Intertextuality and Reference as Stylistic Elements in Yoruba Oral Performance

Abstract

Understanding of cultural dynamics is an important way of understanding the value system. Oríkì (panegyrics), Orílẹ̀ (totem) and Ọfọ̀ (incantation) are Yorùbá memorial historical valuable sources by which the Yorùbá people preserve their history. In an oral society such as that of the Yorùbá people, some historical materials (social, political, economic among other) are yet to be traced or sourced, verified and documented as written historical facts or materials till the recent time. This is as a result of lack and lateacquisition of literacy knowledge among Africans generally and the Yorùbá people in particular. This study attempts to apply the stylistic knowledge of intertextuality and reference which have to do with locating event or history in one text to another on some Yorùbá oral genres. No research effort has been made relating to Yorùbá history that accounts or establishes the potency or effectiveness of these linguistic tools for historical discoveries. Relevant data were collected from different texts with similar or the same stories to demonstrate how a text is used as a follow up for the other. The study recommends the application of the inter textual and reference knowledge in resolving some controversial historical arts. This study concludes that, in an oral community such as that of the Yorùbá nation, the application of the knowledge of intertextuality and reference go a long way in identifying, verifying and establishing some “distorted and controversial histories” relating to individuals, families, towns and the cultural beliefs of the Yorùbá people generally. Keywords: Intertextuality, Reference, Stylistic Elements, Oral Performance, Yoruba People,