Objectives And Goals
Vision, Mission, and Objectives of the Igbomina Progressive Network
Vision:
To position Igbominaland as a beacon of cultural richness and sustainable development, recognized globally for its vibrant heritage, innovation, and community well-being.
Mission:
To enhance the quality of life in Igbominaland through the preservation of cultural heritage, promotion of economic vitality, and support of educational and health initiatives that empower the community and foster a sense of identity and pride among the Igbomina people.
Objectives:
1. Cultural Preservation: Illuminate and preserve the unique traditions and practices of each Igbomina community through cultural investigations, historical interviews, and the celebration of local achievements.
2. Economic Growth: Drive economic empowerment and innovation by supporting local businesses, integrating modern technologies, and promoting sustainable practices in key sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing.
3. Educational Advancement: Support educational programs and initiatives focused on skill development, entrepreneurship, and STEM, to prepare the youth of Igbominaland for future opportunities.
4. Health and Wellness: Improve healthcare access and promote wellness programs to enhance the physical and mental health of the community.
5. Cultural Tourism: Develop and promote Igbominaland as a prime destination for cultural tourism, showcasing its history, arts, and festivals, thereby creating job opportunities and increasing global recognition.
These streamlined elements encapsulate the Igbomina Progressive Network’s commitment to fostering a sustainable and prosperous future while maintaining the cultural identity that defines the community.
Overview Of Igbomina Regions And Cultural Significance
The Igbomina, or Ìgbómìnà, are a subgroup of the Yoruba people, living primarily in the north-central Kwara State and northeastern Osun State in Nigeria. The Igbomina region is known for its unique culture, history, and language, which distinguish it from other Yoruba subgroups.
Cultural Significance:
Language: The Igbomina people speak a distinct dialect of the Yoruba language, which, while mutually intelligible with the standard Yoruba spoken in many parts of southwestern Nigeria, has unique linguistic features in terms of pronunciation and vocabulary.
Festivals: They have rich cultural traditions and celebrate several festivals, including the annual ‘Pala’ and ‘Egungun’ festivals. These festivals often feature colorful masquerades and serve as a means of preserving the community’s history and folklore.
Craftsmanship: The region is known for its skilled craftsmanship, especially in woodcarving and blacksmithing. The Igbomina people have a long history of producing intricate wood carvings and metal works, which are not only utilitarian but also have spiritual and cultural significance.
Agriculture: Traditionally, the Igbomina region is known for its fertile land, which is suitable for agriculture. They cultivate crops like yam, maize, cassava, and cocoyam. Farming practices and harvest festivals play a crucial role in their culture.
Political System: The Igbomina people have a traditional political system that is led by local kings known as ‘Obas,’ who play significant roles in the cultural and spiritual lives of the people. The Obas are custodians of the culture and heritage of the people.
Education and Scholarship: The region has produced notable scholars and has a tradition of valuing education. This has led to the establishment of several educational institutions within the region, contributing to the intellectual growth of Nigeria.
Music and Dance: Like other Yoruba subgroups, music and dance are integral aspects of the Igbomina culture, often seen in their celebrations and rituals. Their traditional music includes the use of drums, such as the ‘dùndún’ and ‘gángan,’ and other indigenous instruments.
Religion: The Igbomina people practice a mixture of traditional Yoruba religion, which includes the worship of deities like Orunmila, Sango, and Ogun. With Islam and Christianity, with many Christian and Muslim denominations present in the region.
Understanding the Igbomina regions and their cultural significance involves appreciating their contributions to the broader Yoruba culture and acknowledging the unique aspects that make their traditions and way of life distinct.
EXTINCTION OF IGBOMINA DIALECT AND THE STRUGGLE FOR IGBOMINA IDENTITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY
S. O. Boladale (Amb.)
Culture is the total way of life of a group of people. It consists of the material and non-material
values, spirituality and practices that make up the bedrock of a particular civilization. The socio-
cultural heritage of a given society consists of the customs, norms, taboos, mores, superstitions
and belief system that are transmitted from one generation to another. The Igbomina
extractions are one of the tribes that made up the Yoruba race. Fagbamila Ajagunnla Orangun
Ile-Ila, the progenitor of the Igbomina people was one of the direct sons of Oduduwa the father
of the Yoruba ethnic group.
The present day Igbomina geographical territory comprises of five Local Government Areas
(LGAs) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria namely, Ila, Ifedayo, Irepodun, Ifelodun, and Isin LGAs
of Osun and Kwara State respectively. The Igbomina people are known for their rich, enviable
culture and traditions similar to that of other Yoruba races, however, there is little variation in
its cultural aesthetics and phonological formation which stands to portray the real Igbomina
identity among other Yoruba tribes. This piece attempt to investigate the emerging extinction
of the Igbomina dialect and the struggle for Igbomina identity in the 21st century.
Oral traditions maintained that the Yoruba ethnic group initially speaks the same dialect but the
prolong migration from Ile-Ife which led to the dispersal of some of the migrants gave birth to
the variations we have in the Yoruba language of today. The Yoruba people attributed the
tonal changes from the original Ile-Ife accent to the water they drank, the food they ate, and
the contacts they had with people of different languages as reasons for the modifications. One
of the most referenced cultural identities of the Igbomina people is the Igbomina dialect
characterized by a blend of Ife (low tone) with Oyo (high tone) that produced its unique tonal
sound.
In recent times the Igbomina dialect has been a subject of amusement, causing it to lose its
originality and social acceptability as a result of western civilization and its concomitant factors.
The migratory characteristics of the Igbomina people have largely contributed to the erosion of
the Igbomina dialect. The Igbomina people are scattered around the world with a significant
number of them located in neighboring western region states such as Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo,
and Ogun state respectively. Their contacts with different social and cultural environments has
subjected their mother tongue to intense phonological combat with the language of the host
communities, and most often, the predominance of the host language overwhelmes the
Igbomina dialects. In Lagos State, for example, the Igbomina language is perceived to be a local
and unfashionable language whereas the corrupted version of the Yoruba language is widely
spoken and glorified as the modern dialect.
Furthermore, the surviving custodians of the Igbomina dialect are a few elderly people living in
the rural communities and villages of Igbominaland, most of whose children have migrated out
of their ancestral homes in search of greener pastures thereby acculturating to the host
community. Pitifully, the elderly ones are dying without the chance of preserving the linguistic
compositions of the Igbomina language. The Igbomina dialect is on the verge of linguistic
extinction if not immediately rescued.
It is therefore imperative to document the Igbomina language and its phonological system, in
order to preserve it along with vital aspects of the Igbomina culture. Social media platforms like
Facebook, YouTube, Blogspot, Podcasts can also be used in preserving the language from dying
out. In addition, it is essential that more resources are directed at producing linguistics journals
on Igbomina dialects, while emphasis should be placed on academic researches and lectures
focused on the preservation of the Igbomina heritage.
Ultimately, there is an urgent need for the institutionalization of the culture and traditions of
Igbominaland, it is therefore crucial to establish a center for Igbomina studies, which will serve
as the bastion of Igbomina linguistic learning and cultural preservation through academic
research and scholarship.