• ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • DONATE
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • WRITE FOR US
WELCOME TO MY WOVEN WORDS
  • Home
  • Favourite
    • Culture
    • History
    • Mythology
    • Folktale
    • Biography
    • Featured
      • Face of the Week
      • Brand of the Week
      • Interview
  • How To
    • Recipe
    • Relationship
    • Fashion
    • Health
    • Food
    • Motivational
    • Inspirational
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Business
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Laugh Out Loud
    • Music
    • Article
    • Interview
    • Album Review
    • Omo Baba Ogunleye
    • Short Story
    • Poetry
  • Self Development
    • Motivational
    • Inspirational
    • Business
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Recipe
    • Interview
    • Biography
    • Relationship
    • Health
  • Literature
    • Competition Entry
    • Article
    • Poetry
    • Short Story
  • Columns
    • Poet Arin
    • Emmanuel Ikoromasoma
    • Omo Baba Ogunleye
    • Communicate Your Transformation
    • Superlight’s Guidelines
    • Janna Onyemaobi
    • De Jakins
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Favourite
    • Culture
    • History
    • Mythology
    • Folktale
    • Biography
    • Featured
      • Face of the Week
      • Brand of the Week
      • Interview
  • How To
    • Recipe
    • Relationship
    • Fashion
    • Health
    • Food
    • Motivational
    • Inspirational
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Business
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Laugh Out Loud
    • Music
    • Article
    • Interview
    • Album Review
    • Omo Baba Ogunleye
    • Short Story
    • Poetry
  • Self Development
    • Motivational
    • Inspirational
    • Business
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Recipe
    • Interview
    • Biography
    • Relationship
    • Health
  • Literature
    • Competition Entry
    • Article
    • Poetry
    • Short Story
  • Columns
    • Poet Arin
    • Emmanuel Ikoromasoma
    • Omo Baba Ogunleye
    • Communicate Your Transformation
    • Superlight’s Guidelines
    • Janna Onyemaobi
    • De Jakins
No Result
View All Result
WELCOME TO MY WOVEN WORDS
No Result
View All Result

MyWovenWords » ORÒÓWỌLÉ JÀÁNÍÌNI – THE MASTER STORYTELLER; A TRIBUTE TO D.O FAGUNWA

ORÒÓWỌLÉ JÀÁNÍÌNI – THE MASTER STORYTELLER; A TRIBUTE TO D.O FAGUNWA

by Johnson Okunade
January 20, 2020 - Updated on May 6, 2020
in Woven Culture, Woven History
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
0
ORÒÓWỌLÉ JÀÁNÍÌNI – THE MASTER STORYTELLER; A TRIBUTE TO D.O FAGUNWA
SHARE THIS POST:

ORÒÓWỌLÉ JÀÁNÍÌNI – THE MASTER STORYTELLER.

It’s been 56 years since Chief Daniel Olorunfemi Fagunwa, the Yoruba author, died in Bida, in present day Niger State. He was born in 1903 in Oke Igbo in present day Ondo State and died on 7 December 1963. His notable works:

Ògbójú Ọdẹ nínú Igbó Irúnmalẹ̀ in 1938;
Igbó Olodumare in 1949;
Ireke Onibudo in 1949 and
Adiitu Olodumare.

Below is a tribute written by his son, Diipo Fagunwa:

Today I am reminded of Oròówọlé Jàáníìni Fágúnwà who died 56 years ago. He was known to many as Daniel Ọlọ́runfẹ́mi Fágúnwà.

D O Fagunwa was a wizard of tales and maestro of the storytelling art. Ọlọ́runfẹ́mi Fágúnwà was a master of Yoruba folklore, adept in the ways and practices of his people. He wrote stories that were narratives of sojourns to unfathomable world fecund with sagacity. He knew about Igbó Irúnmalẹ́ and was vivid about Òkè-e Láńgbòdó and the Akọni Méje.

Fágúnwà knew Bàbá Onírùngbọ̀n yẹ̀úkẹ the Man with the Monstrous beards that lived between the world and was a friend of Àkàrà Ògùn the valiant hunter that hunted in Igbó Irúnmalẹ̀. Jàáníìni described Àràmààṅdà Ọkùnrin the strange man who felt cold and would shiver when the weather was hot; this man would sweat when the weather was cold.

Jàáníìni was a master of words. When he toasted you, you were toasted (ask my mum); if he doted on any woman on paper you would believe he was there when Solomon wrote his love songs in the Bible. Olorunfemi preached love like he was in another realm.

His stories extolled love as a virtue so much that a woman who recited the love letter Iyùnadé wrote to Àdììtú Olódùmarè to her boyfriend was given a car by her lover-man while there was the testimony of the man who read the vows of Ìrìnkèrindò to Ìfẹ́pàtàkì in his fidau reception and his father-in-law offered him three more brides to fulfill his religious obligation of four wives..

Oròówọlé described Ìfẹ́pàtàkì’s beauty, there was no doubt this lady was out of this world and when a gentleman read how he presented Ìfẹ́pàdé in Ìrèké Oníbùdó, the man changed his name to Ìrèké Oníbùdó so that the lady of his heart would believe he was sweet.

If Fágúnwà were alive and he chased the same woman with you, you had better chased him with a cutlass before he does irreparable damage. Oròówọlé would mesmerize any goddess of beauty with his pen

Fágúnwà stories were strong about Yoruba myths and beliefs. They were ethereal, they made you think Fágúnwà was a spirit. Fágúnwà wrote about witches those who were witches and reading his scripts blinked their eyes. He told tales about how hunters used Egbé to disappear and fly home from danger, neighborhood hunters invited him to their Ìjálá for two weeks.

D O Fágúnwà described Omi-Lójú-Egbére the tearful mat-carrying imp who could make anyone rich in seconds and everyone started praying to meet the imp on deserted roads to the farms. Jàáníìni told stories of how the heavenlies lived and took his readers on rides to places where the holies stay. His stories visited Èṣù at the ‘T’-junction of intersecting roads where the gods passed.

He described the crossroads that led to the house of Ikú many thought he was Ikú’s friend and abandoned his house for days; he mapped out well the road to the abode of Àrùn, Iku’s wife a village closed its market for months. When Fágúnwà said he saw Ọ̀run Àpáàdì no family member spoke to him for a year and his wife nearly ran away from home.

Fágúnwà narrated folktales of fights among deities you would think he was their referee. He described Èṣù Kékeré Òde and how the evil imp fought Olówó Ayé you were scared. He described the battle at Igbó Elégbèje between humans and imps, many imagined he watched it and those who heard his narrative about how Kùmọ́dìran died were sorry.

Our Master–storyteller knew Àgbákò well and when he recounted how he followed sojourners going to Òkè Ìrònú to Odò Ẹ̀jẹ̀ where Ayédèrú met his demise the pastor preached a sermon of the judgment day in his church.

Whenever I remember that I read Ìgbàgbọ́ Ońjẹ I was hungry while his story of Àrọ̀gìdìgba brought rumor to the neighborhood that Fágúnwà was carousing with a spirit; He was so vivid about this mermaid I warned my mother I have a feeling that my father was cheating with a mammy-water on the sea.

I miss the Fágúnwà days of reading his serials on the radio. Jàáníìni dominated his stories like an ogre with his prey. His stories pulverized listeners on radio stations in Western Nigeria then into an astonishing reality that only they could fathom. Then you watched the old and the young listened whilst the radio blared under the silvery moonlight as God ministered tradition and knowledge to His people through this indigenous sage. In the villages people sat on mats, adults stood, some crouched, many sat on blocks and others sat on stones to listen to the village rediffusion. They listened, everyone listened; children listened with mouth hanging open; young adults had ears unlatched with titillating astonishment; adults concentrated as if the end of the world would come if they missed a word and the old nodded at beautiful handovers of virtuous legacy that the world needed through storytelling while Daniel Olorunfemi Fágúnwà reeled out his good stories as if he was offering the synoptic gospels and taught morals as if he was St Paul writing the Epistles. He was an incorrigible moralist. His stories were infested with morals they should have been called Gospel according to St Fágúnwà and made the last Chapter of the Bible. His narratives were angry with selfishness you will go into the market to eat with the hungry rather than eat alone. They were wicked about wickedness you would be afraid to hit even yourself not to talk of killing a fly. People listened to his stories as if they were in the church with an exalted preacher delivering a worthy sermon. While Oròówọlé read stories about his travels to the world of imagination. He narrated and narrated. His tales swept you off with his sojourns. You listened and listened and learnt virtuous lessons. Fágúnwà would narrate the story of Mọ́gàjí Ẹnúdùnjuyọ̀ about Kòtẹ́mílọ́rùn and the heavens would open and God would send rain to acknowledge Oròówọlé’s teaching and tell His people to listen to him. Fágúnwà would on judgment day be asked to tell stories of goodness and care to today’s evil men of fraud and yahoo and at the end of his stories God shall ask the question ” kíni ìtàn náà kọ́ wa?” before they are sent to hell or purgatory if there is any. And if there are none of these afterlife places, D O Fágúnwà’s stories left honest memories of life and virtuous lessons from a worthy writer. God bless him wherever he is. He was a teacher of many and great mentor in indigenous moral directions.

Today is his the fifty-sixth-year memorial and a day to thank all that wished and did us well. We his children relish those moments he was with us. He was a joy to behold. But now we bless God that he has his wife and Ṣayọ̀adé with him. Oròówọlé Jàáníìni and Àpèkẹ́ should enjoy where they are whilst their souls continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord as the world say
REST IN PEACE D O FÁGÚNWÀ

Diípọ̀ Fágúnwà (7/12/2019)


SHARE THIS POST:

Related Posts

Langtang: Home of Fearless Tarok Militias and Generals
Woven Culture

Langtang: Home of Fearless Tarok Militias and Generals

January 24, 2023
Tarok People
Woven Culture

The Tarok People of Langtang, Plateau State, Nigeria

January 24, 2023
The Biography of Alaafin of Oyo Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III
Woven Biography

The Biography of Alaafin of Oyo Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III

January 22, 2023
Ooni Ajagun Ademiluyi Ademakin: The 48th Ooni of Ife
Woven Culture

Ooni Ajagun Ademiluyi Ademakin: The 48th Ooni of Ife

November 30, 2022 - Updated on January 14, 2023
Oyo State Anthem 1
Woven Culture

The Full Oyo State Anthem Lyrics and Video

June 29, 2022 - Updated on January 30, 2023
Oloye Adigun Olowe Yoruba
Woven Biography

Adigun Olowe Yoruba – The Youngest Traditional Title Holder in The World

May 13, 2022 - Updated on January 14, 2023
Load More

COMMENT; JOIN THIS CONVERSATION! Cancel reply

Donate

Recent Posts

  • How to Prepare Amora a Typical Tarok Food (Amwam)
  • A Recipe for Masa (Rice Cake)
  • A Recipe For Plateau Food Gote (Gwote) or Acha
  • Langtang: Home of Fearless Tarok Militias and Generals
  • The Tarok People of Langtang, Plateau State, Nigeria
  • Biography of Late Brig-General John Nanzip Shagaya (rtd)
  • Biography of Sir Joseph Ntung Ari, DG of ITF
  • The Biography of General Domkat Yah Bali, The Late Ponzhi Tarok
  • Download Mwaghavul Mu Yaghal Audio Music By Ezra Jinang
  • Download Likitan Likitoci Audio Music by Ezra Jinang
  • Download Plateau Mulkin Sama Audio Music by Ezra Jinang
  • Download Rawan Plateau Audio Music by Ezra Jinang
  • Download One Plateau Audio Music by Ezra Jinang
  • Download Sweet Plateau Audio Music by Ezra Jinang
  • The Biography of Sunday Garba Biggs
  • The Biography of Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang

Donate

Advertise
advertise with us Woven

Subscribe to Woven TV

KINDLY SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAILING LIST!

STAY WOVEN!!!

Get our latest updates and exclusive contents on a platter of gold!

We only write what is right

ABOUT US

My Woven Words is an online platform with the sole purpose of promoting and providing quality lifestyle content on a platter of gold. Founded in 2016, today, it is one of the most visited blogs in Nigeria as a great repository of awesome and propelling write-ups.

As of July 2021, My Woven Words Boast of more than 1,500 lifestyle blog posts/articles which makes it a world-class platform where everyone access loads of Historical/cultural content | Poems | Short stories | Contents on Health and Personal Hygiene | Old/Rare Music Download | Isese Music Download | African Folktales | Motivation | Food Recipes | Biographies | Interviews | Relationship Tips, and much more exquisite, best write-up ever. All the contents are verified, detailed, and well-written.

 

Email Us: [email protected]

Call Us: +2349078111978

COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2021 by My Woven Words: No part of this published blog post and all of its contents may be reproduced, on another platform or webpage without a prior permission from My Woven Words except in the case of brief quotations cited to reference the source of the blogpost and all its content and certain other uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, contact the admin on [email protected], or Call him on +2349078111978

 

© 2016 - 2023 My Woven Words - We Only Write What Is Right | Developed by Morrebs ICT

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Favourite
    • Culture
    • History
    • Mythology
    • Folktale
    • Biography
    • Featured
      • Face of the Week
      • Brand of the Week
      • Interview
  • How To
    • Recipe
    • Relationship
    • Fashion
    • Health
    • Food
    • Motivational
    • Inspirational
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Business
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Laugh Out Loud
    • Music
    • Article
    • Interview
    • Album Review
    • Omo Baba Ogunleye
    • Short Story
    • Poetry
  • Self Development
    • Motivational
    • Inspirational
    • Business
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Recipe
    • Interview
    • Biography
    • Relationship
    • Health
  • Literature
    • Competition Entry
    • Article
    • Poetry
    • Short Story
  • Columns
    • Poet Arin
    • Emmanuel Ikoromasoma
    • Omo Baba Ogunleye
    • Communicate Your Transformation
    • Superlight’s Guidelines
    • Janna Onyemaobi
    • De Jakins

© 2016 - 2023 My Woven Words - We Only Write What Is Right | Developed by Morrebs ICT

Sorry, cannot copy or rightclick.