Abstract
When the maiden issue of the journal was published in 2014, we expressed the hope that it would be a regular platform for scholarship and research on the Urhobo and their world. Regrettably, we did not meet the promise of regular publication. However, in 2022, we produced the double issue (Numbers 2 & 3); it was a bumper edition with 19 articles, covering about 350 pages. We are delighted to note that this fourth issue is rich and diverse in subjects and perspectives. There is an exciting contribution dealing with the analysis of the dirge genre written in Urhobo Language. We welcome this aspect of Urhobo scholarship; we urge more scholars to use the language as a vehicle for intellectual inquiry. In the past few years, studies on various areas of Urhobo experience have yielded promising results. For example, in 2025, the Urhobo Studies Association and the Urhobo Historical Society published the "Scheme of Work for the 9-Year Basic Education Curriculum for Urhobo Language". Also, in 2025, the Urhobo Studies Association hosted the conference on "20 Years of Urhobo Studies" at the Delta State University, Abraka. Selected papers from the conference will be published in future editions of ARIDON. In the intervening period since 2022, ARIDON has acquired an enhanced digital status; it now has an online version of all its publications. Papers can therefore be accessed via the website www.urhobostudiesassociation.org
