METAPHYSICS OF ABIKU: MYTH AND REALITY


METAPHYSICS OF ABIKU: MYTH AND REALITY  

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background to the Study  

Over the centuries the Abiku mythology has seen to the fate of thousands if not millions of children who die and seemingly are reborn through the same mother in Yoruba land. The myth is of a very strong form of unmitigating and vengeful form of reincarnation. In this case a particular child actively brings him or herself to be born into the same family and by the same mother. The child can die up to four times and come back to the same mother. Usually it is a female child. Often, when this cycle continues for an unbearable length of time, the child is given a mark so that they are sure that it is this same child. It is found that when this child dies and reincarnates another time, it often returns with the mutilated part.

At the turn of the centuries and with colonialism and empirical sciences making its entry into the African shoes, most Yoruba’s began to exercise other explanation for the pattered death and birth known as Abikus. Cases of sickle cell anaemia has been used to explain away what used to be viewed as the torturous reincarnation if an Abiku.

However, science hasn’t entirely been able to explain the part where the mutilations on the dead child is seen in the returning on. The same thing with its Igbo equivalent known as Ogbanje. This is why the issue remains unrested like the Igbo killing of twins and some other superstitious western Nigerian beliefs.

1.2   Statement of the Problem

The issue of Abiku was only put partially at rest and it didn’t help that writers like Wole Soyinka and J.P Clark took up the the myth and turned it into a very strong archetype in African criticism which was responded to with equally reverberating critical attention and literature on the subject thereby blurring the lines between what medicine has come to show us as the reality in the issue of Abiku and what has been written into it’s myth alongside the population of people who still cling to the old understanding of the Abiku's.

The implication is that an academic lacuna is left which should have thrown more light on the real and mythical dimensions of the Abiku metaphysics. This is the issue that this research has set for itself namely to study the metaphysics of Abiku in its mythic and real manifestations.

1.3   Research Questions

1.3.1      what explanations are often submitted for the Abiku phenomenon.

1.3.2      What factors influence the relevance of the traditional explanation of the Abiku factor even in present times and even across the Yoruba culture.

1.3.3      What religious doctrines suggest the relevance of the Abiku phenomenon.

1.4   Objectives of the Study

The research work which we have taken up here aims at studying both aspects of the Yoruba Abiku phenomenon namely its mythic and real aspects. It will establish the various backings of both understandings which has made even with the advancement of the empirical sciences in the minds of the most religious of persons to still cling to the mythical account of the Abiku phenomenon.

The research will put to rest the Abiku myth and reality dichotomy in that it will delineate the various manifestations of both in the general sociopolitical tone of the Yoruba culture till present.

1.5   Significance of the Study

Apart from formulating a comparative reading of the two stance of the issue and putting to rest the Abiku myth and reality dichotomy, it will shed a critical light on the influence of its literary significance to language and culture. Much of what most people especially none Yorubas know about the issue is always relative to what is preserved in art especially of the literary one which often jumbles between the myth and what can be explained by the empirical sciences.

1.6   Research Hypothesis

The research is working on the assumption that the question of Abiku can only be grappled with sufficiently through both its mythic and real aspects.

1.7   Scope of the Study

The work is divided into two as far as the discourse is concerned namely that which inquires into the mythic dimension of the Abiku phenomenon and that which looks at the real aspect of it. By so doing the work will grapple the myth through its rendering in folktales and literature and other less scientific accounts while real aspect would attempt at studying other explanations submitted for the phenomenon and other scientific explanations. The conclusion will aim at reconciling the differing understanding of the same issue.

1.8   Limitations of the Study

The major limiting factor of this research work is that of time to go through the tons of interdisciplinary literature on African and western forms of humanism.

1.9   Definition of Terms

Abiku

This is a Yoruba myth which refers to children who die at a very young age and reborn through the same mother only for the cycle to continue endlessly as a way of torturing her family. However, with the advancement of sciences the Abiku phenomenon is now being explained by such factors as the sickle cell anaemia.

 

.

METAPHYSICS OF ABIKU: MYTH AND REALITY



TYPE IN YOUR TOPIC AND CLICK SEARCH.






RESEARCHWAP.NET

Researchwap.net is an online repository for free project topics and research materials, articles and custom writing of research works. We’re an online resource centre that provides a vast database for students to access numerous research project topics and materials. Researchwap.net guides and assist Postgraduate, Undergraduate and Final Year Students with well researched and quality project topics, topic ideas, research guides and project materials. We’re reliable and trustworthy, and we really understand what is called “time factor”, that is why we’ve simplified the process so that students can get their research projects ready on time. Our platform provides more educational services, such as hiring a writer, research analysis, and software for computer science research and we also seriously adhere to a timely delivery.

TESTIMONIES FROM OUR CLIENTS


Please feel free to carefully review some written and captured responses from our satisfied clients.

  • "Exceptionally outstanding. Highly recommend for all who wish to have effective and excellent project defence. Easily Accessable, Affordable, Effective and effective."

    Debby Henry George, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA.
  • "I saw this website on facebook page and I did not even bother since I was in a hurry to complete my project. But I am totally amazed that when I visited the website and saw the topic I was looking for and I decided to give a try and now I have received it within an hour after ordering the material. Am grateful guys!"

    Hilary Yusuf, United States International University Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • "Researchwap.net is a website I recommend to all student and researchers within and outside the country. The web owners are doing great job and I appreciate them for that. Once again, thank you very much "researchwap.net" and God bless you and your business! ."

    Debby Henry George, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA.
  • "Great User Experience, Nice flows and Superb functionalities.The app is indeed a great tech innovation for greasing the wheels of final year, research and other pedagogical related project works. A trial would definitely convince you."

    Lamilare Valentine, Kwame Nkrumah University, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • "I love what you guys are doing, your material guided me well through my research. Thank you for helping me achieve academic success."

    Sampson, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
  • "researchwap.com is God-sent! I got good grades in my seminar and project with the help of your service, thank you soooooo much."

    Cynthia, Akwa Ibom State University .
  • "Sorry, it was in my spam folder all along, I should have looked it up properly first. Please keep up the good work, your team is quite commited. Am grateful...I will certainly refer my friends too."

    Elizabeth, Obafemi Awolowo University
  • "Am happy the defense went well, thanks to your articles. I may not be able to express how grateful I am for all your assistance, but on my honour, I owe you guys a good number of referrals. Thank you once again."

    Ali Olanrewaju, Lagos State University.
  • "My Dear Researchwap, initially I never believed one can actually do honest business transactions with Nigerians online until i stumbled into your website. You have broken a new legacy of record as far as am concerned. Keep up the good work!"

    Willie Ekereobong, University of Port Harcourt.
  • "WOW, SO IT'S TRUE??!! I can't believe I got this quality work for just 3k...I thought it was scam ooo. I wouldn't mind if it goes for over 5k, its worth it. Thank you!"

    Theressa, Igbinedion University.
  • "I did not see my project topic on your website so I decided to call your customer care number, the attention I got was epic! I got help from the beginning to the end of my project in just 3 days, they even taught me how to defend my project and I got a 'B' at the end. Thank you so much researchwap.com, infact, I owe my graduating well today to you guys...."

    Joseph, Abia state Polytechnic.
  • "My friend told me about ResearchWap website, I doubted her until I saw her receive her full project in less than 15 miniutes, I tried mine too and got it same, right now, am telling everyone in my school about researchwap.com, no one has to suffer any more writing their project. Thank you for making life easy for me and my fellow students... Keep up the good work"

    Christiana, Landmark University .
  • "I wish I knew you guys when I wrote my first degree project, it took so much time and effort then. Now, with just a click of a button, I got my complete project in less than 15 minutes. You guys are too amazing!."

    Musa, Federal University of Technology Minna
  • "I was scared at first when I saw your website but I decided to risk my last 3k and surprisingly I got my complete project in my email box instantly. This is so nice!!!."

    Ali Obafemi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Niger State.
  • To contribute to our success story, send us a feedback or please kindly call 2348037664978.
    Then your comment and contact will be published here also with your consent.

    Thank you for choosing researchwap.com.