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‘Oriki’ (praise poem), Archaeological investigation, and historical interpretation in Yorubaland

In this talk, I will attempt to demonstrate the potential value of Oriki as a vehicle for the identification, analysis, and interpretation of historical landmarks and archaeological materials in settlement archaeological sites in Yorubaland. A case study is made of the Oriki of the Tokuloje in the Ogbomoso South Local Government area of Oyo State to identify historical and cultural landmarks of archaeological importance and to infer the possible material that could be retrieved during excavation in their abandoned settlement. In addition, the Oriki of the Lujumo family (my family house) of the ancient city of Ile-Ife was used to analyze archaeological materials retrieved from the foundations of the family house. The study of Oriki, an aspect of oral literature in archaeological research, shows that, if critically applied, it may guide archaeologists on where to dig, how to interpret, and most significantly, the identification of abandoned settlement sites in Yorubaland.