Lest Our Culture Wilts Away

Interrogating Cultural Heritage and Leadership in Esanland, Edo State of Nigeria

Abstract

Esan people are a distinct group that is located in the Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State, Nigeria. Although a subset of the larger Edo ethnic group in Nigeria, an examination of their cultural practices reveals peculiarities in their indigenous knowledge systems which include their cultural heritage and leadership structure. These cultural indices are found in their food, music, folk tales, folksongs, proverbs and aphorisms, belief systems, folk arts and crafts and ethno-medical health care delivery. This study relied heavily on the ethnographic method of inquiry as data were drawn through interviews, observation, question-and-answer sessions, literature search, telephone conversation and the internet. Fifteen Esan towns were selected from the five local government areas whose headquarters are Ubiaja, Uromi, Irrua, Ekpoma, and Igueben where this research was conducted. Of these Local Government Areas, except for Esan North-East Local Government which is made up of just two kingdoms, three kingdoms each were selected and investigated in each Local Government Area and they are: Uromi and Uzea in Esan North-East, Ekpoma, Ogwa and Urohi in Esan West, Igueben, Ebelle, and Ujiogba in Igueben local government area, Irrua, Ewu and Idoa in Esan Central, and Ubiaja, Oria and Ewohimi in Esan South-East.  Findings in this study suggest that some major age-old cultural practices of the people are wilting away with great rapidity under the watch of those who are supposedly the custodians of culture. Consequently, cultural reorientation, patriotism and collaborative efforts were suggested as ways to safeguard what is originally theirs for posterity.