Seven Falls from Olumirin’s Pot: African Eco-Spirituality and Myths of Erin-Ijesha Waterfalls in Nigeria

Abstract

Contemporary critics of ecocriticism have explored ecologies dynamically across different genres in postcolonial African literature, especially in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region. However, they overlook African Eco-spirituality underpinned by indigenous African religion and conservative practices to address impending global ecological crises. The primary data were thirty (30) simple random interviews conducted with local entertainers, paramount rulers, residents, pedestrians, market women, commercial drivers, cyclists, and skilled labourers at Erin-Ijesha, Olumirin waterfall site in Oriade LGA in Osun State and Aba-Oke Efon Alaaye LGA Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study modelled Ikechukwu Kanu’s (2021) sources of African eco-spirituality, namely proverbs, gods and deities of nature, mythologies, totems and taboos, to explore indigenous practices and mythologies among indigenes of Aba-Oke/Erin-Ijesha. The study concludes that Aba-Oke and Erin-Ijesha communities promote attitudes of gratitude, reverence and stewardship for various life forms, which could catalyse change to mediate the damaged ecosystems and slow down the impending climate crisis.