NEGATIVE PORTRAYAL OF MASCULINITY IN YORÙBÁ PANEGYRICS

Abstract

This paper examines the various ways in which masculinity has been negatively portrayed in some Yorùbá panegyric (Oríkì Yorùbá). Relying much on the rich Yorùbá oral tradition of the Ò?yó ? and Ìbàdàn  people, the paper discovered that most praise-songs (Oríkì Yorùbá) which tend to praise the men folk implicitly or explicitly condemn them. Apart from seeing men as oppressors/suppressors of both men and women, several Yorùbá panegyric (Oríkì Yorùbá) have alleged men to be thieves, sexual abusers and ruthless tyrants. It is hoped that this attempt will fill a need in the aspect of a critical study in the Yorùbá panegyric (Oríkì Yorùbá). However, we encourage further research on the acceptability of this unequivocal negative portrays by the entire men folk. For the purpose of this paper and literature review the word ‘panegyric’ and ‘Oríkì Yorùbá’ are used interchangeably.