Taboo and moral reinforcement in Yoruba traditional thought

Oluwatosin Adeoti Akintan

Olukayode Felix Oyenuga 



Abstract

The world is best described in three words – a global village. In extension, the global village is a village of crisis where morality is seriously endangered with particular references to Africa, there is a serious need to attest the pathetic erosion of morality. There are diverse mechanisms for achieving this but one potential factor that should be considered is the potency of taboo. Really, the logical neo-positivist questions the scientific verifiability of taboo while many Christians and Muslims regard it as mere mythical construction to low unvaried mind through superstitious and further the relevance of African Traditional Religion. This paper argues that it is a critical analytical blunder to examine taboo through the lens of Western logic. Besides, modernity does not outlaw the pragmatic significance of taboo. Hence, taboo obeys a special metaphysical logic that draws on the synergy between the physical and the divine realm. In pursuit of contemporary relevance of taboo, the paper examines the meaning of ethics and taboo, examples of moral taboos, the contemporary significance of taboo, social definition of man and the foundation of morality. It should be noted that the Supreme Being is the bedrock of the Yoruba religion and also the bedrock of moral reinforcement in Yoruba thought system. God is the source and giver of moral laws and these moral laws are inviolate and immutable. Any person that breaks the taboo would not go unpunished either here now or in the hereafter afterlife). While the divinities serve as the minister or agent of the Supreme Being in the theocratic governance of the world and punish any erring members in the traditional society, they also reward the good members. Finally, the paper discussed that the ancestors on their own also help in upholding social and moral order. They serve as the watchdog of the community making sure that all complain with the laid down rulers and regulations. They would not waste time in punishing any members that violate or go against the laid down principles because in the traditional Yoruba thought system, there is no “Sacred Cow”. 

Keywords

taboo, morality, reinforcement, Yoruba world view.

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