Aminat Adebowale

Post Proverbial in African Culture Expressions (PACE) in conjunction with the Department of English, University of Ibadan, continues the conference tagged, The Universality of the (post) Proverbial Imagination: Interrogating The Theory, Practice, and Functions of Post Proverbial Acts.

The conference, which was held in Room 32, Faculty of Arts, commenced with a presentation from Miss Sophia Katherine Haruna whose topic was Remixing Native Wisdom in the Digital Age: Humour and Post Proverbial Expression in Efik from University of Ibadan. The topic focused on the signs of Post Proverbial on the younger generation, who she continuously referred to as “Gen Z” in her presentation.

She hinged on the fact that the remix of proverbs is the aftermath of modernization and urbanisation in the Efik society, which has in turn devalue morality and discipline, similar to how the normal proverb of “the patient dog eats the fattest bone” has been twisted to suit contemporary times by being changed to “the patient dog will die of hunger” by the Gen z. She stated that this new behavioural pattern is alien to Efik culture.

Mrs. Ada Muo, the second speaker, addressed the topic on Radicalization of Igbo Proverbs and the Skilled Igbo Values.

She discussed how proverbs are an integral part of Igbo society and how its usage has been shifted to the contemporary world context. She stated how proverbs are relevant in literary works such as Chinua Achebe’s works. 

“Use of proverbs is hardly interrogated,” said the next speaker, Prof. Oyemade, whose backbone of presentation rested on the fact. He further stated that proverbs have conventional meaning and not following it might incur repercussions as cited in works of authors like Chinua Achebe. 

Mr. Toheeb Aderemi Raji in collaboration with Dr. Rabiatul Lawal presented on Reimagining Performance Aesthetics in Dutse Durbar Festival through Post Proverbial Expressions. 

They focused on the connection of the use of proverbs to the Dutse Durbar Festival and also fact-checked the connectivity between proverbs and the reality of life. 

Other speakers also contributed to the topic. Dr. Abd Ganiyu and Dr. Charles Akinsete discussed the meaning of proverbs from the point of Halliday’s three metafunctions and Post Proverbial Imagination, Social Construct and Ideological Representation in Selected Ondo Proverbs on TikTok respectively.

The convener of the conference, Prof. Raji Oyelade, ended the  conference announcing the deadline for the submission of essays for the 2024 conference in January 2025 and the review in March while the next International Conference on Post Proverbial Studies will be in 2026.