When I was younger, I was always curious about my family tree, history, culture and so forth. However there are no photos or written records of this. I have thrived on what my parents and family members have told me over the years. Today I read about Oriki, which originates from the Yoruba culture in Nigeria.
Oriki is an oral archive based on the history of a family, clan or a specific person. The 37th State notes Oriki as something beautiful when orated and highlight the poetic nature of the Yoruba Language. The Oriki is a chant that recounts the history of a family and each of its ancestors and goes back generations.
The documentary ‘Oriki’ by Femi Odugbemi (Part one below) takes a look the globalization phasing out the organic practice of Oriki. After I watched Part 1, I thought wow, this is the kind of thing I was craving for when I wanted to find out more about my family.
If I could write songs and poems, I think I would create an Oriki for my family. It is a beautiful, artistic and smart way to pass on the history of the family for generations to come!
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