Esan Philosophy in perspective - With Prof. Matthew Izibili, Department of Philosophy, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria

Some excerpts from the paper entitled "The Aigbokhaebholo Philosophy in Esan : An Examination of emerging Axiological issues "

As humans, it is not in doubt that we are faced with daily hassles, as we attempt to meet up with demands of life. To this end, several efforts made to resolve the identified demands often leads to the use of names to reflect either victory or mastery of the demands; thus, serving as a therapy & a morale booster. 

It is indubitably true that Esan people are avid inventors of names. Hence,  names & naming ceremonies in Esanland, serve multiple functions or purposes. They include but not in any way limited to the following : Psychotherapeutic function, repository of history,  as well as a medium of sustaining cherished values among the people.  Primarily,  name is a means of identity;  it  is also an expression of self, feelings &the situation of a man, who realizes  he has either  made great success of his life to the poor,  frustrated & self pity or he is in a world of his own  entirety. But no man is an island... as opined by John Donne. 

The philosophy here posited is to the understood within the ambience of what has been referred to as African Philosophy of the family in some quarters. It is the aspect of African Philosophy which reflects on family specific issues,  such as the metaphysical foundations of Africa concept of family,  kinship,  it's contributions to the totality of the epistemic & 'character capital' of the African child,  it's moral shaping of the said Child,  relative to African community in general & as it concerns this lecture,  the Esan people in particular. 

Again,  Philosophy is used here in this present context not in the disciplinary sense normatively speaking... In this understanding,  you don't need to be trained in Philosophy to comprehend the thrust of this part of my thoughts I shared here. 

Retrospectively, I will like to take up some selected Esan aphorisms,  which I considered as helpful in our understanding of my thoughts here thus: 

1. Sikoko is not sumama (come together,  is not  the same thing as get fused together) 
2. Jenibhokhan do,  Allen enalaa ( Greet the children for me,  there are specified children that are genuinely referred to by the one making such prayerful wishes). 
3. Okanlete ikpor kpai kpai olea miokanlete ( Men of honour are not usually very many. Adaze on my mind... 
4. The allegory of Okpan... Learn to value your plate always. 
5. Aidiabokpa mindset should be activated. To be continued...