Owambe

Last updated
Owambe
DateVaries
Location Nigeria, especially in Yorubaland
TypeSocial event
BudgetVaries
Participants Yoruba people and other Nigerians
ActivityMusic, dance, food, fashion, spraying of money
AttendanceVaries
GenreCelebration

Owambe is a Yoruba term for extravagant parties in Nigeria, especially among the Yoruba people. The term "Owambe" is derived from the Yoruba expression "owan be," meaning the presence of a celebration or party. [1] Owambe parties mark various occasions, including weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, funerals, housewarmings, graduations, and chieftaincy titles. [2] They are known for their opulence, style, and abundance of food, music, dance, and money.

Contents

History

Owambe parties have historical roots dating back to the pre-colonial era in Yoruba culture. [3] Yoruba kingdoms, such as Oyo, Ife, Ijebu, and Egba, were known for their cultural sophistication and tradition of celebrating significant events and milestones. For instance, the Oyo Empire held the annual Odun Oba, or King's Festival, [4] and Ife Kingdom celebrated the Odun Olojo, or Day of Creation. [5] During the colonial period, the Yoruba culture adapted to various influences from the British Empire, leading to the emergence of Owambe parties as a form of social expression and resistance. [6] In the post-colonial era, Owambe parties evolved and expanded in scope, becoming more popular among different Nigerian ethnic groups and influenced by global trends and technologies. [7]

Features

Owambe parties are characterized by several distinctive features, including music, dance, food, fashion, and the practice of spraying money:

Music and dance

Music and dance are essential components of Owambe parties, providing entertainment for guests. [8] A variety of musical genres are played, ranging from traditional to modern, with diverse dance styles. [2] Some popular musicians who perform at Owambe parties include King Sunny Adé, Ebenezer Obey, and others. Guests often engage in dance competitions and show their skills. [2]

Food

Food is an important aspect of Owambe parties, symbolizing hospitality and abundance. The cuisine includes local and continental dishes, prepared by professional caterers or family members to satisfy guests' appetites. Various drinks complement the food. [1]

Fashion

Fashion plays a significant role in Owambe parties, with guests often wearing Aso ebi to indicate belonging to a particular group or family. [9] [10] This practice involves a specific fabric and colour chosen by the hosts. Guests showcase their style and personality through their clothing and accessories. [2]

Spraying of money

Spraying money is a distinctive feature of Owambe parties, representing appreciation and support for the hosts and performers. Money is thrown or sprayed in various forms and denominations, and its meaning ranges from gratitude to wealth display. [1] However, the practice has also faced criticism due to concerns about resource use and potential violations of currency-related regulations. [1]

Types

Owambe parties are classified based on the occasion, with common types including weddings, birthdays, and funerals, among others. [2] [1] Each type offers an opportunity for celebration, with weddings being especially popular, involving various ceremonies and parties. [3] Funerals, while generally solemn, can also have festive aspects depending on the circumstances. [1] [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ifẹ</span> City in Osun State, Nigeria

Ifẹ̀ is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria, recent in-depth archeologically estimates suggest Ife's founding to be between the 10th century BC and 6th century BC and is widely agreed upon by historians to be the oldest amongst the classical and post-classical Yoruba city-states. The city is located in present-day Osun State. Ifẹ̀ is about 218 kilometers northeast of Lagos with a population of over 500,000 people, which is the highest in Osun State according to population census of 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yorubaland</span> Cultural region of the Yoruba people in West Africa

Yorubaland is the homeland and cultural region of the Yoruba people in West Africa. It spans the modern-day countries of Nigeria, Togo and Benin, and covers a total land area of 142,114 km2 or about 60% of the land area of Ghana. Of this land area, 106,016 km2 (74.6%) lies within Nigeria, 18.9% in Benin, and the remaining 6.5% is in Togo. Prior to European colonization, a portion of this area was known as Yoruba country. The geo-cultural space contains an estimated 55 million people, the majority of this population being ethnic Yoruba.

Ota is a town in Ogun State, Nigeria with an estimated 163,783 residents. Ota is the capital of the Ado–Odo/Ota Local Government Area. The traditional leader of Ota is the Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi AbdulKabir Obalanlege. Historically, Ota is the capital of the Awori Yoruba tribe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osun State</span> State of Nigeria

Osun State, occasionally known as the State of Osun by the state government, is a state in southwestern Nigeria; bounded to the east by Ekiti and Ondo states, to the north by Kwara State, to the south by Ogun State and to the west by Oyo State. Named for the River Osun—a vital river which flows through the state—the state was formed from the southeast of Oyo State on 27 August 1991 and has its capital as the city of Osogbo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iseyin</span> LGA and town in Oyo State, Nigeria

Iseyin is a city located in Oyo, Nigeria. It is approximately 100 km (62 mi) north of Ibadan. The city was estimated to have a population of 236,000, according to United Nations 2005 estimate, which increased to 362,990 in 2011, and has a total land mass of 2,341 km2 (904 sq mi).

Òkè-Ìlá Òràngún is an ancient city in southwestern Nigeria that was capital of the middle-age Igbomina-Yoruba city-state of the same name.

Ọ̀rànmíyàn, also known as Ọ̀rányàn, was a legendary Yoruba king from the kingdom of Ilé-Ifẹ̀, and the founder of the Oyo empire. Although he was the youngest of the descendants of Oduduwa, he became the prime heir of Oduduwa upon his return to claim his grandfather's throne.

Oba means "ruler" in the Yoruba and Bini languages. Kings in Yorubaland, a region which is in the modern republics of Benin, Nigeria and Togo, make use of it as a pre-nominal honorific. Examples of Yoruba bearers include Oba Ogunwusi of Ile-Ife, Oba Aladelusi of Akure, and Oba Akiolu of Lagos. An example of a Bini bearer is Oba Ewuare II of Benin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aso oke</span>

Aso oke fabric, is a hand-woven cloth created by the Yoruba people of west Africa. Usually woven by men and women, the fabric is used to make men's gowns, called agbada and hats, called fila, as well as women's wrappers, called iro and head tie, called gele.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abeokuta</span> Capital city of Ogun State, Nigeria

Abeokuta is the capital city of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria. It is situated on the east bank of the Ogun River, near a group of rocky outcrops in a wooded savanna; 77 kilometres (48 mi) north of Lagos by railway, or 130 kilometres (81 mi) by water. As of 2006, Abeokuta and the surrounding area had a population of 449,088.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yoruba people</span> Ethnic group in West Africa

The Yoruba people are a West African ethnic group who mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by the Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute more than 44 million people in Africa, are over a million outside the continent, and bear further representation among members of the African diaspora. The vast majority of the Yoruba population is today within the country of Nigeria, where they make up 15.5% of the country's population according to CIA estimations, making them one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. Most Yoruba people speak the Yoruba language, which is the Niger-Congo language with the largest number of native or L1 speakers.

Distinctive cultural norms prevail in Yorubaland and among the Yoruba people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ado-Odo</span> Metropolis in Ogun, Nigeria

Ado-Odo is the metropolitan headquarters of the kingdom of Ado, renowned for its Oduduwa/Obatala temple, the ancient fortress of the traditional practice of Ifá. Oodu'a is also regarded by traditionalists as the mother of all deities worldwide. All of these made Ado an inviolate territory in western Yorubaland—the same "father-figure" status accorded to Ile-Ife. Unlike the other kingdoms, which had at one time or the other engaged in the internecine wars that ravaged Yorubaland in the nineteenth century, Ado stood out as an unconquered sanctuary city-state throughout the period.

Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade CFR was the fiftieth traditional ruler or Ooni of Ife from 1980 to his death in 2015, taking the regnal name Olubuse II. He was the traditional ruler of the Yoruba Kingdom of Ile-Ife a traditional Yoruba state based in the town of Ife in Osun State, Nigeria. He was crowned on 6 December 1980 in a ceremony attended by the Emir of Kano, Oba of Benin, Amayanabo of Opobo and Olu of Warri, as well as by representatives of the Queen of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olojo festival</span> Annual festival in Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

The Ọlọ́jọ́ Festival is an ancient festival celebrated annually in Ilé-Ifẹ̀, Osun State, Nigeria. It is one of the popular festivals in the Yoruba land, and was once described by Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as a festival that celebrates the Black race all over the world. The Yoruba word 'Ọlọ́jọ́' means 'The Day Of The First Dawn' that describes the grateful heart of man towards God's creation and the existence of Human. The Ọlọ́jọ́ Festival is a culture festival in the calendar of the Ilé-Ifẹ̀, Osun State which is located in the Southwestern part of Nigeria. It is the celebration of the remembrance of “Ògún”, Òrìṣà of Iron, who is believed to have cleared the path at the dawn of creation for the Irúnmọlẹ̀, including Odùduwà, progenitor of the Yorùbá people. The festival is held annually in October. It is one of the biggest festival on the culture calendar of llé-Ifẹ̀.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi</span> Nigerian traditional ruler (born 1974)

Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, is the 51st and current Ooni of Ife. He is the traditional ruler and monarch of the Yoruba kingdom of Ile-Ife. He ascended to the throne of his forebears in 2015, succeeding the deceased Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who was the 50th Ooni of Ife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aso ebi</span> Yoruba dressing style

Aso ebi (Yoruba), sometimes spelled as asoebi in Nigeria and ashobie in Sierra Leone and the Gambia, is a uniform dress or dressing code/style that is traditionally worn by the Yoruba People and acculturized by some other African cultures as an indicator of cooperation, camaraderie and solidarity during ceremonies, events and festive periods. The purpose of wearing the dress can be to serve as self-identification with age mates, relatives or friends during social occasions or funerals.

Odo Ere, popularly called Ere Gajo, is the headquarters of Yagba West Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria. The town is located in the old Kabba Province about 140 kilometres southeast of Ilorin. The people of Odo Ere share a common ancestry with the Yoruba people in South-West Nigeria and they are often referred to as Okun Yoruba people. The town is situated on a well-watered savannah plain consisting of dotted hills, forest and grassland. The topography earned the town the sobriquet: Ere Ọmọ Onilẹ Dun Rin, meaning "Odo Ere town with a beautiful flat terrain that enhances ease of movement".

Yam is a staple food in West Africa and other regions classified as a tuber crop and it is an annual or perennial crop. The New Yam festival is celebrated by almost every ethnic group in Nigeria and is observed annually at the end of June.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yoruba women's clothing</span>

Yoruba women’s clothing is the traditional attire worn by women of the Yoruba ethnic group in parts of Nigeria, Benin and Togo in a region called Yorubaland. The clothing reflects the rich culture, history and aesthetic preferences of the Yoruba people.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Owambe: All you need to know about this loud Yoruba party". Skabash!. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Do Yorubas Really Throw The Best 'Owambe' Parties? -". The Herald. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  3. 1 2 Uwajeh, Alex. ""Owanbe" or "Owambe" Party in Nigeria Complete Guide". 247Broadstreet.com. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Tugbobo, Babatunde (29 July 2022). "Osemawe, subjects celebrate 'Odun Oba'". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  5. ↑ Bamigbola, Bola (25 September 2022). "Ooni, Aregbesola, Alabi promote culture at Olojo festival". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  6. ↑ Kunnuji, Joseph (2020). A Chronicle of Cultural Transformation: Ethnography of Badagry Ogu Musical Practices (PDF) (Thesis). University of Cape Town.
  7. ↑ Oladotun, Shola-Adido (28 January 2023). "Eight people you'll meet at 'Owambe'". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  8. ↑ Olukoju, Ayodeji (1 January 2018). "Which Lagos, Whose (Hi)story?". Lagos Notes and Records. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  9. ↑ Orimolade, Adefolake Odunayo (2014). Aso Ebi: Impact of the Social Uniform in Nigerian Caucuses, Yoruba Culture and Contemporary Trends (PDF) (Thesis). p. 17.
  10. ↑ Badeji, Susan Olubukola (6 July 2021). "Aso-ebi Custom among the Yoruba People of Southwest Nigeria: An Assessment of Trend, Challenges and Prospects". Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science. Sciencedomain International: 14–22. doi:10.9734/jesbs/2021/v34i530326. ISSN   2456-981X. S2CID   237753193.
  11. ↑ "Owambe Party in Nigeria: Foods, Vibes, Dressing and Cruise". Insight.ng. 17 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.