Indigenous Deity and Religious Myths Surrounding Palm Trees in Esaba of Ughievwen

Abstract

The Esaba people in the Ughiẹvwen kingdom of Urhobo were conscious of indigenous deities and religious myths as the oldest, most powerful, and most integral form of seeking protection and provision from Osonobrughwẹ (God) for a day-to-day living before the new beliefs occasioned by modernisation, education, Christianity, civilisation, technology, quest for liberation and laziness have led to the abandonment, negligence, swap, and modification of the once cherished practice (Darah, 2016:45). Nevertheless, palm nut collectors still profess the ideology of sustaining the religious ideals and values surrounding ẹdjẹ okpa palm trees in Ughievwen. This paper investigates various religious myths surrounding ẹdjẹ okpa palm trees of the Esaba community in Ughievwen. Using Levi-Strauss’ structuralist theory of mythology, five palm-nut collectors were randomly selected and interviewed using an android phone recorder to solicit responses on their knowledge of the ẹdjẹ okpa palm trees of the Esaba community. It was revealed that palm-nut collectors obey the symbolic laws of ẹdjẹ okpa and violators are severely punished. The work submits that the practice be sustained for the total wellbeing of palm-nut collectors, bountiful harvest, and revitalisation of the dying aspect of traditional worship in Urhobo culture