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Aspects Of Migili Morphology
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1.2 SOCIO – CULTURAL PROFILE
The Migili language is rich in both
its social and cultural aspects. Some of these aspects are their
festival, religion, marriage, occupation e.t.c
1.2.1 OCCUPATION
The
Migili people are predominantly farmers. This occupation ranges from
young to old, male and female. They produce a lot of crops but their
major cash product is yam. Yams are produced for transportation to
different parts of the country and they also engage in inter – village
sales with their neighbours who do not produce the types of crops that
they do. Migili people also grow crop such as melon, beans, guinea
corn, rice and millet.
1.2.2 FESTIVAL
There are two major
festival celebrated by the Migili. These festivals are very important
aspects of their culture as they expose their heritage and ancestral
endowments. First is the farming season in which every farmer within
the village premises is involved. During this farming season, they move
from one indigenes farm to another in large groups cultivating,
clearing and planting different types of crops for one another. After
this has been done, a date is set to celebrate the harvest of these
crops and this leads to the second festival which is the Odu festival.
The
Odu festival is celebrated village – wide in Miligi. This is a period
of harvesting of crops, celebration of the harvest, exchange of
pleasantries and entertainment in the village square. During the
festival, the Odu masquerade which represents their ancestral values is
dressed in a colourful attire with which it displays great dancing steps
to the amusement and applause of the villagers.
Another festival
that is celebrated in the village is the demise of an elderly indigene.
This is done with a type of dance called Abeni.
1.2.3 RELIGION
Before
the arrival of the missionary, the Migili people were ardent
traditionalists. They worshipped their ancestors some of which are Odu
and Aleku. They had separate seasons at which sacrifices were made and
worshipped them with dancing and entertainment. But things gradually
began to change after the missionaries arrived thus most of them were
converted to Christians, though a small population remain strictly
traditional worshippers while some are Muslims.
1.2.4 MARRIAGE
Marriage
as an entity was approached from the early stages of childhood amongst
the Migili people. Before the Missionary arrived, intercultural marriage
was forbidden amongst them with serious consequences or punishment
allotted the violation of such law. Marriage between indigenes was
formally approached, by the father of the suitor, who informs the mother
of the admired girl of his intention. Once an agreement has been
reached, the first payment is made to confirm the betrothal of the
female child who continues to live with her parents until the due age
has been reached. The male child (suitor) then pays his first
installment of her dowry and engages in farming activities for his
in-laws once every year. But today the order of things have changed and
marriage within and outside the tribe is now by choice hence enhancing
inter-cultural relationship.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 4]
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