CONSPECTUS OF AGE- GRADES SYSTEM IN IKERE- EKITI

Abstract

Age grade has been described as an important element in the life of an African. Extant literature and research has established Age- grades as embracing group of persons who according to societal norms and values, are regarded as people of the same age. It is a social institution that constitutes important system in the social structure of a given society. It is more prominent in Africa society because it cuts across socio- cultural, economic and political life activities of the people. The organizational structure of Age-grade system in traditional African society differs from one community to the other. Each of these age setsis clearly distinguished from one another and has a distinctive status or social, cultural, economic and political role which they perform in their various communities and even at individual levels. Ikere, as one of the major towns in Yorubaland generally and Ekiti in particular is equally noted for this system. Right from the pre- colonial era in Ikere, socio- cultural organizations were tied to age grade system. Hence our focus in this research work will be on the origin and growth of age grade, the classification, organizational structure, initiation, ritual rites and ceremonies of age grade system in Ikere-Ekiti. Historical and descriptive methods will be employed as tools for data analysis in the course of this research work.