Voice Tempo and Mode of Poetic Utterance Significations in Orin kete and Orin agbè

Abstract

Several elements determine whether a vocalist chooses to speak, chant or sing in either slow or fast tempo in oral poetry performance. Voice tempo and mode of poetic utterance are codified to signify differently in orin kete and orin agbè performances. This study is, therefore, focused towards analysing voice tempo and poetic utterance significations in the performance of orin kete and orin agbè. Semiotics of poetry constituted the theoretical framework. Participant observation and scheduled interviews are methods of data collection. The study employed qualitative literary analysis. The findings revealed that the two main voice tempos in the genres under study are wẹ́rọ̀/ìfàlẹ̀ (slow tempo) and èle/iwéréndé (fast tempo). Slow tempo signifies voice of respect and humility to deities related to orin kete, while it signifies homage and adoration in orin agbè. Speech, chant, and song modes of poetic utterances featured in orin kete. Orin agbè is more of song and speech; chant is, however, featured but in a very rare situation. Guttural Speech mode signifies a stimulus in orin agbè while changing from one mode of poetic utterance to another signifies vocalist’s poetic utterance mindfulness in orin kete. Voice tempo and mode of poetic utterances contribute coded meanings in the performance of orin kete and orin agbè.    

Keywords: Voice tempo, mode of poetic utterances,  orin kete and orin agbè, Semiotics of poetry