OVIA OSESE FESTIVAL AS A TOOL FOR ENHANCING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN OGORILAND
OVIA OSESE FESTIVAL AS A TOOL FOR ENHANCING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN OGORILAND
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Date
2010-02
Authors
ADEBIJA, Iyoboro Bosede
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Abstract
Ovia Osese is a festival organized for the initiation of young girls or maidens into
womanhood which symbolizes chastity, virginity and purity in conformity with the laws and
social norms of Ogori. This study aimed at promoting the relevance of Ovia Osese festival as a
tool for community development. The study emphasized the need for people‟s participation in
communal activities. Theory of social mobilization which emphasized on the commitment of
people to certain collective goals and objectives, values and behavior was used. Qualitative
approach using the key informant interview, focus group discussion and participant observation
was deployed to investigate the role which Ovia Osese festival plays in promoting community
development. Findings of the study revealed that the festival serves as leverage for promoting
culture, peace and unity of Ogori land. It also serves as a forum for discussing issues of sociocultural,
economic and political significance to the Ogori community. It was noted that funds
generated from the festival as a result of donations are not properly accounted for leaving the
people with doubt about the significance of Ovia Osese festival. Youth‟s participation in the
festival is low and not strategic. Youths are not actively involved in decision making concerning
the activities of the festival due to communication disconnect. Decisions are made by the
dignitaries (Ogori Descendants Union and Chiefs) who believe to know what the people want
without consulting with the local people on the decision on how to go about Ovia Osese festival
and development projects of the community. In the case of Ovia Osese, the Ogori people use the
platform on yearly basis to evaluate how far they have been able as a community to resolve
varying challenges impinging on the development of the Ogoriland. This festival has created an
atmosphere of serenity for the people to discuss issues of development such as electricity,
education, moral values, health, family unity, societal vices such as corruption, prostitution, etc.
and other critical issues such as politics and identity problem (sustaining the local language of
Ogori people). The festival, Ovia Osese is therefore a critical tool which the Ogori people have
used over the years and till now as a channel to achieve this. There is need therefore to make the
festival more participatory and inclusive to accommodate the youth who at present have little or
no contribution to decisions concerning the promotion of the festival. Thus the quest to create
enabling environment that will attract active participation of youth in all facets of the event and
promotion of bottom-up approach communication process is now emerging to ensure
development of Ogori community.
Description
A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF ARTS [M.A] DEGREE IN
DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION
DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND PREFORMING ARTS,
FACULTY OF ARTS,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA
Keywords
OVIA OSESE FESTIVAL,, FOR ENHANCING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,, OGORILAND