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INDIGENOUS MARKETS’ SACRED SYMBOLS IN YORÙBÁ ORATURE

SA’ADU Taofiq and ÀJÀYÍ Funmilayo Temitope

Submitted

May 10, 2025

Accepted

June 15, 2025

Published

July 20, 2025
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Abstract

This paper centres on the sacred symbols embedded in Yoruba orature and verbal arts concerning indigenous markets, examines the signs and symbols used in describing and defining indigenous markets in forms like folklores, proverbs, Ifá scared verses (Odù and ẹṣẹ-Ifá), and other verbal arts that construct and convey meaning in the context of orature and spirituality. This study argues that some existing works on Yorùbá indigenous markets focused mainly on their history, structure, and economic value, to the neglect of treating how the indigenous markets are reflected in the sacred symbols in orature and their spiritual essence, meaning that the spirituality of Yorùbá indigenous markets as reflected in Yorùbá orature has not been fully explored. This created an academic gap. Paying attention to the orature and spirituality of Yorùbá indigenous markets will embody Yorùbá people’s values, beliefs, and spiritual practices. This study, therefore, seeks to fill this gaping gap. This study’s data is generated from Yorùbá orature reflecting indigenous markets as gleaned from Yorùbá myth, song, proverbs, folktales, and Ifá literary corpus. The data collected were transcribed and analyzed within the theoretical framework of Semiotics theory. Therefore, unveiling the sacred symbols embedded in the indigenous marketplace as reflected through orature while interrogating the spirituality of Yorùbá indigenous markets. This study found that Yorùbá indigenous markets are not just economic spaces, but are also sacred sites that reflect the community’s values, beliefs, and practices.

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