Veteran Yoruba poet, master Ìjàlà chanter, actor, and cultural advocate, Alabi Ogundepo, has died at the age of 84.
Ogundepo, a native of Saki in Oyo State, died on Monday, according to a statement from his family, signed by his daughter, Dupe Ogundepo-Falana. The family did not disclose the cause of death.
Ìjàlà is a form of oral poetry traditionally associated with hunters and the worship of Ogun, the Yoruba deity associated with iron.
It combines praise, historical narration, proverbial expressions, social commentary and accounts of hunting experiences. The tradition is also used during ceremonies and occasions, including burials, naming ceremonies and palace gatherings.
Family mourns
