- That the House May Stand AgainVeranda Posts in Ọ̀yọ́ Palace
all photos by the author, except where otherwise noted
Ẹ̀yin ni ọmọ òpómúléró m'ọja àlekànYou are the offspring of Òpómúléró m'ọja àlekàn
The epigraph is an excerpt from the oríkì of the òpómúléró people among the Yorùbá. The full verses of this oral source will be examined within the course of this paper as a subject of enquiry to interrogate the veranda post in the palace of the Aláàfin1 of Ọ̀yọ́. The concept of òpómúléró in Yorùbá language and thought stems from the relevance of òpó—"pillar" in Yorùbá architecture. The word òpómúléró is a compound word, a combination of four or five Yorùbá words. Òpó, the pillar or post; tó, that or which; mú, holds; ilé, house or building, and ró, supports or upholds. The significance of this is that the pillar post is an important part of the building on which the roof structure and other important parts of the building rests. Without it, one cannot express the popular maxim "roof over my head," because there would not be a roof without any form of support that touches the earth surface. Aside from this, òpó as a word, form, or cultural identity is also relevant in the different spheres of life of the Yorùbá—to the extent that it forms a mainstay of discourse or chants in the oríkìorílẹ̀ of the Òpómúléró lineage among the Yorùbá, an example of which presented here.
Oríkì Òpómúléró
1 Ẹỳ in ni ọmọ òpómúléró m' ọja àlekànYou are the offspring of òpómúléró m' ọja alekan
2 Òpó rósọ, Òpó gbàjà.Òpó kan dúdú lojú ogunWrapped posts, posts with sash,the only dark post at the war front
3 Keke ta dídùn. Aṣọ lèdìdí ènìyàn.Clothes is the covering of man
4 Ènìyàn kì bá bọ́aṣọ síle, bí ọ̀bọ ni kì bárí.Without clothes, man only looks like monkeys
5 Òpó ènìyàn a jọ ìnàkí.Human totem now resembles that of the monkey
6 À báà rí ẹni tí ara rẹ̀ dí kókó àti èyí tí ara rẹ̀ so gbódi-gbòdi.Then we can see those whose skins are infected with boils; and those whose bodies are full of sores
7 Ọmọ òpó tí kò gbọ́ran, ẹ jẹ́ ká kọ ojú rẹ̀ sí òòrun.The recalcitrant offspring of Òpó should be punished in the heat of the sun
8 Bí kò baá gbọ́ran, ẹ kọ ojú rẹ̀ s'íná. Bí kò baá tún gbọ́ran, ẹ rán lọ s'ójú ogun.If he does not desist, let him face fire; If he is adamant, send him to war.
9 Bí ó bá le dé k' ódé. Ẹ̀yin l' ọmọ arógun má sa. A gbó yaya má yà.Who cares if he returns or not. They are those who fear no war, brave as a thunder
10 Ẹ káre o, ọmọ Òpómúléró.Well done, offspring of Òpómúléró
This oríkì chant reflects not just the importance, strength, and character of a people. It also demonstrates an item, the [End Page 46]
Click for larger view
View full resolution
Wooden figure from Shongo (Ṣàngó) shrine of the King of Ọ̀yọ́ (Aláàfin) at Kòso.
Drawing by author, 2020
Click for larger view
View full resolution
An unusual curvilinear carved post brought from old Ọ̀yọ.
Formerly at the Institute of African Studies Museum, University of Ibadan.
Drawing by author, 2020
pillar, which has been used as a metaphor to describe the people's characteristics as strong, fearless, and brave. They (the family lineage) stand tall in the face of any challenge or adversity. They are related to the pillars holding a roof of a house, not just ordinary poles but veranda...