The research objectives are to outline the diverse forms of Yorùbá verbal arts; to examine the nature of the Yorùbá indigenous political system; to understand how oral performers use verbal arts as instruments of power and control in the Yorùbá indigenous political system and the Nigerian politics at large; it as well addresses the following questions, but not limited to: How does the performance of Yorùbá verbal art organise, maintain, and transform Yorùbá lives, communities, and culture? Why are rituals and festivals so important in the political systems of the selected kingdoms? How does oral performance in the Yorùbá public sphere speak to the status and agency of women in Yorùbá socio-political affairs? And in what ways does gender influence performers’ style and emotional dynamics in conveying messages to Yorùbá society, and the Nigerian state at large? This research is an ethnographic research that employs participant observation, in-depth interviews, life histories, and focus group discussion methods for data collection.

The research is funded by the Nigerian government through her Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFUND) Scholarship.

The postgraduate community in the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics and at Queen’s is a citadel of excellence where both master’s and Research students are connected to one another regardless of their fields of study, and to the wider community. The community supports us to become problem-solvers and create a better world of our dream. The community does this through its research and development trainings designed and organized for the students. It also creates an avenue for cordial relationship between students and their lecturers/supervisors.