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Democracy and the people empowerment (part 1)
(Egbe Ifie and Contributors, 2000-12) Adekannbi, T.
The trend in superstition
(2001) Adekannbi, T.
MUNIFICENCE OF THE ARISTOCRATS OF ROMAN TRIPOLITANIA
(2002) Aneni O.M
Many authors such as Banaji (2002; 2015), Mattingly (2003), and Cherry (1988), have variously discussed Rome’s policies in Roman Tripolitania as well as economic and agricultural progress of Tripolitania which was aided and controlled by the aristocrats of the region. This study, however, aims to examine munificence in the form of donations by aristocrats of Roman Tripolitania from their largesse towards their patriae (fatherland). These donations ranged from beautification to erections of some monuments in their cities. This paper intends to examine, using data in the form of Latin inscriptions, munificence of the elites of the region. The data for this study is sourced from the Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania (IRT). The paper adopts a methodology that is historical as it throws light on status of men and the munificence of the aristocrats of Roman Tripolitania. The paper argues that the munificence of the aristocrats of the region was one of the obligations of men of such high economic and social standing. The study further argues that in exchange of the donations, aristocrats earned recognition in the form of political allegiance from the citizens and the states. Further studies that may examine social status in Roman Tripolitania are recommended.
The gloom and the ray: a collection of poems
(Oputoru Books, Ibadan, 2002) Adekannbi, G. O.
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.
Lead poisoning in ancient Rome
(2007) Aneni O.M
Lead, a poisonous metal is extremely toxic even in microscopic quantities. The preponderance as well as the effectiveness of this greyish metal, especially in the production of domestic, industrial and architectural applications rendered it popular among ancient Romans. It was used for the production of pots, pans and cosmetics. It was also used for the production of water pipes, and enhancing the colour and taste of wine. A school of thought links lead poisoning to the fall of the ancient Roman Empire. On the other hand, another school of thought asserts that it is untenable to suggest that lead poisoning affecting the ruling aristocrats brought about the collapse of this great empire. However, both groups agree that lead poisoning was an issue in the empire. This discourse views the importance of lead; the role it played in the productivity of the empire and aspects of lead poisoning in ancient Rome
Nigeria and the Classic
(2009) Aneni O.M
various factor such as diseases, superstitious beliefs, lead poisoning, infanticle, plagues, and much more can be attributed to death in antiquity, people died more from diseases than from the aforementioned factors. Such diseases included fevers (causes, tertian,quartan, and quotidian), tuberculosis, cough, dysentery, tenesmus, diarrhea, brain fever, paroxysms, opthalmia, hemipleghia stranguty, and many more .Of the above named disorders, the fevers which is malaria was the leading cause of death in antiquity. the tertian, quartan, quotidian and the irreglar fevers were frequently mentioned in the works of ancient medical practitioners such as Hippocrates, Aulus cornelius celsus, varro and pliny the Elder some contemporary authors such as david soren and robert sallares through intense reseach unraveled and procnounced plasmodium falciparum (malaria) as the cause of death of children whose bones were excavated in lugnano teverina. This paper however, considers the aforesaid fevers which are malarial in nature as the prinpal cause of death in antiquity.
Tibullus’ poems and issues on Yoruba beliefs
(Faculty of Arts, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, 2009-08) Adekannbi, G. O.
The human society has a history of exposure to strange or incomprehensible experiences. Different explanations and interpretations have been employed in coming to terms with puzzling occurrences for ages, and here is a consideration of superstition, the subjective pattern that often guides or accounts for human perceptions and behaviours, either as individuals or as a group, which may be overt and obvious to others or inward. Superstition in this context is treated as a belief that is held on to, even when an empirical basis is lacking. The paper employs the work of the Roman poet, Tibullus and some Yoruba beliefs to examine behaviours to which human beings attach a specific meaning or set of meanings that are challenged from time to time by reasoning considered more enlightened. In addition to underlining the personal subjective meanings of Roman and Yoruba beliefs, the paper partly depicts how social and religious structures influence self-goals, and problem-solving activities, calling on man to bear some responsibility for his action or inaction.
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.
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.
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.
Funeral rites: a reflection of the afterlife in ancient Greek and Yoruba traditional belief
(2012) Adebowale, B. A.
The anxiety regarding the afterlife and immortality has been with man since the dawn of civilization. The question of afterlife is the most important personal question that can be asked in the light of the realization of one’s own mortality. The Afterlife is a generic term for a continuation of existence after death. But the form which an unending or indefinitely human life would take is obscure. However, it is generally believed that the souls of the departed persons make a journey to a specific region or plane of existence. The idea that there can be some continuation in existence after death manifests in religious and traditional beliefs, as well as in the actions and practices of the living, like funerary practices, ancestor worship, the concept of divine judgment, the doctrine of reward and punishment for the soul and the concept of the living-dead. This paper has as its task to examine how funeral rites reflect the concept of afterlife as a philosophical and religious belief among the ancient Greeks and the Yoruba of Nigeria
SOCIO-CULTURAL PRACTICES LEADING TO CHILD DEATH IN ANICENT ROME AND IBADAN
(2012) Aneni O.M
In ancient Rome and modern Ibadan, certain socio-cultural behavior exhibited by the people tended to highlight the thought pattern of the social and behavioural attitudes of the people. These behavaiour hampered heath and other issues in the socio-cultural behavioral attitude/practices that probably led to child death. The paper adopts a methodology that is both historical and comparative highlight these factors. Sources utilized on ancient Rome were the work s of classical and contemporary authors. For modern Ibadan, information was gathered from medical literature and newswpaper reports. The data were sudjected to content analysis. This paper discovered that some social cultural practices such as child exposure and abandonment. Religious/superstitious beliefs and social deprivation caused child death in both societies.The paper concludes with the ideology that effective reorientation and propaganda are needful in Ibadan as these would help curb preventable child death
Reincarnation in Plato and Yoruba traditional belief
(2012-06) Adebowale, B. A.
Science claims that humans do not know what happens after death. Most people, if not all, are curious to know what, if anything, happens after death. In the history of ideas, many theories have been set forth about the issue of immortality and afterlife. Immortality of the soul is a prevalent idea in many religions. Both Western and African religious and philosophical ideas are not devoid of this doctrine. The Greek philosopher - Plato presents, perhaps, the purest example of the concepts of immortality of the soul and reincarnation. The word "reincarnation" is derived from Latin and it literally means entering the flesh again. Metempsychosis is the Greek equivalent word that corresponds roughly in meaning with reincarnation which also connotes life after death, as either human or animal, thereby, emphasizing the continuity of the soul, not the flesh. The doctrine of immortality of the soul is one of the most important subjects in metaphysics. Plato, like the Yoruba, believes that there is a state of existence that goes beyond the limit of this present mortal life span and this can be attained by human through some forms of immortality such as reincarnation. That there can be some kind of continuation in existence after death is attested to by the actions, beliefs, and practices of the living people such as veneration of the dead, concept of the living dead and belief in divine reward and punishment. Plato in the Phaedo, Republic and Timaeus asserts that the soul is a pre-existent and immaterial entity which is released front the body at the time of death and can rejoin the body or another body after reincarnation. The Yoruba traditional belief, as espoused by Makinde, Abimbola and Dopamu, also share the belief that at death, the soul, being a spiritual entity, departs from the body at death and returns to Olódumarè for reincarnation. The process of reincarnation in Plato and Yoruba. traditional thought involves a change from the old form to a new one, and at times from human to non-human. As presented in Plato and Yoruba traditional belief matching the old and the new form of the soul is problematic because there is no means of identifying them. Although there is no empirical proof of ultimate survival after the death of the body, this paper explores the generally held belief among the Yoruba of Nigeria and Platonic philosophy that the soul can reincarnate in another form after the death of one body or the other. It also examines the problem of self - identity generated by the concept of reincarnation
CORRELATIVE PARALLELS IN GREEK AND YORÙBÁ GREAT GODDESS TRADITIONS
(2012-10) ALADE, IDOWU MOJEED
Increasing interests in comparative studies have led scholars to revisit the myth of the Great Goddess. While parallels of the Greek gods have been identified in Yorùbá mythology, there has not been a comparative study of the Great Goddesses. This study, therefore, examines the parallels between the Greek’s Great Goddess, Gaea, and Àtàgé, the Yorùbá Great Goddess of Ìbàdàn, to determine points of convergence between them in terms of origin, attributes, symbols and festival, confirming the existence of a Yorùbá Great Goddess. The study adopted Jung’s Archetypal Theory. Works of Greek mythographers including Homer, Hesiod, Appolodorius, Appolonius; Yorùbá historians like Johnson, Falola, Awe, Parrinder; and certain verses of the Yorùbá Ifá corpus were content analysed for parallels on the Great Goddesses. The study applied participant observation technique. Unstructured interviews were also conducted with Abòkè, High Priest of Àtàgé, and nine of the omo òkè to verify those attributes not described in the literature. Information obtained was qualitatively interpreted. There was evidence of similarities of the evolved aspects of Gaea and the Yorùbá’s Àtàgé, notably in origin, attributes, symbols and festival. While Gaea was extensively discussed, literature had little on Àtàgé. It, however, described Àtàgé as the spirit behind the foundation of Ìbàdàn as Gaea began the universe in Greek’s cosmogony; suggested Àtàgé as Goddess of Ibadan land known for motherhood, human, animal and soil productivity similar to Gaea’s; made references to the pitcher-breasted image of the Great Goddess capable of feeding sixteen children at once; and the annual sacred orgasm festival of Àtàgé which continued even to the present. This festival took place about the time of spring vernal equinox resembling that of Gaea and all other known archetypes of the Great Goddess. During such festivals, celebrants venerated Àtàgé as the origin, mother and protector of Ìbàdàn indigenes as Gaea was so honoured by the Greeks. Phallic symbols like those of the Greek’s Goddess festivals were carried while the procession prayed to Àtàgé for healthy children, safety and abundance in wealth. Led by transvestite priest, reminiscent of the Greek’s, they danced round the town, singing ribald songs and making gesticulations capable of stimulating sexual desire. The Priest, with plaited hair, confirmed that Àtàgé had a covenant with Lágelú, the legendary founder of Ìbàdàn, to protect and bless the town. As the functions of Gaea were taken by Zeus, the priest gave evidence that Àtàgé originally had a priestess before the role was taken over by a priest. The importance of the annual festival in relation to fertility, protection and success of the indigenes was corroborated. UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY x Àtàgé has similar origin, attributes, symbols and festivals as the Greek’s Gaea. The significance of Àtàgé in Ìbàdàn presupposes the presence of a Yorùbá prehistoric matriarchal society and confirms the existence of a Yorùbá Great Goddess. Key words: Great Goddess, Ìbàdàn, Gaea, Àtàgé. Word count: 460.
The use of rumour in tacitus' annals
(Department of European Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2013) Adekannbi, G. O.
The Roman historian, Tacitus, is well-known for his colourful and dramatic narratives, which are observable in his juxtaposition of facts and motives. This is particularly manifest in Annals, and the style has brought the charge of anger, bias and error in writing history against him. This article relates how Tacitus’ portrayal of his characters is evidently prejudiced by his experience of tyranny, corruption and decadence under Domitian’s reign of terror, as well as how the training he received as a rhetorician accounts for the rhetorical and literary treatment of material to realise the objective of preserving the past. The article further notes that the historian scrupulously distinguishes fact from rumour to impress his viewpoints and judgment on readers’ minds. Yet, his use of rumour as a literary device in expressing bias is considered an inevitable part of any historical work, as well as an effective tool in allowing the public to pass judgement on what may be missing in ‘official’ account or possibly wittingly or unwittingly tampered with by those in position of authority. Although Tacitus was not a researcher in the modern sense, the article concludes with a justification that he can still be trusted as a reliable historian who has not descended into wholesale fabrication.
Influence of culture over marital love and fidelity in ancient Rome and Ugboha of Edo state
(2013) Aneni O.M
This paper , interrogated the role and pressures of culture over marital love and fidelity and vice-versa in both societies. The study employed historical and comparative methodologies to highlight the influence of culture over on ancient rome were classical and modern authors. Inscriptions from the corpus inscriptionumm latinarum (CIL) were also utilized. For Ugboha. Information was gathered from literary works, and oral interviews. The data were subjected to contect analysis.This paper argued that culture which has the capacity to influence peoples action with regard to marriage , intended to become partial and in times of change , becomes dynamic in order to suit the needs of contemporary times. This paper concludes by saying that in spite of the Hamitic hypothesis, culture and people of a society can grow and develop independence of each other.
Interrogating infanticide/ Child euthanasia in the Roman christian era, vis-a-vis the Abuja practice
(2013) Aneni O.M
The purpose of this paper is an attempt to examine infanticide practices in the roman christian era and intetrrogate infanticide and child euthanasia in the same era. It alsoattempts to point out infanticide practies in abuja and makes a distinction between infanticide and child euthanasia in abuja. the study employed historical and comparative methodologies to highlight the issuees surrounding infanticde/chid euthanasia in the roman christian era and infanticide in abuja. A deliberate attempt at population reduction and man This paper , interrogated the role and pressures of culture over marital love and fidelity and vice-versa in both societies. The study employed historical and comparative methodologies to highlight the influence of culture over on ancient rome were classical and modern authors. Inscriptions from the corpus inscriptionumm latinarum (CIL) were also utilized. For Ugboha. Information was gathered from literary works, and oral interviews. The data were subjected to contect analysis.This paper argued that culture which has the capacity to influence peoples action with regard to marriage , intended to become partial and in times of change , becomes dynamic in order to suit the needs of contemporary times. This paper concludes by saying that in spite of the Hamitic hypothesis, culture and people of a society can grow and develop independence of each other. This paper , interrogated the role and pressures of culture over marital love and fidelity and vice-versa in both societies. The study employed historical and comparative methodologies to highlight the influence of culture over on ancient rome were classical and modern authors. Inscriptions from the corpus inscriptionumm latinarum (CIL) were also utilized. For Ugboha. Information was gathered from literary works, and oral interviews. The data were subjected to contect analysis.This paper argued that culture which has the capacity to influence peoples action with regard to marriage , intended to become partial and in times of change , becomes dynamic in order to suit the needs of contemporary times. This paper concludes by saying that in spite of the Hamitic hypothesis, culture and people of a society can grow and develop independence of each other. This paper , interrogated the role and pressures of culture over marital love and fidelity and vice-versa in both societies. The study employed historical and comparative methodologies to highlight the influence of culture over on ancient rome were classical and modern authors. Inscriptions from the corpus inscriptionumm latinarum (CIL) were also utilized. For Ugboha. Information was gathered from literary works, and oral interviews. The data were subjected to contect analysis.This paper argued that culture which has the capacity to influence peoples action with regard to marriage , intended to become partial and in times of change , becomes dynamic in order to suit the needs of contemporary times. This paper concludes by saying that in spite of the Hamitic hypothesis, culture and people of a society can grow and develop independence of each other. This paper , interrogated the role and pressures of culture over marital love and fidelity and vice-versa in both societies. The study employed historical and comparative methodologies to highlight the influence of culture over on ancient rome were classical and modern authors. Inscriptions from the corpus inscriptionumm latinarum (CIL) were also utilized. For Ugboha. Information was gathered from literary works, and oral interviews. The data were subjected to contect analysis.This paper argued that culture which has the capacity to influence peoples action with regard to marriage , intended to become partial and in times of change , becomes dynamic in order to suit the needs of contemporary times. This paper concludes by saying that in spite of the Hamitic hypothesis, culture and people of a society can grow and develop independence of each other. This paper , interrogated the role and pressures of culture over marital love and fidelity and vice-versa in both societies. The study employed historical and comparative methodologies to highlight the influence of culture over on ancient rome were classical and modern authors. Inscriptions from the corpus inscriptionumm latinarum (CIL) were also utilized. For Ugboha. Information was gathered from literary works, and oral interviews. The data were subjected to contect analysis.This paper argued that culture which has the capacity to influence peoples action with regard to marriage , intended to become partial and in times of change , becomes dynamic in order to suit the needs of contemporary times. This paper concludes by saying that in spite of the Hamitic hypothesis, culture and people of a society can grow and develop independence of each other
CHILD MORTALITY IN ANCIENT ROME AND MODERN IBADAN
(2013-05) ANENI, M.O
High records of occurrences of child mortality were documented in ancient Rome and in modern Ibadan. Available studies on ancient Rome focused on the effect of female infanticide on the population, and those on modern Ibadan, concentrated on the effects of cerebral malaria on children below the age of 5. However, these studies ignored the comparative possibility of health situations in both societies despite their related experiences. This study, therefore, compared the causes of child mortality (ages 0-5) in both societies. The study employed historical and comparative methodologies to highlight the factors that caused child mortality in both societies. Sources utilised on ancient Rome were volume X of the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum, from which gender distribution of mortality and chronological age of children were gleaned. Data were also extracted from classical and contemporary authors. For modern Ibadan, information was gathered from medical literature and newspaper reports. The data were subjected to content analysis. The factors which brought about child death in ancient Rome and modern Ibadan were similar, but they occurred in varying degrees of magnitude. Respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, asthma, and tonsillitis caused child mortality in both societies. Air-borne and water-borne diseases such as tuberculosis, cholera, typhoid, measles and diarrhea killed children below age 6. These diseases were often aggravated by malaria. Dysentery and inflammatory bowel diseases such as entiritis also accounted for children’s death. Other diseases that included jaundice, malaria, convulsions, neo-natal tetanus, meningitis, severe malnutrition, severe birth syphxia, ulcers and gangrene also caused child mortality in both societies. Maternal illiteracy, superstitious beliefs, social deprivation, and poverty were the social and economic factors which permitted child mortality in the two civilisations. In both societies, children less than 3 were worst affected by these diseases due to their vulnerability. In ancient Rome, neo-natal death resulting from venereal diseases such as gonorrhea and syphilis were transferred from mother to child at birth, but this death was rare in modern Ibadan since people were informed of the disease in modern Ibadan than in antiquity. Lead poisoning, superstitious beliefs and social deprivation caused death in both societies. In ancient Rome, social deprivation ranked highest, followed by superstitious beliefs and lead poisoning because of government’s enthusiasm about the empire’s consolidation. In modern Ibadan, superstitious beliefs caused more death than lead poisoning and social deprivation due to the people’s belief system. While malaria and tuberculosis killed thousands of children than other diseases in ancient Rome, neonatal tetanus, prematurity and low birth weight, neonatal septicaemia and severe birth sphyxia ranked highest in modern Ibadan. They ranked highest in antiquity and Ibadan respectively due to weather conditions and people’s ignorance of the diseases. Child mortality in ancient Rome and modern Ibadan was caused by tropical diseases, sexually transmitted infections and respiratory tract infections. Thus, child mortality was a social challenge in both societies. Further studies could examine the divergence and convergence in the medical approaches applied to infant diseases in ancient Rome and modern Ibadan.
Cultural Diffusion and The Unification Policies of Alexander the Great
(2014) Aneni O.M
Ancient and modern scholars have discussed Alexander the Great’s prowess and intelligence even as a great leader and conqueror who stood out among his contemporaries. This paper is designed to examine Alexander’s strategy in the process of administering his conquered territories. The argument being put forth here is that, while being a conqueror of nations and people, Alexander adopted stratagems to run a successful empire. The adoption of cultural diffusion was one of the strategics. Another was adopting unification policies that aided his governance of his empire. Alexander did not stop at being a mere conqueror, but his desire to unite the world seemed stronger than conquests which appeared paramount. Being properly educated and learned, lie realized that the beauty and uniqueness of the culture of his subdued subjects in various territories were not to be discarded into the waste bin of history where it may be difficult or impossible to retrieve. These strategics arc pointers to efforts of an effectual leader as enduring and vibrant as Alexander, who desired the amalgamation and prosperity of his known world. Further studies may examine the sustainability of this cultural diffusion and his unification ideology among his Diadochi.