Harnessing traditional Yoruba communal values and ideals for self-reliance and development

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	Harnessing traditional Yoruba communal values and ideals for self-reliance and development
Author:	Dada, Adekunle O.
Year:	2009
Periodical:	Orita: Ibadan Journal of Religious Studies (ISSN 0030-5596)
Volume:	41
Issue:	2
Pages:	34-45
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Nigeria
Subjects:	values self-help associations Yoruba
Abstract:	The collapse of communism and the precarious nature of capitalism are symptomatic of the limitations of Western ideologies in confronting modern social problems in Africa. The present paper explores how Yoruba (Nigeria) traditional communal values and ideals can be harnessed for Africa's development. It pays attention to the Yoruba concept of 'iwa' (character) as providing the means by which man regulates his life to avoid conflict with the supernatural forces and to be able to live in harmony with his fellow men. The paper also examines some of the communal efforts that promote self-reliance and help to banish poverty in traditional Yoruba society, such as mutual help systems ('Owe' and 'Aro') and a revolving-credit association ('Esusu'). Ref., sum. [ASC Leiden abstract]