Magic And Hunting In Igbeti, Oyo, Nigeria
Abstract
Hunting is one of the primal and oldest professions among the people of Igbeti. Other professionals are pathologically jealous of the respect hunters command in society. They, therefore, simulate the hunters’ achievements. The aim of this paper, however, is to chronologically delineate how hunters use magical methods to achieve their hunting voyage when it seems difficult to naturally kill animals. Previous works have focused on how Ijala is used by hunters, Yoruba hunters and their culture and narratives. They have largely ignored the vital role magic plays in hunting among the people of Igbeti. The paper used ethnographic research. In-depth interviews were conducted with recognized hunters in the community. The paper found out that the use of magic in hunting is an age-long practice among hunters and that it is still popular in our contemporary society. The paper used Akinsipe’s socio-cultural relevance theory to examine the importance of the hunters in Yorubaland. It recommends that since magic could be good or bad, the good ones should be sustained while the bad ones popularly referred to as sorcery should be effaced. In conclusion, hunters in Igbeti were seen as utilizing rituals, incantations and sacrifices as magical tools to carry out their hunting enterprises.
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