denied social protection and recognition if they are fortunate enough to receive treatment. Invariably, the society is impoverished through this latent brain drain
Plutarch's essay on superstition as a socio-religious perspective on street begging
(Department of Classics and Philosophy, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, 2014-03) Adekannbi, G. O.
Plutarch (c.46AD), in his work, Peri Deisidaimoma (On Superstition), presents a striking portrayal of superstition in the First Century. The Philosopher who also served for decades as a priest of Apollo portrays the pernicious effects of some supposed religious practices as worse than the outcome of atheism. His position constitutes a forceful explanation to ostensibly controversial socioreligious behaviours. This article discusses some of the priest’s concerns as well as his rebuff of religious attitudes that are borne out of what he describes as misrepresentation of the gods or superstition. Plutarch’s essay is seen as illustrating a reason for a socio-religious situation in Africa, a continent that shares a similar religious background with the world of the writer. Specifically, with the example of the hard fight against street begging in some parts of Nigeria, the article shows how social reform programmes could fail when effects of traditional African beliefs and cultural practices remain potent.
Politics and morality in the career of alcibiades
(The Department of Religious Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2015) Adekannbi, G. O.; Akinboye, G.
The Greek historian, Thucydides, as well as the historian and biographer, Plutarch, are prominent sources of information about life and career of the Athenian politician and statesman, Alcibiades. While presenting the striking political contributions of Alcibiades as an orator, a military’ commander and a strategic adviser, the accounts of the duo also put on record some arguably ugly sides of his personality and offer parameters for examining how the activities of a politician become inimical to the interest of the state when the actions reflect his and societal foul values. Using qualitative interpretive method, this paper utilises Thucydides' The History of the Peloponnesian War and Plutarch's The Parallel Lives: The Life of Alcibiades to examine the political genius of Alcibiades and the moral questions it raised. Alcibiades' case is used to illustrate the impact of individual and societal values on political outcomes, especially when politicians resort to treachery and criminal acts to become the leaders of the people. Alcibiades's example, as discussed in the paper, also shows that the blame for political crisis would be shared between the electorate and the clever politician they elect to lead the state despite his failed character.
Politics and morality through the lens of sallust’s bellum catilinae
(2017-12) Adekannbi, G. O.
Sallust, with apparent sense of moral obligation wrote Bellum Catalinae (Catiline War) as it were, to relieve his experience of corruption and bribery in politics during the Roman Republic. Interpretably, the work has another thrust: the place of morality in politics. This article features how, particularly through characterization of Catiline, a politician's desire for supremacy is presented as borne out of his innate self-serving disposition and hardly any incline of morality, love of country or self-sacrifice. By profiling some of the associates of Catiline in his conspiracy, the paper also indicates how moral decay made ambition to excel for personal advancement supersede genuine interest in the good of the commonwealth. Attention is further drawn to how loyalty, duty discipline was eroded with the lure of luxury, women wine. The paper notes that the debauched Sallust's Catiline got recruits for his revolt, not only from among the embittered disadvantaged lowly citizens, but also from models of moral scourge which beset his society among the nobility. This paper concludes that Sallust, through Bellum Catalinae, depicts how a state can become endangered by politicians who are morally debased
A portrayal of the supernatural fixation in the Iliad and works and days with allusion to an African belief system
(Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2011) Adekannbi, G. O.
Re-enacting oedipus rex with Yoruba witticism
(Faculty of Arts, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, 2011) Adekannbi, G. O.
Yoruba proverbs are witty expressions, the effective use of which requires being apt and clever. These traits that dominate the work of Ola Rotimi, The Gods Are Not To Blame, do more than reflecting the Yoruba's perception of the world. Hence, this paper examines how strong opinions, foreboding and misfortunes are conveyed with the Yoruba literary devices to produce Sophoclean emotions. Yoruba Proverbs or witty sayings are demonstrated in this work as very rich in figures of speech and meaning; products of human experiences or relations as well as observation of natural phenomena, which are communicated with words of mouth, songs and talking-drums. These elements constitute the witticism shown in this article as powerfully employed by the playwright who has succeeded in recreating the tragedy of Oedipus Rex in a Yoruba setting, before, as it were, an African audience.
Rethinking the option of violence in politics and the fate of tiberius gracchus
(2019) Adekannbi, G. O.
The killing of Tiberius Gracchus along with hundreds of his supporters in factional violence has left an imprint of moral controversy. When perpetuated by the aggrieved or oppressed masses, violence is seen as an act of aggression or rebellion. However, it tends to be termed political expediency when initiated by the ruling power or its agency. Using interpretive approach, this paper sets aside justifying the murdering of Tiberius as removal of a potential tyrant who was causing public disturbance. The research, after highlighting how violence became imminent when other legitimate efforts at resolving political conflicts failed, shifts to the moral question arising from resorting to violence as the ultimate tool for achieving a political goal. Corrupt members of the Roman Senate and their supporters would share the view: ‘so perish also all others who do such things’. However, the paper notes the benefits of Tiberius’ agrarian reforms to the poor citizens and the potential benefits of the changes to the state. The conclusion is: the champion of the people had acted well enough but inconclusively to reach his goals. It remained for him and his supporters to stand against being outmaneuvered by the corrupt politicians. If violence had been used by Tiberius and his followers against the senate to succeed, the common people would have declared this as both morally justifiable and politically expedient. Hence, it is theorised that, when moral questions are unanswered in politics, violence looms and no one may have the monopoly of it
Revisiting the leading role of the Roman upper classes in slavery or slavery conditions
(Department of European Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 2018) Adekannbi, G. O.
The ancient Roman society was not duplicitous about its socioeconomic dependence upon slaves. This paper, while presenting the developments that brought about slavery or slave conditions during the late Republic and at the beginning of the Roman Empire, dwells on the role of the Roman upper classes in making slaves constant features of Roman agriculture, industry, domestic life, entertainment and virtually all other facets of Roman life. The paper illustrates the upper classes' taste for slavery and their principal part as the promoters of the institution with Plutarch's reference to the Roman statesman, Cato, in Plutarch's Parallel Lives. With the active and preponderant role of the wealthy and influential Romans' use of slaves to function and maintain their political, social, and economic life at this time, the paper notes that Rome's historical pre-eminence would be non- existent without slaves. Therefore, it is concluded that the record of the Roman upper classes in creating slavery conditions and in entrenching slavery suggests that a successful fight against slavery in any form could only mean a deliberate fight against the rich and the powerful or breaking free from the yoke of the oppressors whose desire for slaves is unending. A study on Roman stories of manumission would be a good follow up to this work.
Revisiting the leading role of the Roman upper classes in slavery or slavery conditions
(Department of European Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 2018) Adekannbi, G. O.
The ancient Roman society was not duplicitous about its socioeconomic dependence upon slaves. This paper, while presenting the developments that brought about slavery or slave conditions during the late Republic and at the beginning of the Roman Empire, dwells on the role of the Roman upper classes in making slaves constant features of Roman agriculture, industry, domestic life, entertainment and virtually all other facets of Roman life. The paper illustrates the upper classes' taste for slavery and their principal part as the promoters of the institution with Plutarch's reference to the Roman statesman, Cato, in Plutarch's Parallel Lives. With the active and preponderant role of the wealthy and influential Romans' use of slaves to function and maintain their political, social, and economic life at this time, the paper notes that Rome's historical pre-eminence would be non- existent without slaves. Therefore, it is concluded that the record of the Roman upper classes in creating slavery conditions and in entrenching slavery suggests that a successful fight against slavery in any form could only mean a deliberate fight against the rich and the powerful or breaking free from the yoke of the oppressors whose desire for slaves is unending. A study on Roman stories of manumission would be a good follow up to this work.
Roman divination - a discourse on the treatise of cicero, the statesman
(Department of European Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2006-06) Adekannbi, G. O.
This article addresses a philosophical trend in the ancient Greco- Roman world: making efforts to rid men's minds of fears that were outgrowth of ignorance concerning natural laws that govern the material universe and the perception of the supernatural realm. While such attempt may not necessarily be seen as discrediting the divine agency, the philosopher, Cicero, recognises the need to root out the thought of arbitrary celestial involvement in human affairs: groundless terrors, unfounded and hasty judgments that subject people to questionable practices. The essay is a discussion of a statesman's critical appraisal of an invaluable aspect of Roman religion divination, vis-a-vis man's need to rationally bear more responsibility for his actions. The work highlights the arguments of Cicero in his treatise. Divinatione, that identify the practice of divination among the Romans with superstition and provide an index to the subject of superstition, even in a modem African society with a similar propensity.