Traditional Beliefs and Healing Potential of the Osun River: Quest for Indigenous Water Management Approaches in Osogbo, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter examines how traditional beliefs and values attached to natural resources translate to indigenous techniques of water management in Osun River among the people of Osogbo. Osogbo draws its identity from oral tradition created from the Osun River, through the deification of the river by the first settlers of the city. The combined effect of the cultural construction of the Osogbo identity and deification of the river reflects on the preservation and protection of the Osun River. Being a deified space, various indigenous strategies such as cultural restrictions, moral taboos and spirituality are engaged in the preservation and management of Osun River. While the grooves become a global treasure attracting yearly pilgrimage and regular tourism to Osogbo, the Osun spirituality further establishes a link among different nations whose nationals often perform pilgrimage to the Osun River in its Osogbo spot. In addition to being a tourist Centre, local custodians further strengthened the preservation of the river by employing indigenous strategies. Thus, in conclusion, the chapter explains that by using indigenous knowledge of preservation and protection of values in the management of Osun water, the Osun River and its grooves in Osogbo become global cultural heritage.KeywordsTraditional beliefsOsun riverHealing potentialsPreservationSouthwest Nigeria