Ayeyemi, Ebenezer Oluwatoyin Ph.D

Department of Music, Adeyemi College of Education. Ondo. Olueben01@gmail.com & ayeyemioe@aceondo.edu.ng

Abstract

In the history of the entire world, there have been records of an epidemic in almost all countries of the world, states, and communities at different times. During the dark age, in Africa, diseases of different kinds caused the premature death of children, youths, adults, and even aged people in clans and communities. In recent times, the cause of the outbreak of an epidemic was believed to be the fierce anger of the gods of the communities but the dirty environment and unhygienic life the people lived were impetus without educative encouragement for a solution. These made the people remained perpetually endangered to the incessant outbreak of epidemic. However, the rich traditional culture of the Yoruba in Southwest, Nigeria among others is bond in the daily life and nature of the people. Music as part of culture accompanies all aspects of individual life and community. Education is key to good life and health. The method of instilling education into the growing citizenry among Yoruba people during the neo-colonial era till date is diversified and encapsulated in the aspect of life. Among these methods are folk songs, folk tales, poems, proverbs, and of course learning by imitation. The emergence of COVID 19 and its deadly implication on humans globally brought about the measure to first prevent it spread through education, then treatment and cure. The prevention of the spread becomes the responsibility of individuals and corporate bodies at the local, national and international levels. This discourse analyses the impact of Yoruba folksong in curbing the spread of this deadly disease, typical examples of such folksongs are x-rayed in this discourse and recommend such at the local level of human habitation in order to comprehend and adapt self to the measure.

Keywords: Yoruba folksong, Health Education, Spread of COVID 19, Treatment and cure